Harding University: A Christ-Centered Education in the Ozarks
Harding University, nestled in Searcy, Arkansas, offers a unique educational experience deeply rooted in Christian values and tradition. Associated with the Churches of Christ, Harding emphasizes the integration of faith into all aspects of university life. This article explores the various facets of Harding University, from its academic programs and campus culture to its historical context and social environment.
A Foundation of Faith and Academics
Harding University provides "a Christ-based, quality education" at "a quiet, beautiful school nestled in the foothills of the Ozarks!" The university is known mostly for "its Christian background and including God [into] daily life." The emphasis on Christianity can't be overstated; it's one of the top Christian Universities where Christ as your focal point is emphasized," and students here "prepare to succeed while growing closer to God."
Harding University is committed to the development of Christian scholarship and ethics and the promotion of citizenship with a global perspective. For many Christian schools, a Christ-centered education is limited to chapel, Bible classes, and high moral standards. At Harding, they strive for more. The goal of a Harding education is the pursuit of enlightened knowledge that allows us to discern truth. They aim to create active citizens and flourishing people who take from their education a strong allegiance to Christ.
Structurally, the university comprises nine separate colleges: the College of Allied Health, the College of Arts & Humanities, the College of Bible & Ministry, the Paul R. Carter College of Business Administration, the Cannon-Clary College of Education, the Carr College of Nursing, the College of Pharmacy, the College of Sciences, and the Honors College. Each college then has its own subdivisions of departments or other sections. The university also has a School of Theology in Memphis.
Harding boasts a 100-year history of placing students just like you in the most prestigious graduate programs, professional schools, and careers. You can go anywhere and achieve anything with a Harding education.
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Campus Life and Social Environment
The university has a "close-knit campus life" and a "great Bible department." Students appreciate Harding's "dedication to God, the physical beauty of the campus, the many options made available to students." Harding is a deeply relational university. They place a high premium on friendship, affirmation, and community, and this supportive culture brings out the best in all of us. With a 16:1 student-faculty ratio and an average class size of 22, you'll be personally mentored by distinguished faculty and build deep relationships with classmates.
Harding is in a small town so students must be creative in order to find extracurricular activities, and many students are trapped in "the Harding bubble." Students looking for a traditional college social life will want to look elsewhere, as Harding's religious views overwhelm the campus. "Since our school is in a dry county and it has religious affiliations, students find other ways than parties to have fun."
There are many things to do on campus such as concerts, sports, games, festivals, and other events," and the student center on campus is "always lively, and it is easy to meet friends there." "Practically everyone around here is obsessed with getting married," and much of social life seems to involve looking for someone to settle down with.
Harding supports a chapter of Kappa Omicron Nu, a national honor society for colleges and universities with a strong humanities program. The university sponsors student-led "social clubs" that serve a similar social networking function to the Greek system, as Harding prohibits the formation of local chapters of national social fraternities and sororities. (One exception is Delta Phi, a chapter of Pi Sigma Epsilon). Most of these organizations have adopted Greek letter names that are similar to national fraternity and sorority names. Social clubs are open to all academically eligible students and serve as some of the university's most visible student-led organizations. The social club induction process begins when clubs host "receptions" in the fall to recruit new members. The membership process culminates in Club Week, when each prospective member bonds with the other members of the club through a series of scheduled activities throughout the week. Harding's social clubs have been involved in hazing controversies over the years.
Rules and Regulations
The school imposes many different moral rules, often with harsh punishments, and "most students have some issue with either the existence of some of the rules or the severity of the punishments." Students at Harding University are expected to maintain the highest standards of Christian morality, integrity, orderliness, and personal honor.
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The university specifies that daily chapel service be held with attendance mandatory for undergraduate students. Harding requires each student enrolled in nine or more hours to regularly attend one Bible class that meets at least three hours a week each semester. Attendance is mandatory, and nonattendance may result in suspension from the university.
The consumption, possession, or storage of alcoholic beverages of any kind is prohibited at Harding University. This prohibition includes on-campus or off-campus locations. Violation of this policy will result in suspension from the university. White County, Arkansas, where Harding is located, is a dry county. The use of nicotine in any form is not permitted at any time, including the use of electronic cigarettes or vaporizers. Single undergraduate students, under the age of 22, are required to live on campus, with limited exceptions. Visiting in the residence of a single member of the opposite sex, even though others are present, without permission from a student life dean, is prohibited. Students are not to visit "inappropriate" places of entertainment such as dance clubs or bars.
Harding explicitly regulates sexual relationships among students and staff. According to the university's student handbook: Harding University holds to the biblical principle that God instituted marriage as a relationship between one man and one woman and that gender identity is given by God and revealed in one's birth sex. Students are prohibited from being married to or dating a person of the same sex. Neither may students engage in behavior suggesting a romantic relationship with a person of the same sex. The University further holds to the biblical principle that sexual relationships outside the context of marriage is unacceptable to God and immoral.
Even some Christian students feel the emphasis on the Churches of Christ beliefs can go too far: "The goal of Harding University is to impose the specific distinctions of our denomination under the pretense of higher education rather than promote learning with a Christian perspective," explains one student. "About 90 percent of students are members of the Church of Christ" and "overly conservative." Students not a part of this specific mindset may encounter problems as students are "very closed to hearing ideas that differ from their own" and "somewhat judgmental toward those that don't have a conservative Church of Christ mindset." Students are "clean cut," "very normal," "spiritually upright, academically good, and friendly." "Everyone is extremely nice," and "the typical student comes from a small town or church of Christ background.
Location and Accessibility
Harding University is located in Searcy, Arkansas. Little Rock National Airport is approximately 50 miles from campus. Take highway 67 north from Little Rock to exit 45. Turn left on Beebe-Capps. The hotels in Searcy are all in the low to medium price range.
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Harding maintains permanent campuses in Florence and Athens. Our Northwest Arkansas location â an extension of Harding University â is located off Interstate 49 in Rogers, Arkansas, within the Ozark mountains. This area includes four of the stateâs largest cities and is home to three Fortune 500 companies.
"Most people spend a great deal of time in the âgreat outdoors,' since the Ozarks are not far from Searcy. Hiking and camping are two of Harding students' most common pastimes," and "some people get their kicks by going to Little Rock or Heber Springs."
A Look into Harding's History
James A. Harding College was founded in Morrilton, Arkansas, in April 1924 after the merging of two separate colleges: Arkansas Christian College of Morrilton, Arkansas, and Harper College of Harper, Kansas. It was named after James A. Harding University first advocated pacifism and political disengagement, in line with its own founding influences like James A. Harding and David Lipscomb as well as with wider trends in many other evangelical Christian movements during late 19th- and early 20th-century America. This trajectory shifted during the Cold War, however.
Harding became involved in the production of a series of animated cartoons extolling the virtues of free-market capitalism. This series, including "Make Mine Freedom" (1948) as well as "Meet King Joe" (1949), were all produced by John Sutherland Productions as part of a concerted campaign to fight against the threats of communism at the beginning of the Cold War using popular media. Funding came from Alfred P. Sloan, the major figure at General Motors Corporation. The animations contrast mainstream American values with the values of Soviet communism. The initiative represented a central concern of Harding president George S. Early in his career, President Benson established the National Education Program to advocate the principles of belief in God, the constitution, and free enterprise, within an "Americanism" program. The NEP coordinated speaking engagements and produced and distributed reprints of Benson's speeches and newspaper columns, short films by a former Walt Disney employee, and other media. This program attracted many donations to Harding, including from Boeing and Gulf Oil. The NEP was initially part of the school's education department, and later the history department, where it was intertwined with the American Studies Program.
During the era of segregation in the United States, the school remained racially segregated for most of the tenure of president George S. Benson, who defended Harding's delay in integrating. He went further, stating that Black people were far better off in the US than in other countries, and that integration would result in destruction of property, the spread of venereal diseases, and increased pregnancies. He also stated that mixed marriages would lead to broken homes and a rise in crime. Benson maintained that mixing of the races was against the divine order. In 1953, Norman Adamson became the first black person accepted to Harding. By 1969 Harding had only 20 black students out of a student body of over 2,000.
In 2020, a former graduate organized a petition drive to rename the Benson auditorium because of Benson's racist views. Facing this controversy and a 23% decline in enrollment over 5 years, the board dismissed McLarty, with former president David Burks resuming control.
Campus Landmarks and Facilities
The campus includes the George S. Benson Auditorium, which sits facing the McInteer Bible and World Missions Center. Brackett Library, the American Studies Building (Education and English departments), the David B. Recent additions have included several dormitories; expansions of the cafeteria, student center, art department, and the David B. Burks American Heritage Building.
After competing in the Ganus Athletic Center from 1976 until 2006, Harding's volleyball and basketball teams moved back to the Rhodes-Reaves Field House. The field house is a round-topped airplane hangar built for France in WWII, and purchased as war surplus by George S. Benson. It was reconstructed on campus in 1947. The Dean L.C. Sears House, named for the first dean of Harding University, was a historic house registered in the National Register of Historic Places. The Reynolds Center was created through and named for philanthropist Donald W.
The facilities for the sporting events are: First Security Stadium, Ganus Activities Complex, Stevens Soccer Complex, Jerry Moore Field (baseball), Berry Family Grandstand (softball), Harding Tennis Complex, and the Rhodes-Reaves Field House. On October 19, 2019, the new indoor football facility was dedicated in honor of longtime football head coach Ronnie Huckeba.
Traditions and Events
Spring Sing is an annual musical production held during Easter Weekend, featuring performances by the social clubs. It is widely attended by current and prospective students, alumni, and Searcy residents. Each year, an overall theme is selected, and each club develops music and choreographed routines for the show. Rehearsals begin as early as January. Spring Sing also typically features two hosts, two hostesses, and a general song and choreography ensemble, with these roles chosen by audition. The ensemble performs to music played by the University Jazz Band. Each club act is judged and, according to their performance, awarded a sum of money.
Alongside publications of the university itself, such as the alumni newsletter Harding Magazine and the yearbook The Petit Jean, students produce their own periodical during the academic year called The Bison.
Academics and Accreditation
Part of the Cannon-Clary College of Education, we offer specialized programs in degree completion (Bachelor of Arts in education) plus masterâs, specialist, and doctoral degrees. Our education programs are all recognized by the Arkansas Department of Education and our graduates who complete all requirements are eligible to receive a license from the state of Arkansas. This license will be recognized per reciprocal agreements with many of the other states. Degree Completion in Education: Complete a two-year program and earn a bachelorâs degree to teach Birth to Kindergarten/Special Education Integrated, K-6 Elementary Education, or 4-8 Middle Level Education after completing an associateâs degree and/or the required prerequisite coursework. Graduate Studies in Education: Become a teacher and further your professional development and career opportunities through graduate programs in education. Mental Health and Wellness: Earn an advanced degree with professors who are invested in developing you as a caring and competent counselor. We offer master's and educational specialist degrees, school counseling and licensed professional counseling degrees as well as a certificate and additional licensure opportunities. Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN): Part of Hardingâs Carr College of Nursing, home of the No. 1 nursing program in Arkansas, our ABSN track blends online accelerated coursework and hands-on learning to put you on the path to success as a confident nurse.
In 1953, Harding established the School of American Studies as an extension of President Benson's National Education Program in order to teach and train students in the founding principles of the United States Constitution.
Harding is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Harding has competed in the NCAA at the Division II level since 1997, beginning in the Lone Star Conference moving in 2000 to the Gulf South Conference and then moving to the newly formed Great American Conference (GAC) in 2011. Men's sports include Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Tennis, and Track and Field.
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