North Park University
The private North Park University may found in Chicago, Illinois. It is affiliated with the Christian faith. The Evangelical Covenant Church was the organisation that started its establishment in 1891. More than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled at this institution, which may be found on the north side of Chicago.
The Evangelical Covenant Church in Minneapolis established North Park Theological Seminary in 1891, which was the beginning of the journey that led to the establishment of the university. After relocating to Chicago in 1894, the institution eventually became known as North Park College. In spite of the location's separation from the Loop, it was relocated to its current site at the intersection of Foster and Kedzie. It was situated in close proximity to Swedish-American towns that already existed at the time as well as the recently founded Swedish Covenant Hospital. On June 16, 1894, construction began on what is now known as Old Main, which is the oldest structure on the campus. When this occurred, the school was first referred to by the name North Park for the very first time.
The first few years of North Park's existence were distinguished by a mixture of challenges and victories. During the first several years of the programme, both enrollment and financing were subject to significant swings. P.H. Anderson, who at the time was working as a Covenant missionary in Alaska, turned out to be both an intriguing source of financial support and a significant source of headaches. Anderson made a significant discovery during the gold rush that was going on at the time. In addition, he did give some of the discoveries; nevertheless, there were some dubious circumstances around the claim, which caused friction between the leadership of North Park and the rest of the staff.
David Nyvall was a pioneering leader during that time period. For a good number of years, Nyvall was both the president and a teacher at the Seminary. He is honoured by having the present seminary building named after him: Nyvall Hall.
The school has seen significant growth and development as well as several changes since its inception. In 1958, North Park Junior College transitioned into North Park College, a four-year institution that it had been since it had grown from a two-year college. In 1997, the administration of the school took the decision to once again alter the name of the institution, and North Park University came into being as a result. North Park is today a multicultural institution with an emphasis on diversity; nonetheless, it continues to honour its Swedish American heritage and maintains strong relations with the Evangelical Covenant Church as it did in the past. The University of the Liberal Arts at North Park prides itself on being a Christian institution that is both city-centered and international. The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools as well as the Higher Learning Commission both recognise North Park University as meeting the criteria for accreditation. In addition, the seminary has received accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS-USAC). The previous president of North Park University, David L. Parkyn, stepped down from his position at the conclusion of the 2016-2017 school year. Carl E. Balsam was appointed temporary president in June 2017, and he held that position until August of the following year. In August of 2018, Mary Surridge was inaugurated as the ninth president of the university after being selected for the position.