First president of Ohio Christian University (first known as Mount of Praise Bible School)
Two-Year Bible Training Course established in 1949
Improvements and upgrades to the Mount of Praise Camp Meeting grounds in order to facilitate needs of the college
Ministerial and denominational financial support of the college created
First Student Council created
Guy C. Johnson (1952-1953)
Only interim president in the history of Ohio Christian University
Richard G. Humble (1953-1956)
First Administration building constructed and completed (1953-54)
Name of school changed from Mount of Praise Bible School to Circleville Bible College (spring 1954)
First college chapel built (1955)
First President’s home purchased (Christmas 1955)
Student enrollment tops 50 for first time (January 1956)
Glen Johnson (1956-1959)
Student enrollment tops 70 for first time (September 1957)
First College Board of Trustees organized in 1958
New library-science building constructed in 1958 financed primarily through donation campaign among Church of Christ in Christian Union youth
Morton W. Dorsey (1959-1964)
Ohio Christian University received its first State Charter from Ohio Board of education (1961)
College station wagon purchased through Top Value Stamps campaign among the student body (Fall 1961)
First Youth Conference Weekend began in Spring 1961
Melvin Maxwell (1964-1980)
Administration/academic building constructed and occupied in August 1966 at new 40-acre campus site on Route 22 east of Circleville
Student enrollment tops 150 (Fall 1967)
York Hall, Campus Church, Academic Building, Moore Hall, and Campus Center constructed and occupied (1967-1970)
Student enrollment tops 200 (Fall 1968)
In 1970, the university received applicant status from American Association of Bible Colleges.
Full accreditation as a Bible College attained in Fall 1976.
Douglas Carter (1980-1989)
Increased the profile of OCU nationally with his involvement in World Gospel Mission
OCU accepted as a participant in the Ohio Instructional Grant program
OCU budget tithe implemented in each CCCU local church
Endowment Fund created; $450,000 balance in 1989
Intercollegiate sports in the National Christian College Athletic Association for men and women were established (basketball for both men and women; volleyball for women and baseball for men)
Associate of Arts degree in Religion approved by the Ohio Board of Regents
David Van Hoose (1989-1994)
In 1989, 5-Year Strategic Plan developed as required by AABC. This plan served as a model for other colleges in AABC as well as for OCU
Counseling program major created; Teacher Education Education program affiliation with Mount Vernon Nazarene College and Ashland University established
Adult Completion Program (predecessor to today’s popular AIM Program) was instituted
Office of Institutional Development created
Major fire in December 1990 destroyed much of the girl’s dormitory, Moore Hall. Restoration completed in the summer of 1991
Johnson Hall and Campus Church made handicap accessible in 1993
John Conley (1995-2005)
Steered OCU through the process of accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. Received full accreditation in 2005.
Annual operating budget of OCU increased from $1.4 million in 1995 to $3.8 million in 2003
Student enrollment increased from 170 in 1995 to 413 in 2005; OCU received Christianity Today and the Association for Biblical Higher Education’s growth award in 2001 and again in 2005
OCU graduates largest class ever in 2005 with 96 students
The Adult Education Program (AIM) was launched in 1998 and later expanded to the campuses of Hocking College and Columbus State Community College
14,000 square foot addition made to the Melvin and Laura Maxwell Library
Non-traditional Adult Degree Completion Program (AIM) Classes first offered in January 1999 on the Circleville campus.
Three family unit townhouse and World Gospel Mission Student Involvement Center erected in 1999
Clock tower named in honor of longtime faculty member, Dr. David Case, placed in center of the campus area
Addition of a rear entrance to Johnson Hall and the refurbishing of the exterior of the Graham Administration Building completed in 2003-04
Construction of a 6400 square foot addition to Johnson Hall that houses the Music Department, Student Services, Student Lounge and President’s Dining Room; The OCU Board of Trustees named the addition the Conley Ministry Center in his honor.
Mark Smith (2006-2016)
Changed name from Circleville Bible College to Ohio Christian University (2006)
Opened 14 University educational sites in rural/underserved areas of Ohio for student learning and a site in Atlanta, Georgia.
Began offering online courses in 2007.
Increased University enrollment from 380 to 4800.
Established University’s nationally recognized, fully-accredited, multiple-program online education division.
Established 12 distinct University graduate programs.
Grew University student body geographic representation from 7 states to all 50 states and 11 countries.
Grew University degreed graduates from 1,371 graduates to 5,690.
Led construction of 8 new building initiatives on University’s main campus.
Grew University athletics from 5 programs to 15 programs.
Jon Kulaga (2018-2022)
Decreased institutional debt
Increased student retention to its highest levels in the school’s history
Raised the percentage of campus faculty terminal degrees to 92%
Increased the racial and ethnic diversity of the faculty and administration
Initiated the Foundry Institute which focuses on building church leaders
Ronald E. Smith (2022-2024)
Established a vision to emphasize and grow OCU ministry programs
Reinvigorated ministry/theology
Implemented connections to expand OCU relationship with Wesleyan and other holiness denominations
Secured donor and state funding for the development of facilities and programming in science
Established a vision for future programming in medicine
Improved organizational structure to maximize philanthropic activity
Expanded connections and improved relationships with state and federal legislative personnel
Improved enrollment and retention in online programming
