Iowa Wesleyan College Iowa Wesleyan College is a private four - year liberal arts college of the United Methodist Church located in Mt . Pleasant , Iowa . History . Iowa Wesleyan is recognized as a pioneer in higher education in America . Founded in 1842 , it ranks as the second oldest coeducational college located west of the Mississippi River . Iowa Wesleyan was originally founded as Iowa Wesleyan University which switched to Iowa Wesleyan College in 1912 . Among its innovations include unique concepts of undergraduate lab science , career experience , and service learning . The college occupies a central campus of historic red brick buildings and modern structures , including National Register of Historic Places designates Old Main and the Harlan - Lincoln House . The Chapel , erected in 1896 , recently received a complete renovation and restoration . Iowa Wesleyan is fully accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools to offer academic program leading to the Bachelor of Arts , Bachelor of Science , and Bachelor of Music Education degrees . Undergraduate enrollment at the college is approximately 600 full - time students . Dr . Jay K . Simmons took office as the college ' s 28th president in July 2008 . Dr . Simmons has since announced that he is leaving Iowa Wesleyan in the summer of 2013 to assume the presidency of Simpson College in Indianola , Iowa . Dr . Steven E . Titus has been named his successor . Academic programs . Students at Iowa Wesleyan can gain a variety of degrees in the fields of Business , Education , Fine Arts , Human Studies , Language and Literature , Nursing , and Science Math and Computer Science . Being ahead of the time , Iowa Wesleyan started its Responsible Social Involvement program , or " RSI " in the late 1960s . This program is now called Service Learning has two main goals : 1 : Service to the Greater Community , and 2 : Having students participate more actively in their own education . Service Learning allows students hands - on experiences outside the traditional realms of textbooks , classrooms , and professors . Student life . Iowa Wesleyan College offers many activities for students to get involved with outside the classroom , including the Student Government Association , the Student Union Board , Intramurals , College Radio ( IWCR ) , Hall Councils , Student Ambassadors , as well as a number of performing groups such as the Concert Choir . Greek life . Greek Life has a rich history at Iowa Wesleyan College . Currently there is only once active chapter on campus , the Beta chapter of Alpha Xi Delta Sorority , which has been on campus since 1902 , and is the oldest chapter of Alpha Xi Delta in the country . The P . E . O . Sisterhood was also founded at Iowa Wesleyan College on January 21 , 1869 . Other Greek Organizations which have been on campus : National Panhellenic Conference ( NPC ) Sororities Pi Beta Phi , 1868 – 2004 Phi Mu , 1914 – 1943 Zeta Tau Alpha , 1918 – 1987 North American Interfraternity Conference ( IFC ) Fraternities Phi Delta Theta , 1871 – 2009 Beta Theta Pi , 1868 – 1915 Delta Tau Delta , 1875 – 1980 Sigma Phi Epsilon , 1913 – 1976 Lambda Chi Alpha , 1924 – 1974 Tau Kappa Epsilon , 1947 – 1954 Phi Kappa Tau , 1968 – 1984 Athletics . Iowa Wesleyan teams are known as the Tigers . The college is currently a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association ( USCAA ) and an exploratory member The National Collegiate Athletic Association as a Division III Independent member ; while the football team competes in the Mid - States Football Association Midwest League . The Tigers were formerly part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics ( NAIA ) , primarily competing in the Midwest Collegiate Conference ( MCC ) until the end of the 2011 - 12 season . Men ' s sports include baseball , basketball , cross country , football , golf , soccer and track & field ; while women ' s sports include basketball , cross country , golf , soccer , softball , track & field and volleyball . In October 2011 , the Board of Trustees voted to apply for membership in the NCAA Division III by January 15 , 2012 . With its application to the NCAA , Iowa Wesleyan will pursue admission to the St . Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference ( SLIAC ) . In 2009 , for the second time in college history , both the men ' s and women ' s teams qualified for the NAIA National Basketball Tournament . The last time both teams made it to the tournament simultaneously was in 2006 . From 1989 - 1991 , Hal Mumme was head football coach , with Mike Leach as his offensive coordinator , and it is at Iowa Wesleyan that they developed the " Air Raid " offense . Alumni . Noted college alumni include : References . 1 . Baird ' s Manual of American College Fraternities , 20th Edition