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 History of Trinity International University
Trinity International University (TIU) is composed of a liberal arts college, a divinity school, a graduate school, and a law school in California. Trinity is the educational ministry of the Evangelical Free Church of America; its main campus is located in Deerfield, Illinois, with regional centers in Chicago, Illinois, in Davie, Florida, and in Santa Ana, California. A Strong Heritage Trinity International University traces its roots to 1897 when the Swedish Evangelical Free Church began a ten-week Bible course in the basement of a Chicago church. This soon developed into the Bible Institute of the Swedish Evangelical Free Church of America. In 1884 the Norwegian-Danish Free Church Association had begun the Norwegian-Danish department of the Chicago Theological Seminary. In 1910 the department withdrew from the seminary and established the Norwegian-Danish Bible Institute and Academy—located first in Rushford, Minnesota, and then later in Minneapolis with the name Trinity Seminary and Bible Institute. Between 1946 and 1949 the Swedish school merged with the Norwegian-Danish school to form Trinity Seminary and Bible College, located in Chicago. During the 1960s the seminary (renamed Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) and the college (renamed Trinity College) moved to their present Deerfield Campus. In 1992 the college established a regional center in Davie, Florida, where the former Miami Christian College became Trinity College at Miami. In 1995, Trinity College, Trinity College at Miami, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School were united to form Trinity International University. With the inauguration of the university, Trinity College in Deerfield became the College of Arts and Sciences and Trinity College at Miami became Trinity International University–Florida Campus. In 1997 the first class entered Trinity Graduate School. Trinity Law School, located in Santa Ana, California, incorporated into Trinity International University in January 1998. Trinity Law School is accredited with the State Bar of California and is moving toward application for American Bar Association accreditation. The residential undergraduate program in Miami closed in 2000 and the undergraduate and graduate programs were renamed the Trinity International University–Florida Regional Center. In 2002 the College of Arts and Sciences was renamed Trinity College. Time Line| | Norwegian-Danish Free Church | 1884 | Norwegian-Danish Department of Chicago Theological Seminary opens under the leadership of R. A. Jernberg.
| 1897 | The Swedish Evangelical Free Church began a 10-week Bible course in the basement of a Chicago church. This is considered the official beginning of trinity International University.
| 1910 | A three-year Bible school, the Norwegian-Danish Bible Institute and Academy, is established in Rushford, Minnesota, with Ludwig J. Pedersen as its first president.
| 1914 | Norwegian-Danish school discontinues association with Chicago Theological Seminary. | 1916 | School relocates to Minneapolis. | 1941 | Norwegian-Danish school is renamed Trinity Seminary and Bible Institute with Dr. T. Berner Madsen as president. | | Swedish Evangelical Free Church | 1897 | Under the leadership of Rev. P. J. Elmquist and Rev. J. G. Princell, 22 men and women of the Swedish Free Church begin a 10-week Bible course in Oak Street Hall, the site of the First Swedish Evangelical Free Church of Chicago. | 1901 | Bible school is incorporated as the Swedish Bible Institute of Chicago with Elmquist as its first president. Princell succeeds him in 1903. | 1910 | Swedish Evangelical Free Church assumes responsibility for the school and relocates it to Minneapolis. | 1916 | The school moves back to Chicago and becomes the Swedish Department of Moody Bible Institute and Seminary with Dr. Gustav Edwards as its director. | | Evangelical Free Church of America | 1925 | Independent campus for the Evangelical Free Church Bible Institute and Seminary is established in Chicago. | 1946–
1957 | The schools merge over this period of time under the direction of acting president, Dr. T. Berner Madsen and a united board. In 1949, the Norwegian- Danish school is relocated from Minneapolis to Chicago and the new institution is renamed Trinity Seminary and Bible College. Dr. C. Raymond Ludwigson presides over the school from 1949 to 1955. Madsen serves again as president from 1955 to 1957. | 1958 | Dr. Gunnar Urang becomes dean of the College. | 1959 | Trinity’s current campus in Bannockburn, Illinois, is purchased as a result of a decision made at the 75th Jubilee Conference of the Evangelical Free Church of America. Dr. H. Wilbert Norton, who serves as the school’s president from 1957 to 1964, leads the purchase. | | 1961 | Trinity relocates from Chicago to Bannockburn, Illinois. Dr. Lacy Hall becomes dean of the College. | 1962 | The 79th Annual Conference renames the school Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS). Dr. Kenneth S. Kantzer is appointed dean. | 1964 | Dr. Edward Neteland becomes dean of the College. Dr. Harry L. Evans is appointed president of both Trinity College and TEDS. | 1962–
1969 | During these years of significant development and reorganization, noted scholars are added to the faculty. Broadened curriculum allows TEDS to strengthen the bachelor of divinity program and to begin programs leading to the Master of Arts and Master of Theology degrees. | 1969 | Trinity begins conferring the Master of Divinity instead of the Bachelor of Divinity as its professional degree. Dr. J. Edward Hakes becomes dean of the College. | 1974 | Dr. Kenneth M. Meyer is elected TEDS president. Meyer proves to be instrumental in leading Trinity through these years of growth. When the school moved to its new campus in 1961, the total enrollment was less than 50 students. By the fall of 1990, the enrollment was more than 1,400. | 1980 | Dr. Walter C. Kaiser Jr. becomes the TEDS dean and vice president of education. Dr. Robert Baptista becomes dean of the College. | 1987 | Dr. Donna Peterson becomes dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. | 1992 | Dr. W. Bingham Hunter replaces Walter Kaiser as TEDS dean and senior vice president of education. | 1993 | The Miami Campus becomes a branch campus of Trinity College of Arts and Sciences. | 1995 | Trinity Evangelical Divinity School becomes a part of Trinity International University, along with Trinity College in Deerfield, Illinois, and Trinity College in Miami. Dr. Gregory L. Waybright is elected president of Trinity International University. The previous president, Kenneth Meyer, is named chancellor. | 1997 | Trinity Law School, located in Santa Ana, California, is incorporated into Trinity International University in January. Dr. Jeanette L. Hsieh becomes academic dean of the College and Graduate School and senior vice president for academic affairs. The first class enters Trinity Graduate School. By God’s grace, Trinity celebrates a century of equipping men and women for service in His Kingdom. | 2000 | Dr. Harold Netland becomes TEDS interim dean and senior vice president of education. | 2002 | Dr. Tite Tiénou becomes TEDS dean and senior vice president of education. | 2004 | Kevin Holsclaw is named Interim Dean of Trinity Law School. Dr. James W. Mohler becomes Interim Dean of Trinity College and Graduate School. | 2005 | Dr. James Stamoolis is named vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College and Graduate School. Donald R. McConnell is named dean of Trinity Law School. | | 2007 | Trinity Graduate School celebrates 10th anniversary. Dr. Gregory L. Waybright resigns as president and Dr. Jeanette L. Hsieh named a interim president Dr. Steven R. Pointer becomes interim dean of Trinity College. Dr. Joyce A. Shelton becomes interim dean of Trinity Graduate School and REACH. |
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