Aurora University

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Aurora University in Aurora, Illinois, USA is a private liberal arts college that admits both male and female students to four-year undergraduate, master's and doctoral degree programs. Aurora University has two campuses: the main campus in Aurora, Illinois and the George Williams campus in Williams Bay, Wisconsin near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

[edit] Academics

Aurora University is organized into three colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education, and the College of Professional Studies. The College of Professional Studies is itself organized into four schools: the Dunham School of Business, the School of Nursing, the School of Health and Physical Education, and the School of Social Work. Aurora University is on a semester academic year with additional May term and either an additional full summer semester or two half-summer terms, depending on the course. Aurora University is a writing intensive school, requiring multiple writing assignments in almost every class. A grade of "C" or better is required to pass mandatory interdisciplinary studies classes such as "cultural diversity and expression" that are also writing intensive and required for graduation from this university.

[edit] History

Aurora University was founded Mendota Seminary in Mendota, Illinois in 1893 for the training of ministers and lay workers of the Advent Christian Church. In its first few years, the seminary changed its name to Mendota College and open its enrollment to the public as a liberal-arts college. In 1911, citizens of Aurora donated land for the construction of a new college. Also that same year, Charles Eckhart, who founded the predecessor of the Auburn Automobile Company, donated money to build the first buildings of what was to become in 1912 Aurora College, the relocated former Mendota College. In 1971 Aurora College legally separated from the Advent Christian Church. In 1985, Aurora College changed its name to Aurora University and organized its degree-granting programs into three colleges.

In 1992, George Williams College, a college established in 1890 by the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) merged into Aurora University. Founded as the YMCA Training School in Chicago, Illinois, it became the YMCA College in 1913 and George Williams College in 1933 before moving near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

[edit] Athletics

Aurora University sponsors 19 teams, which are named the Spartans. The Spartan football team participates in the Illini-Badger Conference and all other Spartans teams participate, as of the 2006-2007 season, in the Northern Athletics Conference, which comprises teams from the former Northern Illinois—Iowa Conference and the Lake Michigan Conference.

[edit] External links and references

• Official website
• Official athletics website
• Campus map