Randall University is a Christian university in Moore, Oklahoma. Founded in 1917, it offers associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees. It is one of several higher learning institutions associated with the Free Will Baptists. Randall University is also a member of the Oklahoma Independent Colleges and University.^[1] In 2015, it had an enrollment of 365.^[2]

Location and description

Randall University is located on a 41-acre campus adjacent to Interstate 35, in the city of Moore. The University has a multimillion-dollar plant which includes the John H. West Administration Building composed of classrooms and administrative offices; 4 student dormitories housing approximately 120 students and living quarters for the dormitory supervisor: Willey Hall, Barnard Hall, Friends Hall, and Yandell Hall; Oller Annex, a science lab/classroom; 16 single bedroom apartments: Randall Hall and Palmer Hall, 8 units each; an activities building consisting of a student center, campus bookstore, offices, fitness training center, and a gymnasium; the Geri Ann Hull Learning Resource Center/Classroom Building; a faculty duplex, and the Hillsdale House (missionary residence). The Bill J. and Alma Lou Barber Conference Center is on the east side of the quad (Administration, Library/Classroom, Activity, and Conference Center Building). The Barber Conference Center contains an 850 seat auditorium, a recital hall, a cafeteria, classrooms, and offices.^[3]

Biography of Benjamin Randall

Benjamin Randall (February 7, 1749 – October 22, 1808) was converted during the Great Awakening as a result of the preaching ministry of George Whitfield. Rev. Randall served in the New Hampshire militia during the American Revolutionary War. The first Benjamin Randall biographer, quoted Rev. Randall’s journal in recounting his conversion experience: “I saw in Him (Jesus) a universal love, a universal atonement, a universal call to mankind, and was confident that none would ever perish, but those who refused to obey it (Buzzell, John. The Life of Elder Benjamin Randel, principally taken from documents written by himself. Limerick, ME: Hobbs, Woodman, and Co. 1827).” Rev. Randall’s theological departure from the Calvinistic norm of his era occurred at the point of his conversion. Today Free Will Baptists are known for believing John 3:16 to be literally true, that God’s love sent Jesus to die for the sins of humanity so that everyone no matter what tribe, nation, or language has the opportunity to respond to saving grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Rev. Randall went on to found a church in New Durham, New Hampshire that we now recognize as the first Free Will Baptist Church in New England. Rev. Randall was instrumental in planting more than 50 churches throughout the region in his 28 years as a circuit riding preacher. The churches were organized into quarterly and yearly meetings that became a force in the revivals of the nineteenth century, missions, and education. Benjamin Randall is recognized as the leader of the Free Will Baptists, an indigenous American religious movement which ordained persons of color and women in the early days of the nineteenth century. The Free Will Baptists (also known as Free, General, Open Communion, and Antislavery Baptists) were aggressive church planters on the American frontier and embraced missions among immigrant and freedmen populations, as well as, spreading the gospel internationally. Randallite Free Will Baptists were known for their opposition to slavery forming anti-slave societies, prohibiting slave owners from holding membership in the church, and publicly promoting abolition through the “Morningstar” (the official newspaper of the movement). In addition, Free Will Baptists founded non-discriminatory institutions of higher education admitting men and women of different ethnic backgrounds such as: Bates College, ME (1855); Hillsdale College, MI (1844); Storer College, WV (1865); and Tecumseh College (1917), OK. Tecumseh College was the first Free Will Baptist College out of the Randall movement west of the Mississippi. Randall University traces its roots back to Tecumseh College.^[3]

Academics

Randall University offers eleven academic programs across three schools (School of Arts and Sciences, School of Christian Ministry, and School of Education). Randall offers two fully online Master's degrees: Master of Arts in Ministry and Master of Public Administration. Additionally, the School of Professional Studies offers fully online, adult degree completion options in four undergraduate majors.^[3]

Randall University was granted an exception to Title IX in 2017, allowing the school to legally discriminate against LGBT students for religious reasons.^[4]

Athletics

Randall University features six varsity sports teams which compete in the Association of Christian College Athletics (ACCA) and the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). The student-athletes are known as the Saints or the Lady Saints, for male and female competitors, respectively. The Saints and Lady Saints represent Randall in the following varsity sports:^[5]

Men's sports

Women's sports

References

External links

• Official website

35°18′03″N 97°29′28″W / 35.30083°N 97.49111°W / 35.30083; -97.49111