User:LyonCollegeKeli/Lyon College

Lyon College is a private residential liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church and located in Batesville, Arkansas, United States. Founded in 1872, it is the oldest independent college in Arkansas.

History
Lyon College is an independent (private) liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. Located in Batesville, Arkansas, the college was founded in 1872 and is the oldest independent college in Arkansas.

In 1871, state leaders narrowed down choices for the potential flagship location of a state college to either Fayetteville or Batesville. Fayetteville and Washington County residents collaboratively offered financial backing to establish the college in Fayetteville. Batesville ultimately lost the bid. However, Reverend Isaac J. Long, along with others involved with the Presbyterian church, decided to open their own college soon after, which they named Arkansas College at Batesville. The charter was signed by Governor Ozra Amander Hadley on October 24, 1872. Morrow Hall was the college's first permanent building, occupied in 1873.

The Long family led the college until Dr. Paul M. McCain became president of the college in 1952. It was renamed Lyon College in 1994, after the Lyon family of Arkansas. Frank Lyon Sr. served on the board of trustees from 1946 to 1988 and as chairman of the board from 1977 to 1987. Frank Lyon Jr. served on the board for more than 30 years, until his death in 2015. He served as chair of the board for four years. Frank Lyon Jr. and Jane Lyon gave the largest gift in the college's history of $10 million.

W. Joseph King became president in July 2017. King succeeded Donald V. Weatherman, who served as president from 2009 until he retired in 2017. Melissa Taverner was named provost in February 2018.

Academics and rankings
Lyon College is classified as a baccalaureate college by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The college was included in the 2006 edition of the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Ranking. In 2019, the college was listed at #50 on the "Top Performers of Social Mobility" published by U.S. News & World Report". As of 2020, Lyon College was included country's best liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report''.

Campus
The college was originally located in the "downtown" block where the First Presbyterian Church of Batesville now occupies. In the 1920s, the college moved to East End Heights neighborhood, which was later known as the middle campus. The college added more buildings in between 1991 and 1994, including the Holloway Theatre, Lyon Business and Economics Building, President's Residence, Bradley Manor, Upper Division Residence Hall, and Young House. The Derby Center for Science and Mathematics was completed in December 2003, followed by the Kelley Baseball Complex, in January 2004.

In October 2010, a fire damaged the Edwards Commons Dining Hall. The building was named after John W. Edwards and Lucille Welman Edwards, who originally funded the building. Reconstruction of the building began in October 2011. Lyon college added two new residence halls, named Whiteside and Wilson, in October 2015.

Student life
Student enrollment was approximately 700, as of December 2016. Lyon College has a Scottish Heritage Program that provides scholarships and is known for hosting the Arkansas Scottish Festival every April. The program also started a campus pipe band that includes Lyon College students, faculty, and staff, along with volunteer musicians from Batesville and surrounding areas. The pipe band has performed locally in Arkansas as well as in Scotland.

The college adopted a pet-friendly policy in January 2018 that allows students to own pets while living in the on-campus dormitories. It began offering obedience classes for animals and animal-friendly facilities, including a coffee shop and a dog park called the Schram Bark Park.

The college has a student-run honor code and a freshman orientation system that runs from before the start of freshman year until the end of the first year. Lyon College has a fully endowed, two-week study abroad program called the Nichols Program.

In 2019, Lyon College initiated an Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program and Military Science and Leadership concentration. The program is an affiliate of Arkansas State University ROTC program.

Athletics
The college has basketball, baseball, cross-country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball teams. In January 2014, the college added men's and women's wrestling to its athletic offerings. The teams play in the American Midwest Conference. Football was added in 2015, which prompted the construction of new residence halls and a 5,500 sq foot field house. The Lyon College football team is part of the Sooner Athletic conference.

The college is the only member of National Association of Collegiate Esports in the state of Arkansas. Lyon College's mascot is the Scots. Kevin Jenkins is the athletic director.