View source for Lipscomb University

{{Short description|Christian university in Nashville, Tennessee, US}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Lipscomb University
 | former_name            = Nashville Bible School (1891–1918)<br />David Lipscomb College (1918–1988)
 | image                  = Lipscomb Seal.svg
 | image_upright          = 0.7
 | motto                  = "The Truth Shall Make You Free" – [[Gospel of John|John]] 8:32
 | established            = {{start date and age|1891}}
 | type                   = [[Private university]]
 | religious_affiliation  = [[Churches of Christ]]
 | chairman               = Richard G. Cowart <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/education/lipscomb-taps-attorney-as-board-of-trustees-chair/article_cbff57f2-e853-11ed-a0c2-8b9d0db94706.html | title=Lipscomb taps attorney as board of trustees chair | date=May 2023 }}</ref>
 | president              = [[Candice McQueen]]
 | provost                = Jennifer W. Shewmaker<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lipscomb.edu/news/higher-ed-veteran-jennifer-shewmaker-appointed-lipscomb-universitys-chief-academic-officer |title=Higher ed veteran Jennifer Shewmaker appointed Lipscomb University's chief academic officer |date=June 22, 2022 |publisher=Lipscomb University |access-date=June 23, 2022}}</ref>
 | endowment              = $117.3 million (2024)<ref>[https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_audit/2024-05-GSAFAC-0000353523]</ref>
 | faculty                = 238 (Full-time) & 298 (Part-time)<ref name="nces.ed.gov">{{Cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Lipscomb+University&s=all&id=219976|title=College Navigator - Lipscomb University|website=nces.ed.gov}}</ref>
 | students               = 4,704 (Fall 2022) <ref name="nces.ed.gov"/>
 | undergrad              = 2,955 (Fall 2022)<ref name="nces.ed.gov"/>
 | postgrad               = 1,749 (Fall 2022) <ref name="nces.ed.gov"/>
 | city                   = [[Nashville, Tennessee]]
 | country                = U.S.
 | campus                 = Suburban, {{convert|113|acre}}
 | sports_nickname        = [[Lipscomb Bisons|Bisons]]
 | mascot                 = LU the [[American bison|Bison]]
 | athletics_affiliations = [[NCAA Division I]] – [[ASUN Conference|A-Sun]]
 | colors                 = {{color box|#331E54}}{{color box|#F4AA00}} Purple & gold<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.lipscomb.edu/uploads/28032.pdf |title=Lipscomb University Brand Identity Guide and Stylebook |date=January 1, 2016 |access-date=April 10, 2016}}</ref>
 | affiliations           = [[Council for Christian Colleges and Universities|CCCU]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cccu.org/members_and_affiliates|title=Search CCCU Institutions – CCCU|date=July 26, 2016}}</ref><br />[[National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities|NAICU]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.naicu.edu/member_center/members.asp|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109231238/http://www.naicu.edu/member_center/members.asp|url-status=dead|title=NAICU – Member Directory|archivedate=November 9, 2015}}</ref><br />[[Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association|TICUA]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ticua.org/about/member_institutions|title=TICUA Member Institutions}}</ref>
 | website                = {{URL|www.lipscomb.edu}}
 | logo                   = Lipscomb Logo.svg
 | logo_size              = 250px
}}

'''Lipscomb University''' is a [[Private university|private]] Christian university in [[Nashville, Tennessee]], United States. It is affiliated with the [[Churches of Christ]]. The campus is located in the [[Green Hills, Nashville, Tennessee|Green Hills]] neighborhood of Nashville; it also maintains one satellite location called "Spark" in [[Downtown Nashville]] to serve the business community.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2016/05/05/downtowns-newest-tenant-125-year-old-university.html |title=Downtown's newest tenant: 125-year-old university with ambition to grow |work=Nashville Business Journal |first=Adam |last=Sichko |date=May 5, 2016 |access-date=September 23, 2017}}</ref> Total student enrollment for the fall 2022 semester was 4,704, which included 2,955 undergraduate students and 1,749 graduate students. Lipscomb has been rated the #3 Best College in Tennessee.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges/s/tennessee/ | title=2025 Best Colleges in Tennessee }}</ref>

==History==

Lipscomb University was founded in 1891 by [[David Lipscomb]] and [[James A. Harding]]. The campus grounds consist predominantly of the former estate of David Lipscomb, who donated it to the school. The school was always intended to function as a Christian [[liberal arts]] institution. It is still affiliated with the [[Churches of Christ]] and a [[seminary]] is part of the university.

In an early catalog, the founders expressed their views about providing a liberal education that included Christian underpinning:

{{blockquote|text=We purpose to present in the way of a liberal education as extensive a curriculum as can be found in any school, college, or university in the land, and at the same time to thoroughly drill its students in the Bible, the divine source of wisdom and goodness. It was not our design to make professional preachers, but to train males and females, young and old, all who might become members of the school, for the greatest usefulness in life. Each student is left to choose his own calling.|sign=James A. Harding|source=Course Catalog, 1896–97}}

Several prominent Church of Christ [[minister (Christianity)|ministers]] received at least a portion of their [[higher education]] here. The university remains thoroughly affiliated in the Churches of Christ: Potential full-time, undergraduate faculty must prove their membership in a Church of Christ before being hired.<ref name="University Faculty">{{cite web |title=What it means to work at Lipscomb – Human Resources |url=http://www.lipscomb.edu/hr/to-work-at-lipscomb |publisher=Lipscomb University |access-date=December 10, 2015}}</ref>

Its original name was the '''Nashville Bible School''', which was changed to '''David Lipscomb College''', then to Lipscomb University. Lipscomb graduated its first senior class in 1948. In 1954, the [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]] granted Lipscomb its first accreditation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Institution Details |url=http://www.sacscoc.org/details.asp?instid=25520 |publisher=Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |access-date=February 26, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306044753/http://www.sacscoc.org/details.asp?instid=25520 |archive-date=March 6, 2014 }}</ref> In 1988, Lipscomb attained Level III (master's degree-granting) status and became known as Lipscomb University.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

Some academic buildings were built with tax-exempt municipal bonds, and, because Lipscomb is a Christian school, this led to an extended lawsuit on the basis of whether or not a private religious institution is allowed to use public bonds. This case was debated for many years and ultimately made it to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]].<ref>{{cite court |litigants=Industrial Development Board of Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County v. Harry E. Steele, et al. |vol=537 |reporter=U.S. |opinion=1188 |pinpoint= |court= |date=2003 |url=}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=February 2024}}

In September 2020, Lipscomb announced that it would be merging with the [[Austin Graduate School of Theology]] in Austin, Texas. The merger would become official in January 2021, with Lipscomb managing all of AGST's affairs and expanding their course offerings. Later, AGST folded due to financial troubles.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Austin Graduate School of Theology, Lipscomb University announce merger|url=https://www.lipscomb.edu/news/austin-graduate-school-theology-lipscomb-university-announce-merger|access-date=2020-09-07|website=Lipscomb University|language=en}}</ref>

===Presidents===
[[Image:DavidLipscomb.jpg|thumb|[[David Lipscomb]] co-founded the Nashville Bible School in 1891.]]
There have been 14 superintendents or presidents of Lipscomb over 18 administrations.
*[[James A. Harding]] (1891–1901)
*William Anderson (1901–1905)
*J. S. Ward (1905–1906)
*E. A. Elam (1906–1913)
*J. S. Ward (1913)
*[[H. Leo Boles]] (1913–1920)<ref name="tennesseanobitboles">{{cite news |title=Dr. H. Leo Boles, Churchman, Dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/143272142/?terms=%22H.%2BLeo%2BBoles%22 |access-date=October 4, 2018 |work=The Tennessean |date=February 8, 1946|page=9|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|url-access=registration }}</ref>
*A. B. Lipscomb (1920–1921)
*H. S. Lipscomb (1921–1923)
*H. Leo Boles (1923–1932)<ref name="tennesseanobitboles"/>
*[[Batsell Baxter]] (1932–1934)
*[[E. H. Ijams]] (1934–1943)<ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-Lipscomb President E. H. Ijams Services Set |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/111853816/?terms=%22E.%2BH.%2BIjams%22 |access-date=October 5, 2018 |work=The Tennessean |date=July 16, 1982|page=30|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|url-access=registration }}</ref>
*[[Batsell Baxter]] (1943–1946)
*Athens Clay Pullias (1946–1977)
*G. Willard Collins (1977–1986)
*Harold Hazelip (1987–1997)
*Steve Flatt (1997–2005)
*[[L. Randolph Lowry III]] (2005–2021)
*[[Candice McQueen]] (2021–present)

The Nashville Bible School was co-founded in 1891 by college founders David Lipscomb and James A. Harding.  David Lipscomb never served as president, but as chairman of the board of trustees. James A. Harding served as the school's first superintendent.

{{Infobox US university ranking
| USNWR_NU = 212 of 443
| Wamo_NU = 416 of 442
}}

==Campus==
[[Image:WTN EVula 152.jpg|upright|thumb|The Allen Bell Tower]]<br />[[Image:WTN EVula 153.jpg|thumb|Bison Square]]

The James D. Hughes Center houses all the university's health-science programs and the physician assistant program. The Nursing and Health Sciences Center next door houses the graduate College of Nursing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lipscomb.edu/news/health-science-programs-consolidated-renovated-hughes-center|title=Health science programs consolidated into renovated Hughes Center |website=lipscomb.edu|date=January 31, 2019 |access-date=2019-02-04}}</ref>

Lipscomb has announced plans for a new College of Business building and a new performing arts center.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lipscomb.edu/news/lipscombleads-largest-giving-campaign-institutional-history-250-million-goal|title=LIPSCOMBLEADS is largest giving campaign in institutional history, $250 million goal |website=lipscomb.edu|date=January 31, 2019 |access-date=2019-02-04}}</ref>

==Student life==
[[File:2012-06-09 Ilibagiza + Ramsey at Lipscomb.jpg|thumb|left|[[Immaculée Ilibagiza]] (left), survivor of the [[Rwandan genocide]], at the Christian Scholars' Conference in 2012.]]

Lipscomb does not have [[fraternities and sororities]]. Rather, it has social clubs, which are local and unique to Lipscomb University and are not part of any national Greek system.<ref name="socialclubs">{{cite web |url=https://www.lipscomb.edu/gogreek/social-clubs |title=Social Clubs |publisher=Lipscomb University |access-date=January 28, 2018}}</ref>

''The Babbler'' is the defunct student newspaper and was published weekly during the spring and fall semesters. The title of the publication came from [[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] 17:18 which in part says "What does this babbler have to say?"<ref name="babbler">{{cite web |url=http://babbler.lipscomb.edu/page.asp?SID=144&Page=468 |title=About ''The Babbler'' |work=Lipscomb.edu |access-date=March 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207053946/http://babbler.lipscomb.edu/page.asp?SID=144&Page=468 |archive-date=February 7, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> ''The Backlog'' is the school's yearbook and is published annually. The Lumination Network, the school's converged student media outlet, replaced the weekly ''Babbler'' and is tied heavily with the academic program of the Department of Communication and Journalism.<ref name="lumination">{{cite web |url=http://www.luminationnetwork.com |title=Lumination |access-date=August 27, 2010}}</ref>  "Lumination Network is Lipscomb University's official student news service."<ref>{{cite web |title=Lumination Network |url=http://luminationnetwork.com/ |website=Lumination Network |publisher=Lipscomb University |access-date=10 July 2023}}</ref> An independent student newsletter, the ''Lipscomb Underground'', provided unfiltered student opinion for the campus.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lipscombunderground.com |title=The Lipscomb Underground |website=The Lipscomb Underground |access-date=February 24, 2017}}</ref> The LU originally ran from 1994 to 2008, resurfacing in 2016, and persisting on Twitter until 2018. The name ''Lipscomb Underground'' comes from the musical ''[[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]]'' which in part says "Make for the sewers, go underground!"<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://lipscombunderground.tripod.com/history.html |title=The History of the Lipscomb Underground |publisher=The Lipscomb Underground |access-date=February 24, 2017}}</ref>
[[File:WTN EVula 146.jpg|thumb|An example of the bison painted by students by Collins Alumni Auditorium]]

==Student body==

{{as of|2023}}, Lipscomb University had 39% male students and 61% female students.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lipscomb University Student Life |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/lipscomb-3486/student-life |website=US News and World Report |access-date=21 September 2023}}</ref>

==Athletics==
{{main|Lipscomb Bisons}}

{{see also|Lipscomb Bisons men's basketball}}

[[File:Lipscomb athletics wordmark.svg|thumb|Lipscomb Bisons logo]]

Lipscomb athletic teams are the Bisons. The university is a member of the [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] level of [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA), primarily competing in the [[ASUN Conference]].{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

Lipscomb competes in 17 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis and track & field (indoor and outdoor); women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

The university has an ongoing sports rivalry with [[Belmont University]], just {{convert|3|mi|km}} down the road from Lipscomb. Traditionally, basketball games between the two schools are called the "[[Battle of the Boulevard]]". In 2006, the rivalry reached a new level when Belmont and Lipscomb advanced to the finals of the Atlantic Sun tournament at the [[ETSU/Mountain States Health Alliance Athletic Center|Memorial Center]] in [[Johnson City, Tennessee]], with the winner earning its first-ever bid to the [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA tournament]]. Belmont won 74–69 in overtime.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=260632057 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519154127/http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=260632057 | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 19, 2017 | title=Belmont 74–69 Lipscomb (Mar 4, 2006) Game Recap }}</ref> Lipscomb was invited to the [[National Invitation Tournament]] as the regular-season conference champion, "the program's first-ever post-season appearance."<ref>the program's first-ever post-season appearance</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://lipscombsports.com/news/2006/3/12/IMPORTED_STORY_2656_2656.aspx | title=Bisons traveling NIT road to el Paso | date=March 12, 2006 }}</ref>

In 2019, Lipscomb made the [[National Invitation Tournament|NIT]] basketball finals, falling to the [[Texas Longhorns]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/2019/04/04/lipscomb-basketball-texas-nit-2019-final-live-score-updates/3312952002/|title=Lipscomb's run in the NIT ends with loss to Texas in championship game|first=Erik|last=Bacharach|website=The Tennessean}}</ref>

==Notable alumni==
{{alumni|date=February 2024}}

=== Academia ===

* [[Michael F. Adams]] (1970), retired president of the [[University of Georgia]], former chancellor of [[Pepperdine University]]
* [[William S. Banowsky]], fourth president of [[Pepperdine University]]
* [[Richard Batey|Richard A. Batey]] (H.S. 1951, David Lipscomb College 1955), [[New Testament]] scholar
*[[Douglas A. Foster]] (1974), author and scholar known for his work on the history of Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement
* [[Judy Hample|Judy G. Hample]] (1969), former Chancellor of the [[Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education]] (PASSHE)
*[[David Edwin Harrell]] (1954), historian at [[Auburn University]]
* [[Candice McQueen]], current president of Lipscomb University, past Commissioner of the [[Tennessee Department of Education]]
* [[Howard A. White]], fifth president of [[Pepperdine University]]
*[[M. Norvel Young]], third president of [[Pepperdine University]]

=== Athletics ===

* [[Casey Bond]] (2009), actor, former professional baseball player
* [[Rex Brothers]] (2011), professional baseball player for the [[Atlanta Braves]]
* [[Caleb Joseph]] (2010), professional baseball player for the Baltimore Orioles
* [[Garrison Mathews]] (2019), professional basketball player for the [[Houston Rockets]]
* [[John Pierce (basketball)|John Pierce]] (1994), [[college basketball]] all-time/all-division scoring leader with 4,230 points<ref name="tshf">{{cite news |title=Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame bio |url=http://tshf.net/halloffame/john-pierce/ |work=Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=February 14, 2021}}</ref>

=== Medicine ===

* [[John Ridley Stroop|J. Ridley Stroop]] (1921), psychology and biblical professor, known for his interference research in [[experimental psychology]] known as the [[Stroop effect|Stroop Effect]]
*[[Edwin Trevathan]] (1977), physician and public health leader, currently director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Edwin Trevathan, M.D., M.P.H. {{!}} Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health|url=https://www.vumc.org/global-health/person/edwin-trevathan-md-mph|access-date=2021-09-21|website=www.vumc.org}}</ref> former national center director at the U.S. [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] (CDC), former [[Provost (education)|provost]] at [[Baylor University]].

=== Music and arts ===

* [[Kelsea Ballerini]] (2012), country music singer and songwriter
* [[Pat Boone]] (H.S. 1952), singer
* [[John Craton]] (1977), classical composer
* [[Jim Jinkins]] (1975), creator of the animated ''[[Doug (TV series)|Doug]]'' series
* [[Dustin Lynch]] (2007), country music singer and songwriter
* [[Michael Shane Neal]] (1991), portrait artist
* [[NIKI (singer)|NIKI]], [[Indonesia]]n singer and songwriter
* [[Monty Powell]] (1984), multiple award-winning country music singer, songwriter and producer
* [[Thomas Rhett]] (2011), country music singer and songwriter
* [[Marty Roe]] (1984), lead singer of the country music band [[Diamond Rio]]
* [[Ray Walker (singer)|Ray Walker]] (1956), bass singer for [[The Jordanaires]] quartet

=== Politics ===

*[[LaMar Baker]] (1938), former [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] from [[Tennessee's 3rd congressional district|TN-03]]
* [[David French (political commentator)|David French]] (1991), ([[pundit|political commentator]])
* [[Beth Halteman Harwell|Beth Harwell]] (1978), former Tennessee [[Tennessee House of Representatives|State Representative]], first female [[Tennessee House of Representatives|Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives]], candidate for [[governor of Tennessee]] in the [[2018 Tennessee gubernatorial election|2018 election]]
*[[James Lomax]], member of the Alabama House of Representatives
*[[Kerry Roberts]] (1983), Tennessee [[Tennessee Senate|State Senator]]
*[[David A. Sampson|David Sampson]] (1978), former [[United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce]]
*[[William R. Snodgrass]] (1942), former Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury
*[[Jason Stephens (politician)|Jason C. Stephens]], Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, State Representative from Ohio’s 93rd house district,

=== Religion ===

* [[Robert Henry Boll]], German-born American preacher in the Churches of Christ
* [[Charles R. Brewer]] (1918), professor, preacher, poet, and leader
* [[G. C. Brewer]] (1911), author, preacher, and teacher
* [[Benton Cordell Goodpasture|B.C. Goodpasture]] (1918), preacher and writer
* [[George Eulan Howard]], 1958 Head of Dept. of Religion [[University of Georgia]], New Testament scholar, author
* [[Ira North|Ira L. North]] (1941), preacher and author

=== Other ===
*[[Cyntoia Brown]] (2015), a woman whose murder conviction at age 16 was a national controversy; she was granted clemency in 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/07/us/tennessee-cyntoia-brown-granted-clemency/index.html|title=Cyntoia Brown is granted clemency after killing man who bought her for sex|author=Mallory Gafas and Tina Burnside|website=CNN|date=January 7, 2019 }}</ref>
*[[Chrisley Knows Best|Savannah Chrisley]], reality television personality and pageant queen
*[[W. Mark Lanier]] (1981), founder of The Lanier Law Firm
*[[Barry Stowe]] (1979), CEO, [[Jackson National Life]]<ref name="Tennessean">{{cite news |title=Jackson National Life CEO returns to Nashville roots |url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2015/07/07/barry-stowe-jackson-ceo-nashville-roots/29815401/ |access-date=October 14, 2015 |work=The Tennessean |date=July 7, 2015}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.lipscomb.edu/}}
* [http://lipscombsports.com Official athletics website]

{{Navboxes
|titlestyle = {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Lipscomb Bisons|color=white}}
|list =
{{Lipscomb University}}
{{Private colleges and universities in Tennessee}}
{{Church of Christ Colleges}}
{{CCCU}}
{{ASUN Conference navbox}}
}}

{{authority control}}

{{Coord|36.1058|-86.7976|display=title}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2017}}

[[Category:Lipscomb University| ]]
[[Category:1891 establishments in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Council for Christian Colleges and Universities]]
[[Category:Private universities and colleges in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Seminaries and theological colleges in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges affiliated with the Churches of Christ]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1891]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Nashville, Tennessee]]