Ambrose University
Former names
Calgary Bible Institute, Alberta School of Evangelism, Northern Bible College, Canadian Nazarene College, Nazarene University College; Canadian Bible Institute, Western Canadian Bible Institute, Canadian Bible College of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, Canadian Theological Seminary, Alliance University College; Nazarene University College-Alliance University College (NUC-AUC); Ambrose University College
TypePrivate
Established1921
Religious affiliation
Christian and Missionary Alliance, Church of the Nazarene
Academic affiliations
ATS (Graduate Theological Degrees), CHEC (Undergraduate Theological Degrees), CCCU
ChairpersonDebi Mills
PresidentGordon T. Smith
Students920 in 2023
Location
Calgary
,
Alberta
,
Canada

51°02′03″N 114°11′36″W / 51.0342°N 114.1933°W / 51.0342; -114.1933
Colours      Gold, white, black
NicknameLions
MascotLion
Websiteambrose.edu

Ambrose University is a private Christian liberal arts university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Overview

The university was formed in 2007, when Alliance University College and Nazarene University College merged, and named in honor of Saint Ambrose.[1]

It provides undergraduate and graduate level education for pastoral ministry, as well as undergraduate level education in select liberal arts and science degrees. The Graduate School of Theology also offers a Chinese Program (TSC - Theological Studies in Chinese).

History

Ambrose University is the product of an educational journeys which began in the second half of the twentieth century.[2]

Alliance University College (AUC) was originally established in 1941. The Western Canadian District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance established the Canadian Bible Institute in Regina, Saskatchewan, in 1941. It was established under Gordon Skitch, superintendent of the Western Canadian District of the CMA, Willis Brooks, pastor of the Regina Alliance Tabernacle and George Blackett, former principal of Winnipeg Bible Institute and future principal and president of the new institute. In 1949, it was Western Canadian Bible Institute (WCBI). It was renamed again in 1957 as the Canadian Bible College (CBC). The Canadian Theological College (CTC) was established in 1970 as a graduate sister school to CBC, and was renamed Canadian Theological Seminary (CTS) in 1982.

Nazarene University College (NUC) was first established in 1921 in the basement of the Calgary First Church of the Nazarene. In 1927, the school relocated to Red Deer, and was named Alberta School of Evangelism, and then Northern Bible College (NBC) In 1940, it began offering theology degrees and was renamed again as the Canadian Nazarene College (CNC). In 1960, CNC moved to Winnipeg and was established as the official Canadian university college for the Church of the Nazarene. CNC moved back to Calgary in 1995, became an accredited university college in 1999, and changed its name to Nazarene University College (NUC).

In 2003, CBC/CTS officially relocated to join NUC on the same campus, received accreditation in 2004, and changed its name to Alliance University College (AUC).

AUC and NUC maintained a close relationship and were often referred to as Alliance University College-Nazarene University College (AUC-NUC), though the two granted degrees independently until 2007.

In 2007, AUC and NUC became a single institution, known as Ambrose University College, in honour of Saint Ambrose.[1][3] A new campus opened in west Calgary the following year.[4]

In 2012 Gordon T. Smith was named president.[5]

In 2014, Premier and Minister of Innovation and Advanced Education Dave Hancock approved the change of name to Ambrose University, dropping the word "College" to better reflect the nature of the institution.[6]

Affiliation

Ambrose is the official Canadian school of both the Church of the Nazarene and The Christian and Missionary Alliance. It is one of 10 colleges and universities affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene in North America and one of 8 colleges and universities affiliated with The Christian and Missionary Alliance.[7] It is the Nazarene institute for the Canada Region.[8]

It is also an affiliate of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

Academics

Ambrose's mission is to "produce graduates who are consciously and actively Christian in all aspects of life," and to "serve the church by providing excellent preparation for pastoral ministry.".[9]

In 2023, AU offered 255 courses to 920 students.[10] Students come from over 30 Christian denominations and traditions.[11]

AU provides undergraduate and graduate-level education for pastoral ministry, as well as undergraduate level education in select liberal arts and science degrees. In 2021 the School of Business at AU was officially launched as a separate program school.

Ambrose is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada to offer its Seminary degrees. The university is also accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education to offer undergraduate ministry and theology degrees, and by the Province of Alberta in the conferring of undergraduate degrees in selected disciplines.

Notable persons

  • Willis Brooks, pastor of the Regina Alliance Tabernacle and well-known radio pastor.
  • George Blackett, the first principal, then president, of the institute.
  • Paul Ens, atheist founder of YouTube channels Paul Ens and Paulogia, attended when he was a Christian.
  • Cecil R. Paul, president of the Eastern Nazarene College (1989-1992) was a Canadian Nazarene College alumnus.
  • Gordon Skitch, superintendent of the Western Canadian District of The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada (C&MA).

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 "AUC-NUC Becomes Ambrose University College". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  2. ↑ "History of Ambrose University". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  3. ↑ "Ambrose University (History), official website". Archived from the original on 2013-08-19. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  4. ↑ "Message from the Presidents of AUC and NUC". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  5. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-06-01. Retrieved 2012-05-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ↑ "New name, same commitment to quality". Archived from the original on 2014-10-29. Retrieved 2014-10-29.
  7. ↑ "Educational Ministries of The Christian and Missionary Alliance". www.cmalliance.org. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  8. ↑ Nazarene Educational Regions Archived 2008-06-24 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ "auc-nuc.ca". www.auc-nuc.ca.
  10. ↑ My Uni Search website, Retrieved 2023-05-04
  11. ↑ "Ambrose University (Spiritual Life) official website". Archived from the original on 2013-08-19. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
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