Geneva College Geneva College is a Christian liberal arts college in Beaver Falls , Pennsylvania , United States , north of Pittsburgh . Founded in 1848 , in Northwood , Logan County , Ohio , the college moved to its present location in 1880 , where it continues to educate a student body of about 1400 traditional undergraduates in over 30 majors , as well as graduate students in a handful of master ' s programs . It is the only undergraduate institution affiliated with the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America ( RPCNA ) . The stated mission of the college is " to glorify God by educating and ministering to a diverse community of students for the purpose of developing servant - leaders , transforming society for the kingdom of Christ . " In 1967 , the board of trustees adopted the " Foundational Concepts of Christian Education , " which continues to guide the institution . The college ' s undergraduate core curriculum emphasizes the humanities and the formation of a Reformed Christian worldview . History . Geneva College was founded in 1848 in Northwood , Ohio , by John Black Johnston , a minister of the RPCNA . Originally called " Geneva Hall " , the college was named after the Swiss center of the Reformed faith movement . After briefly closing during the American Civil War , the college continued operating in Northwood until 1880 . By that time , the college leadership had begun a search for alternate locations that were closer to urban areas . After considering several locations in the Midwest , the denomination chose the College Hill neighborhood of Beaver Falls , Pennsylvania . The college constructed its current campus on land donated by the Harmony Society . Old Main , the oldest building on campus , was completed in 1881 . The most recent major campus construction project to be completed was the construction of the Rapp Technical Design Center in 2002 . A major project to reroute Pennsylvania Route 18 , which runs through the campus , was completed in November 2007 . Improvements to Reeves Stadium and the construction of a campus entrance and pedestrian mall were completed in time for the fall semester in 2009 . On December 15 , 2006 , the college filed a federal lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , alleging that a decision by the state to block the college from participating in the state sponsored CareerLink job service amounted to a violation of the college ' s First Amendment rights . In response , the state argued that the college ' s requirement that faculty and staff members subscribe to the Christian religion amounted to discrimination , to which the college responded that the faculty religious test constituted a bona fide occupational qualification under existing federal employment law . The lawsuit was co - sponsored by the Association of Faith - Based Organizations and argued by the Christian Legal Society . In April 2007 , the college reached a settlement with CareerLink in U . S . District Court in Pittsburgh . Geneva ' s right to access to CareerLink will be restored and the college will retain the statement on its employment applications stating , " Compliance with Geneva ' s Christian views is considered a bona fide occupational qualification . . . and will have a direct impact on employment consideration . " In February 2012 , Geneva College President Ken Smith announced a new federal lawsuit against the Obama administration ’ s mandate that religious employers provide abortifacients , sterilization , and contraception to employees regardless of religious or moral objections . Administration . Two bodies oversee the administration of the college , the Board of Corporators and the Board of Trustees ; while the Corporators are the official legal owners of the college , in practice most authority is delegated to the Trustees , who are elected by the Corporators . Both Boards drafted the philosophical basis on which the college rests , known as the Foundational Concepts of Higher Education . The RPCNA still takes an active sponsorship and oversight role in the college : the college president , chaplain , and chairman of the Department of Biblical Studies must be members of the RPCNA , and all members of the Board of Corporators and the majority of the Board of Trustees must be RPCNA members . All professors and lecturers in the Department of Biblical Studies must subscribe to the Westminster Confession of Faith , and all full - time faculty and staff members must submit a written statement confessing faith in Jesus Christ and the Christian religion . Academics . Geneva offers undergraduate degree programs in the arts and sciences , such as elementary education , business , engineering , student ministry , biology , and psychology . In 2006 , the Educational Testing Service ( ETS ) rated the Business and Accounting undergraduates in the 95th percentile amongst American colleges . Geneva offers a Degree Completion Program ( DCP ) for degrees in Human Resource Management , Community Ministry or Organizational Development for adult students mainly at off - campus locations . Geneva also established the Center for Urban Theological Studies in Philadelphia and has sister colleges in Taiwan ( Christ College ) and Korea ( Chong Shin College and Theological Seminary ) . Geneva also offers graduates studies in several fields . These include a Master of Business Administration , a Masters of Science in Organizational Leadership , Masters of Education in Reading or Special Education , and Masters of Arts in Counseling or Higher Education . Geneva established the Center for Technology Development in 1986 for providing research , prototyping and technical support to local industries and entrepreneurs . The Center was awarded first prize in the Consolidated Natural Gas Company ’ s Annual Award of Excellence competition in 1990 . Affiliations and accreditations . Geneva College is a member institution of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities , Council of Independent Colleges , and National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities . Accreditations include the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools , Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology , Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs , American Chemical Society and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs . Athletics . Geneva ' s sports teams are called the Golden Tornadoes . The college is a dual member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) Division III and National Christian College Athletic Association ( NCCAA ) Division I . The Golden Tornadoes compete as a member of the Presidents ' Athletic Conference . Geneva formerly was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics ( NAIA ) for many years , and competed in the now - defunct American Mideast Conference . Geneva joined the NCAA as a provisional member in 2007 and during the transition process was not eligible for post season play or conference Player of the Week honors until gaining membership in July 2011 . The school offers a range of men ' s and women ' s varsity sports , including football , baseball , softball , basketball , volleyball , track & field , cross country , tennis , and soccer . Football . Football competition began in 1890 under head coach William McCracken . Over the years , the football team has amassed an all - time record of 496 wins , 437 losses , and 48 ties with five appearances in the Victory Bowl . The current football coach is Geno DeMarco . Culture and traditions . Students must attend a designated number of weekly college - sponsored chapels to qualify for graduation . Alcohol is banned from the campus , and tobacco use is restricted to a purpose - built gazebo near Pearce Hall . Greek letter fraternities and sororities are not permitted . One of the earliest college basketball games in the United States occurred at Geneva College on April 8 , 1893 when the Geneva College Covenanters defeated the New Brighton YMCA . Geneva commemorates this event through the athletic slogan of " The Birthplace of College Basketball " . Geneva also has one of the oldest basketball courts in collegiate sports in the Johnson Gymnasium . Geneva was founded by Scottish and Scots - Irish immigrants . Many names of campus buildings and areas bear Scottish names : Geneva sports teams were nicknamed the " Covenanters " until the 1950s . Members of the RPCNA are sometimes referred to as Covenanters because the denomination traces its roots to the Covenanting tradition of Reformation era Scotland . The modern sports nickname of " Golden Tornadoes " commemorates the " Golden Tornado " of May 11 , 1914 when a major tornado struck the college , most notably taking the gold colored roof from the top of Old Main , which was the origin of the associated color . Although the storm caused significant damage to the campus , there were no serious injuries . College students and faculty rejoiced at what they believed was a sign of God ' s mercy . Geneva ' s traditional sports rivalry is with Westminster College in nearby New Wilmington , Pennsylvania . Facilities . Residence halls . Full - time undergraduate students between ages 17 and 23 are required to live in college housing , with the exception of commuters and some seniors . Six dorms — Clarke , Geneva Arms , McKee , Memorial , Pearce , and Young — house resident students . Geneva Arms and Young are apartment - style options divided into men ' s and women ' s wings . The college also operates six smaller houses , primarily for upperclassmen . Other places on campus . The following structures are owned by the college , but currently not being used for any activities or events . Notable Alumni . Cal Hubbard - NFL tackle and American League baseball umpire . Only person inducted in both Pro Football Hall of Fame and National Baseball Hall of Fame . Silvio Anthony Ciccone - the father of the entertainer Madonna