University of Jamestown

"Jamestown College" redirects here. For the college in Jamestown New York, see Jamestown Community College.
University of Jamestown
Former names
Jamestown College (1883–2013)
MottoLatin: Lux et Veritas
Motto in English
Light and Truth
TypePrivate university
Established1883; 142 years ago (1883)
Religious affiliation
Christian
Academic affiliations
APCU
Endowment$45 million[1]
PresidentPolly Peterson
ProvostPaul J. Olson
Students1,290[1]
Location
Jamestown, North Dakota
,
U.S.

46°54′50″N 98°41′53″W / 46.914°N 98.698°W / 46.914; -98.698
CampusUrban, 110 acres (45 ha))[1]
Colors   
Orange & Black
NicknameJimmies
Sporting affiliations
NAIA – NSAA – ACHA
MascotJimmie
Websitewww.uj.edu

The University of Jamestown is a private Christian[2] university in Jamestown, North Dakota, United States. Founded in 1883 by the Presbyterian Church,[3] it has about 1,300 students enrolled and has been co-educational from its founding. Until August 2013, the school was known as Jamestown College.[4]

History

The Unruh and Sheldon Center for Business and Computer Science

The University of Jamestown was founded as Jamestown College in 1883, but closed during the depression of 1893. The school reopened in 1909 and has remained in operation ever since.

In 1979, Jamestown College's football team went to the NAIA National Championships.[5]

Two graduates of the institution have become Rhodes Scholars.[6]

In 2013, in light of a new master's program and applied doctorate degree program, Jamestown College changed its name to the University of Jamestown.[4]

In 2018, Dr. Robert Badal retired from his position as university president after serving in the role for nearly 16 years. He was succeeded by Dr. Polly Peterson.[7]

Athletics

The Jamestown athletic teams are called the Jimmies. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). For the 2024–25 academic year, the Jimmies are primarily competing in the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA), which they were members from 2013–14 to 2017–18. The Jimmies previously competed in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) from 2018–19 to 2023–24, and in the defunct Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) from 2000–01 to 2011–12, as well as an NAIA Independent within the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) during the 2012–13 school year.

Jamestown competes in 24 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey (Division 1 and Division II), soccer, track and field (indoor and outdoor), volleyball and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, ice hockey, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, track & field (indoor and outdoor), volleyball and wrestling; and co-ed sports include eSports[8] and shotgun sports.

In 2023, the first sanctioned NAIA women's wrestling championship was held at the Harold Newman Arena, on the Jamestown campus.[9]

Jamestown began the reclassification process from the NAIA to NCAA Division II in the 2024–25 season. The Jimmies will join the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) upon gaining full membership into the NCAA starting in the 2025–26 season.[10][11]

Notable people

Alumni

Faculty

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "University of Jamestown - Best Colleges - Education - U.S. News & World Report". USNews.com. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  2. ^ "Our Mission". University of Jamestown. 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  3. ^ "Our History". University of Jamestown. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Jamestown College is now University of Jamestown" (Press release). University of Jamestown. August 21, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
  5. ^ "NAIA Football Championship History" (PDF). naia.org. National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. 2008-01-03. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-29. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
  6. ^ "Rhodes Scholarships: Number of Winners by Institution" (PDF). U.S. Rhodes Scholarships: Number of Winners by Institution, U.S. Rhodes Scholars 1904–2018.
  7. ^ Norman, Keith (February 16, 2018). "West Fargo Pioneer, 'University of Jamestown president to retire'". InForum. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  8. ^ Fairbanks, Katies. "UJ starting up eSports team". The Jamestown Sun. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  9. ^ "Women's Weekly: Chasing College Wrestling History - FloWrestling". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  10. ^ "NSIC extends invitation to the University of Jamestown". northernsun.org. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  11. ^ "UJ Joins Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference". University of Jamestown. 2023-11-21. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  12. ^ Shapiro, T. Rees (2017-06-03). "George W. Johnson, college president who transformed GMU, dies at 88". Washington Post. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  13. ^ "John Knauf". www.ndcourts.gov. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Jamestown College – Women's Wrestling Program History". Archived from the original on 2011-01-21.
  15. ^ "Raquel Pa'aluhi – Invicta Fighting Championships".