Trinity Christian College - History

History

Trinity Christian College was founded in 1952. By April 1956, this visionary group had drafted a constitution and incorporated the Trinity Christian College Association. The first board of trustees was elected in 1959, and they purchased the Navajo Hills Golf Course in suburban Palos Heights for the campus. After remodeling the former clubhouse and pro shop, the college opened that fall with a class of 37 students taught by five full-time faculty members.

As the response of the community grew and students embraced the college's unique perspective, it became evident that Trinity Christian College was fulfilling a greater need beyond providing a solid liberal arts education for two-year students. In 1966, the board initiated the process for the college to become a four-year, degree-granting institution. The first baccalaureate degrees were awarded in May 1971.

Trinity Christian developed a cohesive approach to its core curriculum of philosophy, history, English, and theology. In the years since its original vision was conceived, the college has kept pace with the changing educational landscape by offering a broader scope of courses and programs. The curriculum has expanded to include business, criminal justice, education, and nursing in addition to its traditional liberal arts focus. Today, there are adult learners seeking to complete their undergraduate degrees along with recent high school graduates exploring a future in disciplines such as information technology, graphic design, social work, exercise science, and communication disorders. Many pre profesional programs are also offered; including pre-medicine, pre-physical therapy, pre-seminary, pre-law, allied health sciences, and most recently, pre speech and language pathology.

The traditional (not including adult learners) student body has swelled to more than 1000 undergraduates, taught by a dedicated faculty of more than 80 instructors. With a student/faculty ratio of 12:1, Trinity Christian students receive individual attention that affirms their spiritual and academic experience. Although students are drawn from predominantly Reformed and Presbyterian church backgrounds, students also come from diverse traditions, including Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, and Roman Catholic.

With more than 40 majors, Trinity Christian offers a variety of educational and ministry experiences including studies abroad; interim trips to Guatemala, Costa Rica, Italy, London, Paris, Egypt, Jamaica, and Israel; and internships with corporations and non-profit organizations. The college's proximity to the resources of metropolitan Chicago offers students an exceptional "classroom" that provides experiential learning opportunities. The college offers a Chicago Semester program in cooperation with sister institutions in which junior and senior students live in downtown Chicago, attend cultural events, work internships in their chosen field, and take seminar courses about urban life. On campus, students can also purse the interdisplinary urban studies minor, including courses from many departments such as sociology, history, political science, church ministry, and biology. Inter-collegiate sports for men and women, student-run ministry programs, and a full scope of creative expression in fine arts and student publications complete the Trinity Christian experience.

On campus, the Martin and Janet Ozinga Chapel, a 1200-seat facility, serves as a cultural and spiritual focal point for the student body as well as the greater community. The building provides practice and rehearsal rooms for the music department, and houses the campus ministries program under the direction of the campus chaplain. The Grand Lobby has hosted a variety of events beneath its striking stained glass window, the first of a series of stained glass panels hung throughout the building designed to celebrate Trinity Christian's mission in Reformed higher education.

The Heritage Science Center is a state-of-the-art facility, comprising 38,000-square feet (3,500 m²) of classroom and lab space for chemistry, biology, and physics programs, as well as classrooms and a lecture hall for technology and computer science studies.

The Art and Communication Center (ARCC), provides Trinity Christian students with ample space and tools to bring forth a whole new foray into the world of creative expression, with art and design studios, a graphic design lab, student gallery, and black box theatre for the performing arts. In process of construction as well are new athletic fields and a new athletic complex. The new gym features a state of the art lab for exercise students students, a rock climbing wall, and a fitness center.

In Fall 2012, Trinity began its first two master's degree programs, in counseling psychology and special education. Both programs take about two years to complete, and utilize hybrid courses that combine face-to-face classroom sessions with online learning components, to provide flexibility with living arrangements and work schedules. The school also began a three year speech and language pathology program, in which students take classes at Trinity for three years majoring in communication disorders. Then for two years can attend either Saint Xavier University in Chicago, IL or Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan to finish their bachelor degree from Trinity and receive a master degree in speech language pathology.