Park University: A Sesquicentennial Legacy of Faith, Work, and Academic Excellence

Park University, a private institution nestled in Parkville, Missouri, boasts a rich history spanning 150 years. From its humble beginnings as Park College in 1875 to its current status as a comprehensive university with a global reach, Park University has remained committed to its founding principles of "Fides et Labor" - Faith and Work. This article delves into the historical milestones, academic offerings, and distinctive features that define Park University.

Founding and Early Years (1875-1900)

Park University was established in 1875 by John A. McAfee on land donated by George S. Park. Originally named Park College for Training Christian Workers, the institution aimed to provide accessible education by offering free tuition and board in exchange for student labor. Students worked in the college's farm, electrical shop, or printing plant for up to half a day. The first academic year saw an enrollment of 17 students, and the inaugural graduating class comprised five women.

John A. McAfee led the college until his death in 1890, after which his son, Lowell M. McAfee, took over as the second president, serving until 1913.

A defining landmark of the campus, Mackay Hall, stands as a testament to the university's early years. Named after Duncan Mackay, an Illinois banker who donated $25,000 for its construction, the building was erected using limestone mined on campus grounds and built by student labor. Construction commenced in 1883 and concluded in 1893. Mackay Hall serves as the main focal point of the campus, overlooking the town of Parkville.

Affiliations and Expansion (1900-2000)

For several decades, Park College maintained an affiliation with the Presbyterian Church. The college's relationship with the military began in 1889 and was significantly expanded in the late 1960s with the establishment of a Military Degree Completion Program and later, in 1972, with the Military Resident Center System.

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In 1912, Albert and Sylvia (Harbaugh) Caldwell, both alumni of the class of 1909, along with their infant son Alden, survived the sinking of the Titanic.

During World War II, in 1942, Park College President Dr. William Lindsay Young accepted nine Nisei (second-generation Japanese Americans) students during World War II.

The college joined the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in 1961.

Park began a degree completion program for military students in 1962.

In 1972, Park launched its first "campus center" - the School for Community Education - in Kansas City, Mo., offering evening and weekend classes for adults. The following year, Park opened its first military campuses and established its Military Resident Center System.

Park formally transitioned its affiliation from the Presbyterian church to the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS; now known as the Community of Christ) in 1979.

The Graduate School of Public Affairs was inaugurated in 1982, later renamed the Hauptmann School of Public Affairs in 2001 in honor of Dr. Jerzy Hauptmann.

Park began offering online education programs in 1996.

Transformation into Park University (2000-Present)

On January 1, 2000, Park College officially became Park University.

In 2001, Dr. Beverley Byers-Pevitts was appointed as Park's first female president.

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The International Center for Music was launched in 2003.

Park University continued to expand its reach, opening a campus center in Gilbert, Arizona, in 2018.

In 2019, Park launched the first collegiate varsity esports program in the Kansas City area.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced classes to be fully online for the second half of the spring semester and hybrid in the fall semester of 2020. Park held its first-ever virtual commencement ceremony in December.

The Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center and School of Business opened in August 2021.

Academic Programs and Colleges

Park University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields, including business, education, liberal arts, and sciences. The university is organized into several colleges and schools, each with its unique focus and offerings.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is at the heart of Park University's commitment to a liberal arts education. It encompasses the Hauptmann School of Public Affairs, the School of Humanities, and the School of Natural and Applied Sciences. The College offers programs in:

Biology
Chemistry
Communication Arts
English
Fine Art
Geography
Graphic Design
History
Interdisciplinary Studies
Interior Design
Mathematics
Music
Political Science
Psychology
Public Administration
Sociology

The College also houses the Honors Academy, the Liberal Education Program, and the George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War.

The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences of Park University prepares graduates who are articulate, literate, reflective, lifelong learners and active global citizens. The College strives to be a leader in providing quality, innovative programs for academic preparation and intellectual growth, through multiple means, in a way that meets the needs of people living in an interdependent world.

Academic Catalogs

Park University provides access to its academic catalogs, which outline the university's programs, courses, and academic policies. Starting in the academic year 2021-22, Park University combined the undergraduate and graduate catalogs into one University Catalog.

University Catalogs:

2025-26 University Catalog
2024-25 University Catalog
2023-24 University Catalog
2022-23 University Catalog
2021-22 University Catalog

Undergraduate Academic Catalogs:

2020-21 Undergraduate Catalog
2019-20 Undergraduate Catalog
2018-19 Undergraduate Catalog
Catalog Amendments (January 2019)
Catalog Amendments (August 2018)
2017-18 Undergraduate Catalog
Catalog Amendments (January 2018)
Catalog Amendments (August 2017)
Catalog Amendments (July 2017)
2016-17 Undergraduate Catalog
Catalog Amendments (August 2016)
Catalog Amendments (January 2017)
2015-16 Undergraduate Catalog
Catalog Amendments
2014-15 Undergraduate Catalog
Catalog Amendments

Graduate Academic Catalogs

Military History Program

Park University offers a Military History B.S. and Military History Minor programs. The B.S. degree program offers focused study of the military through the lenses of history, sociology, geography, and political science. The interdisciplinary Military History degree emphasizes academic excellence through research and analysis. The program introduces students to a wide range of scholarly views of military history, as well as world history from a variety of theoretical perspectives. Students explore the history of warfare itself, military, World War I and World War II, the Cold War, terrorism, American foreign policy, the modern Middle East and more.

Graduates often pursue additional studies or specialized training for jobs such as:

History Professor
Military History Unit Member
Author
Military Analyst
Archivist

Key Historical Events

Park University has commemorated a number of significant historical events over the years.

1875: Park College for Training Christian Workers (later Park University) was founded by George S. Park, John A. McAfee, and Rev. Elisha B. Sherwood.
1879: The first Park graduates, including three women and one man, completed their studies.
1880: Park welcomed its first foreign student from Japan.
1886: Construction began on Mackay Hall, a defining landmark of the campus.
1919: George S. Robb, a 1912 graduate, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service in World War I.
1925: The student body chose "Pirates" as the school's mascot.
1942: Park College President Dr. William Lindsay Young accepted nine Nisei (second-generation Japanese Americans) students during World War II.
1952: Marvin Brooks became the first Black student to graduate from Park.
1962: Park began a degree completion program for military students.
1972: Park launched its first "campus center" in Kansas City, MO.
1973: Park opened its first military campuses and established its Military Resident Center System.
2000: Park College officially became Park University.
2001: Dr. Beverley Byers-Pevitts was named Park’s first female president
2003: The International Center for Music was launched.
2014: The men’s and women’s volleyball teams won NAIA national titles in April and December, respectively.
2018: Park University opened a new residential campus in Gilbert, Ariz.
2019: Park launches the first collegiate varsity esports program in the Kansas City area
2025: The Park University Parkville (Mo.) Campus women’s beach volleyball squad made team history at the end of the month by advancing to the NAIA Women’s Beach Volleyball National Invitational Tournament semifinals for the first time.

The Dr. Jerzy Hauptmann Distinguished Guest Lecture Series

The Park University Dr. Jerzy Hauptmann Distinguished Guest Lecture Series was established through the generosity of alumni, colleagues and friends of Hauptmann upon his 40th anniversary at Park. The lecture series brings outstanding scholars to the Kansas City area to address topics related to Hauptmann’s three areas of study: international politics, public administration and democracy.

Past lecturers and their topics include:

2023 - Dr. Yascha Mounk, “The Great Experiment - How Diversity Protects Democracy”
2022 - Dr. Norma Riccucci, “The Importance of Diverse Workforces in Promoting Democratic Values”
2019 - Dr. Stephen Walt, “Can America Still Have a Successful Foreign Policy?”
2018 - Reggie Robinson, “Walls, Bridges and the Power of Empathy: Leading Effectively Within a Deeply Fragmented Society”
2017 - Alexander Heffner, “The Future of Civil Discourse”
2016 - Dr. Francis Fukuyama, “The Origins of Political Order”

Athletics

The athletic teams of Park University's main campus are known as the Pirates. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and primarily competes in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) since the 2020-21 academic year.

The Department of Athletics at Park University was led by Claude English, Director of Athletics, who was also the Pirates’ men's basketball coach from 1992 to 2005 and retired in 2021.

In 2014, the men’s and women’s volleyball teams won NAIA national titles in April and December, respectively. The women’s team went undefeated with a 40-0 record.

In 2017, the Parkville Campus men’s volleyball program wins its fifth NAIA national title and the Parkville Campus women’s volleyball program wins its second NAIA national title in 2018.

Campus and Locations

The flagship campus of Park University is located in Parkville, Missouri, a historic town on the banks of the Missouri River. The Park University Graduate School is situated in downtown Kansas City. The university also has campuses and campus centers in several other locations, including Independence, Lenexa, Austin, Texas, and Gilbert, Arizona.

The Parkville campus is known for its scenic beauty and historic architecture, including Mackay Hall, which was built by students using limestone quarried from the campus grounds.

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