Pacific University

Pacific University. Founded in 1849 as the Tualatin Academy, it is one of the oldest institutions of higher education on the West Coast of the United States. The university has evolved from a pioneer-era school into a comprehensive institution offering a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. Its main campus is located in Forest Grove, Oregon, with additional health professions campuses in Hillsboro and Eugene.

History

The institution was chartered in 1849 by Congregational pioneers, with significant early leadership from Sidney Harper Marsh and support from the American Home Missionary Society. It was originally established to serve the children of early settlers in the Oregon Territory, with its first building, Old College Hall, constructed in 1850. The university survived financial hardships in the late 19th century, aided by a pivotal donation from the Reverend Thomas Condon, a noted geologist. It formally adopted the name Pacific University in 1854 and began awarding bachelor's degrees, with its first graduating class in 1863. The 20th century saw expansion into new fields, including the establishment of the College of Optometry in 1921, one of the oldest such programs in the nation.

Academics

The university is organized into several colleges, including the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Education, the College of Health Professions, and the College of Optometry. It offers numerous undergraduate majors and is particularly recognized for its programs in the health sciences, such as pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology. The university also maintains a strong commitment to the liberal arts and sciences, featuring programs in creative writing, psychology, and biology. Graduate and professional degrees are a central focus, with the university operating one of the leading optometry schools in the Pacific Northwest.

Campus

The historic 55-acre main campus in Forest Grove is noted for its Collegiate Gothic architecture and is listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. Key buildings include Old College Hall, Marsh Hall, and the modern Pacific University Library. The university's Health Professions Campus in nearby Hillsboro houses state-of-the-art facilities for its clinical programs in a partnership with the Tuality/OHSU network. Additional facilities for the College of Optometry are located in Eugene.

Athletics

Pacific University athletic teams, known as the Boxers, compete in NCAA Division III as a member of the Northwest Conference. The university fields teams in sports such as football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, track and field, cross country, swimming, wrestling, and tennis. Its mascot commemorates the university's first intercollegiate football team, which famously fought the University of Oregon to a tie in 1895. The athletic facilities include the Lincoln Park Stadium and the Stoller Center.

Notable alumni and faculty

Notable alumni include former United States Senator Mark Hatfield, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Peter Viereck, and former Major League Baseball player and manager Jeff Jones. Distinguished faculty have included pioneering geologist and paleontologist Thomas Condon, literary scholar and translator Burton Watson, and optometry educator Meredith W. Morgan. The university's alumni also include leaders in healthcare, education, and public service throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Category:Universities and colleges in Oregon Category:1849 establishments in Oregon Territory