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Hardin–Simmons University

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Hardin–Simmons University (HSU) is a private Baptist university in Abilene, Texas, United States. It is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Hardin–Simmons University
Former names
Abilene Baptist College (1891–1892)
Simmons College (1892–1925)
Simmons University (1925–1934)
Motto"...Excellence in education enlightened by Christian faith and values."
TypePrivate university
Established1891; 133 years ago (1891)
Religious affiliation
Baptist General Convention of Texas
Endowment$165.7 million (2020)[1]
PresidentEric Bruntmyer
Students1,765[2]
Undergraduates1,347
Postgraduates418
Location
Abilene
,
Texas
,
United States
CampusUrban, 209 acres (0.85 km2)
ColorsPurple and Gold[3]
   
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division III – ASC
MascotCowboy/Cowgirl
Websitewww.hsutx.edu

History

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Hardin–Simmons University was founded as Abilene Baptist College in 1891 by the Sweetwater Baptist Association and a group of cattlemen and pastors who sought to bring Christian higher education to the Southwest. The purpose of the school would be "to lead students to Christ, teach them of Christ, and train them for Christ." The original land was donated to the university by rancher C.W. Merchant. The school was renamed Simmons College in 1892 in honor of an early contributor, James B. Simmons. By 1907 it claimed an enrollment of 524 and a staff of 49.[4] In 1925, it became Simmons University. It was renamed Hardin–Simmons University in 1934 in honor of Mary and John G. Hardin, who were also major contributors.[5] The university has been associated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas since 1941.

The university publicly experienced financial challenges in the late 2010s, continuing into 2020 as the state and the Baptist General Convention of Texas reduced the funding levels of programs in which the university participates. In 2018, the university ended nine undergraduate and four graduate programs and closed five campus extensions (Logsdon Seminary campuses in Coppell, Lubbock, Corpus Christi and McAllen; Acton MBA Program in Austin). These changes also included terminations of staff and faculty.[6] Two years later, in 2020, the university announced that it would close Logsdon Seminary and end an additional 22 academic programs with accompanying terminations of staff and faculty.[7][8]

The university was granted an exception to Title IX in 2016 which allows it to legally discriminate against LGBT students for religious reasons.[9]

Presidents

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  • 1892–1894           W.C. Friley       
  • 1894–1898           George O. Thatcher 
  • 1898–1901           O.C. Pope    
  • 1901–1902           C.R. Hairfield   
  • 1902–1909           Oscar Henry Cooper
  • 1909–1940           Jefferson Davis Sandefer Sr.
  • 1940–1940           Lucian Q. Campbell  (acting president)
  • 1940–1943           William R. White      
  • 1943–1953         Rupert N. Richardson–Wrote the personal reflection, Famous Are Thy Halls: Hardin–Simmons University As I Have Known It (1964)
  • 1953–1962           Evan Allard Reiff       
  • 1962–1963           George L. Graham (interim)
  • 1963–1966           James H. Landes       
  • 1966–1977           Elwin L. Skiles            
  • 1977–1991           Jesse C. Fletcher       
  • 1991–2001           Lanny Hall    
  • 2001–2008           W. Craig Turner        
  • 2009–2016           Lanny Hall    
  • 2016–               Eric Bruntmyer       

Academics

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HSU offers six undergraduate degrees with 70 majors, and seven graduate degrees with 18 programs. Pre-professional programs include dentistry, engineering, medicine, law, pharmacology, physical therapy, and seminary. HSU offers courses in geography, Greek, Hebrew, humanities, and physical sciences, as well. The university offers a doctorate in physical therapy, the first in Texas which is open to private citizens, as well as Doctor of Education (Ed.D.).

HSU students come from diverse backgrounds and a variety of Christian denominations. With an approximate enrollment of 1,500 students, the student-to-teacher ratio was 33:1.[2]

Rankings

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Academic rankings
Master's
Washington Monthly[10]470
Regional
U.S. News & World Report[11]37
National
Forbes[12]>650
WSJ/College Pulse[13]501–600

In 2016, U.S. News & World Report ranked Hardin-Simmons 33 among Regional Universities in the West.[14] That same year, Princeton Review included the university among its Best Western Colleges.[15]

In 2016 Campus Pride ranked the university among the worst schools in Texas for LGBT students.[9]

Campus life

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Chapel services are held weekly for the entire student body. Neighborhood outreach programs are also available in which students can participate. Baptist Student Ministries (BSM) offers free noon lunches for students every Wednesday. The BSM provides possibilities for students to get involved in Bible study groups and go on mission trips, in addition to hosting concerts and other campus events.

Campus resources include career services, a writing center, academic advisors, library services, faculty mentors, disability services, health services, peer mentors, and counseling. HSU's grounds include six residence halls and eight apartment complexes as well as campus houses. Campus infrastructure is built in classic brick architecture, and the school's golden-domed, red brick clock tower serves as its signature building, along with the 30 by 41-ft stained glass wall of Logsdon chapel, on the campus' southeast corner. HSU was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful Christian Colleges and Universities in 2017.[citation needed]

Western Heritage Day

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Western Heritage Day is an annual celebration of the heritage and way of life in the American frontier that has occurred since the Abilene Centennial Celebration in 1981. The event is held on the HSU campus and includes activities such as trick roping, pit branding, chuck wagon snacks, and a small farm animal petting area. The activities have become a fun educational opportunity for Abilene-area elementary school-aged children.[16]

Athletics

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The Hardin–Simmons athletic teams are called the Cowboys/Cowgirls. The university is a member of the Division III level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the American Southwest Conference since the 1996–97 academic year. as of November 2016 had won 75 conference titles, the most of any school.[17] The Cowboys/Cowgirls also competed in the Division III-based Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association (TIAA) from 1990–91 to 1995–96.

Hardin–Simmons previously competed as a member of the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association (BIAA; also known as the Border Conference) from 1941–42 to 1961–62,[18] during which time the football team won three conference championships.[19] For the first 15 years after HSU restarted its football program (1990–2005), the Hardin–Simmons Cowboy football team had the best winning percentage (77.4%) of all Texan college football programs.[20] Also, the men's basketball team won two Border Conference titles, in 1953 and 1957, advancing to the NCAA basketball tournament each time. The Cowboys are one of fourteen teams to have played in the tournament and no longer be in Division I; they are also one of five such teams to have appeared in more than one tournament.

Hardin–Simmons competes in 16 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball.

Women's soccer

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Hardin–Simmons women's soccer has been HSU's single-most successful athletic program with 22 ASC Conference Championships in the 1996-2019 period, and an NCAA Division III National Championship title in 2010.[21]

Notable alumni

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Notable faculty

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References

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  1. ^ As of June 30, 2020. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 (Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "College Navigator - Hardin-Simmons University". nces.ed.gov.
  3. ^ Hardin–Simmons University Academic Style Guide. January 1, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  4. ^ Directory of Abilene, Texas, 1907–08. Fort Worth, Texas: The Fort Worth Directory Company. 1907. p. viii. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  5. ^ Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "Hardin-Simmons University" (accessed January 8, 2007).
  6. ^ Chipp, Timothy (October 15, 2018). "Hardin-Simmons University president announces layoffs, program closures in Monday email". Abilene Reporter News.
  7. ^ Hollingsworth, Joey (February 7, 2020). "HSU to cut Logsdon Seminary programs". KTAB/KRBC. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  8. ^ Hollingsworth, Joey (February 14, 2020). "Hardin-Simmons cutting 22 programs, more than 31 faculty & staff positions". KTAB/KRBC. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Hacker, Holly K. (August 29, 2016). "9 Texas colleges rank among the 'absolute worst' for LGBT students, gay rights group says". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  10. ^ "2024 Master's Universities Rankings". Washington Monthly. August 25, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  11. ^ "2023-2024 Best Regional Universities Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. September 18, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  12. ^ "America's Top Colleges 2024". Forbes. September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  13. ^ "2025 Best Colleges in the U.S." The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse. September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  14. ^ "Best Colleges". U.S. News & World Report. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  15. ^ "2017 Best Colleges: Region by Region". Princeton Review. Princeton Review. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  16. ^ Timothy Chipp, "HSU goes back in time for 35th Western Heritage Day", Abilene Reporter News, April 20, 2017
  17. ^ "All-Time Conference Champions, Division Champions, NCAA Participants, TIAA Records" (PDF). March 29, 2017.
  18. ^ "Hardin-Simmons Cowboys School History". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  19. ^ "Conference Champions". cfbdatawarehouse.com. Archived from the original on 2010-02-13. Retrieved 2017-01-08.
  20. ^ McFarland, John (29 August 2005). "HSU Boasts Best Team in Texas". Archived from the original on 2007-08-15. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  21. ^ "Div III Women's Soccer Championship History". November 13, 2019.
  22. ^ "Hardin-Simmons University". Soylent Communications. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
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