Bradley University

Bradley University is a private university located in Peoria, Illinois, founded in 1897 by Lydia Moss Bradley. The university is named after its founder, who was a wealthy Methodist philanthropist and women's rights advocate, similar to Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. Bradley University has a strong reputation for its programs in business administration, engineering, and communication, with notable alumni including Jim Petercsak, a former National Football League player, and Bob Goalby, a Professional Golfers' Association of America champion. The university is also known for its research partnerships with institutions like Caterpillar Inc. and OSF Healthcare.

● History

The history of Bradley University dates back to 1897, when Lydia Moss Bradley founded the institution as a Hillcrest Normal School and Business College. Over the years, the university has undergone several transformations, including its merger with the Peoria Caterpillar Tractor Company-sponsored Caterpillar Tractor Company's Bradley Polytechnic Institute in 1946. This merger was facilitated by Cyrus Hall McCormick, a prominent industrialist and philanthropist, who also supported institutions like Princeton University and Yale University. Bradley University has also been influenced by other notable figures, including Frank Lloyd Wright, who designed the Westcott House in Springfield, Ohio, and Ernest Hemingway, who attended Oak Park and River Forest High School in Oak Park, Illinois.

● Academics

Bradley University offers a wide range of academic programs, including undergraduate and graduate degrees in fields like business administration, engineering, communication, and health sciences. The university is composed of several colleges, including the Foster College of Business, the Caterpillar College of Engineering and Technology, and the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts. These colleges offer programs that are accredited by organizations like the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Bradley University has also established research partnerships with institutions like University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Northwestern University, and University of Chicago, and has collaborated with companies like Caterpillar Inc., John Deere, and Komatsu Limited.

● Campus

The Bradley University campus is located in Peoria, Illinois, and covers an area of over 80 acres. The campus features a mix of modern and historic buildings, including the Geisert Hall, the Renaissance Coliseum, and the Michel Student Center. The university is also home to the Bradley University Art Gallery, which features a collection of works by artists like Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Claude Monet. The campus is situated near other notable institutions, including Illinois Central College, Methodist Medical Center of Illinois, and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, and is accessible via Interstate 74 and U.S. Route 150.

● Student_life

Bradley University offers a range of student life activities, including over 200 student organizations, fraternities and sororities, and club sports. The university is also home to the Bradley University Student Senate, which represents the interests of students and provides funding for student organizations. Students at Bradley University can also participate in study abroad programs in countries like China, Japan, and United Kingdom, and can take advantage of internship opportunities with companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. The university has also established partnerships with institutions like University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London, providing students with access to a global network of academic and professional opportunities.

● Athletics

The Bradley University athletics teams, known as the Bradley Braves, compete in the Missouri Valley Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I. The university offers a range of sports programs, including basketball, soccer, baseball, and volleyball. The Bradley Braves have a long history of competition, dating back to the 1900s, and have won several conference championships, including the Missouri Valley Conference tournament title in 1980 and 1982. The university has also produced notable athletes, including Hersey Hawkins, a former National Basketball Association player, and Chet Walker, a former Major League Baseball player, who also attended Bethune-Cookman University and Grambling State University.

● Alumni

Bradley University has a strong network of alumni, with over 60,000 graduates worldwide. Notable alumni include Jim Petercsak, a former National Football League player, and Bob Goalby, a Professional Golfers' Association of America champion. Other notable alumni include David H. Hickman, a former U.S. Ambassador to Guinea and U.S. Ambassador to Senegal, and Ray LaHood, a former U.S. Secretary of Transportation and U.S. Representative from Illinois's 18th congressional district. Bradley University alumni have also gone on to attend institutions like Harvard University, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and have worked for companies like Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, and IBM. Category:Private universities and colleges in Illinois