National-Louis University

Infobox University
name = National-Louis University
motto = "GET IT AT NLU"
established = 1886
type = Private
president = Richard J. Pappas, Ed.D.
city = Chicago
state = Illinois
country = USA
campus = Chicago, Illinois,
Elgin, Illinois,
Lisle, Illinois,
North Shore, Illinois,
Wheeling, Illinois,
Beloit, Wisconsin,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
Tampa, Florida,
Nowy Sącz, Poland,
Distance Learning
undergrad = http://www.nl.edu/undergrad/

postgrad = http://www.nl.edu/graduate/
colors = Cranberry, Gold
endowment =
website = [http://www.nl.edu/ www.nl.edu]

National-Louis University (NLU) is a Chicago-based multi-campus institution with a history of preparing teachers and educational, business, and community leaders. NLU currently operates campuses in Chicago, Skokie, Lisle, Wheeling and Elgin, Illinois, as well as in Wisconsin, Florida, and Nowy Sącz, Poland. Many NLU courses and programs are also offered at-a-distance. The university practices multi-campus, at-a-distance, and cohort educational models for non-traditional students. NLU has helped transform and lead American education since its founding more than 120 years ago, when it played a key role in the American kindergarten movement and early childhood education.

History

National-Louis University started as Miss Harrison's Training School, which was founded in 1886 by Elizabeth Harrison to train "Kindergarteners," young women who began the early childhood education movement. The university's name was changed to the Chicago Kindergarten College (1893), the National Kindergarten College (1912) and then the National College of Education (1930). The National College of Education championed the concept of kindergarten teaching in America and was one of the first teacher's colleges in the country to offer a four-year program culminating in the bachelor of education degree. It was the first Illinois institution to offer the bachelor's degree for elementary teachers.

In 1990, National-Louis University united the respected name of National College of Education with that of trustee and benefactor Michael W. Louis. Louis’ significant gift—among the largest to private education in the state of Illinois—spearheaded the transition from college to university. NLU now encompasses three colleges—National College of Education, the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Management and Business. Together, they offer more than 60 academic programs, with degrees extending to the doctoral level.

Colleges

National-Louis University is composed of three colleges:
*National College of Education - http://www.nl.edu/aboutnlu/nce.cfm
*College of Arts and Sciences - http://www.nl.edu/aboutnlu/cas.cfm
*College of Management and Business - http://www.nl.edu/aboutnlu/cmb.cfm

Several times during 2004-2006, National-Louis entered into publicly disclosed talks to merge with Roosevelt University. The Trustees of both institutions decided in each case not to go forward with a merger.

State rankings

NLU ranks 1st: number of graduate degrees in education conferred

NLU ranks 1st: number of master's degrees in education: African-Americans

NLU ranks 1st: number of master's degrees in education: Hispanics/Latinos

_{IPEDS: Three-year period from 2003-2005}

NLU ranks 3rd among Illinois’ private colleges and universities in the number of transfer student enrollments

NLU ranks 4th: number of bachelor's degrees in business/management for African-Americans

_{Diverse Issues in Higher Education (June 2007)}

National rankings

NLU ranks 8th: number of master's degrees in education: African-Americans

NLU ranks 26th: number of master's degrees in education: Hispanics/Latinos

_{IPEDS: Three-year period from 2003-2005}

NLU ranks 41st: number of bachelor's degrees in business/management: African-Americans

NLU ranks as a "top 100 university:" number of Latinos/Hispanics who graduate

_{Diverse Issues in Higher Education (June 2007)}

Notable alumni

*Denis Antoine, Ambassador to Grenada
*Hector Rico, Executive Director, Latino Organization of the Southwest
*Margo Schreiber, Director, Illinois Department on Aging
*Delores Petway Holmes, Founder of Project Ghana
*J. W. Croft, Executive Vice President, Field Museum of Natural History
*Stewart Clark, Vice President, Discovery Cove (Orlando, Florida-based marine park owned by Anheuser-Busch)
*Betty Reed, State Representative, Florida House of Representatives

External links and references

* [http://www.nl.edu/ Official website]
* [http://www.nl.edu/campuses/chicagoareacampuses.cfm Maps of the Chicagoland campuses]