Iowa Wesleyan University
Iowa Wesleyan University was a private university in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, United States. It was Iowa's first co-educational institution of higher learning and the oldest of its type west of the Mississippi River. The institution was affiliated with the United Methodist Church.[1] It closed at the end of the 2022–23 academic year due to financial challenges.
This article is about the former Wesleyan University in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. For a list of other colleges and universities with names including "Wesleyan", see Wesleyan University (disambiguation).
Former names
Mount Pleasant Literary Institute (1842–1843)
Mount Pleasant Collegiate Institute (1843–1855)
Iowa Wesleyan College (1912–2015)
Learning in Community: An Academic Vision
1842–2023
Rural
Purple & White
Tigers
NAIA – Continental
NAIA – NSAA (football)
NAIA – HAAC (wrestling)
Wesley the Tiger
Two campus buildings, Old Main and the Harlan-Lincoln House, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The latter, the former summer home of Robert Todd Lincoln, is now a museum featuring various artifacts from the Harlan and Lincoln families.
Student life[edit]
Beginning in late mid-1800s, Iowa Wesleyan maintained an active Military Department, in which students organized as a corps of cadets received training under the guidance of United States Army officers.[6] Among Iowa Wesleyan's commandants were Ulysses G. McAlexander (1891 to 1895) and Charles L. Hodges (1895 to 1897)[7]
Greek life had a rich history at Iowa Wesleyan University. The Beta chapter of Alpha Xi Delta sorority was the oldest sorority on campus, being on campus since 1902. It was the oldest chapter of Alpha Xi Delta in the country. At the time of closure, Iowa Wesleyan University had 3 active Greek organizations, which include Theta Sigma Rho sorority, Zeta Psi Mu fraternity, and Omega Delta Alpha fraternity.
The P.E.O. Sisterhood was founded at Iowa Wesleyan University on January 21, 1869.
Greek organizations that have had chapters on campus include:
National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) Sororities:
North American Interfraternity Conference (IFC) Fraternities