Ottawa University facts for kids
 |
|
|
Former names
|
Roger Williams University |
|---|---|
| Motto |
Veritas vos liberabit
|
|
Motto in English
|
The truth will set you free |
| Type | Private university |
| Established | 1865 |
|
Religious affiliation
|
American Baptist Churches USA |
| Endowment | $14.3 million (2016) |
| Chancellor | William Tsutsui |
| President | Bambi Burgard (OUKS) Dennis Tyner (OUAZ) Chantell Link (OU Online) |
| Provost | Joann Bangs |
| Rector | John Holzhüter |
| Students | 4,671 |
| Undergraduates | 3,589 |
| Postgraduates | 1,082 |
| Location |
,
,
United States
38°36′09″N 95°15′56″W / 38.602589°N 95.265542°W |
| Colors | Main campus: Black and gold Surprise campus: Red and orange |
| Nickname | Braves Spirit |
|
Sporting affiliations
|
Ottawa main campus: NAIA – KCAC Surprise campus: NAIA – GSAC |
 |
|
Ottawa University (often called OU) is a private university connected with the American Baptist Churches USA. Its main campus is in Ottawa, Kansas.
The university also has a second campus in Surprise, Arizona. Plus, it offers classes for adults in the Kansas City and Milwaukee areas, and many courses online. Ottawa University was started in 1865. It works closely with the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma and the American Baptist Churches USA.
More than 875 students attend the Ottawa campus. The Arizona campus (OUAZ) has over 900 students. In total, over 4,000 students learn at Ottawa University, across all its locations and online.
Contents
The Story of Ottawa University
How Ottawa University Began
The idea for Ottawa University started in the 1860s. Baptist missionaries created the First Baptist Church in what is now Ottawa, Kansas. This area was home to many Potawatomi and Odawa people.
At the same time, Baptists in Kansas wanted to open a college. They planned to name it "Roger Williams University." This name honored Roger Williams, who founded the first Baptist church in America. They were looking for the perfect place to build it.
A Special Partnership is Formed
In 1860, at a big Baptist meeting, a man named Rev. John Tecumseh Jones spoke up. He was from the Chippewa tribe and was an important leader and interpreter. He suggested that the college should be built in Ottawa.
He thought the Baptists could work with the Native American tribes there. He believed the tribes might be willing to sell some of their land to help create a college.
The University is Founded
Native American leaders liked the idea. They agreed to set aside 20,000 acres of land just for building a college. On August 20, 1862, the first group of leaders for the university met. This group included four Native Americans and two white Baptists.
They decided to buy 5,000 acres of the land to start the campus. In 1865, they changed the college's name from "Roger Williams University" to "Ottawa University." Over time, the campus became about 640 acres.
Rev. Isaac Smith Kalloch, a Baptist minister, became the first president. He served from 1866 to 1868. He helped build Tauy Jones Hall, which is the oldest building still standing on campus today.
University Campuses
Main Campus in Kansas
The first campus, opened in 1865, is in Ottawa, Kansas. People often call it OU.
Arizona Campus
A second campus where students live opened in 2017. It is in Surprise, Arizona, and is known as OUAZ.
Other Locations and Online Learning
Besides these main campuses, Ottawa University has places for adult students. These are in Overland Park, Kansas, and Brookfield, Wisconsin. The university also offers many classes online.
What Ottawa University Offers
Degrees and Programs
Ottawa University has many different study programs. Students can earn bachelor's degrees in over 25 subjects.
For those who want to study more, there are also graduate programs. These include degrees like Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Arts in Education.
Rankings and Recognition
In 2017, U.S. News & World Report ranked Ottawa University highly. It was ranked third among private colleges in Kansas. It was also ranked 42nd out of 150 colleges in the Midwest region.
Student Life and Activities
Life at the Kansas Campus
The Ottawa, Kansas, campus has over 30 student groups and clubs. This includes The Campus, which is the oldest student-run newspaper in Kansas.
Students can also join drama groups, music groups, and honor societies. There are also fraternities and sororities, and campus ministry activities.
Life at the Arizona Campus
The Surprise, Arizona, campus offers many activities too. These include esports, theater, and club wrestling. Students can also join leadership groups and student government. Students are encouraged to start new clubs to make campus life even better.
University Sports Teams
Ottawa Braves (Kansas Campus)
The sports teams at the Kansas campus are called the Braves. They are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). They mostly compete in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC). They have been in this conference since 1982.
Ottawa University has 33 different sports teams for men and women. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and wrestling. Women's sports include basketball, softball, volleyball, and flag football. There are also co-ed sports like cheerleading and eSports.
Ottawa Spirit (Arizona Campus)
The sports teams at the Arizona campus (OUAZ) are called the Spirit. They are also part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). They mainly compete in the Great Southwest Athletic Conference (GSAC). Their football team plays in the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC).
OUAZ has 27 different sports teams. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, football, and swimming. Women's sports include basketball, softball, volleyball, and stunt. They also have co-ed competitive cheer and dance teams.
Famous People from Ottawa University
Alumni (Former Students)
- Wayne Angell – A former governor of the Federal Reserve.
- Mitch Barnhart – The Athletic Director at the University of Kentucky.
- Robin Harris – A well-known comedian.
- Merritt C. Mechem – A former governor of New Mexico.
- John Sherman – The owner of the Kansas City Royals baseball team.
- Dorothy C. Stratton – She led the United States Coast Guard Women's Reserve during World War II.
- DeDe Dorsey – A player in the National Football League, who won Super Bowl XLI with the Indianapolis Colts.
Images for kids
-
Aerial view of the Ottawa campus
-
Tauy Jones Hall (1869) is Ottawa's oldest building
