GENERAL INFORMATION

5 - HISTORY 8 - MISSION 9 - GOALS 10 - DOCTRINAL STATEMENT 11 - CORE VALUES 13 - PHILOSOPHIES AND OUTCOMES 15 - ACCREDITATION 15 - CERTIFICATION

OUR HISTORY

The heritage of Ozark Christian College is rooted in the Restoration Movement. Ozark Christian College is supported by independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, a non-denominational fellowship of more than 3 million members and nearly 6,000 congregations in the United States, plus many more worldwide.

Ozark Bible College was established in Bentonville, Arkansas, on June 12, 1942, committed to training men and women for Christian service by teaching the Word of Christ in the Spirit of Christ. An earlier Ozark Christian College had been established in St. Joe, Arkansas, in 1938. It moved to Harrison, Arkansas, in 1939, and then to Bentonville in 1940. This school was to provide both occupational training and Bible teaching.

Ozark Bible College was founded to be a Bible college training full-time and part-time Christian workers. Workers were prepared to be ministers, missionaries, Christian musicians, educational directors, and assistant ministers, as well as elders, deacons, and volunteer workers in the local church. The trustees elected F.W. Strong as president and Seth Wilson as dean, positions they held in the former college.

At the time, many churches in the Four State Area of Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma were closed, and hundreds were without preachers. Ozark Bible College desired to provide ministers whose biblical preaching would revive the churches.

In October 1944, Ozark Bible College moved to a large house located at 516 N. Wall Street in Joplin, Missouri. Joplin was chosen as the new home for the college because it was easily reached by car, bus, train, or plane. Many churches were in the area, providing opportunities for student ministries, and Joplin also had more job opportunities for students.

In 1946, Edwin B. Strong succeeded his father as president of Ozark Bible College. The college grew from 16 students in 1942 to 123 students in the fall of 1949. An addition to the building in 1948 provided a dining room, a small chapel, and two classrooms. At this time, most of the full-time faculty preached every weekend. Area ministers assisted as part-time instructors. Students were involved in service in the churches on weekends.

Ozark’s curriculum has always stressed knowledge of the Bible gained through a direct study of the biblical text, with every degree carrying a major in Bible. Strong emphasis has been placed on apologetics (knowing why we believe in God, Christ, and the Bible) and hermeneutics (principles and methods for understanding the Bible). Skills for ministry are also taught.

In 1952, Don Earl Boatman became the third president of Ozark Bible College, a post he held for 27 years. The college had a vision and desire to grow. A 1953 addition to the college building provided a large chapel, a library, and additional classrooms. These additions let the college accommodate the 176 students who enrolled in the fall of 1954. In 1955, Ozark faculty, staff, and students served 75 churches. Soon the college reached the maximum capacity in the 516 N. Wall building.

In 1959, 40 acres were purchased on North Main Street, a mile north of downtown Joplin and less than a mile from the Wall Street location. The Missions Building and Alumni Hall were completed in 1963, providing classrooms and a dormitory for women. This enabled the college to move to the new campus to welcome 309 students in the fall of 1963. The Administration Building was completed a few weeks after the fall semester started. Under the direction of Walter Goodman, 13 buildings were constructed on the new campus during its first two decades.

Every year during the 1960s, enrollment increased, reaching its peak of 803 in the fall of 1974. New faculty and programs expanded the outreach of the college. The college was known for its emphasis on evangelism and missions.

In 1979, new leaders assumed responsibilities at Ozark Bible College. Ken Idleman became president, and Wallace Wartick was named academic dean. Dr. Lynn

Gardner became academic dean in 1981. In the same year, Ozark began the process of accreditation and received it from the Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges (now called the Association for Biblical Higher Education) in 1988.

On July 1, 1985, Midwest Christian College of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, consolidated with Ozark Bible College on the Joplin campus under the name of Ozark Christian College. The college grew numerically from the mid-1980s until the present. A new record enrollment of 839 was set in the fall of 2005. Dr. Mark Scott became academic dean in 1998. After serving as interim academic dean in 2011, Doug Aldridge became the academic dean in 2012.

In 2005, Matt Proctor was announced as the fifth president of OCC. He served for one year as the president-elect. On July 1, 2006, Matt Proctor officially became president of OCC, with Ken Idleman serving as chancellor until 2007. In 2017, OCC celebrated her 75th year.

In 2014, OCC applied for accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a regional accrediting agency. Ozark Christian College received Candidate for Accreditation with HLC in November 2016, completed a biennial review in 2018, and an initial accreditation visit in March 2020. The college received full accreditation with HLC in November 2020. Chad Ragsdale became the college’s sixth academic dean (Executive Vice President of Academics) in 2021.

The college is now led by four senior administrators: Matt Proctor, President; Chad Ragsdale, Executive Vice President of Academics; Damien Spikereit, Executive Vice President of Administration; and Jim Dalrymple, Executive Vice President of Advancement. This executive leadership team works with the vice presidents (David McMillin, Campus Operations; Doug Miller, General Counsel; Robert Witte, Enrollment Management; Andy Storms, Student Affairs; and Teresa Roberts, Institutional Research and Effectiveness), deans (Shawn Lindsay, Associate Dean of Digital Learning and Innovation; and Shane J. Wood, Associate Academic Dean) and select directors (Amy Storms, Director of Marketing and Communications; Lisa Witte, Director of Academic Operations) to form the Administrative Council.

Today, OCC’s attractive campus includes the Chapel, Missions Building, Seth Wilson Library, Idleman Ministry Center, Casteel Administration Building, Hillside Building, Dining Hall, Multi-Purpose Building, Mabee Student Center, Visiting Intercultural Professor Residence and Hospitality House, Physical Plant Building, and six residence halls.

A strong faculty consists of over 25 full-time teachers and over 20 part-time teachers. Current student enrollment is over 600, with new student populations being reached through an online program. The college continues to prepare men and women for vocational and volunteer Christian service, reaffirming its historic purpose by teaching the Word of God to men and women who will be equipped to teach others (2 Tim 2:2).

THE MISSION OF OZARK CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

The mission of Ozark Christian College is to train men and women for Christian service as a degree-granting institution of biblical higher education.

The vision of Ozark Christian College is to glorify God by evangelizing the lost and edifying Christians worldwide. Emphasis is given to vocational preparation for Christian ministry in a variety of specific fields. Biblical and practical instruction are also provided for those who will serve in bi-vocational or volunteer ministries.

Ozark Christian College seeks to glorify God by doing his will. This entails entrusting God’s truth “to faithful men and women, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim 2:2), declaring the wisdom of God (Eph 3:7-12), equipping “the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ...and speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into him, who is the head, even Christ” (Eph 4:12-15).

The Apostle Paul stated how this purpose of God is accomplished. “God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. And we proclaim him, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone complete in Christ. And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to his power, which mightily works within me” (Col 1:27-29). “The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Tim 1:5).

OUR INSTITUTIONAL GOALS

Ozark Christian College is committed to:

• EXCEPTIONAL ACADEMICS. OCC provides qualified, innovative, and biblically faithful instruction to prepare our students to serve Christ and his church.

• ENGAGING EXPERIENCE. OCC offers quality co-curricular and extra-curricular programs to grow students in Christian maturity and equip students for Christian ministry.

• TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY. OCC cultivates a life-changing community marked by personal holiness, joyful diversity, gracious honesty, and loving service.

• DISTINCTIVE RESOURCES. OCC offers Christ-centered events, materials, and personnel to encourage and equip our constituents.

• STRATEGIC STEWARDSHIP. OCC manages physical, financial, and human resources to honor Christ and advance the mission of the college.

OUR DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

Ozark Christian College has its roots in the Stone-Campbell heritage (Independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ) that began in the United States in the early 19th century. This heritage seeks the unity of all Christians based on the authority of the Bible for the evangelization of the world. OCC recognizes that creeds and confessions of faith have at times been more divisive than unifying. Still, in light of its commitment to Scripture, OCC believes that agreement on certain matters of the faith is essential to carry out its mission. Therefore, to avoid any misunderstanding or misinterpretation, the following statements are given, and all trustees, administrators, and faculty affirm their unqualified acceptance of the following:

GOD: There is one holy God who eternally exists in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God created all things visible and invisible. God is perfect in wisdom, power, and love, knowing all things past, present, and future, and his sovereign plan of redemption was set in place before the foundation of the world. (Gen 1:1-2; Dt 6:4; Heb 11:3; Eph 1:9-10; Rev 13:8)

JESUS: Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son, born of a virgin, fully divine and fully human, and our Savior and Lord. Jesus, who was without sin, died in our place as a substitutionary sacrifice for our sins, bearing divine wrath, and reconciling to God all who trust in him. Jesus was bodily resurrected in victory over sin and death. He ascended to the right hand of the Father where he presently reigns as our king, high priest, and advocate until his glorious return. (Jn 3:16; Col 1:15, 2:9-15; 1 Cor 15:3-8, 20-28; 2 Cor 5:18-21; Heb 4:14-15)

HOLY SPIRIT: The Holy Spirit is fully divine and active in the church and the world. The Holy Spirit draws all people to Christ by illuminating the gospel and convicting of sin. The Holy Spirit dwells in the life of a believer to transform, guide, assure, and empower living a fruitful Christian life. (Jn 16:8-11; Acts 2:38; 2 Cor 3:17-18; Gal 3:2)

BIBLE: God is revealed in the Bible, the uniquely inspired written Word of God and infallible in all that it affirms. The Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20-21)

HUMANITY: God creates all humans, male and female, in his image, and therefore all people have intrinsic value and purpose. By the sin of the first man and woman (Adam and Eve), death entered the world. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, alienated from God and without hope apart from the blood of Jesus Christ. (Gen 1:26-27; Gen 3; Rom 3:23; Eph 2:1-3)

SALVATION: Salvation can be found in Christ alone and is offered to all by grace through faith. A living faith is demonstrated through repentance, confession, baptism by immersion, and a life of obedience. (Rom 3:23, 5:12; Acts 2:38; Gal 3:26-29; Eph 2:4-10)

CHURCH: The church is the body of Christ on earth, with Christ as the head. God’s church is comprised of a priesthood of all believers, serving as minister of the gospel according to the gifts which God has given them. Together the church is called to make disciples of all nations until Christ returns. (Matt 28:18-20; Eph 3:10, 4:11-13; Col 1:18; 1 Pet 2:9-10)

RETURN OF CHRIST: Christ will visibly return to restore creation and judge the world. There will be a bodily resurrection for the believers to eternal life with God in heaven and for the unbelievers to eternal judgment in hell. In heaven, sin will be no more and those in Christ will live in fellowship with God forever. (Acts 1:11; 2 Thess 1:5-12; 1 Thess 4:13-18; Rev 20:11-15)

OUR CORE VALUES

Ozark Christian College is not merely an institution of higher education. It is a spiritual family of brothers and sisters in Christ. The college seeks to follow the best educational methods, but the highest priority is to honor the lordship of Christ. The college intends to influence the spirit of the student as well as inform the mind and develop their skills.

The Word of Christ Taught in the Spirit of Christ (Col 1:28) We are a biblical community, grounding our curriculum and life in God’s Word.

Not to Be Served, but to Serve (Mark 10:45) We are a serving community, looking to others’ interests, not our own.

Speaking the Truth in Love (Eph 4:15) We are an honest community, practicing maturity through careful truth-telling.

Trusting in the Power of God and Seeking the Glory of God (1 Cor 4:20; Is 42:8) We are a dependent community, leaning not on our own strength, but on God’s.

An Atmosphere of Grace, Trust, and Freedom (Rom 15:7; 1 Pet 4:10) We are a gracious community, maintaining unity in mutual acceptance and trust.

Making Christ Known through the Church (Matt 28:19-20; Eph 3:10) We are a witnessing community, partnering with the Church in the Great Commission.

Worshiping in Spirit and Truth (Jn 4:23-24) We are a worshiping community, pursuing God and the praise of his glory.

OUR ACADEMIC MISSION The academic mission of Ozark Christian College is to educate and equip students to become like Christ and serve Christ in leadership ministry.

OUR LEARNING GOAL Graduates will be grounded in Scripture, growing in Christlikeness, practicing cultural discernment, and vocationally prepared for Christian service.

Students grounded in Scripture will know and value the content of the Bible as well as the principles of its study and application. Students will integrate this instruction to form the foundation of a comprehensive and cohesive worldview informing all aspects of life.

Students growing in Christlikeness will develop their personal faith and devotion. They will grow in their knowledge and appreciation of God and will see their lives in relation to his purposes. Furthermore, they will learn principles and strategies that will allow them to continue to grow throughout their lives.

Students practicing cultural discernment will appreciate, interact with, and analyze culture in its various manifestations. Students will be committed to and will love people within their context, regardless of their particular culture setting.

Students vocationally prepared for Christian service will be prepared to enter the workplace. To this end, they will be trained in the foundational principles, the current issues, the effective strategies, and the skills for success in their calling/ ministries or professions.

OUR LEARNING PHILOSOPHIES AND OUTCOMES

The curriculum of Ozark Christian College includes courses in three areas: General Education, Biblical Education, and Professional Education.

The GENERAL EDUCATION (GE) curriculum contributes to the learning goal by equipping students with the foundational skills, knowledge, and disposition necessary to be productive, well-informed, and ethical members of society. More specifically, our general education curriculum both (a) prepares students for the more specialized learning of our biblical and professional curriculum, and (b) provides the skills necessary to apply this learning to the settings and problems they will engage in the world we are sending them out to serve. To this end, general education will prepare students to:

GE 1: Communicate effectively in written and oral forms.

GE 2: Think critically from a Christian worldview.

GE 3: Demonstrate skills necessary for lifelong learning.

GE 4: Work collaboratively to accomplish shared goals.

GE 5: Appreciate and responsibly engage the physical world and diverse cultures, both past and present.

GE 6: Integrate learning and experiences to new settings and complex problems.

GE 7: Solve quantitative problems from everyday life situations.

The BIBLICAL EDUCATION (BE) curriculum contributes to the learning goal by equipping students to know and affirm the content of the Bible and interpret it to discern the author’s intended meaning. It will also contribute to the spiritual formation of students so that they can effectively serve in the church and the world. This biblical foundation will guide students in forming a Christian worldview and philosophy of ministry to be developed in the general and professional curricula. To this end, biblical education will prepare students to:

BE 1: Know the historical and theological content of the Bible.

BE 2: Employ historical-grammatical principles for biblical interpretation.

BE 3: Affirm one’s personal belief in the lordship of Jesus and in the authority of the Scriptures.

BE 4: Grow in spiritual formation and develop plans for continued growth.

The PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION (PE) curriculum contributes to the learning goal by preparing students with practical instruction for effective ministry inside the church vocationally or in the larger marketplace. Through classroom instruction and field experience, as well as an emphasis on Christian service, students will be equipped with a framework that is designed to shape their motives, strategies, applications, and practices of various ministry skills. To this end, professional education will prepare students to:

PE 1: Integrate a Christian service philosophy, biblical theology, cultural context, and call to ministry (vocation).

PE 2: Demonstrate the ability to engage the culture in which Christian service takes place.

PE 3: Execute the principles of biblical discipleship within their Christian service context.

PE 4: Demonstrate professional competencies in Christian service contexts.

OUR ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING Ozark Christian College strives for the highest standards of excellence and quality in education. Excellence requires the ongoing assessment of student learning which leads to improvement. Assessment is driven by our mission and is focused on our learning outcomes through the evaluation of performance indicators. Ozark regularly assesses student learning on multiple levels (including course-level assessment and regular programmatic review), using multiple approaches (qualitative, quantitative, direct, and indirect), and accounting for multiple dimensions of student learning (not just intellectual, but also spiritual and affective). Outcomes in each area of the curriculum are overseen by their respective councils composed of faculty teaching in those areas. Outcomes in each academic major are overseen and annually assessed by program coordinators. For more information on the assessment of student learning, contact the Executive Vice President of Academics.

ACCREDITATION

Regional Accreditation Ozark Christian College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the Department of Education. Accreditation was granted in November 2020. HLC is located at 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604. Phone: 800.621.7440. Website: hlcommission.org.

National Accreditation Ozark Christian College is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) to grant certificates and degrees at the Associate and Baccalaureate levels. ABHE is a member of the Council for Higher Education (CHEA) and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Ozark Christian College was granted accreditation in 1988 and most recently reaffirmed in 2019. ABHE offices are located at 5850 T.G. Lee Blvd., Suite 130, Orlando, FL 32822. Phone: 407.207.0808. Website: abhe.org.

CERTIFICATIONS

Ozark Christian College is recognized and listed in the Council for Higher Education Directory (online); in the Transfer Credit Practices of AACRAO (online); and in the Member Guide, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (online).

Ozark Christian College is approved for Federal Students Financial Aid under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as amended) and 20 U.S.C. 1085, 1141.

Ozark Christian College is approved for: 1. Training of veterans under section 3675, Title 38, U.S. Code and Title 5, Code of State Regulations 20-500.370. 2. Training of non-immigrant foreign students under Section 101(a) (15), (F) (i), of the Immigration and Nationality Act (see page 28 for admission requirements for foreign students).

Ozark Christian College has been a member of the Evangelical Council on Financial Accountability since December 1988.