- Northland Baptist Bible College
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- For the liberal arts college, see Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin
Northland International University Motto Preparing the next generation of servant-leaders for Great Commission living. Established 1976 Type Private Academic staff 46 Admin. staff 141 Undergraduates 540 Postgraduates 219 Location Dunbar, WI, USA Colors Green/White/Black Mascot Pioneers Northland International University is an Baptist college in Dunbar, Wisconsin. The school was founded in 1976 by businessman and inventor, Paul Patz and his family of seven children. Current enrollment is approximately 750 students.
Contents
Accreditation
Northland is a member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) and has been granted full accreditation by that organization.[1] TRACS is recognized by both the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) as a national accrediting body for Christian institutions, colleges, universities, and seminaries. TRACS is also a member of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE). The institution also maintains membership in the American Association of Christian Colleges and Seminaries.[2]
History
Northland Mission Camp (now Northland Camp and Conference Center) was founded on December 31, 1958 by Paul and Mamie Patz and Rev. Harold and Arlene Sailer. Property for the 1,500-acre (6.1 km2) facility in northeast Wisconsin was purchased in 1960. In 1976, Northland Bible Institute was started. The following year, it changed its name to Northland Baptist Bible College. On April 7, 2009, the school created the name Northland International University as a canopy name for its four entities: Northland Baptist Bible College, Northland Graduate Studies, Northland Center for Global Opportunities, and Northland Online. Northland Camp and Conference Center, Northland International University, and Pioneer Christian Academy are all under Northland Mission, Inc.[3]
HEAB Votes to Allow Northland International University to Receive Wisconsin State Funding
On Friday, October 9, 2009, the Higher Education Aids Board (HEAB) of Wisconsin unanimously approved state funding for Northland International University. Funding will be available beginning in the fall of 2010. According to the HEAB, there will be no stipulations involved, treating Northland students exactly like every other accredited private college or university in the state.
Director Connie Hutchison opened with a report of her findings after talking to the accreditation representatives at the United States Department of Education. The Department encouraged Wisconsin to follow federal policy and view Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) the same as regional accrediting agencies. She expressed to the board that she agreed and saw no reason not to grant aid to Northland students.
The president of the University, stated that he is “thrilled that the current and future students of the University will be able to receive these funds. Our goal is to prepare servant-leaders for Great Commission living, and we want to remove every obstacle that may prevent these students from getting the education necessary to be successful in what God has called them to do.”
Northland International University expresses their thanks to the board on behalf of their students for the fair hearing and work on their behalf.
Northland's Mission
All of the below information comes from Northland's "Our Mission" page.[4]
Mission statement
The mission of Northland International University is (1) to glorify God by providing an educational environment for developing servant-leaders in honesty, obedience, wisdom, and service to love Jesus Christ with all their heart, soul, and mind (2) and by teaching students to live by the principles of God's Word, to walk with God as His faithful laborers, and to serve in local churches for revival, world evangelization, and the discipling of future generations for the cause of Jesus Christ.
Purpose Statement
Northland's purpose statement is "Preparing the next generation of servant-leaders for Great Commission living."
Statement of Practice
Northland International University stands firmly in the stream of Baptist faith and practice. We recognize the need for a Bible college to rekindle a fervor and zeal for the ministry both at home and abroad. Each major is saturated with Bible and doctrine courses as well as practical ministerial training courses, both of which are vital in preparing and training students for life and ministry.
The Seal
The following words, which are located on the Northland seal, are known as the HOWS of Northland.
Honesty - Being transparent with God and others
Obedience - Doing what I should do, when I should do it, how I should do it, and with the right heart attitude and spirit toward the authority asking me to do it
Wisdom - Skill, ability, and insight gained from God's Word for the purpose of living a life that honors and glorifies God
Service - Investing my life (personal relationships, personal plans or priorities, and personal possessions or pleasures) in ministry for the good of others rather than for the pleasure or advancement of self.
The Way of Discipleship
Starting with the 2010-11 school year, Northland International University began "raising the bar" with a new system known as "The Way of Discipleship." In this system, the school operates under two imperatives: love God and love your neighbor as yourself. With these changes, Northland's Student Handbook was greatly reduced in length and what were formerly known as "rules" became known as "expectations." Although the school's leadership admits there are flaws with the system, they expect to see greater levels of life-touching-life among the students.[5]
Northland's Focus on Ministry
Northland has a strong focus on missions, believing every student to be in the ministry even while still at college. The result of this is a strong focus on local extension ministries and global ministry opportunities.
Extension Ministry[6]
While at Northland, students are required to join an "extension team" starting at the beginning of their sophomore year, although many join a ministry and are encouraged to do so during their freshman year. Due to Northland's isolated location, some extension churches are two or three hours away, although several are located within an hour of the school. Students placed in extension ministries aid a local church by providing such services as nursery workers, Sunday school teachers, music, filling in the pulpit, etc. Some students participate in other extension ministries, such as working in a local nursing home. The goal of extension ministries is to train the students to serve in a local church someday.
Global Opportunities[7]
Northland has a global emphasis and encourages its students to study abroad for a semester under the GO Study Abroad program and/or participate in a summer missions trip.
References
- ^ TRACS - Candidate Institutions
- ^ American Association of Christian Colleges and Seminaries
- ^ http://www.ni.edu/about-us/history/
- ^ http://www.ni.edu/about-us/our-mission/
- ^ http://www.ni.edu/about-us/news/fall-2010/way-of-discipleship/
- ^ http://www.ni.edu/Ministries/Extension-Ministries/
- ^ http://www.ni.edu/schools/northland-center-for-global-opportunities/
External links
Categories:- Education in Marinette County, Wisconsin
- Baptist universities and colleges in the United States
- Baptist schools in the United States
- Universities and colleges in Wisconsin
- Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
- Bible colleges
- Educational institutions established in 1976
- Buildings and structures in Marinette County, Wisconsin
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