University of Jamestown

Christian university in Jamestown, North Dakota, US

The University of Jamestown is a private Christian^[2] university in Jamestown, North Dakota. Founded in 1883 by the Presbyterian Church,^[3] it has about 1,300 students enrolled and has been co-educational from its founding. Until August 2013, the school was known as Jamestown College.^[4]

History

The Unruh and Sheldon Center for Business and Computer Science

The University of Jamestown was founded as Jamestown College in 1883, but closed during the depression of 1893. The school reopened in 1909 and has remained in operation ever since.

In 1979, Jamestown College's football team went to the NAIA National Championships.^[5]

Two graduates of the institution have become Rhodes Scholars.^[6]

In 2013, in light of a new master's program and applied doctorate degree program, Jamestown College changed its name to the University of Jamestown.^[4]

In 2018, Dr. Robert Badal retired from his position as university president after serving in the role for nearly 16 years. He was succeeded by Dr. Polly Peterson.^[7]

Athletics

The Jamestown athletic teams are called the Jimmies. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). For the 2024–25 academic year, the Jimmies are primarily competing in the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA), which they were members from 2013–14 to 2017–18. The Jimmies previously competed in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) from 2018–19 to 2023–24, and in the defunct Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) from 2000–01 to 2011–12, as well as an NAIA Independent within the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) during the 2012–13 school year.

Jamestown competes in 24 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey (Division 1 and Division II), soccer, track and field (indoor and outdoor), volleyball and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, ice hockey, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, track & field (indoor and outdoor), volleyball and wrestling; and co-ed sports include eSports^[8] and shotgun sports.

In 2023, the first sanctioned NAIA women's wrestling championship was held at the Harold Newman Arena, on the Jamestown campus.^[9]

Jamestown began the reclassification process from the NAIA to NCAA Division II in the 2024–25 season. The Jimmies will join the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) upon gaining full membership into the NCAA starting in the 2025–26 season.^[10][11]

Notable people

Alumni

• Richard K. Armey (1962), U.S. Representative from Texas and House Majority Leader
• Ron Erhardt (1953), head coach of the NFL New England Patriots
• Ralph R. Erickson (1980), chief judge on the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota and judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• Jessica Haak, member of the North Dakota House of Representatives
• Donald D. Lorenzen (1920–1980), Los Angeles, California, City Council member, 1969–1977
• George W. Johnson, President of George Mason University (1979–1996)^[12]
• John Knauf, justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court (attended but graduated elsewhere)^[13]
• Cory Mantyka, Canadian football player
• Barbara McClintock (1976), illustrator and author of children's books
• David Nething, member of the North Dakota State Senate
• Raquel Pa'aluhi,^[14] professional Mixed Martial Artist, competed for Invicta FC^[15]
• Alvin Plantinga (1950), John A. O'Brien Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, author and philosopher
• Jasper Schneider, administrator of the USDA Rural Utilities Service
• Kurt Schork (1969), reporter
• Kyle Schweigert, head football coach at the University of North Dakota
• J. J. Syvrud, American football player

Faculty

• Larry Woiwode, accomplished author and poet, serving as Poet Laureate of the State of North Dakota since 1995
• William A. Wojnar, classical organist and Professor Emeritus of Music

See also

• Voorhees Chapel

References

1. "University of Jamestown - Best Colleges - Education - U.S. News & World Report". USNews.com. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
2. "Our Mission". University of Jamestown. 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
3. "Our History". University of Jamestown. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
4. "Jamestown College is now University of Jamestown" (Press release). University of Jamestown. August 21, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
5. "NAIA Football Championship History" (PDF). naia.org. National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. 2008-01-03. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-29. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
6. "Rhodes Scholarships: Number of Winners by Institution" (PDF). U.S. Rhodes Scholarships: Number of Winners by Institution, U.S. Rhodes Scholars 1904–2018.
7. Norman, Keith (February 16, 2018). "West Fargo Pioneer, 'University of Jamestown president to retire'". InForum. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
8. Fairbanks, Katies. "UJ starting up eSports team". The Jamestown Sun. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
9. "Women's Weekly: Chasing College Wrestling History - FloWrestling". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
10. "NSIC extends invitation to the University of Jamestown". northernsun.org. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
11. "UJ Joins Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference". University of Jamestown. 2023-11-21. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
12. Shapiro, T. Rees (2017-06-03). "George W. Johnson, college president who transformed GMU, dies at 88". Washington Post. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
13. "John Knauf". www.ndcourts.gov. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
14. "Jamestown College – Women's Wrestling Program History". Archived from the original on 2011-01-21.
15. "Raquel Pa'aluhi – Invicta Fighting Championships".

External links

• Official website
• Official athletics website