National Louis University

National Louis University (NLU) began in 1886, when Elizabeth Harrison [ 4 ] founded the school to train " Kindergarteners ", young women teachers who began the early childhood education movement. [ 5 ] The school's requirements became a model for education colleges nationwide. [ 6 ] In 1893, the university published Harrison's book, The Kindergarten as an Influence in Modern Civilization , in which she explained, "how to teach the child from the beginning of his existence that all things are connected [and] how to lead him to this vital truth from his own observation". [ 7 ] 1917 As it evolved and grew over time, eventually the university's name was changed to the Chicago Kindergarten Training School (1887), Chicago Kindergarten College (1893), [ 8 ] the National Kindergarten and Elementary College (1912) and then the National College of Education (1930). The "National" part of the university's name came about when the school became the professional school of the National Kindergarten Association . The university championed the concept of kindergarten and early education teaching in America and was one of the first teachers' colleges in the country to offer a four-year program culminating in the bachelor of education degree. [ 9 ] [ 10 ] Over the first quarter of the twentieth century, as it continued to grow and a new generation of leadership emerged, the college would relocate a number of times: in 1913 the National Kindergarten and Elementary College campus moved to 2944 South Michigan Avenue ; in 1918 Edna Dean Baker succeeded Harrison to become the second president of the college; and the college moved to Evanston, Illinois, in 1926. In the 1920s, the university partnered with Nobel Peace Prize recipient Jane Addams to provide educational opportunities to the largely poor, immigrant population served by Hull House . [ 5 ] [ 11 ] In 1954, the university's graduate school was accredited to offer masters and doctorate level degrees.

The university organized its general liberal arts offerings into the College of Arts and Sciences in 1982, and began its business and management school in 1989, offering both bachelors and master of business administration degrees. In 1990, National Louis united the name of National College of Education with that of trustee and benefactor Michael W. Louis, the son of Henrietta Johnson Louis . Louis’ significant gift spearheaded the transition from college to university and enabled the university to greatly expand its programs. NLU encompassed three colleges — National College of Education, the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Management and Business. It offered 60 academic programs, with degrees extending to the doctoral level. In 1999, the historic 22-story Peoples Gas Building at 122 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago's Downtown, built in 1910, became the flagship location of NLU. Designed by Daniel Burnham , the university's new home housed faculty and administrative offices, a library, classrooms and computer labs. In 2006, the university closed its former main site, which had 6.5 acres (2.6 ha) of land, with about 66% in the Village of Wilmette and the remainder in Evanston . [ 12 ] This site was replaced by its location in Skokie (closed in 2021). In 2013, National Louis University was censured by the American Association of University Professors for eliminating faculty positions and academic programs during a budget crisis. In response, National Louis President Nivine Megahed called the vote “unfortunate,” but said she was convinced of the necessity of her actions to ensure the long-term viability of the institution. [ 13 ] The College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Management and Business were combined in 2014 into the College of Professional Studies and Advancement, with the programs organized in the School of Health and Human Services, the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and the School of Business and Management.

[ 14 ] In 2018, National Louis University acquired the assets of Kendall College for $1 , transferring its programs in general education, early childhood education, business, hospitality management, culinary arts, and baking & pastry, and building out entirely new facilities for the school in a newly acquired space at 18 S. Michigan Ave. [ 15 ] [ 16 ] In the summer of 2019, NLU took on the former students and hired former professors from now-defunct Argosy University , a for-profit institution that was abruptly forced to close due to the discontinuation of federal financial aid. [ 17 ] The Argosy students were left without a way to continue their education until the possibility arose for them to transfer to NLU, which allowed them to pick up where they left off with the same classmates and professors. This also included the Illinois School of Professional Psychology's doctoral students in Clinical Psychology, who were able to complete their graduate degrees at NLU. [ 18 ] In 2015, NLU founded its Harrison Professional Pathways Program, an entirely new undergraduate degree program aimed at serving under-resourced but college-qualified youth in the Chicago area, specifically students graduating high school with a GPA between 2.0 and 3.0. To help students who may not be fully prepared for college, Pathways implements adaptive learning technology, Student Success Coaches, and flipped classroom environments to personalize instruction for each student. Since its founding, the Pathways program has grown in enrollment from an inaugural class of 85 students to over 1,500 in five years.

The university consists of five distinct colleges: The College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (CPBS), Kendall College of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management, The National College of Education (NCE), the School of Business, and The Undergraduate College (UGC). [ 19 ] The Undergraduate College at National Louis University is dedicated to supporting underserved but college-qualified high school graduates in receiving an education at a reduced tuition rate. These students are able to choose between any of the university's undergraduate degree options. In order to make classes accessible, classes are taught in many modes including face-to-face, hybrid, and online. [ 20 ] [ 21 ] NLU's National College of Education (NCE) is the oldest school in the university and is where students can study in its distinguished undergraduate and graduate programs in the three broad areas of Teacher Preparation, Educational Leadership, and Educator Advancement and Specialization. CPSA consists of the school of health and human services, school of social and behavioral sciences, and school of business and management. Students may pursue a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, study in NLU's Community Psychology program, or enter the field of Health and Human Services at the Bachelor's, Master's, or Ed.D. levels. The School of Business was designed to help students launch their business career or take it to the next level at the Master's or Doctoral levels. Kendall College at National Louis University offers preparation for careers in Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry, and Hospitality management. Kendall College combines a blend of traditional academic instruction with on-site, practical experience that aims to maximally prepare its students to transition smoothly into their chosen careers. Kendall College at NLU moved into brand new facilities on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago in the summer of 2020.