Aurora University


Aurora University is a private university in Aurora, Illinois. In addition to its main campus and the Orchard Center in Aurora, Illinois, AU offers programs online, at its George Williams College campus in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, and at the Woodstock Center in downtown Woodstock, Illinois. Approximately 5,500 students are enrolled in bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs at Aurora University.

History

Aurora University was founded as Mendota Seminary in Mendota, Illinois, in 1893. At that time, the school was focused on education and training rooted in the Advent Christian Church. Within a few years of its founding, the seminary changed its name to Mendota College, and broadened its programs into a traditional liberal arts curriculum.
In 1911, residents of the nearby town of Aurora raised funds to construct a new college, led by funding from businessman Charles Eckhart, who founded the predecessor company to the Auburn Automobile Company. Recognizing mutual benefits, administrators of Mendota College moved their operations to Aurora and the school became known as Aurora College.
In 1971, Aurora College separated from the Advent Christian Church, and in 1985, changed its name to Aurora University to better reflect the breadth of its academic programs.
In 1992, the school entered into an affiliation agreement with George Williams College, in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, which was followed by a full merger in 2000. George Williams College had been instituted in 1886 by YMCA leaders to create a summer school where young men and women would gather for learning, fellowship and reflection. With the merger, the one-time summer school, camp and conference center now serves both undergraduates and graduate students in a variety of degree programs. Over the past decade, the historic George Williams College campus has been transformed through renovations to new structures including the creation of the Winston Paul Educational Center, Oak and Hickory lodges, the Beasley Campus Center and the Ferro Pavilion, where the annual Music by the Lake outdoor concert series takes place during the summer months.
Aurora University added a third location in 2009 with the opening of the Woodstock Center, which offers part-time MBA, Master of Science in Nursing and graduate programs in education. The center is located in Woodstock, Illinois, approximately 50 miles north of the university's main campus.
Today, Aurora University, the GWC campus, and the Woodstock Center are operated by the Board of Trustees of Aurora University and presided over by a chief executive officer. Each site has a team of senior administrators who report to the president.

Presidents

Aurora University offers 40 undergraduate majors, numerous minors, a wide variety of master's degrees, several graduate certificates in education, nursing and business, and online doctoral degrees in education and social work.
The university is composed of the following:
The university states that its student-faculty ratio is 17:1, and that the average class size is 23 students.
Aurora University operates on a semester-based academic year. The school also offers an international- and service-focused “Travel in May” program at the conclusion of the spring semester, as well as summer courses.

Accreditation

accredits Aurora University at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels.
Program-specific accreditations include:
The Aurora campus is based primarily around a traditional quadrangle and adjacent areas. In total, the campus is approximately 32 acres. All buildings constructed by the university have red tile roofs, a stipulation of Charles Eckhart in his initial donation in the early days of Aurora College.
Buildings include:
George Williams College of Aurora University is located on the shores of Geneva Lake in Williams Bay, Wisconsin and includes 137.5 acres of property.
Buildings include:
Aurora University fields 22 NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletic teams, 11 each for men and women. Approximately 40 percent of the student population participates in intercollegiate sports. All Spartan athletic teams compete in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference with the exception of the men's lacrosse team, which is part of the Midwest Lacrosse Conference, and the women's bowling team, competing in the Central Intercollegiate Bowling Conference. The primary athletics facilities are Thornton Gymnasium, located in Alumni Hall, and Vago Field, which serves as the football, soccer and lacrosse field. The Vago Field grandstand seats 600 people.
Aurora University athletic teams have captured 123 conference championships in school history. Since joining the NCAA in 1982, AU men's and women's teams have won 103 conference championships and appeared in 59 NCAA tournaments.

Men's Teams

Baseball

Basketball