Valparaiso University facts for kids
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Former names
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Valparaiso Male and Female College (1859–1871) Northern Indiana Normal School and Business Institute (1873–1900) Valparaiso College (1900–1906) |
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| Motto | In luce tua videmus lucem (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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In Thy light we see light |
| Type | Private university |
| Established | 1859 |
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Religious affiliation
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Lutheran |
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Academic affiliations
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Space-grant |
| Endowment | $254.2 million (2020) |
| President | José Padilla |
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Academic staff
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190 |
| Students | 2,868 |
| Undergraduates | 2,277 |
| Postgraduates | 591 |
| Location |
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U.S.
41°27′49″N 87°02′37″W / 41.46361°N 87.04361°W |
| Campus | Suburban, 350 acres (141.6 ha) |
| Newspaper | The Torch |
| Radio | WVUR-FM |
| Colors | Brown and gold |
| Nickname | Beacons |
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Valparaiso University (often called Valpo) is a private university located in Valparaiso, Indiana. It's an independent Lutheran university with five colleges for undergraduate students and a separate graduate school. The university has about 2,300 students and a large campus that covers 350-acre (140 ha).
Valpo is well-known for its Christian background and has one of the biggest chapels on a college campus in the United States. The university accepts most students who apply.
Contents
History of Valparaiso University
Early Beginnings: Valparaiso Male and Female College
In 1859, the people of Valparaiso, Indiana, really wanted a college in their town. They raised $11,000 to help the Methodist Church start a school there. The school opened on September 21, 1859, with 75 students. It was one of the first colleges in the country to allow both boys and girls to study together.
Students paid $8 for each school term (there were three terms a year). Room and board nearby cost about $2 per week. The college taught young children as well as older students. College-level classes included math, literature, history, science, and philosophy. They also had courses about Christian faith. During the Civil War, many students and staff joined the army. Because of money problems, the school closed in 1871.
New Start: Northern Indiana Normal School and Business Institute
The school reopened in 1873 thanks to Henry Baker Brown. He named it the Northern Indiana Normal School and Business Institute. In 1900, the school changed its name to Valparaiso College. It became a university in 1906.
Henry Baker Brown also bought a medical school from Northwestern University. He renamed it the Chicago College of Medicine and Surgery. This allowed Valpo students to save money by doing their first two years of medical school in Valparaiso.
In 1905, the university also partnered with the Chicago College of Dental Surgery for dental training. For about 20 years, Valpo became famous for being an affordable place to get a good education. It was even called The Poor Man’s Harvard. In 1907, it was the second-largest school in the nation, right after Harvard University. The student newspaper, The Torch, started in 1914.
Valpo began playing against other colleges in sports in 1916. Their first game was a basketball match.
In 1917, World War I and the death of President Brown caused big problems for the school. It went bankrupt. Valparaiso University sold its medical school. In 1923, a fire destroyed the original Old College Building. Valpo faced many money troubles that year. The university almost sold to another group, but the deal did not happen.
Finally, the Lutheran University Association bought Valparaiso University.
Lutheran Revival and Growth
In July 1925, the Lutheran University Association took over the school. This group wanted to create a strong academic school that was not controlled by just one church group. Today, Valparaiso is still run by this association. It remains an independent Lutheran university.
In 1929, the university became officially recognized by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. This meant its education was high quality. Two years later, the Valparaiso University Guild was created. This group of volunteers helps students. In 1934, the Alumni Association started. This group connects former students.
The university's College of Engineering started a special program with Purdue University in 1938. By the end of the 1930s, Valpo had a new gym. In 1941, the Department of Art began. During World War II, Valparaiso University changed its yearbook name from The Uhlan (a German soldier) to The Beacon. The next year, Valpo changed its sports team name from Uhlans to Crusaders.
The Golden Era
In 1940, O. P. Kretzmann became president. During his 28 years, he made many important changes. In 1944, Valparaiso University bought about 90 acres (36 ha) of land. This land became part of the new campus.
President Kretzmann helped enrollment grow from 400 to over 4,000 students. The school also became more academically challenging. Valpo created its Honor Code in 1943. Students still write this code on their assignments today. After World War II, Valparaiso offered its first four-year degrees in engineering.
In 1956, the Chapel Auditorium burned down. The university quickly built a new worship space, the Chapel of the Resurrection, which opened in 1959. In 1958, Valpo installed a special nuclear reactor for learning. In the 1970s, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission called Valpo's physics lab "a model" for other small universities.
President Kretzmann started Christ College, the honors college, in 1967. It was only the third honors college like it in the nation. The campus radio station WVUR-FM began broadcasting in 1960. Robert F. Kennedy spoke at Valpo in 1968. That same year, the university started its international study centers in Cambridge, England, and Reutlingen, Germany. In 1970, a building called Kinsey Hall burned down. The first nursing class graduated in 1971. In 1976, Valparaiso University began competing in NCAA Division I sports.
In 1991, Valpo became home to the Lilly Fellows Program. This program helps young teachers and scholars. In 1998, the men's basketball team reached the Sweet Sixteen in the national tournament. In 2004, a special academic honor society, Phi Beta Kappa, started a chapter at Valparaiso University. In 2013, the university built a solar furnace for research. It is the only one at an undergraduate school in the U.S.
Recent Challenges
After 2015, Valparaiso University faced challenges with student enrollment. The number of students dropped. Due to financial reasons, the university had to stop offering some undergraduate programs. Some staff also left the university.
In 2023, the university decided to sell some paintings from its art museum to help pay for dorm renovations. This decision caused some discussion among faculty and students. In 2024, the university announced that more programs would be reviewed due to budget issues. They also planned to close and tear down some buildings to save money on utilities.
Campus Life and Buildings
Old Campus Area
The Old Campus is next to the historic downtown area of Valparaiso city. This part of campus used to be home to the School of Law. Heritage Hall, one of the oldest buildings, was rebuilt starting in 2009. Many of the school's fraternities and the Kade-Duesenberg German House and Cultural Center are also on Old Campus. The Martin Luther King, Jr., Cultural Center was here before it was destroyed in 2009. Old Campus also has Valpo's Doppler weather radar. The College of Nursing and Health Professions is located north of Old Campus.
New Campus Area
Starting in the 1950s, the school grew eastward to what is now called the "new campus." This is now the main part of the university. It has thousands of students living in nine dorms and most of the academic buildings.
At the center of campus is the Chapel of the Resurrection. This 98-foot (30 m)-high building is where many of Valparaiso University's worship services and gatherings happen. It was built on the highest point of the campus and has been a landmark since 1959. A large addition to the chapel opened in 2015.
The Christopher Center Library (built in 2004) holds over 500,000 books and many videos and audio materials. It's a popular spot for students to study. The Valparaiso University Center for the Arts (VUCA) has several places for performances. Students use these for plays and musicals every year. The Center also houses the famous Brauer Museum of Art.
Kallay-Christopher Hall opened in 2004. It's home to the Geography and Meteorology departments. It has an observation deck and large weather labs. Next to it is Schnabel Hall, where communications students work. This building also houses WVUR-FM, the student radio station, and VUTV, the student television station.
The Donald V. Fites Innovations Center was added to the College of Engineering's Gellersen Hall in 2011. This building has labs for advanced student research in areas like materials science and energy. The Department of Physics and Astronomy has a 16-inch (406 mm) computerized reflecting telescope for NASA research. They also have a virtual reality system that lets students explore three-dimensional images.
The 52,000-square-foot (4,800 m2) Arts and Sciences Building opened in 2012. It has classrooms and offices for professors in the College of Arts and Sciences.
The James S. Markiewicz Solar Energy Research Facility opened in 2013. Professors and students use this facility to find ways to make low-carbon magnesium.
The 202,000-square-foot (18,800 m2) Harre Union opened in 2009. It's much bigger than the old student union. It has all dining services, a bookstore, lounge areas, student mailboxes, entertainment areas, and a large ballroom.
In 2013, the Duesenberg Welcome Center was finished for visitors coming to campus. A new residence hall, Beacon Hall, opened in 2014.
A "STEM village" with three new buildings is being built. The first building, the Center for the Sciences: Chemistry and Biochemistry, opened in 2017. It will be the new home for the biology, chemistry, and physics departments.
Academics and Learning
Undergraduate Programs
Valparaiso University has five colleges for undergraduate students: Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering, Nursing and Health Professions, and Christ College.
College of Arts and Sciences
This college combines a broad education (liberal arts) with skills for future jobs. Students get to do hands-on research and internships. It offers over 70 programs in 21 departments. This college provides the core classes for all university programs.
College of Business
The College of Business is one of the top business programs in the country. It is accredited by AACSB International. It offers majors in accounting, business analytics, finance, international business, management, and marketing. A new major in supply chain and logistics management started in 2018.
College of Engineering
In 2021, U.S. News & World Report ranked the College of Engineering as the 13th-best undergraduate engineering program among schools that don't offer doctorate degrees. About 90 percent of students finish their program in four years. The college also offers chances for students to do community service and research.
College of Nursing and Health Professions
The Virtual Nursing Learning Center has patient stations with interactive mannequins and hospital equipment. This helps students practice in a realistic setting. The nursing programs at Valpo are officially recognized by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Christ College: The Honors College
Christ College is Valparaiso University's special Honors College. It was started in 1967 by President O. P. Kretzmann. This college is for students who love to learn and want to achieve great things.
The classes in Christ College are based on a "Liberal Arts" model. New students read classic books and discuss them to explore big ideas. Later, courses challenge students to think about important questions from new angles. All freshmen take a 16-credit course that introduces them to classic works in history, literature, art, music, philosophy, religion, and social science.
Christ College also has fun traditions. These include the Freshman Production, where freshmen write and perform a play, and the Oxford Debates, where students formally debate topics. Students also present their research at the Student Scholarship Symposium. Many students in Christ College study abroad.
About 90 students, or 10 percent of new students, are accepted into Christ College each year. Students in the honors college also enroll in another college at Valpo. They can get a major or minor in humanities along with their main degree.
Study Abroad Programs
More than one-third of all undergraduate students at Valpo study abroad. This makes Valparaiso University one of the top schools for study abroad in the country. Valpo offers over 40 programs around the world, lasting from a week to a full academic year. In 2013, the U.S. Department of State named Valpo as a top producer of Fulbright scholars.
Valpo has four global study centers in Cambridge, England; Reutlingen, Germany; Hangzhou, China (now closed); and San José, Costa Rica. These centers offer group trips, classes about the local culture, and special housing. Valpo also partners with other programs for study in many other countries.
Reputation and Rankings
| USNWR National University | 160 |
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| Forbes | 384 |
In the 2023 U.S. News & World Report university rankings, Valpo was ranked 201 among national universities. U.S. News & World Report also rated Valpo highly for "Best Value Schools" and "Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs."
Washington Monthly ranked Valpo #149 for helping students move up in society, #182 for research, and #291 for service among national universities in 2021.
Student Life
Students at Valpo
Students at Valparaiso University come from many different places. Only one-third are from Indiana, the school's home state. The rest come from almost every other state in the U.S. and nearly 50 other countries. More than half of the students graduated in the top quarter of their high school class. About 77 percent of students return to Valpo after their first year.
The university gives out over $26 million in financial aid each year to more than 80 percent of its students. This aid is based on things like community involvement, interests, and grades.
Sixty-one percent of Valparaiso University students live on campus. All students who are not seniors must live in residence halls. About 11 percent of students are Lutheran, and 75 percent take part in faith-related activities. Valpo has over 100 student-run groups, clubs, and activities. Half of the students play intramural sports. More than 1,000 students volunteer over 45,000 hours of community service each year.
Greek Life
More than 25 percent of Valpo students are members of one of the school's ten national fraternities or six national sororities. In one year, these groups did over 10,000 hours of community service and raised $45,000 for charities. Most of these groups had a high GPA, with the average for all Greek Life being 3.247.
Honor Societies
Valparaiso has chapters of many major honor societies, including Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society.
Student Voice and Action
Valparaiso University has a history of students speaking up and taking action. Here are some examples:
Kinsey Hall Fire
In 1970, after protests at other colleges, students at Valparaiso wanted to discuss important issues. When talks with the university leaders didn't go well, some students set fire to the empty Kinsey Hall administrative building. The fire destroyed the building.
Students Rebuild Engineering College
The College of Engineering at Valparaiso University exists today partly because of student action. In the 1930s, the engineering program was reduced to a two-year degree due to money problems. In 1948, students asked if a four-year degree could be brought back. The president said there wasn't enough space or money for a new building. The students offered to build the new facility themselves if the president would promise to hire professors. The president agreed! The students built the building using their engineering skills and by raising money. By 1951, the College of Engineering was again offering four-year degrees. This story even became a movie called Venture of Faith.
Student Media
Valparaiso University's student media groups are very active and have won awards. These include WVUR: The Source (radio), VUTV (TV), The Beacon, The Torch, and The Lighter. Many students have won awards for their work in these groups.
Athletics: The Valpo Beacons
Valpo's colors are brown and gold. Their sports teams are called the Beacons. Most sports events happen at the Athletics-Recreation Center (ARC). Valparaiso has eighteen teams and nearly 600 student-athletes. They mostly compete in NCAA Division I. The football team plays in the Pioneer Football League. Men's swimming and men's tennis compete in the Summit League, and women's bowling competes in Conference USA.
In 1942, Valparaiso University had the tallest basketball team in the world. They were called the "Valparaiso Giants." The VU football team played in the Cigar Bowl in 1951. Valpo is also known for its men's basketball coach Homer Drew and his son Bryce Drew. Bryce Drew helped the team reach the Sweet Sixteen in the 1998 NCAA basketball tournament with a famous shot at the last second. Bryce Drew later became the head coach in 2011. Valparaiso also hosts the National Lutheran Basketball Tournament.
The men's soccer team won their conference championship in 2011. The men's basketball, baseball, and softball teams also won their conference titles that year. The bowling team even went to the NCAA Championships in only its third season. The women's volleyball team has also been very successful, winning many games and championships. In 2013, the men's golf team won their conference championship.
Valpo has NCAA Division I teams for baseball (men), basketball, bowling (women), cross country, football (men), golf, soccer, softball (women), swimming, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. The university also has cheerleading and spirit squads, plus many intramural and club sports like flag football, inner tube water polo, and ultimate frisbee.
On February 11, 2021, Valparaiso announced it would change its "Crusaders" nickname. This was because the name had "negative meaning and violence." On August 10, 2021, the new nickname "Beacons" was announced.
Notable People
Faculty (Teachers)
- Marcia Bunge: A theologian who taught in Christ College. She studies children and childhood in religion.
- Faisal Kutty: A law professor and internationally known scholar.
- Gilbert Meilaender: An ethics and theology professor.
- Walter Wangerin, Jr.: An English and theology professor, and an award-winning author.
Alumni (Former Students)
See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Valparaiso para niños
