DePauw University

DePauw University
Name	DePauw University
Established	1837
Type	Private liberal arts college
Endowment	$800 million (2023)
President	Lori S. White
City	Greencastle
State	Indiana
Country	United States
Campus	Rural, 655 acres
Students	1,700
Faculty	200
Colors	Old Gold and Black
Nickname	Tigers
Affiliations	Great Lakes Colleges Association, Annapolis Group

DePauw University. A private liberal arts university in Greencastle, Indiana, it was founded in 1837 as Indiana Asbury University. Named for benefactor Washington C. DePauw, the institution is known for its rigorous academics, historic campus, and influential alumni network. It is a member of the Great Lakes Colleges Association and consistently ranks among the top national liberal arts colleges.

History

The institution was chartered in 1837 by the Indiana General Assembly under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church, originally named Indiana Asbury University after Francis Asbury, the first American Methodist bishop. Early curriculum focused on classical studies and theology, with the first degrees awarded in 1840. A pivotal transformation occurred in 1884 when prominent industrialist and philanthropist Washington C. DePauw provided a major endowment, leading the trustees to rename the university in his honor. Throughout the 20th century, it evolved into a modern liberal arts college, admitting women from its founding and establishing one of the nation's first sororities, Kappa Alpha Theta, in 1870. The university later became independent of formal church affiliation while maintaining its historic ties. Key developments included the 1970s merger with the Indiana University School of Nursing and the 1980s establishment of the prestigious Media Fellows and Management Fellows programs.

Academics

The university operates on a 4-1-4 academic calendar and offers over 40 majors in the liberal arts and sciences through its College of Liberal Arts. It is renowned for its signature experiential learning programs, including the Media Fellows, Management Fellows, Science Research Fellows, and Global Health Fellows. The Hubbard Center for Student Engagement coordinates extensive internship and research opportunities. A founding member of the Great Lakes Colleges Association, it facilitates student exchanges with institutions like The College of Wooster and Earlham College. The Honors Program and Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics foster advanced scholarship. The university maintains a chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa honor society and has produced numerous Fulbright Program scholars and Watson Fellowship recipients. Its School of Music is also nationally recognized.

Campus

The 655-acre campus is located in Greencastle, Indiana, approximately 45 miles west of Indianapolis. The central campus features a mix of historic and modern architecture, with the iconic East College building, constructed in 1877, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Other notable facilities include the Roy O. West Library, the Percy L. Julian Science and Mathematics Center named for the famed chemist, and the Judson and Joyce Green Center for the Performing Arts. The 520-acre Nature Park, featuring trails and an Environmental Education Center, serves as a living laboratory. The campus also houses the Museum of Art and the Walden Inn & Conference Center. Recent construction includes the Kathryn F. Hubbard Center for Student Engagement and renovations to the Athletics and Recreation Center.

Student life

Student life is characterized by a high level of engagement, with over 100 student-led organizations. A defining feature is the robust Greek life system, home to the founding chapters of Kappa Alpha Theta and Alpha Chi Omega sororities, as well as numerous fraternities including Beta Theta Pi. The university hosts the annual Ubben Lecture Series, which has featured speakers such as Mikhail Gorbachev, Tony Blair, and Bill Clinton. Student media is prominent, with The DePauw newspaper, WGRE radio station, and D3TV. Major traditions include Monon Bell festivities and Old Gold Weekend. The Campus Living and Community Development office oversees residential life, which includes theme houses and Honors Housing.

Athletics

Athletic teams, known as the Tigers, compete in NCAA Division III as a member of the North Coast Athletic Conference. The football rivalry with Wabash College, contested for the Monon Bell, is one of the oldest and most celebrated in small-college football, dating to 1890. The university fields 23 varsity teams, with recent success in women's golf, men's basketball, and swimming and diving. Facilities include the Lilly Center for physical education, the Blackstock Stadium, and the Neal Fieldhouse. The department emphasizes the scholar-athlete model, with many students earning Academic All-American honors.

Notable alumni

Alumni have achieved prominence in diverse fields. In politics and public service, notable figures include Vice President Dan Quayle, former U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, and former Indiana Governor Joe Kernan. Business leaders include former McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook and Barnes & Noble founder Leonard Riggio. The entertainment industry is represented by actors John B. McLaughlin and Verna Bloom, and television producer Barbara Hall. Literary figures include Pulitzer Prize-winning poet James Whitcomb Riley (who attended) and author Barbara Kingsolver. Other distinguished alumni include NASA astronaut Kenneth Bowersox and Nobel Prize-winning physicist Albert A. Michelson, who served on the faculty.

Category:Universities and colleges in Indiana Category:Liberal arts colleges in the United States Category:Educational institutions established in 1837