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Oakland City University

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Oakland City University
Former name
Oakland City College (1885–1995)
MottoEnter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve
TypePrivate university
Established1885
Religious affiliation
General Association of General Baptists
Endowment$0
PresidentRon D. Dempsey
Faculty>100
Students143
Undergraduates0
Postgraduates143
Location
Oakland City
,
Indiana
,
U.S.

38°20′24″N 87°21′06″W / 38.3399°N 87.3518°W / 38.3399; -87.3518
Campus
  • Small town
ColorsColumbia Blue, Navy Blue & White
     
NicknameMighty Oaks
Sporting affiliations
NAIA – River States[1] ECAC – eSports
MascotOakie
Websitewww.oak.edu
Map

Oakland City University (OCU) was a private university affiliated with the General Baptist Church and located in Oakland City, Indiana, United States. It was the only General Baptist Church-affiliated college or university in the United States. Founded in 1885, it has slowly grown to a total enrollment of about 640 (in Fall 2024).[2]

The university announced layoffs for over 100 employees and the suspension of all undergraduate programs on May 19, 2026.[3]

In addition to the institution's Oakland City main campus, the university previously operated satellite campuses in Evansville, Indianapolis, Rockport and Bedford. These sites offered courses at an accelerated pace and condensed format. The Bedford campus was housed in the former headquarters of the Indiana Limestone Company until it was moved to the StoneGate Arts & Education Center in 2018 and later closed.[4][5] The Evansville site closed in 2025.

History

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In June 1885, the Educational Board of General Baptists organized and then gained a charter from the state of Indiana to operate a college at Oakland City. However, because of a lack of funds, the first building, a two-story brick structure housing the administration and classrooms, was not complete until 1891—the same year Oakland City College opened its doors for classes. In those early days, the school was called "the college on the hill."

By the mid-1920s, the school had reached a zenith for the first half of the century. There were several college buildings gracing the grounds, including an expanded administration building, Wheatley Hall, a women's dorm, a field house, Memorial Gym (which housed a library in the basement), Cronbach Hall, a building used for agricultural and industrial arts classes, and a two-story brick building called the president's house. Beside the normal, liberal arts and theological school, the college had added a large industrial and agricultural department to respond to the vocational needs of the rural area it served. The college offered several sports and clubs, and enrollment during this period often exceeded 1,000 students a semester.

The Great Depression hit the school hard, and faculty and staff often forwent paychecks to keep the school running. The end of World War II and the GI Bill saw a resurgence in enrollment and, by the mid-1960s, the "college on the hill" experienced an upswing comparable to the 1920s. Several new buildings were constructed on the campus including four dormitories, a new library, Brengle Hall, a science building, and Stinson Hall.

By the fall term of 1973, enrollment had dropped considerably. The sponsoring denomination, the General Baptists, made a successful effort to raise funds to keep the school open and hired James Murray as the college president. In the 1990s, the college moved to university status under Murray's leadership. Currently the school has an enrollment of 655 and has seen the construction of two new buildings within the last five years. The university stands fully accredited and offers five graduate degrees and over 40 undergraduate programs.

In April 2026, the university filed a WARN Act notice effective June 1, 2026, laying off over 100 employees.[6] In May 2026, the university began missing employee paychecks.[7] Despite this, the university states it has entered a strategic partnership to avoid closure.[8] The university announced layoffs for over 100 employees and the termination of all undergraduate programs on May 19, 2026.

Presidents

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  • A.D. Williams, 1889–1894
  • Joseph B. Cox, (acting) 1895–1903
  • William P. Dearing, 1903–1945
  • James E. Cox, 1945–1955
  • Onis G. Chapman, 1955–1965
  • Carl E. Shepard, 1965–1968
  • Ben M. Elrod, 1968–1970
  • Laurence N. Barrett, (acting) 1970–1971
  • Bernard A. Loposer, 1971–1973
  • James W. Murray, 1974–2007
  • Alton D. Davis, (acting) 2007–2008
  • Ray G. Barber, 2008–2019
  • Ron D. Dempsey, 2019–present

Academics

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Oakland City University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and Association of Theological Schools. Business programs on the main campus are accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education. However, it has voluntarily submitted its resignation effective August 15, 2026 for ATS, and June 30, 2027 for HLC.

Schools and departments

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  • School of Arts and Sciences
  • School of Education
  • School of Business
  • School of Adult and Extended Learning
  • Chapman School of Religious Studies

Honors program

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Oakland City's honors program focuses on leadership, internships, and public service.[9]

Indiana Department of Correction

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OCU previously offered classes for incarcerated individuals within Indiana Department of Correction-owned facilities in Southern Indiana.[10]

Campus

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OCU's campus is located in the northwest area of Oakland City. Historically, the campus was centered around the present day Bower-Suhrheinrich Library, Bell Tower, Dearing Hall, Provance Memorial Chapel, and Cockrum Hall. Until the 2000s, the majority of OCU's buildings were located along or adjacent to the present greenspace. Former buildings on this greenspace included Wheatley Hall, Memorial Gym, Brengle Hall, and Stinson Hall. In addition to its on campus sites, the university operated the off-campus Oakland City University Foundation Building and the Wilder Center which also housed the Oakland City Police Department. The off campus buildings were listed for sale in May 2026.[11]

Student life

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The Student Government Association (SGA) is the presiding student government body.

Clubs & organizations

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Oakland City University features over 30 clubs that enhances university experience outside of the classroom.[12] These clubs include the Black Student Union, International Club, Intervarsity, and The Well.[12]

Rankings

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In 2025 the U.S. News & World Report ranked Oakland City fifth in the nation for social mobility.[13]

Recent construction

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Oakland City completed a new upperclassman residence hall in the summer of 2019, which was subsequently named Williams Hall in namesake for the adjacent street.[14] In 2023, the university constructed a new residence hall for lowerclassmen.[15]

Branch Centers

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OCU Bedford

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Oakland City University's Bedford Center previously operated in the former headquarters of the Indiana Limestone Company before relocating to the StoneGate Arts & Education Center, and closing in 2023. The site focused on adult & extended learning in a non-traditional format.[16]

OCU Indianapolis

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Oakland City University's Indianapolis Center (OCUIndy) was previously located at 5665 N. Post Road in Indianapolis before closing sometime after 2012. The site focused on adult & extended learning in a non-traditional format.[17]

OCU Evansville

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Oakland City University's Evansville Center was previously located at 110 S. Green River Road in Evansville before relocating to 401 Southeast 6th Street in Downtown Evansville in 2020. The site focused on adult & extending learning in a non-traditional format.[18] The Evansville Center closed in 2025.

OCU Rockport

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Oakland City University's Rockport center was previously located at 954 State Road 66 in Rockport, Indiana before relocating to another location and closing sometime in 2023. The site focused on adult & extending learning in a non-traditional format.[19]

Other locations

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Oakland City University previously operated centers in Jasper, Plainfield, and at Toyota Manufacturing Indiana.[20]

Athletics

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The Oakland City (OCU) athletic teams are called the Mighty Oaks. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the River States Conference (RSC) since the 2020–21 academic year; which they were a member on a previous stint from 1968–69 to 1974–75.[1] They are also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the Mid-East Region of the Division I level. The Mighty Oaks were previously an Independent within the Division II ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) from about 2006–07 until 2019–20.

Oakland City competes in 23 intercollegiate varsity sports. Sprint football, a variant of American football that restricts player weights to 178 pounds (81 kg) and is governed outside of any national all-sports governing body, was added in 2023, competing in the Midwest Sprint Football League.[21] In 2025, Oakland City announced the addition of a men's and women's swim program with the intention to compete beginning in the 2026–27 school year.[22]

Facilities

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Men's and women's basketball, along with men's and women's volleyball play at the 1,000 seat Johnson Center.

The baseball team plays at Konkler Field, which began renovations in 2023.[23] The softball team plays at the off campus East Gibson Girls' Softball League Field (EGGSL Field).

List of teams

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Men's sports Women's sports
Band Band
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Cheerleading
Cheerleading Cross Country
Cross Country eSports
eSports Golf
Golf Soccer
Soccer Softball
Sprint Football Tennis
Tennis Track & Field
Track & Field Volleyball
Volleyball

National championships

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  • NLCAA Men's Basketball – 1981
  • NCCAA Division I Men's Basketball – 1999[24]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. 1 2 VSN Staff (31 March 2020). "NAIA Approves Five Institutions for Membership". Victory Sports Network. Archived from the original on 2 April 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  2. ↑ "Search For Schools and Colleges". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  3. ↑ "OCU announces layoffs, cuts undergraduate programs". www.14news.com. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
  4. ↑ "Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD)" (Searchable database). Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. Retrieved 2016-05-01. Note: This includes Robert K. Poinsett and Craig Charron (January 1993). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Indiana Limestone Company Building" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-05-01. and Accompanying photographs.
  5. ↑ Johnson, Carol. "Citing costs, city of Bedford to close historic building". The Times-Mail. Retrieved 2025-01-26.
  6. ↑ "WARN notices filed for Oakland City University". www.14news.com. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
  7. ↑ "OCU employees still awaiting last Friday's pay checks". www.14news.com. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
  8. ↑ "OCU to stay open for now, employees still waiting to be paid". www.14news.com. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
  9. ↑ "Honors Program". Oakland City University. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  10. ↑ Report, Staff (2016-12-21). "Department of Corrections Ends Prison Education Contract With Grace College". News Now Warsaw. Retrieved 2026-05-26.
  11. ↑ Lyman, Jill (2026-05-15). "Oakland City Police moving; OCU selling current building". 14news.com. Retrieved 2026-05-26.
  12. 1 2 "Student Organizations & Clubs". Oakland City University. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  13. ↑ "Oakland City University". US News.
  14. ↑ "Oakland City University cuts ribbon on student housing project". Tristate Homepage. August 13, 2019.
  15. ↑ "OCU to build new residence hall". Princeton Clarion. 2025-05-14. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  16. ↑ "OCU – Rockport Academics". Oakland City University. Archived from the original on 2011-06-30. Retrieved 2026-05-26.
  17. ↑ "OCU – Indianapolis – Academics". Oakland City University. Archived from the original on 2011-06-30. Retrieved 2026-05-26.
  18. ↑ "OCU – Evansville – Academics". Oakland City University. Archived from the original on 2011-06-30. Retrieved 2026-05-26.
  19. ↑ "OCU – Rockport". Oakland City University. Archived from the original on 2011-06-30. Retrieved 2026-05-26.
  20. ↑ "2020-2021 Undergraduate Academic Catalog" (PDF). Oakland City University. November 19, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Mighty Oaks Announce the Addition of Sprint Football, Kicking Off In 2023" (Press release). Oakland City Mighty Oaks. July 19, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  22. ↑ Keith, Braden (2025-07-31). "NAIA Oakland City University Will Add Men's, Women's Swimming for 2026-2027". SwimSwam. Retrieved 2026-05-26.
  23. ↑ "'Mighty Oaks' to get new baseball field". Inside INdiana Business. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  24. ↑ "OAKLAND CITY UNIVERSITY". thenccaa.org. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
  25. ↑ "OCU Men's Soccer Setting Up Well for 2018 Season". Oakland City University Athletics. 2018-06-25. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  26. ↑ "OCU Inducts Nine into Athletics Hall of Fame". Oakland City University Athletics. 2024-01-15. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  27. ↑ "Ernie Haase + Signature Sound". www.erniehaase.com. 2024-10-18. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  28. ↑ "About | Travis Hendrix". 2024-12-14. Archived from the original on 14 December 2024. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  29. ↑ Engelhardt, Gordon. "Gil Hodges still stands tall on 50th anniversary of 1969 'Amazin' Mets' World Series title". Courier & Press. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  30. ↑ IHB (2020-12-15). "Melba Newell Phillips". IHB. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
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