North Central University history

1933: Six student-led prayer bands are established to emphasize the needs of nations, people groups, and missionaries in different regions of the world.

1936–37: F.J. Lindquist asks the North Central District and the Executive Presbytery of the Assemblies of God for help with the down payment; neither is able, so Lindquist notifies the Board of Asbury Hospital of NCBI’s inability to purchase the property.

Attention is given to the long period of independent development of traditional societies, to the impact of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, to the era of European colonial domination, and to post-1945 struggles to regain independence and create new national identities.

1948: John P. Phillipps and G. Raymond Carlson, former superintendent of the North Central District of the Assemblies of God, join the faculty.

In 1955, to meet the growing demand for more educational opportunities, North Central added four-year degree programs.

NCU becomes the recipient of local radio station KNOF 95.3 FM. The station was established by alumna Grace Adam ’51 and her husband, Fred, in 1960 as a broadcaster of noncommercial, “full Gospel radio for the Twin Cities.” The gift marks the single most financially valuable contribution

1966: NCBC acquires the parcel of land, including multiple housing structures, at the corner of Chicago Avenue and 9th Street.

E.M. Clark is named the fourth President of NCBC. 1972: Construction begins on a new chapel facility.

1973: The F.J. Lindquist Chapel opens, seating 600 on the main floor and 350 on the balcony level.

In keeping with the vital and growing character of the school, enrollment has more than tripled from 401 students in 1975 to a present enrollment of approximately 1,500 in the residence and distance education programs.

1976: Doctor Don Meyer joins the faculty, teaching Old Testament, church history, Bible geography, and Greek.

1978: North Central announces during the baccalaureate exercises that the 910 Elliot Ave. building will be renamed I.O. Miller Hall in honor of Miller’s 25 years of service to NCBI/NCBC as a professor and administrator.

During the 1981 Partners for Progress Banquet, a record-breaking $213,000 is given or pledged.

1982: Doctor Gordon Anderson joins the faculty of NCBC to teach philosophy and history.

1984: In February, NCBC acquires a multiple-occupancy house and parking lot at the SE corner of Chicago Ave. and East 15th St It is later named the Thomas F. Zimmerman House and used for men’s honors student housing.

Recognizing its commitment to the needs of its constituents, North Central continued expanding its offerings and was accredited in 1986 by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).

In March 1988, the University purchased a building located behind the chapel.

The final building on this land would be demolished in 1990 to create additional parking space, the so-called “Triangle Lot.” The land later becomes the site of Phillipps Hall.

In 1993, the Midwest Latin American District joined to become the 11th district.

In 1994, the college also purchased the American Legion on South Tenth Street which is now used as classrooms, and the Trestman property on the southwest quadrant of Chicago Avenue and Fourteenth Street which is home to the University Bookstore and the Center for Youth and Leadership.

The “Z House” is later damaged by a fire, but after renovations in the summer and fall of 1999, male honors students return to

NCU acquires the vacant property in February 2000; no development is proposed.

2001: As phase two of the “Building Upon the Legacy” campaign, NCU remodels the 1st floor of Carlson Hall into an expanded kitchen, serving, dining, and dishroom facility.

2002: As a service to the community, “With One Voice Energizing Neighborhoods” (WOVEN) is founded.

In 2005, the University broke ground for the Thomas E. Trask Word and Worship Center, a project that includes the additions of a 200-seat auditorium and two-story atrium and the remodeling of the Lindquist Chapel.

In 2006, the University held its 75th anniversary celebration.

In 2007, North Central University acquired two buildings, affectionately called "The Fortress" or "The Yellow Building" and "The Mansion". The Mansion was renovated to become the new home of the Intercultural Studies department and the Business department.

At the start of the Fall 2008 semester, it was announced that the radio station would be moved to the former Comm Arts building right behind the Trask Worship Center.

2009: Praise FM 95.3 (formerly KNOF) Christian radio station begins broadcasting from renovated studios

On March 22, 2011, at the start of the daily Chapel service, the President of North Central University, Doctor Gordon Anderson, announced the formation of four new Colleges within the University.

In 2015, NCU’s Doctor of Philosophy degree program in Marriage and Family Therapy (PhD MFT) received COAMFTE accreditation, the first and only distance-based doctoral program to receive this accreditation.

2016: President Gordon Anderson announces his retirement, and search commences for NCU’s next president.

NCU continued to maintain a presence in Prescott Valley through January 2017.

NCU celebrated its largest ever graduation class with 2,113 students completing their bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in 2018.