Westmar University
Encyclopedia
Westmar University was a private four-year liberal arts college
in Le Mars
, Iowa
, U.S.
It permanently closed on November 21, 1997.
Westmar University was founded in 1887 as the Northwestern Normal School and Business College by Jacob Wernli, the Plymouth County
Superintendent of Schools. Wernli severed his association with the school in 1891, and in 1892 it was taken over by the Le Mars Normal Association, an organization of local businessmen who saw value in having a college in the town, and renamed Le Mars Normal School. In 1900, ownership of the college was transferred to the United Evangelical Church
and it was once again renamed, becoming Western Union College.
The college changed its name again in 1948, to Westmar College. In 1954, Westmar merged with York College of Nebraska
, making it the only college west of the Mississippi River
affiliated with the Evangelical United Brethren Church
, the successor institution to the United Evangelical Church. As such, it attracted students from a wide geographical area and grew to an enrollment of more than 1,000 students. It lost this distinction when the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged with The Methodist Church to form the United Methodist Church
in 1968, and Westmar found it increasingly difficult to attract students and began to accumulate debt.
In March 1990, Westmar merged with Teikyo University
to form Teikyo-Westmar University. Teikyo agreed to send 500 Japanese students to the Iowa campus, at a cost of $15,000 each, and to give an additional $4 million for debt reduction. The next few years were tumultuous ones for the college. The United Methodist Church severed its ties with the college two months after the merger with Teikyo. In 1994, the school was threatened with revocation of its accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
; it was placed on a two-year probation in August of that year. (The probation was renewed in 1996.) In 1995, Robert Driscoll, a private investor from California, purchased the college from Teikyo University, leading to one final name change, to Westmar University. Less than a year later, the city of Le Mars extended a $40,000 loan to the school to keep it afloat, and in 1996 they bought the school outright.
On October 9, 1997, Westmar University announced that, barring a merger with another college, the college would close on November 21. The final classes were held on that date, and on November 22, following its last commencement
, Westmar officially closed.
Student records were transferred to Morningside College and may be obtained through the Registrar, 1500 Morningside Ave., Sioux City, IA 51106.
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...
in Le Mars
Le Mars, Iowa
Le Mars is a city in and the county seat of Plymouth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,237 at the 2000 census. Le Mars is the home of Wells' Dairy, the world's largest producer of ice cream novelties in one location and is the self-proclaimed "Ice Cream Capital of the World". Wells...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
It permanently closed on November 21, 1997.
Westmar University was founded in 1887 as the Northwestern Normal School and Business College by Jacob Wernli, the Plymouth County
Plymouth County, Iowa
Plymouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 24,986 in the 2010 census, an increase from 24,849 in the 2000 census. The county seat is Le Mars...
Superintendent of Schools. Wernli severed his association with the school in 1891, and in 1892 it was taken over by the Le Mars Normal Association, an organization of local businessmen who saw value in having a college in the town, and renamed Le Mars Normal School. In 1900, ownership of the college was transferred to the United Evangelical Church
United Evangelical Church
The United Evangelical Church was created in 1891 when some members of the Evangelical Association left to form the new church. Thirty-one years later the two groups reunited in Detroit and renamed themselves "The Evangelical Church." In 1946, the Evangelical Church merged with the...
and it was once again renamed, becoming Western Union College.
The college changed its name again in 1948, to Westmar College. In 1954, Westmar merged with York College of Nebraska
York College (Nebraska)
York College is a private four year college affiliated with the Churches of Christ located in York, Nebraska. The college was founded in 1890.-History:York College was founded in 1890 by the United Brethren Church...
, making it the only college west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
affiliated with the Evangelical United Brethren Church
Evangelical United Brethren Church
The Evangelical United Brethren Church was an American Protestant church which was formed in 1946 by the merger of the Evangelical Church with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ...
, the successor institution to the United Evangelical Church. As such, it attracted students from a wide geographical area and grew to an enrollment of more than 1,000 students. It lost this distinction when the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged with The Methodist Church to form the United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
in 1968, and Westmar found it increasingly difficult to attract students and began to accumulate debt.
In March 1990, Westmar merged with Teikyo University
Teikyo University
is a private university headquartered in the Itabashi ward of Tokyo, Japan. It was established in 1931 as Teikyo Commercial High School by Lee. It became Teikyo University in 1966...
to form Teikyo-Westmar University. Teikyo agreed to send 500 Japanese students to the Iowa campus, at a cost of $15,000 each, and to give an additional $4 million for debt reduction. The next few years were tumultuous ones for the college. The United Methodist Church severed its ties with the college two months after the merger with Teikyo. In 1994, the school was threatened with revocation of its accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools , also known as the North Central Association, is a membership organization, consisting of colleges, universities, and schools in 19 U.S. states, that is engaged in educational accreditation...
; it was placed on a two-year probation in August of that year. (The probation was renewed in 1996.) In 1995, Robert Driscoll, a private investor from California, purchased the college from Teikyo University, leading to one final name change, to Westmar University. Less than a year later, the city of Le Mars extended a $40,000 loan to the school to keep it afloat, and in 1996 they bought the school outright.
On October 9, 1997, Westmar University announced that, barring a merger with another college, the college would close on November 21. The final classes were held on that date, and on November 22, following its last commencement
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
, Westmar officially closed.
Student records were transferred to Morningside College and may be obtained through the Registrar, 1500 Morningside Ave., Sioux City, IA 51106.
Notable alumni
- Rueben Philip JobRueben Philip JobRueben Philip Job is a retired American Bishop of the United Methodist Church. Elected in 1984, he served the Iowa Episcopal Area, and retired in 1992.-Birth and family:...
(B.A.Bachelor of ArtsA 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...
, 1954) - a BishopBishopA bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the United Methodist ChurchUnited Methodist ChurchThe United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley... - Gloria ShillingfordGloria ShillingfordGloria Marilyn Shillingford is a Dominican educator and a politician in the Labour Party. She has served in the House of Assembly of Dominica since 2005....
(B.A.) - member of the House of Assembly of DominicaHouse of Assembly of DominicaThe House of Assembly is the legislature of Dominica. It is established by Chapter III of the Constitution of Dominica, and together with the President of Dominica constitutes Dominica's Parliament. The House is unicameral, and consists of twenty-one Representatives, nine Senators, and an...