private university in Indianapolis, Ind. Its 290-acre (117-hectare) campus includes a botanical garden and a nature preserve. Established by the Disciples of Christ in 1855 as North Western Christian University, the institution was renamed in 1877 to honor lawyer David Butler, a founder and benefactor. In 1958 the university's School of Religion separated to become the Christian Theological Seminary. Butler is composed of the Jordan College of Fine Arts and Colleges of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Education, Business Administration, and Pharmacy. Students interested in engineering or forestry can enroll in dual-degree programs operated in conjunction with other institutions. About 80 percent of Butler's full-time faculty hold doctorates. The academic calendar is divided into semesters. About 15 percent of the undergraduates pursue advanced studies immediately after graduation. Bulter enrolls roughly 2,800 undergraduates and 1,000 graduate students, the majority of whom come from the North Central region of the United States. Women outnumber men. Many students, including all traditional-age freshmen who cannot commute from home, reside in campus housing. University life features performing arts groups, campus radio and television stations, publications, and intramural sports. Roughly a quarter to a third of the undergraduates join fraternities and sororities. Varsity sports teams, nicknamed the Bulldogs, compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (except for the football team, which participates in Division I-AA). School colors are blue and white. |