You can go to college anywhere. That is, perhaps, a controversial thing for a university marketing department to publish. But it’s true. There are nearly 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States for students to choose from and as many areas of study as one can imagine. However, not every higher education institution offers an experience that encourages students to grow mind, body and soul. There are even fewer that focus first on spiritual development.
The mission of Olivet Nazarene University is to provide high-quality academic instruction for the purpose of personal development, career and professional readiness, and the preparation of individuals for lives of service to God and humanity. We know that in order to set up our students for success beyond the graduation stage, they need to develop a confident sense of self within a supportive community that inspires growth of their faith, their social connections, their mental and physical wellbeing, and, of course, their academic preparation.
You can go to college anywhere, but we hope you choose somewhere that will stimulate exceptional levels of growth. We believe that place is Olivet.
Focus on Faith
Olivet seeks to provide a community-centered environment in which students can find the intersection of belief and belonging. The University is founded on Christian principles and lifestyle standards, but the student body represents more than 40 denominations, religions and faith backgrounds, which bring forth diversity of thought and conversation.
Twice a week, students, faculty and staff gather in the 3,000-seat Betty and Kenneth Hawkins Centennial Chapel to participate in corporate worship and hear from renowned pastors, authors, business leaders, professional athletes, artists and other skilled guest speakers. As part of their Christian liberal arts education, Olivet students complete courses that unpack the relevance of Scripture and Christian traditions. Faculty incorporate devotionals into their curriculum and create an environment for asking questions and seeking answers.
The Office of Spiritual Development encompasses the discipleship and evangelism initiatives to engage in seven abiding habits: God’s Word, prayer, worship, fellowship, servanthood, stewardship and witnessing. Freshmen are encouraged to join a Belong Group to gain community support as they transition into college life. Huddles offer an intentional space for sophomores, juniors and seniors to delve deeper into discipleship and theological discussions as they foster accountability among their peers.
Beyond the classroom, opportunities abound for students to further their faith journeys through student ministries and community engagement projects. The Office of Spiritual Development provides programming that equips leaders who are strong in their spiritual formation and creates a vibrant campus environment in which all students feel they belong.
Many of the student spiritual life activities are wrapped into the Shalom Project, an initiative whose mission is to inspire, empower and equip the campus community in the creative act of restoring broken relationships through ministry opportunities on and off campus. Two ministry groups that cater to the campus community include Prayer Warriors, a group that empowers and encourages the campus through prayer and Scripture study, and Heart4Missions, which provides a space for students to learn more about missional service.
Off-campus volunteer opportunities include groups like Life Support, which partners with the local Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center; Manna, which serves the local homeless population; Kingdom Builders, a ministry that uses building and construction projects to benefit families in Pembroke and Kankakee; and Aspire, which partners with the City Life Center to provide tutoring and mentoring for local middle and high school students. Each year the entire campus community is encouraged to participate in Serve Day to support the work of local community organizations. Students also benefit from exposure to faith in action in different parts of the country and the world on yearly mission trips. These cross-cultural encounters help to expand students’ worldviews and perspectives on how people live around the world.
Expand the Mind
A strong educational foundation sets up students for success in careers full of meaning and purpose, and Olivet is consistently ranked and endorsed as a top institution for its academic programs. The University offers more than 140 majors, minors and concentrations to undergraduate students (and an additional 20-plus areas of study for graduate and continuing studies candidates).
Most areas of study require mentored learning experiences, such as clinical rotations, student teaching, job shadowing or internships. These opportunities allow students to apply what they have learned in the classroom directly into the industry in which they are pursuing a career. Students have completed internships with industry leaders including NASA, the Grand Rapids Museum of Art, the Mississippi Aquarium, the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Nucor Steel and Caterpillar Inc. as well as local churches, hospitals, school districts, political campaigns, nonprofit organizations and more.
Students are encouraged to pursue research projects under faculty mentorship to deepen their comprehension of a subject as they contribute to the global knowledge base. Those who are interested in exploring internationally may spend a semester or summer studying off campus through more than 15 established partnerships with higher education institutions which promote interactive scholarship from Honduras to Uganda. As they combine travel with education, students gain insight into and appreciation for the varied cultures, languages and traditions that exist elsewhere in the world.
Body in Motion
The residential nature of Olivet facilitates ample opportunities for students to develop socially, emotionally and physically. The University offers more than 90 academic department service clubs, organizations, multiethnic affinity associations, interest groups and honor societies to cater to the wide range of interests and passions represented in the student body.
Each semester the Office of Student Development plans a full program of social activities across campus for students to have fun and build inclusive relationships. Students enjoy yearly traditions and special activities, including Ollies Follies class competitions, the Rock and Glow silent disco, an annual Christmas party, live-band karaoke, the Mr. ONU skit and talent show, plays and musicals, outdoor movies, contemporary music concerts provided by Shine.FM, and other gatherings that encourage students to connect with their peers. Students also oversee the annual publication process of the Aurora yearbook.
Athletic Activities
The Perry Student Life and Recreation Center houses a swimming pool, a four-story climbing wall, a field house, fitness facilities, weekly exercise classes, study spaces and gaming areas — all of which are available for students to use for free. Olivet also boasts a robust intramural program with 20 sports offered at a variety of levels. On average, more than 1,400 students participate in at least one intramural sport each year.
Students who want to play sports at an intercollegiate competitive level can go through the recruitment process for any of the University’s 21 varsity athletic teams or the men’s club ice hockey team. Coed sports include cheerleading and varsity esports.
Olivet athletic teams compete nationally through affiliation in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and through conference play in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC), Mid-States Football Association and Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (swimming). Multiple alumni have built on their college training to compete professionally with teams including the Chicago Cubs, the New York Yankees, the Chicago Fire and USA Track and Field.
For 15 consecutive years, Olivet’s athletic program has won the CCAC All-Sports Cup, which is based on championships and rankings across CCAC affiliated sports. In addition, when it comes to success in the classroom, hundreds of Olivet athletes are consistently named to the CCAC All-Academic Team each year. Scholarships are available for many student-athletes.
Engaging in the Arts
From its inception as a liberal arts higher education institution, Olivet has supported creative growth through performances and exhibitions that feature student accomplishments in the areas of drama, art and music. ONU Theatre produces a full season of musicals and plays ranging from Broadway favorites to Pulitzer Prize winners to original productions. Many shows are student-directed, and all productions allow for student involvement beyond the stage, including costuming, choreography, set design, set construction, sound design, lighting design and production assistant roles.
Students who are interested in artistic exploration may take courses within the Department of Art and Digital Media. Rotating exhibitions are displayed in gallery areas around campus throughout the year to showcase student work. There are also a variety of on-campus student photography, videography and graphic designer roles that allow students to gain work experience as they hone their craft.
More than 600 students are involved annually in the over 20 vocal and instrumental ensembles offered through the School of Music. Regardless of major, all students who are musically inclined are encouraged to get involved. Groups include the Tiger Marching Band, University Orchestra, Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble, Orpheus Choir, Proclamation Gospel Choir, Concert Singers, Sound of Praise and Piano Ensemble. These and many other ensembles offer some merit-based and participation scholarships. The School of Music offers a variety of performance opportunities, including annual performances of Handel’s Messiah and the holiday favorite Sounds of the Season concert, and it partners with the Department of Theatre to produce the spring musical. Additionally, many music ensembles travel throughout the country and around the world to minister through music. The Tiger Marching Band has performed in London, in Rome and at the U.S. presidential inauguration; Concert Singers has traveled to Greece, Paraguay, Brazil and Bulgaria; and Orpheus Choir has taken trips to Kenya and Puerto Rico.
Making the Most
Regardless of what students choose to study, there are endless opportunities for growth while experiencing life at Olivet, which has been committed to offering an “Education With a Christian Purpose” since 1907. The mission to be a higher education institution that holistically strengthens the minds as well as the physical and spiritual well-being of students has remained as the school continues to grow programs, invest in infrastructure, enhance accessibility, evolve policies and increase the capacity to care for campus and online communities.
We want our students to grow personally and professionally as they make the most of their college experience, and we know that the basis of that growth is a healthy sense of belonging within a community, which is something our students, faculty, staff and alumni constantly mention when talking about what makes Olivet a great institution. You can go to college anywhere, but we believe that you belong here.
From Olivet The Magazine, The Parent Issue – Autumn 2024. Read the full issue here.
