Maranatha Baptist University

Maranatha Baptist University is a private Baptist liberal arts university in Watertown, Wisconsin.[2]

Maranatha Baptist University
Motto"To the Praise of His Glory"
TypePrivate
Established1968
AffiliationFoundations Baptist Fellowship International (informal)[1]
PresidentDr. S. Martin Marriott
UndergraduatesApprox. 920
PostgraduatesApprox. 200
Location
Watertown
,
Wisconsin
,
U.S.
CampusUrban 79 acres
MascotSabercats
Websitewww.mbu.edu

History

Founded on September 14, 1968 as Maranatha Baptist Bible College by Dr. B. Myron Cedarholm, a member of the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International, the college was named for the Aramaic phrase Maranatha, which means "Lo, He cometh" (I Corinthians 16:22). The college records more than 5,000 graduates since its founding. Maranatha was chartered by the State of Wisconsin in 1968.

The current president is Dr. Marty Marriott, who began his duties during the Spring semester of 2010 and was installed on March 18, 2010.

On December 13, 2013, Marriott announced that Maranatha had changed its name to Maranatha Baptist University to reflect "what Maranatha is and has been for many years.”[3][4] Despite its previous name, the university is not a Bible college.

Academics

Maranatha Baptist University offers seven associate degrees, thirty-seven bachelor degrees, and three master's degrees among its five schools and colleges. Maranatha Baptist Bible Institute and Maranatha Baptist Seminary, operated by the University and located on the Watertown campus, offer specialized degrees for those pursuing Christian ministry. The university has two colleges and three schools:

  • College of Bible and Church Ministries
  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • School of Business
  • School of Education
  • School of Nursing

Accreditation and memberships

Maranatha is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.[5]

The teacher education programs at the school are recognized by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for purposes of teacher certification.[6]

The Nursing Department is approved by the Wisconsin State Board of Nursing Department and accredited through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).[7]

Maranatha is a member of American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, American Association of Christian Colleges and Seminaries, National Christian College Athletic Association- Division II, National Collegiate Athletic Association- Division III.

Campus

Old Main
Old Main in winter

Construction of Old Main was started in 1873 and completed in four phases over the course of 21 years. Originally home to Sacred Heart College, the building was purchased from the Brothers of Holy Cross by B. Myron Cedarholm in 1968. It now houses three floors of classrooms, administrative offices, Maranatha Baptist Academy, the campus post office, and two fine arts performance halls.[8] Old Main is also home to the campus coffeehouse Old Main Cafe which was established in 2007.

Dining Complex
Dining complex east entrance

The 40,568-square-foot (3,768.9 m2) Dining Complex was completed in 2005, and serves nearly 1,500 meals every weekday. It seats almost 400 in a variety of seating arrangements. It also has several classrooms, two computer labs, and wireless networking.[9]

Cedarholm Library
Cedarholm Library from the north

Opened in 1996, the Cedarholm Library has resources for research and casual reading. A web-based OPAC (online public access catalog), computer-equipped workstations, a media center, and instructional material curriculum are some of the resources available.[10]

Gymnasium

The Gymnasium houses Maranatha's athletic facilities, including two gymnasiums, a weight room, fitness area, trainer and faculty offices, several locker room facilities, and the Alumni Hall of Fame. The main gymnasium also doubles as an auditorium, which is used for daily chapel services, special meetings, drama performances, and music concerts.

Hanneman Hall

Named after the late Robert Hanneman, Jr., a potato geneticist at the University of Wisconsin and friend of the college, Hanneman Hall houses Maranatha's nursing program and science department.

Dormitories

Maranatha has five men's and five women's dormitories; Spurgeon, Judson, Leland, Armitage, and Carey are the men's halls, while Day, Weeks, Melford, Hilsen, and Gould are the women's halls.

Student life

Students can participate in a variety of campus activities, including intramural sports, blood drives, special lectures, and college-sponsored games. Daily chapel services are also a part of life at Maranatha.[11] Maranatha requires its students to follow a biblical code of personal conduct. Those who violate Maranatha's student life policies are subject to disciplinary action.

All undergraduate students are required to live on campus until age 23, unless living with parents and commuting to classes. Dorm leadership consists of "room leaders," "resident assistants," and "dorm supervisors." Resident assistants' responsibilities include completing room checks to ensure that all beds are made, trash cans have been emptied, and halls are generally tidy. Room leaders lead room devotions and take responsibility for leadership within the room. Dorm supervisors' roles are self-explanatory.

Students may also be elected to student body office, where they participate in planning campus events, and leading special student meeting and programs. Additional leadership opportunities exist in numerous resident student organizations on campus.

Extra-curricular activities

College clubs
  • College Conservatives, Maranatha Chapter
  • Men and Women's Student Societies that are involved in intramural sports and service opportunities

Men's Societies
  • Conquerors
  • Golden Eagles
  • Hurricanes
  • Phantoms
  • Raptors

Women's Societies
  • Arctic Wolves
  • Pumas
  • Diamondbacks
  • Thunder
  • Titans

Army ROTC

Maranatha's ROTC detachment, Charlie Company of Badger Battalion, partners with the University of Wisconsin to produce United States Army Officers for the Active, Reserve, and National Guard components. The Color Guard provides support for all major College events. Cadets are also offered the opportunity to compete in Ranger Challenge, a national competition commonly referred to as the varsity sport of ROTC. Charlie Company has won the five-man category of the Ranger Challenge competition two of the last three years.

Athletics

Maranatha sports teams compete in NCCAA Division II and NCAA Division III. Men can participate in baseball, basketball, cross country, soccer, and volleyball. Women can compete in basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, and volleyball. The athletics teams were named the Crusaders, but in the fall of 2014, the name was changed to the Sabercats, while keeping the colors blue and gold. As of February 2, 2017 Maranatha has discontinued their football program after 47 years.

Music groups
  • Symphonic Band: Typically a 50 to 60-member group under the direction of Dr. David Brown, which tours every fall, as well as performing several annual on-campus concerts (Christmas Chapel, Religious Liberty Day Chapel, Good Friday Chapel, Spring Concert). The group performs a balance of sacred literature and literature from standard band works.
  • Percussion Ensemble: A touring group that completes an annual Christmas tour under the direction of Dr. Rick Townsend
  • Symphonic Orchestra: The MBU Orchestra, directed by Miss Melody Steinbart, performs several on-campus performances, in addition to accompanying choirs at the Fall Festival and triennial Messiah performance.
  • Choirs: MBU hosts three choirs; The Madrigal Choir (Dr. David Brown, director) and the Chamber Singers (Dr. David Ledgerwood, director) - both of which perform extensively on campus and tour every spring; and the MBU Chorale (Mr. Peter Wright, director), a campus-based group that performs in local churches as well as in chapels and with the other choirs at the triennial Messiah performance.
  • Touring Groups: MBU also employees two summer tour groups that sing in local churches across the country. These groups, called Heritage Singers and Praisemen, are composed of students from the university who promote the school while singing on tour. While Heritage Singers is a mixed group of normally 6-8 people who sing and play instruments, Praisemen includes generally four male singers and a pianist.

Presidents
  • B. Myron Cedarholm (1968-1983)
  • Arno Q. Weniger, Jr. (1983-1998)
  • David Jaspers (1998-2006)
  • Charles Phelps (2007-2009)
  • S. Martin Marriott (2009–Present)

Notable alumni
  • Tom Allen - Head coach, Indiana University football
  • Ken Barbic - USDA Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations
  • Daniel Davis - Former Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives
  • John Goetsch - Executive Vice-President of West Coast Baptist College
  • Jim Gruenwald - American Greco-Roman wrestler
  • Mike Houck - First American to win a Greco-Roman World Championship in 1985.
  • Nate Oats - University of Alabama men's head basketball coach
  • Benjamin Lee Peterson - Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling at the 1972 Summer Olympics and silver medalist at the 1976 Summer Olympics
  • Wira Wama - Former professional soccer player for Hekari United
  • Kylee Zempel - Assistant Editor of The Federalist

Notes
  1. “The Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International.” In The Nick of Time - Central Baptist Theological Seminary. Accessed January 27, 2015. http://www.centralseminary.edu/resources/nick-of-time/the-fundamental-baptist-fellowship-international Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. "Maranatha majors page". Maranatha Baptist Bible College. Archived from the original on September 25, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  3. "Maranatha Baptist Bible College Changes Name". Watertown Daily Times. Retrieved December 26, 2013. (subscription required)
  4. "MBU Name Change - Press Release". Maranatha Baptist University. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  5. "Higher Learning Commission affiliation statement". NCAHLC. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  6. "Maranatha catalog" (PDF). Maranatha Baptist University. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 14, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  7. "CCNE Final Actions document" (PDF). CCNE. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  8. "Campus Tour". Maranatha Baptist Bible College. Archived from the original on August 29, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  9. "Dining Complex". Maranatha Baptist Bible College. Archived from the original on August 29, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  10. "About the Library". Maranatha Baptist Bible College. Archived from the original on September 25, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  11. "Student Life page". Maranatha Baptist Bible College. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2013.

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