Northern Kentucky University

Public university in Highland Heights, Kentucky, US

"NKU" redirects here. For other uses, see NKU (disambiguation).

Northern Kentucky University

Former name

| Northern Kentucky State College (1968–1976)
Type| Public university
Established| 1968; 57 years ago (1968)[1]

Academic affiliations

| GCCCU
Space-grant
Endowment| $119.2 million (2022)[2]
President| Cady Short-Thompson
Provost| Diana McGill

Academic staff

| 1,006[3]

Administrative staff

| 1,021[3]
Students| 15,370 (fall 2024)[4]
Undergraduates| 10,327 (fall 2024)[4]
Postgraduates| 5,043 (fall 2024)[4]
Location|

Highland Heights, Kentucky

U.S.

39°01′55″N 84°27′55″W﻿ / ﻿39.03194°N 84.46528°W﻿ / 39.03194; -84.46528
Campus| Suburban, 425 acres (172 ha)[5]
Colors|     Black and gold
Nickname| Norse

Sporting affiliations

| NCAA Division I
Horizon League[6]
Mascot| Victor E. Viking
Website| www.nku.edu

Northern Kentucky University is a public university in Highland Heights, Kentucky, United States. Established in 1968, it is the youngest of Kentucky's eight public universities. The university has seven constituent colleges in arts and science, business, education, informatics, health, and the Salmon P. Chase College of Law.[7]

## History

[edit]

Northern Kentucky University's "Loch Norse" and University Center

Northern Kentucky University began in 1948, when an extension campus for the University of Kentucky was opened in Covington, Kentucky, known as the UK Northern Extension Center.[8] After 20 years in operation as an extension center for UK, it became an autonomous four-year college under the name Northern Kentucky State College (NKSC).[1] In 1970, W. Frank Steely was hired as the first president.[9] The following year, the Salmon P. Chase College of Law, formerly an independent law school in Cincinnati, merged with Northern Kentucky State College. The main campus moved from Covington to Highland Heights, Kentucky, in 1972. NKSC awarded its first bachelor's degrees in 1973. Rapid expansion resulted in the school being upgraded to university status in 1976.[10]

Since its founding in 1968 and elevation to university status in 1976, Northern Kentucky University has expanded with construction projects, new colleges and a larger, more diverse student body. The university has increased its admissions standards.

### Presidents

[edit]

* James P. Sullivan 1946-1970
* W. Frank Steely, 1970–1975
* Ralph Tesseneer, 1975–1976 (interim)
* A. D. Albright, 1976–1983
* Leon Boothe, 1983–1996
* Jack M. Moreland, 1996–1997 (interim)
* James Votruba, 1997–2012
* Geoffrey S. Mearns, 2012–2017
* Gerard St. Amand, 2017–2018 (interim)
* Ashish Vaidya, 2018–2022
* Bonita Brown, 2023 (interim)
* Cady Short-Thompson, 2023–Present

## Campus

[edit]

Northern Kentucky's welcome sign, skywalk and arena, Truist Arena The Northern Kentucky campus plaza in 2010

Northern Kentucky University's main campus in Highland Heights, Kentucky, is situated on 400 acres (1.6 km2) of rolling countryside along U.S. Route 27, just off of Interstate 275 and Interstate 471, seven miles (11 km) southeast of Cincinnati, Ohio. The campus was built beginning in the early 1970s, and the first building, Nunn Hall, opened in 1972.[10] Although most of the university's students commute daily to the campus, approximately 2,000 students live on campus. In recent years, the university has been in the process of expanding its campus and facilities. The Truist Arena is a 9,400-seat arena completed in 2008. It serves as the primary venue for athletics on campus, and also as a venue for entertainment. A Student Union building opened in 2008. The Landrum Academic Center houses an Anthropology Museum. The university campus is also the first educational institute in the world to have a laser-projection planetarium; it is part of the Dorothy Westerman Hermann Natural Science Center.

The campus located in Covington, Kentucky, closed in 2008. It mainly served nontraditional and adult students and also hosted the Program for Adult-Centered Education and Emergency Medical Technology programs.[11] Northern Kentucky University's Grant County Center, located in Williamstown, is a partnership between the Grant County Foundation for Higher Education and Northern Kentucky University.[citation needed]

The Japanese Language School of Greater Cincinnati is a weekend supplementary Japanese school held at the Mathematics, Education and Psychology Center (MP), formerly known as the Business Education Psychology (BEP) Building.[12][13] It was scheduled to move to NKU in July 1993.[14]

### Libraries

[edit]

Northern Kentucky's main library is the W. Frank Steely Library,[15] completed in 1975 and named after the first president of the university. The library contains over 850,000 volumes, more than 18,000 bound periodicals, and approximately 1.4 million microforms. The two-floor Chase Law Library is Northern Kentucky's other library on campus, contains more than 313,000 volumes and 57,000 monographic and serial titles.[16]

### Civic engagement

[edit]

Corporate and university partnerships include The Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement[17] the Fifth/Third Entrepreneurial Center[18] the Metropolitan Education and Training Services Center,[19] the Center for Applied Informatics,[20] and Fidelity Investments. Other centers on campus include the Center for Applied Anthropology,[21] the Institute for Freedom Studies,[22] the Center for Environmental Restoration[23] the Small Business Development Center[24] the Institute for New Economy Technologies[25] the Center for Environmental Education[26] the Center for Integrative Natural Science and Mathematics[27] and the Chase Local Government Law Center.[28]

## Academics

[edit]

Griffin Hall Academic rankings

National
Forbes[29]| 640
U.S. News & World Report[30]| 382 (tie)
Washington Monthly[31]| 338

Northern Kentucky University's academic programs are organized into seven colleges. The College of Informatics, founded in 2006, replaced the College of Professional Studies. In July 2015, the School of the Arts was created, uniting the Music, Theatre & Dance, and Visual Arts programs within the College of Arts & Sciences. In 2018, the former Honors Program became the Honors College.

* College of Arts and Sciences[32]
* School of the Arts[33]
* Haile College of Business[34]
* College of Education[35]
* College of Informatics[36]
* School of Computing and Analytics
* School of Media and Communication
* College of Health & Human Services[37]
* School of Allied Health
* School of Nursing
* School of Kinesiology, Counseling, and Rehabilitative Sciences
* School of Social Work
* Honors College[38]
* Salmon P. Chase College of Law

Northern Kentucky University students are also a part of individual chapters in numerous honor societies. Northern Kentucky's Alpha Beta Phi chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the International History Honor Society, has won 18 consecutive best chapter awards.

### Admissions

[edit]

Northern Kentucky University only considers for admission applicants with a 2.0 or above unweighted high school GPA, those with a 2.75 and greater unweighted high school GPA are admitted regardless of ACT or SAT scores, and the university has a 90% acceptance rate.[39][40] For those submitting test scores, the 2021–2022 final release data by IPEDS reflects scores of admitted students that were 1020-1240 for the SAT and 20-26 for the ACT.[40]

## Student life

[edit]

Northern Kentucky University's Student Union building under construction in 2008 Northern Kentucky University's "Loch Norse" and Fine Arts Center

There are several fraternities and sororities on campus. There is a Student Government Association.[41]

The Northerner is Northern Kentucky's student-run newspaper.[42] The university is also home to an independent, student-run Internet radio station Norse Code Radio.[43] Northern Kentucky University formerly hosted the award-winning public radio station, WNKU, founded in 1986, until the station was sold in 2017.[44]

NorseMediaTV is the PEG access Public-access television cable TV station run by Northern Kentucky University.[45] It airs on channel 818 on Cincinnati Bell Fioptics cable and 18 digital/96 analog on Insight Cable of Northern Kentucky. NorseMediaTV students and faculty produce many original programs, a weekly talk show, various sporting events, and entertainment programming. Many NorseMedia programs have won awards at the local (Blue Chips),[46] regional (Philos) and national (Telly) levels, usually in the professional categories. Students in the program at NKU are invited to create and assist in producing the Electronic Media & Broadcasting programs for the station.[47]

## Athletics

[edit]

Main article: Northern Kentucky Norse

See also: Northern Kentucky Norse men's basketball

The university's teams for both men and women are nicknamed "Norse". Their mascot is named Victor E. Viking.[48] Northern Kentucky University joined the Horizon League on July 1, 2015, after leaving the Atlantic Sun Conference.[6] The 2016–17 school year was the first in which NKU is eligible for NCAA Division I championships, following the completion of its four-year reclassification period to D-I.[49] The university fields teams in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, softball, women's track and field, men's and women's tennis and women's volleyball.[citation needed]

Students have also organized club teams in bowling, ice hockey,[50] men's soccer club,[51] taekwondo[52] fencing,[53] boxing, lacrosse,[54] rugby, kickball, skeet & trap, and men's wrestling. These clubs are primarily organized through the Sport Club program.[55]

## Notable people

[edit]

Main article: List of Northern Kentucky University alumni

Northern Kentucky University has over 60,000 living alumni, approximately 41,000 of them in Ohio and Kentucky. Many have gone on to achieve success in a variety of fields, including athletics, journalism, business, and government.[citation needed]

* Attended but did not graduate – actor George Clooney

* 1995 Alumnus artist David W. Mack

* Graduated in Information Systems – professional wrestler Brian Pillman Jr.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "University History". President's Message. Northern Kentucky University. Archived from the original on September 10, 2009. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
2. ^ As of June 30, 2022. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY21 to FY22 (Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
3. ^ a b "Faculty by Academic Rank, Tenure Status, and Full- Part-Time Status" (PDF). Institutional Research. Northern Kentucky University. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
4. ^ a b c "CPE Interactive Data Center". Retrieved January 13, 2025.
5. ^ "Campus Information". Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2008.
6. ^ a b "Northern Kentucky University to Join Horizon League in July" (Press release). Horizon League. May 11, 2015. Archived from the original on May 14, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
7. ^ [1] Archived September 10, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
8. ^ "Alumni: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region". nku.edu.
9. ^ "Northern Kentucky University" by Will Frank Steely, The Kentucky Encyclopedia (University Press of Kentucky, 1992): 684-685.
10. ^ a b Google cached page from NKU 2007 catalog
11. ^ The Northerner: NKU Covington campus closes
12. ^ Wood, Karli. "Name changes alter campus face" (Archive). The Northerner. September 14, 2011. Retrieved on May 8, 2014. "With the construction of Griffin Hall, NKU moved 550 operations between the Business Education Psychology (BEP) and Applied Science and Technology (ST) buildings,[...]and BEP will be called the Mathematics, Education and Psychology Center."
13. ^ "English Information" (Archive). Japanese Language School of Greater Cincinnati. Retrieved on May 8, 2014. "BEP102 Northern Kentucky University, Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, KY 41099"
14. ^ "Japanese Language School Joins NKU". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. June 5, 1993. p. C2. \- Clipping at Newspapers.com.
15. ^ "Steely Library". nku.edu.
16. ^ "Library: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region". nku.edu. Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
17. ^ "Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region". nku.edu.
18. ^ "NKU Home: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region". 53ei.org. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
19. ^ "The METS Center". themetscenter.com.
20. ^ "CAI". nku.edu.
21. ^ "Center for Applied Anthropology: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region". nku.edu.
22. ^ "the Institute for Freedom Studies". Archived from the original on July 13, 2006. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
23. ^ "Center for Environmental Restoration: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region". nku.edu. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
24. ^ "the Small Business Development Center". Archived from the original on June 13, 2006. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
25. ^ "Institute for New Economy Technologies (iNET)". nku.edu.
26. ^ "the Center for Environmental Education". Archived from the original on May 24, 2006. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
27. ^ "CINSAM". nku.edu.
28. ^ "the Chase Local Government Law Center". Archived from the original on June 16, 2006. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
29. ^ "America's Top Colleges 2024". Forbes. September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
30. ^ "2024-2025 Best National Universities Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. September 23, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
31. ^ "2024 National University Rankings". Washington Monthly. August 25, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
32. ^ "College of Arts & Sciences: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region". nku.edu. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
33. ^ "School of the Arts: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region". nku.edu.
34. ^ "Haile College of Business: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region". nku.edu.
35. ^ "College of Education and Human Services: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region". nku.edu. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2008.
36. ^ "College of Informatics: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region". nku.edu.
37. ^ "College of Health Professions: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region". nku.edu. Archived from the original on June 21, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
38. ^ "Honors College". www.nku.edu. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
39. ^ "Freshman Admissions Standards | NKU is test optional for most freshman applicants". nku.edu. Northern Kentucky University. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
40. ^ a b "Northern Kentucky University * Per the 2021-2022 final release data in IPEDS". forbes.com. Forbes. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
41. ^ "Student Government". nku.edu.
42. ^ "NKU newspaper honored". The Kentucky Post. E. W. Scripps Company. February 28, 2008. Archived from the original on November 12, 2005.
43. ^ "Norse Code Radio » The Student-Operated Radio Station of Northern Kentucky University". norsecoderadio.com.
44. ^ Cincinnati Business Courier
45. ^ "NorseMedia: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region". nku.edu.
46. ^ Blue Chip Cable Access Awards
47. ^ "Electronic Media & Broadcasting: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region". nku.edu.
48. ^ "Getting to know Northern Kentucky". ESPN.com.
49. ^ "NKU accepts invitation to join Atlantic Sun Conference, will reclassify to NCAA Division I". nkunorse.com. Northern Kentucky University. December 8, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
50. ^ "ice hockey". Archived from the original on August 12, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
51. ^ men soccer club
52. ^ "Please see our Facebook Page". nku.edu.
53. ^ fencing
54. ^ Name * First Last. "NKU Men's Lacrosse Club - Home". Nkulax.weebly.com. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
55. ^ Sport Club

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Northern Kentucky Athletics website

* v
* t
* e

Northern Kentucky University

History|

* Kentucky
* YMCA of Greater Cincinnati
* College Lands

Colleges|

* Salmon P. Chase College of Law

Athletics|

* Norse
* Baseball
* Men's basketball
* Women's basketball
* Truist Arena
* NKU Soccer Stadium

People|

* Steve Chabot
* George Clooney
* Ken Lucas
* Tom Luken
* Jeff Walz

* v
* t
* e

Horizon League

Full members|

* Cleveland State Vikings
* Detroit Mercy Titans
* Green Bay Phoenix
* IU Indy Jaguars
* Milwaukee Panthers
* Northern Kentucky Norse
* Oakland Grizzlies
* Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons
* Robert Morris Colonials
* Wright State Raiders
* Youngstown State Penguins

Future members|

* Northern Illinois Huskies1

Associate members|

* Belmont Bruins2
* Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles2
* Tennessee State Tigers2
* Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles2

Championships & awards|

* Conference champions

* 1joining in 2026
* 2tennis (men's)
* 3

* v
* t
* e

Kentucky higher education

Early entrance to college|

* Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics
* Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science

Public universities|

* Eastern Kentucky University
* Kentucky State University
* Morehead State University
* Murray State University
* Northern Kentucky University
* University of Kentucky
* University of Louisville
* Western Kentucky University

Private colleges and universities|

* Alice Lloyd College
* Asbury Theological Seminary
* Asbury University
* Baptist Seminary of Kentucky
* Bellarmine University
* Berea College
* Brescia University
* Campbellsville University
* Centre College
* Clear Creek Baptist Bible College
* Frontier Nursing University
* Georgetown College
* Kentucky Christian University
* Kentucky Mountain Bible College
* Kentucky Wesleyan College
* Lexington Theological Seminary
* Lindsey Wilson College
* Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
* Midway University
* Simmons College
* Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
* Spalding University
* Sullivan University
* Thomas More University
* Transylvania University
* Union Commonwealth University
* University of the Cumberlands
* University of Pikeville

Community and/or technical colleges|

* Ashland
* Big Sandy
* Bluegrass
* Elizabethtown
* Gateway
* Hazard
* Henderson
* Hopkinsville
* Jefferson
* Madisonville
* Maysville
* Owensboro
* Somerset
* Southcentral Kentucky
* Southeast Kentucky
* West Kentucky

Postsecondary education programs|

* Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
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Geographic|

* MusicBrainz place

Other|

* IdRef
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