History
Aurora University was originally founded as Mendota Seminary in Mendota, Illinois, in 1893. At that time, the school was focused on education and training rooted in the Advent Christian Church. Within a few years of its founding, the seminary changed its name to Mendota College, and broadened its programs into a traditional liberal arts curriculum.
In 1911, residents of the nearby town of Aurora raised funds to construct a new college, led by funding from businessman Charles Eckhart, who founded the predecessor company to the Auburn Automobile Company. Recognizing mutual benefits, administrators of Mendota College moved their operations to Aurora and the school became known as Aurora College.
In 1971, Aurora College separated from the Advent Christian Church, and in 1985, changed its name to Aurora University to better reflect the breadth of its academic programs.
The school grew further in 1992, when it entered into an affiliation agreement with nearby George Williams College (42°34′01″N 88°33′25″W / 42.567°N 88.557°W / 42.567; -88.557 (George Williams College)), which was followed by a full merger in 2000. George Williams College had been founded in 1884 to train young men for service in the YMCA, and was named after Sir George Williams. As part of the merger, Aurora University took ownership of 133 acres of property and facilities on the shore of Geneva Lake in Wisconsin. The site, located 70 miles north of the university’s main campus, had previously been a retreat location for George Williams College and the YMCA. One of George Williams College's distinguished alumni, Arthur H Steinhaus, was recognized with a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1931.
Aurora University added a third location in 2009 with the opening of the Woodstock Center, which offers part-time MBA and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs. The center is located in Woodstock, Illinois, approximately 50 miles north of the university’s main campus.
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