North Park has served five generations of students and continues to grow in diversity, academic relevance, and Christian commitment. Our Chicago location is a great asset that reflects the School鈥檚 global reach and outlook.
After 125 years, we鈥檝e learned how to streamline the process of helping qualified applicants seek admission to North Park and find affordable ways to attend. If you don鈥檛 see what you鈥檙e looking for on our website, please contact us directly!
North Park offers more than 40 graduate and undergraduate programs in liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies. Classes average 17 students. 84% of our faculty have terminal degrees. Academics here are rigorous and results-oriented.
North Park Theological Seminary prepares you to answer the call to service through theological study, spiritual development, and the formative experiences of living in a community with others on a similar life path.
The Office of Alumni Engagement fosters lifelong connections by engaging alumni with the university and one another in activities, programs, and services that support the university鈥檚 mission and alumni needs.
狈辞谤迟丑听Park University听has received a prestigious grant from the National Science Foundation to create a new advisor position to support first-year STEM majors.
狈辞谤迟丑听Park University听has received a prestigious grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to create a new advisor position dedicated to supporting first-year students majoring in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
The three-year,听$500,000听NSF grant will fund the hiring of听Claudia Gonzalez, who has a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling, as the advisor for first-year STEM students. As a former admissions counselor at听St. Augustine College, Gonzalez is well-equipped to guide students through the challenges of their demanding majors.
“At North Park, we are dedicated to providing our students with the tools, mentorship, and faith-centered support they need to succeed,” said Matthew Schau,听 professor of biology. “Claudia’s experience and passion for helping students navigate the complexities of college life will have a lasting impact on the success of our first-year STEM students.” Schau was assisted in securing the grant by听Evelyn Aucutt, senior director of academic engagement and student success,听Kurt Sheu, assistant professor of mathematics, and听Ekaterini Koutsouris, advisor for advanced education in the health professions.
Gonzalez will provide personalized guidance to students as they adjust to the demands of college coursework. Her efforts will focus on enhancing retention rates, which is crucial given the national trend of high attrition rates among STEM students鈥攅specially women and students of color. According to 2024 data from the American Society for Engineering Education, nearly 13% of STEM majors leave their programs after the first year.
“It’s critical to create an environment where students feel supported and connected from day one,” Gonzalez said. “Having someone help them with everything from academic challenges to personal concerns can make all the difference. As a first-generation college student, I know how important it is to have a support system.”
Gonzalez will also teach an introductory psychology course to help students develop the foundational skills they need to succeed in college. Topics will include everything from navigating a syllabus to understanding the importance of faculty office hours.
萝莉社听offers a wide variety of STEM majors, including pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, biochemistry, and biotechnology. It remains committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and faith-centered environment where all students can succeed.
萝莉社 has established an affiliation agreement with Illinois College, guaranteeing admission for two of its graduates into North Park鈥檚 Master of Science in Athletic Training program.
萝莉社 has reached an affiliation agreement with Illinois College in which North Park will guarantee admission for two Illinois College graduates into North Park鈥檚 Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program.
Viable candidates must graduate from Illinois College, located in Jacksonville, Illinois, said Andrew Lundgren, North Park鈥檚 athletic training program director and an associate professor of athletic training.
As part of the program, Illinois College faculty will recommend candidates for North Park鈥檚 MSAT program for the two guaranteed spots. Then, those chosen must go through the same application process as other candidates.
鈥淲e have found there are students drawn to North Park鈥檚 program because we鈥檙e in Chicago,鈥� Lundgren said. 鈥淲e have so many professional sports teams and clinical opportunities, and that鈥檚 a huge draw for athletic training students.鈥�
Partnering with trusted institutions allows North Park to recruit strong applicants, said Lundgren, who is in talks to enter partnerships with additional schools. North Park is uniquely positioned to offer a high-quality MSAT degree, with its Chicago location, cutting-edge facilities, and hands-on training.
萝莉社 has been recognized as one of the top universities for international students in the United States.
萝莉社 is proud to announce its recognition from Study Abroad Aide as one of the top 50 . Study Abroad Aide is an independent database for prospective students looking for the next step in their educational journey.听
This ranking recognizes the university鈥檚 priority in creating an inclusive, intercultural environment where students from around the world can collaborate and learn. Of the more than 3,000 undergraduate, graduate, and seminary students currently enrolled, more than 300 are international students, collectively coming from more than 50 countries.听
萝莉社 has a dedicated department for international students: the Office of International Affairs (OIA). OIA guides international students as they navigate life in the United States, from understanding their visa, to enrolling in insurance, to paying taxes, to applying for a driver鈥檚 license. OIA also hosts events for international students, helping them connect with clubs and activities on campus and making North Park and Chicago a home away from home.听听
Enrolled students, parents, or those looking to research North Park鈥檚 benefits for international students can visit its web page to learn more.听
The universities have launched an internship program where North Park students will intern at Northwestern’s Center for Synthetic Biology.
This spring, North Park and Northwestern Universities are launching an internship program where North Park molecular biology and biotechnology (MBBT) majors will intern at Northwestern’s , working alongside world-renowned researchers in state-of-the-art facilities.
“We want our students to learn about this subject hands-on, not through YouTube videos or in TED Talks, which is why I鈥檓 grateful for the partnership,鈥� said Professor of Biology Dr. Timothy Lin, who initiated the program.
Synthetic biology modifies DNAs and RNAs to design new proteins into a system that addresses global health and biomanufacturing issues. Northwestern’s “SynBio” lab in Evanston, Illinois, touts itself as a “global hub [that] helps solve some of society’s most pressing challenges.”
For instance, one practical application of biosynthetic research is the creation of lab-made foods to address global food shortages.
As part of the program, up to two North Park students per year, selected from a pool of about 20 MBBT听majors eligible to apply, will spend 10 hours a week at Northwestern, earning credit toward graduation.
The program started after Lin鈥攚ho hosts a career development series for science majors鈥攊nvited Dr. Danielle Tullman-Ercek, Northwestern’s Master of Biotechnology program director, to speak about solving societal issues with synthetic biology. After her visit in 2022, she was so impressed with North Park鈥檚 program, Lin said, that she invited one of North Park鈥檚 students to participate in an internship the following summer.
North Park is uniquely positioned as one of the only Midwestern schools offering undergraduate degrees in molecular biology and biotechnology. Lin is pursuing connections with other schools and industries, including Roosevelt University, to create more career and internship opportunities for North Park students.
“Synthetic biology is the future,” Lin said. “Whether it’s designing a new protein or an antibody, it’s a growing field that will get even bigger with the help of artificial intelligence.”
鈥淭he internship agreement with Northwestern is just the beginning,鈥� Lin said. 鈥淥ur MBBT program will continue to develop in related areas and provide our students with more career opportunities.鈥�
Amy Rohler MDiv 鈥�04 received the Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award in December 2024.
Amy Rohler MDiv 鈥�04 received the 2024 Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award after overseeing the merger of two regional New York chapters of the United Way. Rohler has served seven years as the executive director of the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County and previously was executive director of Helping Hands. The Chautauqua County听Chamber听of Commerce board of directors recognized her in December 2024 for this work.
The award is named for Pam Lydic, the first president and CEO of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce. It recognizes an individual who has united groups around a common goal to move the region forward. Read more at .
Congratulations to all the students who made the fall 2024 dean鈥檚 list.
Congratulations to all the students who made the fall 2024 dean鈥檚 list. Degree-seeking students with at least 12 semester credit hours at 萝莉社 and a GPA of 3.5 or higher are eligible for this honor.
Oakland University has awarded bestselling author Austin Channing Brown BA ’04 a Doctor of Humane Letters Honoris Causa.
Oakland University awarded bestselling author Austin Channing Brown BA ’06 a Doctor of Humane Letters Honoris Causa at its fall commencement ceremony on December 13, 2024.
In her book I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness鈥�along with its adapted version for youth鈥擟hanning Brown calls readers to recognize and address systemic racism. She is currently writing her third book, Full of Myself: Notes on Black Womanhood, which will be released this year.
Nnenna Okore’s work was displayed at the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum鈥檚 Climates and Carpets exhibition.
萝莉社 Professor of Art Nnenna Okore was one of several international artists whose work was displayed at the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum鈥檚 Climates and Carpets exhibition. All works drew inspiration from traditional Azerbaijani carpet weaving and its patterns while highlighting the importance of climate change action.
鈥淭his was a unique opportunity to exhibit my work at a museum that usually shows carpet art, showing that collaborations are possible across different fields of art and craft,鈥� Okore said of her work entitled 鈥淐hance.鈥�
Although she couldn鈥檛 attend the opening ceremony because of a weather-related canceled flight, the event curator conveyed to the audience the meaning of her piece: 鈥淚t reflects the planets鈥� grandeur and impetus,鈥� Okore said. 鈥淚t invites the audience to consider forces of nature and how to be attuned to nature鈥檚 agency.鈥�
The exhibition was open from November 15鈥�30, and the museum dedicated the exhibit to the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Azerbaijan from November 11鈥�22. Read more about Climates and Carpets .
Melissa Pavlik will use a $5,000 Illinois Humanities grant to support incarcerated writing students who are North Park Theological Seminary students or graduates.
Melissa Pavlik, director of 萝莉社鈥檚 Writing Center, will use a $5,000 Illinois Humanities grant to support incarcerated writing students who are graduates or students of the North Park Theological Seminary鈥檚 Master of Arts in Christian Ministry with Restorative Arts program.
鈥淭his funding is vital for our project because it allows us to amplify our writing group members鈥� voices in a manner accessible to outside family, community members, and the general public,鈥� Pavlik said.
Since 2023, Pavlik has led the weekly writing group called WRIT112 at Stateville Correctional Center (whose population has temporarily relocated to Illinois River Correctional Center). Many of the group members are also North Park writing tutors.
Pavlik plans to spend the grant on producing the group鈥檚 anthology of writing and visual art, Writing from Both Sides of the Moon, which North Park鈥檚 Office of Civic Engagement will display at a Catalyst event in April 2025 alongside Feather Bricks, a magazine Pavlik produces.
In September 2024, Illinois Humanities awarded $147,000 to 13 groups and six individuals, including Pavlik, to fund visionary and innovative projects that use the humanities as a tool to examine mass incarceration and collectively shape a more just future. Read more .
On November 21, 萝莉社 hosted the听sixth annual Chicago Public Schools College Compact Symposium: Navigating Financial Aid Processes.
On November 21, 萝莉社 hosted the听sixth annual Chicago Public Schools (CPS) College Compact Symposium: Navigating Financial Aid Processes. 萝莉社 200 staff members from high schools and colleges that promote postsecondary success for CPS students attended.
The CPS College Compact selected North Park as the hosting institution due to its emergence as a strong partner in the organization’s work and its commitment to CPS students’ success.
CPS Director of Persistence, Alumni Support, and Success Jenny Coulter Zuluaga said, “North Park practiced radical hospitality; from President Surridge’s听gracious opening welcome, to staff shoveling sidewalks, to technology support, to thoughtful workshop session facilitation, we felt the whole campus’听support for this critical professional development day.”
North Park has also committed to working on shared strategies with the CPS College Compact to increase CPS students’ persistence and completion of postsecondary education. The organizations are working on a Promising Practice Innovation Fund proposal to improve work-study by strategically developing student workers’ transferable skills through mentorship, professional development, and intentional goal setting.
“We are truly grateful for the partnership and look forward to strengthening our collaboration in the coming years,” said Coulter Zuluaga.
Author Kennedy MurphyPosted on Categories Stories
