NCU History

The Early Days of North Central

North Central University enrolled its first 26 students in classes beginning October 1, 1930, under the name of North Central Bible Institute. The Institute's original home was in a newly erected Assemblies of God church, the Minneapolis Gospel Tabernacle (now Christ Church International), in downtown Minneapolis. Female students were placed in homes where they could work for their board and room, and male students were housed in rooms or apartments near the Institute. Ownership of the Institute was in the hands of the North Central District Council of the Assemblies of God, which at that time included territory extending from the Great Lakes west to the Continental Divide in the northern tier of states.

North Central Expands

The Institute's graduating classes from 1933 to 1936 increased steadily. In 1936, when over 200 students registered, it was evident that new quarters were needed. The following September, students and faculty relocated to NCU's new home, the former Asbury Hospital at 910 Elliot Avenue. This five-story building, a city block in length, included dormitory, office and classroom space to accommodate 500 students.

In February 1955, the Minnesota District authorized the change to a four-year program, and the Institute graduated its first bachelor's degree class of eight students in 1956. In April 1957, the parent district requested that the school name be changed to North Central Bible College.

For the next 16 years, a five-story building providing housing for male students and the cafeteria was added to the campus, along with a library building. In 1973, the new F.J. Lindquist Chapel was dedicated, and in the spring of 1981, the Clark/Danielson College Life Center was constructed to the south of the chapel. This CLC building contains classrooms, administrative offices and a gymnasium. Also completed at this time were the skyways connecting the College Life Center to Carlson Hall and the chapel to Miller Hall (the original building at 910 Elliot Avenue).

In December 1981, five apartment buildings located directly behind Miller Hall became part of the campus. In March 1988, the University purchased a building located behind the chapel.In 1989, NCU acquired a renovated storefront called the Del Kingsriter Centre for Intercultural Relations. This building houses the Carlstrom Deaf Studies, Intercultural Studies and Languages, English, and Psychology departments, and classrooms.

The college began purchasing the Elliot East Condominiums in 1993. Today it owns the majority of the 32 units, which are available for rent by students. In 1994, the college also purchased the American Legion building on South Tenth Street which is now used as classrooms, and the Trestman property on the southwest quadrant of Chicago Avenue and Fourteenth Street which is home to the University Bookstore and the Center for Youth and Leadership. In 2001, the new Phillipps Hall dormitories were completed, as was the remodeling and refurbishing of the Carlson Hall Cafeteria.

In 2005, the University broke ground for the Thomas E. Trask Word and Worship Center, a project that includes the additions of a 200-seat auditorium and two-story atrium and the remodeling of the Lindquist Chapel. In the same year, North Central acquired the Fine Arts Building, a 35,000 square-foot building located two blocks from campus. In 2006, the acquisition of the corner property at Chicago and 14th Street brought the entire city block under University ownership.

North Central Organizational Structure

In a move to share ownership and management with neighboring districts, the Board of Directors authorized transfer of the title to a corporation with the membership drawn from the Wisconsin-Northern Michigan, Minnesota and South Dakota Districts in 1962. The Iowa and Illinois Districts voted to join in the ownership and management of the college in May 1969. During the 1970s, Michigan, Indiana and Nebraska also became regent districts. In 1981, Northern Missouri joined, and in 1985 North Dakota joined. In 1993, the Midwest Latin American District joined to become the 11th district. Thus, the University today is operated and supported by 11 Assemblies of God districts of the upper Midwest.

Various personalities figured prominently in the operation of the college from its inception: Rev. F.J. Lindquist, founder-president and pastor of the Minneapolis Gospel Tabernacle, first home of the college; Rev. I.O. Miller, member of the Board of Directors from 1933-36, and after 1936, a member of the executive committee and faculty; and Rev. H.R. Snyder, treasurer. All three resigned from their official positions as president, executive vice-president and treasurer, respectively, in the spring of 1961. Rev. Lindquist continued to teach on a part-time basis until June 1, 1964.

Dr. G. Raymond Carlson, who had been a member of the Board of Directors since 1944, was chosen as the second president of the college. He assumed his duties as president May 1, 1961 and served in this office until Dec. 31, 1969. The Rev. Cyril E. Homer was elected by the Board of Regents to serve as the third president of the college in the fall of 1969. Dr. E.M. Clark, a member of the Board of Regents and superintendent of the Illinois District of the Assemblies of God, was called by that Board to serve as the fourth president of the college, serving from December 1971 through July 1979.

In July 1979, Dr. Don Argue succeeded Dr. Clark as president. Dr. Clark assumed the office of chancellor of the college through 1981. Dr. Argue served the college for 16 years as the president, during which time the college experienced much enrollment and campus growth. He left the college in May 1995 to serve as the president of the National Association of Evangelicals.

After 13 years of teaching at North Central, Dr. Gordon Anderson became the sixth president in May 1995. Prior to his appointment as president of North Central, Dr. Anderson's diverse experiences included pastoral leadership, professor and chair for the Department of Liberal Arts, and director for the G. Raymond Carlson Institute for Church Leadership. He also served on the mission field as director of the Eurasia Office for the Assemblies of God Division of World Missions. His broad experience as a pastor, missionary and student of revivals has prepared him to lead the University in this new century. He is a gifted teacher and preacher who is much in demand across the United States and overseas.

A Look to the Future

As proud as we are of where we have come from, we aren't just looking back. We look forward to continued progress as an institution. Expanding curriculum, improving facilities, increasing athletics opportunities as a provisional member of the NCAA are signs of a university ready to continue moving forward. The most exciting chapters in the history of North Central University are currently being written.