Bethune–Cookman University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bethune–Cookman University

Former name	Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute for Girls (1904–1927) Cookman Institute for Boys (1872–1927) Daytona Cookman Collegiate Institute (1927–1941) Bethune–Cookman College (1941–2007)
Motto	On seal: "Heart, Head, Hand" "Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve"
Type	Private historically-black university
Established	October 3, 1904; 120 years ago (October 3, 1904)
Accreditation	SACS
Religious affiliation	United Methodist Church
Academic affiliations	Space-grant
Endowment	$47.8 million (2016)
President	Lawrence Drake (interim)
Students	2,513 (fall 2021)
Location	Daytona Beach , Florida , United States 29°12′37″N 81°01′50″W / 29.2103°N 81.0306°W / 29.2103; -81.0306
Campus	Small City, 85.5 acres (34.6 ha)
Newspaper	Voice of the Wildcats
Colors	Maroon and gold
Nickname	Wildcats
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FCS - SWAC
Mascot	Wil D Cat

Bethune–Cookman University (often called B–CU or Bethune–Cookman) is a private university in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is a historically black university, meaning it was founded to educate African American students. The university is connected with the United Methodist Church. Two important historic buildings on campus are White Hall and the Mary McLeod Bethune Home.

History

Mary McLeod Bethune with students in 1943

The school was started by Mary McLeod Bethune in 1904. It was first called the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls. The very first classes were held in the home of John Henry and Alice Smith Williams.

Over the years, the school grew a lot. In 1923, it joined with the Cookman Institute from Jacksonville, Florida. Cookman Institute had been founded in 1872. After this merger, the school became a high school for both boys and girls. It was then known as the Daytona Cookman Collegiate Institute. This new school became part of the Methodist Church's education system. By 1931, it had grown into a junior college.

In 1941, the school started offering four-year degrees. Students could study liberal arts or train to become teachers. The Florida Department of Education approved these new programs. The school's name changed again to Bethune–Cookman College. In 1943, the first students earned their Bachelor of Science degrees in Elementary Education.

The college received high ratings from important education groups. This included the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1947. In 1988, Bethune-Cookman College was approved to offer a master's degree in science education. On February 14, 2007, the school's leaders decided to change its name to Bethune–Cookman University.

In May 2017, the university invited Betsy DeVos to speak at its graduation ceremony. Many students and people outside the university were upset by this choice. They started petitions and shared their concerns online. They felt she had not supported historically black colleges and universities enough. The university had to put in extra security for the event. During her speech, many people in the audience booed and turned their backs.

In 2018, the university faced some challenges with its accreditation. This means the school needed to improve how it managed its money and operations. The university had lost a lot of money in the years before. However, by September 2020, the university had fixed these issues. It was taken off probation and kept its full accreditation.

Presidents

Mary McLeod Bethune stopped being president in 1942. James A. Colston then became president. Bethune returned as president for one year in 1946.

Richard V. Moore Sr. became president in 1947. During his time, the college became fully accredited in 1970. It also joined the United Negro College Fund. The school added more study programs, and more students enrolled. New buildings were also constructed for living and learning.

Oswald P. Bronson Sr. was the fourth president, from 1975 to 2004. He was also a graduate of Bethune–Cookman. Student numbers grew a lot during his time. This led to more student housing and classroom buildings. The Mary Mcleod Bethune Auditorium was also built. The number of main study areas increased from 12 to 37. The school also opened seven learning centers across Florida.

In August 2004, Trudie Kibbe Reed became president. She was the first woman president since Mary McLeod Bethune. During her leadership, new buildings were constructed. These included the Center for Civic Engagement and the L. Gale Lemerand School of Nursing.

Edison O. Jackson became the interim president in May 2012. He was then appointed president in May 2013. In July 2017, Jackson resigned. The university later had concerns about a large construction deal from his time.

E. LaBrent Chrite became the seventh president on July 1, 2019. He was previously a dean at the University of Denver.

Academics

Bethune–Cookman University offers many different degrees. Students can choose from 39 bachelor's degrees. They can also earn six master's degrees. These programs are offered through various schools and colleges.

Bethune-Cookman's Performing Arts Center

Admissions

In 2023, Bethune–Cookman accepted all students who applied. The university does not require ACT or SAT test scores for admission. However, students who submitted scores had an average SAT score of 905. The average ACT score was 16.5 for those who submitted them.

Rankings

U.S. News & World Report is a group that ranks colleges. In 2023, they ranked Bethune–Cookman. It was ranked among National Liberal Arts Colleges. It was also ranked highly among Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The university was also noted as a "Top Performer on Social Mobility." This means it helps students from all backgrounds succeed.

Library

The first library at Bethune–Cookman College was the Harrison Rhodes Memorial Library. It was named after author Harrison Rhodes. He and his sister Margaret were big supporters of the school. When Margaret passed away, a large part of their family's money was given to the college. The Harrison Rhodes Memorial building is still on campus. It is now used as a hall. The Carl S. Swisher Library replaced it in 1941. This new library was mostly paid for by Carl S. Swisher, a wealthy businessman.

Athletics

BCU flag

Bethune-Cookman is part of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The university's sports teams are called the Wildcats. They compete in NCAA Division I FCS. Bethune-Cookman offers 15 different sports programs for students.

Student organizations

Bethune-Cookman has more than 80 student groups on campus. These groups cover many interests. There are academic clubs and honor societies. Students can join Greek fraternities and sororities. There are also groups for community service and leadership. Other groups include performance teams and religious organizations.

The Marching Wildcats

The Marching Wildcats (The Pride) of Bethune–Cookman perform at the Florida Classic.

Bethune-Cookman's marching band is very famous. It is known as "The Marching Wildcats." The band is the biggest student group on campus, with over 300 members. They even starred in a Netflix show called Marching Orders. The marching band started in 1930 with only 30 musicians.

See also

• List of Bethune–Cookman University alumni
• Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida