Eastern University (United States)


Eastern University is a private Christian university in St. Davids, Pennsylvania. The university is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA and has an interdenominational Christian student body, faculty, and administration. Eastern University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

History

Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary was founded to provide a theologically conservative seminary within the American Baptist Churches. Beginning in 1925 as a department in the seminary, in 1952 Eastern University became a separate institution and moved to its present St. Davids location, taking the name "Eastern Baptist College". In 1972, it was renamed "Eastern College". In 2001, the Pennsylvania Department of Education granted the institution "university status" and it was renamed Eastern University. In 2004, the institution's Board voted to acquire its previous parent institution, Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and EBTS changed its name to Palmer Theological Seminary in honor of a previous president in 2005.

Colleges and campuses

Eastern University consists of the College of Arts and Humanities, the College of Business and Leadership, the College of Education, the College of Health and Sciences, Templeton Honors College, Palmer Theological Seminary, and Esperanza College
The main campus is 114 acres just west of Philadelphia, in St. Davids, Pennsylvania. The main campus was originally a private estate, named Walmarthon, which was owned by the Walton family. The size of the campus has expanded through purchase of surrounding buildings.
Warner Memorial Library is housed in the Harold Howard Center. The Mazie Hall African American History Room contains books and memorabilia from a local educator. The Edison Room houses several drawings and artifacts which belonged to Thomas Edison.
In addition to the main campus in St. Davids, Eastern has additional sites in Center City, Philadelphia; City Avenue, Philadelphia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Ripley, West Virginia. Eastern also offers a variety of online programs.
Eastern University is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA.

Athletics

Eastern University is a Division III member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Eastern University joined the Middle Atlantic Conferences in 2008.
Sports include men's and women's soccer, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's volleyball, men's and women's lacrosse, men's baseball, women's field hockey, women's softball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's golf, and cross country.
In 2002, senior Andrea Collesidis broke an NCAA scoring record for women's lacrosse.

Notable persons