Iowa Wesleyan University
Iowa Wesleyan University is a private four-year liberal arts college in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. It ranks as Iowa's first co-educational institution of higher learning and is the oldest of its type west of the Mississippi River. The university is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The university was founded as the Mount Pleasant Literary Institute in 1842, and was known as Mount Pleasant Collegiate Institute from 1843 to 1855, Iowa Wesleyan University from 1855 to 1912, and Iowa Wesleyan College from 1912 to 2015. The name reverted to Iowa Wesleyan University in 2015. Two  campus buildings, Old Main and the Harlan-Lincoln House, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The latter, the former summer home of Robert Todd Lincoln, is now a museum featuring various artifacts from the Harlan and Lincoln families. History. In 1841 a group of Methodist settlers in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, met and began lobbying the Iowa territorial legislature to establish an institute of higher learning in their burgeoning community. On February 17, 1842, the legislature granted a charter for the Mount Pleasant Literary Institute, soon to be renamed as Mount Pleasant Collegiate Institute. Despite the charter, organization  and fund raising were sluggish at first. Twenty acres of land was donated for the campus by four Mount Pleasant residents in March 1843. That same month, organizing officials hired Reverend Artistides J. Heustis as the institution's first president. From February 1855, the school was known as Iowa Wesleyan University, honoring John Wesley, the founder of Methodism The institution's name was modified to Iowa Wesleyan College in 1912, reflecting its contemporary status as a four-year baccalaureate degree institution of higher learning. On August 10, 2015, Iowa Wesleyan adopted its new name: Iowa Wesleyan University, reflecting its broad  educational opportunities and its roots as one of the oldest four-year co-educational church-related universities west of the Mississippi River. The university occupies a 60-acre central campus of historic red brick buildings and modern structures, including some listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The chapel, built in 1896, received a complete renovation and restoration in the early 21st century. Iowa Wesleyan is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools to offer academic programs 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. Christine Plunkett has been president of the university since August 2019. 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. In the late 1960s, Iowa Wesleyan started its Responsible Social Involvement program or RSI. Now called Service Learning, the program has two main goals: Service Learning allows students direct experience outside the traditional realms of textbooks, classrooms, and professors. Additionally, all students at Iowa Wesleyan are required to  complete an approved internship through the Office of Field Experience. Student life. Iowa Wesleyan University offers many activities for students outside the classroom, including the Student Government Association, the Student Union Board, Intramurals, 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 University. The Beta chapter of Alpha Xi Delta sorority was the oldest sorority on campus, being on campus since 1902. It is the oldest chapter of Alpha Xi Delta in the country. Currently, Iowa Wesleyan University has 3 active  Greek organizations, which include Theta Sigma Rho sorority, Zeta Psi Mu fraternity, and Omega Delta Alpha fraternity. The P.E.O. Sisterhood was founded at Iowa Wesleyan University on January 21, 1869. Greek organizations that have had chapters on campus include: National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) Sororities: North American Interfraternity Conference (IFC) Fraternities Athletics. Iowa Wesleyan athletic teams are the Tigers. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), competing in the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) for football, the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) for wrestling, and the Continental Athletic Conference for all other sports. Iowa  Wesleyan competes in 16 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, track & field and wrestling. Women' sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, track & field, volleyball and wrestling. In 2015 and 2017, the men's basketball teams qualified for the USCAA Division I national tournament. In 2014, 2015 and 2016, the women's basketball teams qualified for the USCAA Division I national tournament. The 2016 team finished as the national runner-up. In 2004, 2005, 2009 and 2011, the men's basketball teams qualified for the NAIA Division II national tournament. In  2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011,the women's basketball teams qualified for the NAIA Division II national tournament. In 2022, the women's basketball team qualified for the NAIA single division national tournament. In 1995, the men's basketball team qualified for the NAIA Division I national tournament. From 1989 to 1991, Hal Mumme was head football coach, with Mike Leach as his offensive coordinator. It was at Iowa Wesleyan that they developed the air raid offense. Conference affiliations. Prior to July 2021, the Tigers were members of the following athletic organizations: