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User:LyonCollegeKeli/Lyon College

Coordinates: 35°46′40″N 91°37′33″W / 35.77764°N 91.62579°W / 35.77764; -91.62579
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lyon College
MottoPerseverantia Omnia Vincet Deo Volente[1]
Motto in English
Perseverance Conquers All, God Willing.[2]
TypePrivate
Established1872
Religious affiliation
Presbyterian Church
PresidentW. Joseph King
Students672 As of 2018[3]
Location,
35°46′40″N 91°37′33″W / 35.77764°N 91.62579°W / 35.77764; -91.62579
Campus136 acres (0.55 km2)[4]
ColorsCrimson, navy blue, gold[1]
Websitewww.lyon.edu


Lyon College is a private residential liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church and located in Batesville, Arkansas, United States. Founded in 1872, it is the oldest independent college in Arkansas.

History

[edit]

Lyon College is an independent (private) liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.[5] Located in Batesville, Arkansas,[5] the college was founded in 1872 and is the oldest independent college in Arkansas.[6]

In 1871, state leaders narrowed down choices for the potential flagship location of a state college to either Fayetteville or Batesville.[7] Fayetteville and Washington County residents collaboratively offered financial backing to establish the college in Fayetteville. Batesville ultimately lost the bid.[7] However, Reverend Isaac J. Long, along with others involved with the Presbyterian church, decided to open their own college soon after, which they named Arkansas College at Batesville.[8][9] The charter was signed by Governor Ozra Amander Hadley on October 24, 1872.[10]

Morrow Hall was built in 1873[11] as the first permanent building of Arkansas College.

Morrow Hall was the college's first permanent building, occupied in 1873.[10]

The Long family led the college until Dr. Paul M. McCain became president of the college in 1952.[8] It was renamed Lyon College in 1994, after the Lyon family of Arkansas.[12][13] Frank Lyon Sr. served on the board of trustees from 1946 to 1988 and as chairman of the board from 1977 to 1987.[14] Frank Lyon Jr. served on the board for more than 30 years, until his death in 2015.[15] He served as chair of the board for four years.[13] Frank Lyon Jr. and Jane Lyon gave the largest gift in the college's history of $10 million.[16]

W. Joseph King became president in July 2017.[17][18] King succeeded Donald V. Weatherman, who served as president from 2009 until he retired in 2017.[5][19] Melissa Taverner was named provost in February 2018.[20]

Academics and rankings

[edit]

Lyon College is classified as a baccalaureate college by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.[21] The college was included in the 2006 edition of the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Ranking.[22] In 2019, the college was listed at #50 on the "Top Performers of Social Mobility" published by U.S. News & World Report".[23] As of 2020, Lyon College was included country's best liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report.[14][4]

Campus

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The college was originally located in the "downtown" block where the First Presbyterian Church of Batesville now occupies.[24] In the 1920s, the college moved to East End Heights neighborhood, which was later known as the middle campus. The college added more buildings in between 1991 and 1994, including the Holloway Theatre, Lyon Business and Economics Building, President's Residence, Bradley Manor, Upper Division Residence Hall, and Young House.[24] The Derby Center for Science and Mathematics was completed in December 2003, followed by the Kelley Baseball Complex, in January 2004.[24]

In October 2010, a fire damaged the Edwards Commons Dining Hall. The building was named after John W. Edwards and Lucille Welman Edwards, who originally funded the building. Reconstruction of the building began in October 2011.[5][25]

Lyon Building

Lyon college added two new residence halls, named Whiteside and Wilson, in October 2015.[26][27]

Student life

[edit]

Student enrollment was approximately 700, as of December 2016.[5] Lyon College has a Scottish Heritage Program that provides scholarships and is known for hosting the Arkansas Scottish Festival every April.[22] The program also started a campus pipe band that includes Lyon College students, faculty, and staff, along with volunteer musicians from Batesville and surrounding areas.[5][22] The pipe band has performed locally in Arkansas as well as in Scotland.[22]

The college adopted a pet-friendly policy in January 2018 that allows students to own pets while living in the on-campus dormitories. It began offering obedience classes for animals and animal-friendly facilities, including a coffee shop and a dog park called the Schram Bark Park.[28]

The college has a student-run honor code and a freshman orientation system that runs from before the start of freshman year until the end of the first year.[22] Lyon College has a fully endowed, two-week study abroad program called the Nichols Program.[22]

In 2019, Lyon College initiated an Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program and Military Science and Leadership concentration. The program is an affiliate of Arkansas State University ROTC program.[29]

Athletics

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The college has basketball, baseball, cross-country, golf,[30] soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball teams.[22][31][32] In January 2014, the college added men's and women's wrestling to its athletic offerings.[33] The teams play in the American Midwest Conference.[34] Football was added in 2015, which prompted the construction of new residence halls and a 5,500 sq foot field house.[35] The Lyon College football team is part of the Sooner Athletic conference.[36]

The college is the only member of National Association of Collegiate Esports in the state of Arkansas.[37] Lyon College's mascot is the Scots.[35] Kevin Jenkins is the athletic director.[38]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Lyon College Style Guide and Visual Standards". Issuu. February 15, 2016. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  2. ^ "Lyon College Celebrates Founders' Day". Lyon College News. October 22, 2018. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  3. ^ "Lyon College". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Overview of Lyon College". U.S. News & World Report. 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Straumsheim, Carol (14 December 2016). "'Out of the Ashes'". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  6. ^ Humphrey, Mark (19 November 2019). "Jackson Signs With Lyon College". Washington County Enterprise-Leader. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Brooks Blevins (2003). Lyon College: 1872-2002 The Perseverance and Promise of An Arkansas College. Fayetteville, Arkansas: University of Arkansas Press. pp. 6–7. ISBN 978-1-55728-742-7. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Lyon College". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. 7 December 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  9. ^ Brooks Blevins (2003). Lyon College: 1872-2002 The Perseverance and Promise of An Arkansas College. Fayetteville, Arkansas: University of Arkansas Press. pp. 7–10. ISBN 978-1-55728-742-7. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Arkansas College, 1872–1972". Independence County Chronicle. Special issue (14): 6–9. October 1972.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  11. ^ "The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project". Morrow Hall. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  12. ^ Brooks Blevins (2003). Lyon College: 1872-2002 The Perseverance and Promise of An Arkansas College. Fayetteville, Arkansas: University of Arkansas Press. pp. 337–342. ISBN 978-1-55728-742-7. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  13. ^ a b Bowden, Bill (10 November 2015). "Hunter inherited passion, acumen". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  14. ^ a b Dishongh, Kimberly (12 March 2006). "James Frank Lyon Jr. Frank Lyon Jr. is a `stealth philanthropist' with a particular passion for supporting Goodwill Industries and Lyon College. His love of hunting is rooted in respect for conservation and nature's creatures". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  15. ^ "Frank Lyon Jr., prominent businessman, veteran dies at 74". Talk Business & Politics. 10 November 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  16. ^ Gadden, Alex (9 March 2019). "Trust's $1M gift to aid Lyon College students". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  17. ^ Baugh, Kayla (30 July 2017). "Lyon College welcomes new president to Batesville". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  18. ^ Lieberman, Mark (11 June 2018). "'The World Had Moved On'". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  19. ^ Lederman, Doug (11 May 2009). "New Presidents or Provosts: Hong Kong U. of Science and Technology, LaGrange College, Lyon College, SUNY-Albany". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  20. ^ Buffalo, Mark (11 February 2018). "New provost looking toward long-term relationship with Lyon". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  21. ^ Brooks Blevins (2003). Lyon College 1872-2002: the Perseverance and Promise of an Arkansas College (c). Fayetteville, Arkansas: University of Arkansas Press. p. 360. ISBN 978-1-55728-742-7. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g Williams, Helaine R. (11 December 2005). "Wallie Roettger believes that college is still the best investment anyone can make". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  23. ^ "Top Performers on Social Mobility National Liberal Arts Colleges". U.S. News & World Report. 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  24. ^ a b c "Our History". Lyon College. 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  25. ^ "Lyon College revives Edwards Commons". Arkansas Independent Colleges and Universities. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  26. ^ "Lyon College opens new dorms for students". KAIT8. 23 October 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  27. ^ "Lyon College set to expand, build two new dorms". KAIT8. 31 January 2014. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  28. ^ Jaschik, Scott. "To Recruit Students, Welcome Their Pets". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  29. ^ Jared, George (September 3, 2019). "Lyon College offers ROTC program in partnership with ASU". Talk Business. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  30. ^ Hicks, Phil (October 13, 2019). "College Notebook: Tyler's Bryson Smith throws TD pass for Houston". Tyler Morning Telegraph. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  31. ^ "Lyon softball ranked #18 in NAIA Coaches Poll". KAIT8. March 12, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  32. ^ Long, Christina (April 16, 2019). "Columbia College softball sweeps St. Louis College of Pharmacy". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  33. ^ "Lyon College Gets a New Look". Sporting Life Arkansas. 21 January 2014. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  34. ^ Long, Christina (16 April 2019). "Columbia College softball sweeps St. Louis College of Pharmacy". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  35. ^ a b Krueger, John (29 June 2013). "Football returning to Lyon College in 2015". The Baxter Bulletin. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  36. ^ "State sports briefs". Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. October 13, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  37. ^ Walkenhorst, Emily (7 April 2019). "Gaming tourneys planned for ASU". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  38. ^ "Lyon College preps for first football game in 61 years". KAIT8. 8 August 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2019.