Coordinates: 32°24′14″N 96°51′11″W / 32.4038°N 96.8530°W / 32.4038; -96.8530

Nelson University

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Nelson University
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Former names
Southwestern Assemblies of God College (1927–1994)
   Southwestern Bible School
   Shield of Faith Bible School
   Southern Bible Institute
Southwestern Assemblies of God University (1994–2024)
MottoHigher Education for a Higher Purpose
TypePrivate university
Established1927 (1927)
Religious affiliation
Assemblies of God
PresidentKermit Bridges
ProvostKimberly Trewern
Academic staff
125
Students2,012
Undergraduates1,700
Postgraduates312
Location
Waxahachie
,
Texas
,
United States

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CampusSuburban, 70 acres (0.28 km2)
ColorsPurple & gold[1]
   
NicknameLions
Sporting affiliations
NAIA – Sooner
NCCAA Division I – Central
MascotJudah the Lion
Websitenelson.edu
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Nelson University, formerly Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU), is a private Christian university in Waxahachie, Texas, United States. Nelson is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges[2] and endorsed by the Assemblies of God USA.[3] The university offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in liberal arts programs as well as programs in Bible and church ministries.

On August 1, 2024, Southwestern Assemblies of God University changed its name to Nelson University.[4]

History

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Merger

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File:SAGU logo.PNG
Former logo

Nelson University began life as three separate Bible schools. The first, known as Southwestern Bible School, was established in 1927 in Enid, Oklahoma, under the leadership of P.C. Nelson. The second, Shield of Faith Bible Institute, was founded in Amarillo, Texas, in 1931 under the direction of Guy Shields. It included a Bible school, a grade school and a high school. The third, which was operated as Southern Bible College in connection with the Richey Evangelistic Temple, began in 1931 at Goose Creek, Texas (now Baytown), in 1931. It was started by J. T. Little in Trinity Tabernacle and moved to Houston in 1933. The school's name was then changed to Southern Bible Institute.[5]

Discrimination law exception

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Nelson's handbook lists homosexuality as an offense for which a student can be expelled. In 2015, the university was granted an exception to Title IX, allowing it to discriminate against LGBT students for religious reasons. In 2016, the organization Campus Pride ranked the college among the worst schools in Texas for LGBT students.[6] Nelson University responded to the negative ranking by saying that the anti-LGBT student policy is clearly articulated to prospective students before they attend.[7]

In 2008, three members of LGBT rights group Soulforce were arrested for trying to start a protest on campus.[8]

Academics

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Amidst the physical expansion, Nelson University experienced consecutive record enrollments in Fall 2007, Fall 2008, Fall 2009, and Fall 2010, reaching a milestone of 2,064.[9]

Athletics

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The Nelson athletic teams are called the Lions. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Sooner Athletic Conference since the 2013–14 academic year.[10]

Accomplishments

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File:Lumpkins Stadium Waxahachie TX 2016.jpg
Nelson University shares a stadium with Waxahachie High School at Lumpkins Stadium for football.

The 2012–13 school year made 2013 a record-setting year for the Nelson Lions basketball team (then known as the SAGU Lions), with the Lions achieving the NAIA second-place championship ranking.[11][12]

Judah the Lion

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Influenced by Vice President George Brazell's acquisition of a four-month-old lion cub named Judah, Southwestern adopted the "Lion of Judah" as its mascot in 1963.[13][14]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ SACS COC listing Archived 2013-09-11 at the Wayback Machine. SACSCOC.org. Retrieved on 2012-03-22.
  3. ^ AG Colleges Archived 2013-01-22 at the Wayback Machine. AG.org. Retrieved on 2012-03-22.
  4. ^ Nelson University Press Release. SAGU.edu. Retrieved on 2024-03-01.
  5. ^ About SAGU Archived 2015-01-05 at the Wayback Machine Sagu.edu. Retrieved on 2012-05-29.
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  8. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  9. ^ SAGU Sees 8th Consecutive Semester Increase. Sagu.edu. Retrieved on 2012-05-29.
  10. ^ SAGU To Join Sooner Athletic Conference. SAGU.edu. Retrieved on 2012-03-22.
  11. ^ SAGU in NAIA Semifinal Game. NAIA.org. Retrieved on 2012-03-22.
  12. ^ SAGU Setback in National Championship. SAGU.edu. Retrieved on 2012-03-22.
  13. ^ For the Whole World: A History of Southwestern Assemblies of God University, p.134
  14. ^ Mascot – Judah the Lion. Sagu.edu. Retrieved on 2012-05-29.
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