Ouachita Baptist University
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Ouachita Baptist University is a United States university offering both undergraduate and graduate education.
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Location
Ouachita Baptist University is a private non-profit institution located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Arkadelphia is approximately 65 miles southwest of Little Rock and approximately 73 miles northeast of Texarkana. Arkadelphia has a population of over 10,000, not including the student body at OBU and the student body at Henderson State University. The school is named for the Ouachita (pronounced Wash'-uh-taw) River which forms the upper campus boundary.
Brief History
Ouachita was first opened on September 6, 1886 and has operated on a daily basis since that date. It was originally located on the campus of Ouachita Baptist High School. Its present location is on the former campus for the Arkansas School for the Deaf, which relocated to Little Rock. Its first president, Professor J. W. Conger, was elected on June 22, 1886 of the same year. The organization was originally founded as Ouachita Baptist College. In 1965, the status and name were changed to Ouachita Baptist University due to expansion of the curriculum. Dr. Andrew Westmoreland has served as president of Ouachita Baptist University since 1997.
In 1949, the original Old Main building, used as the administration building and library, was destroyed by fire caused by a bolt of lightning. This occurred the evening after graudation, so students (including many World War II Veterans) helped to rescue most of the books from the library.
Until 1992, co-ed students were required to be back in the dormitory by a certain time. Male students were obligated to spend one year in ROTC. However, the ROTC unit was disbanded due to defense budget cuts, and a subsequent lawsuit ended this tradition.
For more information about the history of Ouachita Baptist University please visit http://www.obu.edu and click on the "about Ouachita" link.
Academics
Ouachita Baptist University offers various degree programs including business, education, natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, Christian studies and fine arts.
Athletics
Ouachita is competes in the Gulf South Conference in sports and maintains NCAA Division II status in major sports. The swimming program is particularly well-known.
Beliefs
Ouachita Baptist University is not officially affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, but most of the students are Southern Baptist. Ouachita affirms Christ Jesus as the one and only Son of God, and is dedicated to stimulating peoples' growth spiritually, intellectually, socially, and physically.
External link
- Official Site (http://www.obu.edu/)