Northwest Nazarene University

Presidents Fred J. Shields 1917–1919 1. H. Orton Wiley 1919–1926 2. Joseph G. Morrison 1926–1927 3. Russell V. DeLong 1927–1932 4. R. Eugene Gilmore 1932–1935 5. Russell V. DeLong 1935–1942 6. L.T. Corlett 1942–1952 7. John E. Riley 1952–1973 8. Kenneth H. Pearsall 1973–1983 9. A. Gordon Wetmore 1983–1992 10. Leon Doane 1992–1993 11. Richard A. Hagood 1993–2008 12. David Alexander 2008–2015 12. Joel Pearsall 2016-2025 13. Mark DeMichael 2025–present Eugene Emerson organized a combination grade school and Bible school in 1913 as Idaho Holiness School. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] It was renamed twice in 1916, first to Northwest Holiness College and then to Northwest Nazarene College, [ 4 ] and then became a liberal arts college in 1917 with degree-granting authority from the Idaho state Board of Education. While the college's first president, elected in 1916, was H. Orton Wiley of Pasadena University , Fred J. Shields filled in as acting president before leaving for the Eastern Nazarene College in 1919, while Wiley finished his graduate work . [ 5 ] Under Russell V. DeLong , Northwest Nazarene College (NNC) received educational accreditation [ 6 ] as a two-year school in 1931 [ 7 ] and as a four-year school in 1937, [ 7 ] making it the first accredited college affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene . [ 8 ] Master's degree programs were added in the 1960s and 1970s. [ 9 ] [ 10 ] It was renamed Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) in 1999. Northwest Nazarene University was granted an exception to Title IX in 2014 which allows it to legally discriminate against LGBT students for religious reasons. [ 11 ]

Nampa Location in the United States Nampa Location in Idaho As one of eight U.S. liberal arts colleges [ 12 ] affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene , [ 13 ] the college receives financial backing from the Nazarene churches in its region. Each college is also bound by a gentlemen's agreement not to actively recruit outside its respective educational region. [ 14 ] NNU is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). [ 15 ] NNU has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) since 1930. [ 6 ]

Northwest Nazarene University has two colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Adult and Graduate Studies. NNU offers over 60 baccalaureate degree programs, 11 master's degree programs, a Ph.D. degree program, and a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in clinical psychology. [ 16 ] In addition to its 90-acre (36 ha) campus in Nampa, the university offers extensive online degree programs and has branch campuses in Boise , Twin Falls , and Idaho Falls .

NNU is a co-educational college. [ 17 ] [ 11 ] LGBTQ students In 2019, NNU was ranked among the "Absolute Worst Campuses for LGBTQ Youth" in the US by Campus Pride . [ 11 ] The Church of the Nazarene Manual 2017–2021 [ a ] states that "we believe the practice of same-sex sexual intimacy is contrary to God’s will for human sexuality". [ 18 ] The university's Notice of Non-discrimination states that "The University maintains the right, with regard to its lifestyle covenant, employment, and other matters, to uphold and apply its religious beliefs related to, among other issues, marriage, sex (gender), gender identity, sexual orientation, and sexual activity." [ 19 ]