Dordt University

Dordt University was founded as Midwest Christian Junior College in 1953.[6] In 1954, a group of men from local Christian Reformed Churches in Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota agreed to establish the college in Sioux Center.[7] It was tentatively referred to as Midwest Christian Junior College,[7] and the first classes were held at the college in the fall of 1955 with about 40 students.[8]

In April 1956, the name was changed to Dordt College.[9] This name was chosen to honor a historic 17th century Reformed church meeting called the Synod of Dordt that took place in the Netherlands in 1618–1619.[6][9]

[T]he name 'Dordt' will constantly remind us of the heritage in which we are rooted and the goals we should strive for. It will give us a constant source of inspiration to continue in the faith of the fathers. It will tell all people everywhere just exactly what we are and what we stand for."[9][10]
Dordt College, as no other name, will express the distinctiveness of our school and the purpose for which it was established, The Spirit of Dordt, its strivings to seek the glory of God in all its thinking...its efforts to be faithful to the Word of God in every detail, summarizes all the things our school should strive for..."[9]

The first graduating class consisted of 18 students in 1957.[11] The first students to earn B.A. degrees graduated in 1965.[6] The college changed its name to Dordt University on May 13, 2019.[12]

Dordt offers over 90 programs of study[13] with over 40[14] majors and 11 pre-professional[15] programs of study. The core is drawn from various academic disciplines—such as language, natural science, and social science. These courses integrate the character and scope of Christian perspective. They provide insight into the nature and demands of contemporary Christian living and help students understand how various aspects of contemporary life are interrelated and how the global culture has developed. These general education courses also supply students with the basic quantitative, analytic, lingual, and physical skills that are essential to the program overall and to their tasks as citizens.

Dordt is accredited to grant bachelor and Master of Education degrees by the Higher Learning Commission.[1][16] Furthermore, the engineering program is ABET accredited,[17] the nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing and the Iowa Board of Nursing[18] and the social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.[19]

Dordt offers more than 25 off-campus study opportunities in countries around the world through its affiliation with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. These countries include Australia, China, France, Ghana, Honduras, Hungary, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, Uganda, and the United Kingdom. Off-campus programs also exist for Chicago,[20] Washington D.C.,[21] and Los Angeles.[21]

Ninety-eight percent of students receive financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. The university awards scholarships based on academic potential and performance (e.g., the Kuyper Honors program[22]), activities (e.g., sports, theater, music), and demonstrated financial need. Over $18.5 million is awarded in financial aid annually, thanks in large part to private donors and alumni.

In 2022, Dordt was ranked number one in Student Engagement for the sixth year in the row[23] by The Wall Street Journal.

The university is located in Sioux Center, Iowa, about 45 miles (72 km) north of Sioux City, and 55 miles (89 km) southeast of Sioux Falls, SD. The campus covers a 115-acre (47 ha) area and includes 25 buildings, eleven for student housing.[24]

The hub of the campus is the Campus Center. The 70,000-square-foot (6,500 m²) facility was constructed in 2002 at a cost of $12.5 million[25] and is open continuously during the academic year. The entry level consists of a campus store, an art gallery, meditation rooms, and a student lounge. The upper level features enhanced-technology classrooms, conference rooms, and various offices. The lower-level houses an activity center, a dining area, a snack bar, and Campus Health. The basement features a recording studio and a game room complete with a four-lane regulation-size bowling alley, as well as foosball and pool tables.[26]

B. J. Haan Auditorium

The B. J. Haan Auditorium seats approximately 1,500 people and is used for chapel services, concerts, organ recitals, and other regional events. Convocation and commencement exercises are also held in "the Beej", as it is called by students. The auditorium features a three-manual, tracker-action Casavant Frères organ with 37 stops, 57 ranks, and 2,865 pipes.[29]

Wikiquote has quotations related to Donald J. Trump's 2016 presidential campaign rally at Dordt University.

The auditorium is adjoined by the Music Building, which also has rehearsal rooms, studios and classrooms, vocal and instrumental practice rooms, and music faculty offices. Its mezzanine also houses the International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education.[30]

The auditorium was the site of a campaign rally by candidate Donald J. Trump on January 23, 2016,[31] during the race for the 2016 Iowa Republican presidential caucuses.

The Dordt athletic teams are called the Defenders. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) since the 2000–2001 academic year.[5] The Defenders previously competed in the defunct South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference (SDIC) from 1995–1996 to 1999–2000.

Dordt competes in 18 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, soccer, track & field and volleyball; while women's sports include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, dance, golf, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball.

• Official website
• Official athletics website