Ambrose University College
Encyclopedia
Ambrose University College (AUC) is a private
Christian liberal arts college
located in Calgary
, Alberta
.
The Calgary Bible Institute was first established in 1921 in the basement of the Calgary First Church of the Nazarene. In 1927, the school relocated to Red Deer
, where it became known as Alberta School of Evangelism, and then Northern Bible College (NBC) with the construction of a new campus. In 1940, it was renamed again as Canadian Nazarene College (CNC) as it began offering theology degrees. In 1960, CNC moved to Winnipeg
and was established as the official Canadian university college for the Church of the Nazarene
.
Similarly but independently, the Christian and Missionary Alliance
established the Canadian Bible Institute in Regina
, Saskatchewan
in 1941. In 1949, it was recognized by Saskatchewan
and renamed Western Canadian Bible Institute (WCBI). It was renamed again in 1957 as the Canadian Bible College (CBC) of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) and, in the 1960s, became associated with the University of Regina
. Canadian Theological College (CTC) was established in 1970 as a graduate sister school
to CBC, and was renamed Canadian Theological Seminary (CTS) in 1982.
Dr. Riley Coulter, President of CNC, determined that Manitoba
would not accredit private institutions of higher education in the liberal arts and sciences. CNC thus moved back to its first home, Calgary, in 1995, became an accredited university college in 1999, and changed its name to Nazarene University College (NUC). Dr. George Durance, President of CBC/CTS, came to similar realizations regarding the accreditation status of his school in Saskatchewan and, in 2000, CBC/CTS made a similar decision. In 2003, CBC/CTS officially relocated to join NUC on the same campus, received accreditation in 2004, and changed its name to Alliance University College (AUC). AUC and NUC maintained a close relationship and were often referred to as Alliance University College-Nazarene University College (AUC-NUC), though the two granted degrees independently until 2007.
In 2007, Alliance University College and Nazarene University College became a single entity, known as Ambrose University College, in honour of Ambrose
. A new campus opened in west Calgary in November 2008.
and the Christian and Missionary Alliance
. It is one of 10 colleges and universities affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene in North America
and one of 8 colleges and universities affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance
. In terms of its affiliation with the Nazarene church, AUC (formerly Canadian Nazarene University College) is the college for the Canada Region.
to offer its Seminary
degrees. Ambrose is also accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education to offer undergraduate ministry and theology degrees, and by the Province of Alberta as pertains to its authority in the conferring of Bachelor of Arts
degrees in selected disciplines.
, president of the Eastern Nazarene College
(1989-1992) was a notable Canadian Nazarene College alumnus
.
Private university
Private universities are universities not operated by governments, although many receive public subsidies, especially in the form of tax breaks and public student loans and grants. Depending on their location, private universities may be subject to government regulation. Private universities are...
Christian liberal arts college
Liberal arts college
A liberal arts college is one with a primary emphasis on undergraduate study in the liberal arts and sciences.Students in the liberal arts generally major in a particular discipline while receiving exposure to a wide range of academic subjects, including sciences as well as the traditional...
located in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
.
History
Ambrose University College is the product of similar educational journeys begun in the first half of the twentieth century.The Calgary Bible Institute was first established in 1921 in the basement of the Calgary First Church of the Nazarene. In 1927, the school relocated to Red Deer
Red Deer, Alberta
Red Deer is a city in Central Alberta, Canada. It is located near the midpoint of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor and is surrounded by Red Deer County. It is Alberta's third-most-populous city – after Calgary and Edmonton. The city is located in aspen parkland, a region of rolling hills...
, where it became known as Alberta School of Evangelism, and then Northern Bible College (NBC) with the construction of a new campus. In 1940, it was renamed again as Canadian Nazarene College (CNC) as it began offering theology degrees. In 1960, CNC moved to Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
and was established as the official Canadian university college for the Church of the Nazarene
Church of the Nazarene
The Church of the Nazarene is an evangelical Christian denomination that emerged from the 19th century Holiness movement in North America with its members colloquially referred to as Nazarenes. It is the largest Wesleyan-holiness denomination in the world. At the end of 2010, the Church of the...
.
Similarly but independently, the Christian and Missionary Alliance
Christian and Missionary Alliance
The Christian and Missionary Alliance is an evangelical Protestant denomination within Christianity.Founded by Rev. Albert Benjamin Simpson in 1887, the Christian & Missionary Alliance did not start off as a denomination, but rather began as two distinct parachurch organizations: The Christian...
established the Canadian Bible Institute in Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
in 1941. In 1949, it was recognized by Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
and renamed Western Canadian Bible Institute (WCBI). It was renamed again in 1957 as the Canadian Bible College (CBC) of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) and, in the 1960s, became associated with the University of Regina
University of Regina
The University of Regina is a public research university located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Founded in 1911 as a private denominational high school of the Methodist Church of Canada, it began an association with the University of Saskatchewan as a junior college in 1925, and was disaffiliated...
. Canadian Theological College (CTC) was established in 1970 as a graduate sister school
Sister school
The term sister school has several meanings:*a definite financial commerce between two colleges or universities*two schools that have a strong historical connection...
to CBC, and was renamed Canadian Theological Seminary (CTS) in 1982.
Dr. Riley Coulter, President of CNC, determined that Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
would not accredit private institutions of higher education in the liberal arts and sciences. CNC thus moved back to its first home, Calgary, in 1995, became an accredited university college in 1999, and changed its name to Nazarene University College (NUC). Dr. George Durance, President of CBC/CTS, came to similar realizations regarding the accreditation status of his school in Saskatchewan and, in 2000, CBC/CTS made a similar decision. In 2003, CBC/CTS officially relocated to join NUC on the same campus, received accreditation in 2004, and changed its name to Alliance University College (AUC). AUC and NUC maintained a close relationship and were often referred to as Alliance University College-Nazarene University College (AUC-NUC), though the two granted degrees independently until 2007.
In 2007, Alliance University College and Nazarene University College became a single entity, known as Ambrose University College, in honour of Ambrose
Ambrose
Aurelius Ambrosius, better known in English as Saint Ambrose , was a bishop of Milan who became one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the 4th century. He was one of the four original doctors of the Church.-Political career:Ambrose was born into a Roman Christian family between about...
. A new campus opened in west Calgary in November 2008.
Affiliation
Ambrose is the official Canadian school of both the Church of the NazareneChurch of the Nazarene
The Church of the Nazarene is an evangelical Christian denomination that emerged from the 19th century Holiness movement in North America with its members colloquially referred to as Nazarenes. It is the largest Wesleyan-holiness denomination in the world. At the end of 2010, the Church of the...
and the Christian and Missionary Alliance
Christian and Missionary Alliance
The Christian and Missionary Alliance is an evangelical Protestant denomination within Christianity.Founded by Rev. Albert Benjamin Simpson in 1887, the Christian & Missionary Alliance did not start off as a denomination, but rather began as two distinct parachurch organizations: The Christian...
. It is one of 10 colleges and universities affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and one of 8 colleges and universities affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance
Christian and Missionary Alliance
The Christian and Missionary Alliance is an evangelical Protestant denomination within Christianity.Founded by Rev. Albert Benjamin Simpson in 1887, the Christian & Missionary Alliance did not start off as a denomination, but rather began as two distinct parachurch organizations: The Christian...
. In terms of its affiliation with the Nazarene church, AUC (formerly Canadian Nazarene University College) is the college for the Canada Region.
Academics
Ambrose University College provides undergraduate education and graduate level education for pastoral ministry. Their mission is to "produce graduates who are consciously and actively Christian in all aspects of life," and to "serve the church by providing excellent preparation for pastoral ministry." Ambrose is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and CanadaAssociation of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada is an organization of seminaries and other graduate schools of theology. ATS has its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has more than 250 member institutions...
to offer its Seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
degrees. Ambrose is also accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education to offer undergraduate ministry and theology degrees, and by the Province of Alberta as pertains to its authority in the conferring of Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degrees in selected disciplines.
Notable persons
Cecil R. PaulCecil R. Paul
Cecil Roland Paul was a minister, educator, community leader, and academic. He died at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston after suffering a brain hemorrhage. He was the second president of the Eastern Nazarene College to die in office. The Cecil R...
, president of the Eastern Nazarene College
Eastern Nazarene College
The Eastern Nazarene College is a private, coeducational college of the liberal arts and sciences in Quincy, Massachusetts near Boston, in the New England region of the United States. Known for its strong religious affiliation, distinctive liberal arts core curriculum, and excellence in science...
(1989-1992) was a notable Canadian Nazarene College alumnus
Alumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
.