George Fox University (GFU) is a liberal arts university founded in 1891 by Quakers in Newberg, Oregon. Originally called Pacific College, the name was changed to George Fox College in 1950 for two reasons: to lessen confusion with other colleges and to reflect its connection with the historic Friends Church founded by Englishman George Fox in the seventeenth century. The name of the college was changed to George Fox University in 1995, with the acquisition of Western Evangelical Seminary, Portland, Oregon (now George Fox Evangelical Seminary). Although joined with George Fox University, the seminary continues as a multi-denominational, evangelical, university-based seminary. A core curriculum of Quaker values encourages service projects by university employees and students, as well as events sponsored by the university’s Center for Peace and Justice.
Continued growth in undergraduate and graduate programs since the 1980s is reflected in the variety of majors, increased student populations, and campus locations. The Newberg campus which concentrates on traditional student services offers baccalaureate liberal arts, science, and nursing degrees in its four-year program. The athletic department confers a doctorate in Physical Therapy. The Newberg campus has a comprehensive curriculum for teaching the English language to foreign students. Also modeling Friends’ tenets, scholarships through Act Six, initiated by Portland Leadership Foundation, aim to promote Portland inner-city students in scholastic and social excellence.
Teaching of upper division classes occurs at each campus, but most are conducted at the Portland campus where seminary, graduate studies in business, education, and an adult degree completion program occur. Other branches of the university are located in Salem and Redmond, Oregon, and Boise, Idaho. Distance learning through hybrid courses is also offered. Overseas study experiences are provided for both undergraduate and graduate programs in many countries including Bolivian Evangelical University in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and the Center for Global Studies, International Semester Programs, in South Africa.
From the guide to the George Fox University Records, 1996-2011, (George Fox University/Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends Church Archives)
