Introducing Doane College

Doane College is known for its leadership in higher education. This leadership is grounded in the college’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, community, and creation of a special sense of place for each individual. These are the values that have made Doane successful for more than 141 years and will help the college build an even stronger Doane for the future.

Through this commitment to leadership, inquiry, values, and engagement, Doane College creates the ideal setting for experiences and connections with lifelong value. Our innovative approach to education integrates learning in the classroom with our students’ work and life experiences.

This catalog provides a description of the School of Arts and Sciences programs, services, and academic and financial aid policies. However, the pages within cannot capture Doane’s student-centered approach that fosters success for all its students. The college’s emphasis on its students is illustrated by the following:

• Doane produces leaders who have received a broad, liberal arts education linked closely to career and professional preparation.
• Doane provides graduates with appropriate academic programs and skills to prepare them for satisfying and profitable careers.
• Doane’s distinctive Zenon C.R. Hansen Leadership Program promotes self-confidence and readies students for a future of independence.
• Doane’s international and multicultural presence enhances educational opportunities.
• Doane’s strategic locations in Nebraska’s metro regions allow learning to extend off-campus through internships, work, and a variety of impressive public events.
• Doane’s innovative approach to both traditional and non-traditional undergraduate and graduate education makes Doane a leader among colleges of the Midwest.

History of Doane

For 141 years, Doane College has occupied a distinguished place among the liberal arts colleges of the Midwest.

The history of Doane College dates from 1857, when the General Association of Congregational Churches, in its first annual meeting at Fremont, Nebraska, resolved to lay the foundation of a literary institution of a high order in Nebraska. Fourteen years later, and after several unsuccessful attempts to establish Congregational schools across the state, an academy was founded in Crete on May 22, 1871.

The efforts of the local Congregational pastor and Thomas Doane, chief civil engineer for the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad, were instrumental in advancing the idea of the Academy.

On July 11, 1872, Doane College preempted the Crete Academy. The college was officially incorporated at that time as a non-profit institution governed by an independent, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. It has received continuous accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, now named the Higher Learning Commission, since 1913. The college is authorized to conduct all affairs considered essential to the liberal arts enterprise wherever it is carried on, including teaching, research, academic study, and granting degrees.

Doane is historically affiliated with the church, now called the United Church of Christ (UCC). Doane serves as the representative institution for the Nebraska, Rocky Mountain, Kansas-Oklahoma and South Dakota conferences of the UCC. Doane, although founded by Protestants, is open to students of all religions, as well as those who profess no formal religion.

Education for a Lifetime

Throughout Doane’s 141-year history, the college has provided students with dedicated faculty and quality programs. The highest priority for Doane College faculty is to continually improve the teaching and learning process. Faculty also are active with scholarly research and publication, community service, and campus life.

Mission Statement

The Doane College mission is to provide an exceptional liberal arts education in a creative, inclusive, and collaborative community where faculty and staff work closely with undergraduate and graduate students preparing them for lives rooted in intellectual inquiry, ethical values, and a commitment to engage as leaders and responsible citizens in the world.

Accreditation Statement

Doane College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association (NCA), 30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL, 60602-2504. NCA may be reached at 800.621.7440 or www.ncahlc.org

In addition, the Teacher Education unit at Doane College is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), 2010 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036; 202.466.7496. This accreditation covers initial teacher preparation programs and advanced educator preparation programs.

Doane is also accredited by the Nebraska Coordinating Commission of Post-Secondary Education, 301 Centennial Mall South, P.O. Box 94987, Lincoln, NE, 68509-4987; 402.471.2295; and by other standardizing agencies.

Documentation of accreditation may be viewed upon request in the Doane College President’s Office.

Assessment Statement

Doane values the participation of undergraduate and graduate students in its institution-wide program to assess student achievement. This program is part of the institution’s responsibility to monitor student outcomes and assure the continuing quality of a Doane degree. Multiple strategies are used to gather information about student achievement throughout the college experience. Information collected as a part of the assessment program is used for assessment purposes only and is not used to evaluate individual performance. The college protects the confidentiality of data collected.

Doane College Memberships

American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Nebraska
Association of Nebraska Interterm Colleges
College Entrance Examination Board
Council for the Advancement and Support of Education
Council of Independent Colleges
Great Plains Athletic Conference
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
Nebraska Association of Colleges and Universities
Nebraska Independent College Foundation
Nebraska Independent College Library Consortium

Doane College Presidents

Doane College has been led by a succession of enlightened presidents. Doane’s first president, David Brainerd Perry, served from the official founding of the college in 1872 until 1912. He was followed by:

Fiscal Responsibility

The college provides a strong financial base for education through endowment growth, by annual fiscal integrity, through annual gift income, by a competitive comprehensive fee, and by a supportive scholarship program.

The Academic Calendar

Doane’s 4-1-4 academic year is arranged into a fall term of four months ending before Christmas recess, a three-week interterm in January, and a spring term of four months ending in May. Students register for one three-credit course during an interterm and normally take 16-17 semester credits during each of the regular terms.

The January interterm between the fall and spring terms provides special opportunities for students to develop their capabilities for personal growth and adaptability through learning that is designed to be in-depth and/or integrative. These courses may be integrative in breadth by cutting across traditional lines or divisions of knowledge to focus on significant topics or works, or in-depth by pursuing specialized topics within a given discipline. They may be experiential in the sense of involving students directly in the application of theory to practice, in settings not normally available through regular term courses.

Several interterm courses provide off-campus travel opportunities, for which junior and senior students in the School of Arts and Sciences may receive up to $1,000 in scholarship money. In contrast with the regular terms, only one course is taken by each student during interterm, and normally an interterm experience may not be repeated.

In addition to the courses described above, there are a limited number of regular catalog courses offered during the interterm for students who wish to complete a Doane Plan course or a course in their major. Interterm offerings are published each year in a supplement to the college catalog.

Campus Buildings and Scenic Locations

Doane College’s first students, in the late 1800s, studied in one primary building, Merrill Hall (destroyed by fire in 1969). Through years of careful stewardship by faculty, staff and students, Doane now has one of the most scenic campuses in the Midwest. Currently, Doane maintains 26 primary buildings for academic, residential and cocurricular activities.

Bauer House is the official home of the Doane College president and was donated by Dr. John Bauer, a 1904 graduate. Built in 1950, the home was dedicated in 1965. The three-story home is located on Boswell Avenue, near the south entrance to campus.

Boswell Observatory, built in 1883, was named for Charles Boswell of Connecticut, whose stepson taught at Doane. He was also a close friend of Doane’s first president, David Brainerd Perry. He donated $5,000 for the building and astronomy equipment, which included an eight-inch equatorial telescope and a meridian transit used by college founder and civil railroad engineer Thomas Doane. The observatory is believed to be the first weather service headquarters in Nebraska. It has been altered several times, including following a fire in 1930. The observatory now serves as a mini-museum for historical equipment, as well as for sky viewing with the restored original telescope. It also houses the Doane Family Association archives.

Brandt Memorial Bridge, erected in 1930, spans Miller Pond. The bridge was designed by college treasurer A.T. Cassel. It was named for Herman F. Brandt, who joined the Doane faculty in 1927 and donated funds for the bridge.

The Bridge to Distinction is the college’s newest bridge, spanning the ravine on the north side of the campus. The bridge was constructed in 2004 and is dedicated to Dr. Fred Brown, the 10th president of Doane College.

Burrage Hall (now known as one of the “quads” was completed in 1966 as Georgian Hall. In 1978, the hall was renamed for Dwight G. Burrage, instructor in Greek and Latin and registrar from 1906-44.

Butler Gymnasium was erected in 1936 and named in honor of U.S. Senator Hugh Butler, longtime member and chairman of the Board of Trustees from 1917-54. An addition was built onto the gymnasium in 1944 to house a former swimming pool, and in 1955, classrooms were added to the west side of the building.

Cassel Open Air Theatre was created in 1936 by Doane alumnus and Treasurer A.T. Cassel. This outdoor theatre is the site of commencement exercises each year. Cassel, who graduated in 1894, was responsible for campus landscaping for many years. Doane renovated the open air theatre in 2011, expanding the space, replacing retaining walls, and updating landscaping and other features.

The Chab Weyers Education and Hixson Lied Art Building opened in 2007, providing new offices and classrooms for the Education and Art departments. It also houses the college’s Farley Korff Welcome Center, Admission Office and Information Technology Services. The main entrance to the building features the reclaimed signature portico of the former Whitin Building. Located near Miller Pond, the Chab Weyers Education and Hixson Lied Art Building was funded in part by a $2 million gift from the Lied Foundation Trust, and a donation by Lois (Chab) and Larry Weyers, 1967 graduates of Doane.

College Heights Country Club is on land owned by Doane College and leased to the country club. Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to enjoy this outstanding nine-hole course.

Colonial Hall and Burrage Hall are commonly known as “The Quads.” Both are residential halls consisting of rooms (quads) that accommodate eight people (two in each bedroom). There are four bedrooms, a living room, and a bathroom in each quad. The majority of the Greeks consider the quads their home. In 2006 an outdoor basketball court was added just south of Burrage and Colonial Hall and east of Smith.

The Communications Building was completed in 1970. This building houses faculty offices, classrooms, computer labs, the library, and art gallery. Perkins Library is in the southern portion of the lower level, and was made possible through gifts from the Kitty Perkins Charitable Trust and the estate of Lincoln attorney T.F.A. Williams. The Perkins family was originally from Hastings, and several members have attended Doane. Rall Art Gallery is located in Perkins Library and was created in 1986. The gallery is named for Reinhold ‘33 and Lillian Rall, and Leonard ‘35 and Dorothy ‘38 Rall, who provided funds for the project. The building also houses Heckman Auditorium. Named for Doane’s ninth President, Dr. Phil Heckman, the auditorium is the site of numerous musical performances, lectures and other events each year.

Dean Memorial Pergola was built in 1930 with funds from 1880 alumna Carrie Dean in honor of her parents. The pergola is of Greek design and is situated over a natural spring. Numerous Dean family members attended the college, and Carrie’s brother, Edwin, served as Doane’s president from 1925-36. In 2006, a renovation project restored the pergola and added the Pappy ‘70 and Debra Solomon ‘71 Khouri Garden and Outdoor Classroom, rejuvenating Doane’s historic district. The project was completed as a gift from Delta Kappa Pi fraternity and alumni in honor of former college treasurer Khouri and Debra.

Doane Lake was created in 1931. In 1944, the spillway and water level were raised, allowing the lake to spread out. The dam was again raised in 1970 after completion of nearby Sheldon Hall. The lake has been home to pairs of swans for many years, and was last renovated in 2000.

Fairchild Apartment Building, completed in 1956, was named for Arthur B. Fairchild, longtime treasurer (1886-1919) and acting president of the college from 1912-14.

Frees Hall was completed in 1931 as a women’s residence, and was designed by Dean and Dean, Architects. The building matches Smith Hall in design and was built to accommodate 185 students. A 450-seat dining hall was included in the basement, where students ate their meals until the campus center was built. The hall is named for Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Frees for their “generous interest in Christian education in Nebraska.” Frees is now a coed residence. A 2009 renovation project restored and improved this campus landmark, adding amenities such as air conditioning, remodeled bedrooms and living spaces, a game lounge and theater area and outdoor gathering spaces.

Fuhrer Field House, constructed in 1969, was described at the time as the “premier facility of its kind in the Midwest.” The building grew to enclose 55,000 square feet of space for men’s and women’s athletics. A 2013-14 construction project includes a 20,694 square-foot expansion and numerous planned improvements to restore Fuhrer’s place as a superior facility and a comprehensive recreation and athletic space for students and community. The expanded Fuhrer will offer arena seating for up to 1,130 total guests, a 200-meter regulation length track for Doane’s preeminent track program, classroom space and will be the future home of the Fred Beile Competition Arena, honoring this Doane coaching legend.

Gaylord Hall was built in 1884 as Ladies Hall. The building was renamed in 1890 for the Rev. Reuben Gaylord, a pioneer home missionary and Christian educator. One wing of the building was renovated into apartments in 1931. The building houses classrooms and faculty offices. Production studios for television, radio, and the student newspaper are located in the lower level. Gaylord is one of three Doane buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The George and Sally Haddix Recreation and Athletic Center opened in 2010. The performance gymnasium and fitness facility is located east of the Lied Science and Mathematics Building. It spans two-levels and 63,535 square-feet, housing a performance gymnasium for volleyball and basketball with seating for 1,100, a fitness center for both Doane and area communities, several classrooms, and office space. The center is funded in part by two longtime members of the college’s Board of Trustees, as well as their families. George and the late Sally Haddix of Ralston contributed a total of $7 million to the project. The Hall-of-Fame room included in the new space bears the name of Richard and Wanda Gibson of Council Bluffs, who donated $2.5 million toward the building.

Gregory Grove is a landscape feature located south of Frees Hall. In 1932, George Gregory, class of 1882 and a member of the Board of Trustees from 1912-33, planted 100 pin oak trees. The grove is now part of the college’s nursery and arboretum.

Hansen Leadership Hall is the college’s newest residence hall, and was completed in 2000. The building is named for the late Zenon C.R. Hansen, former CEO of Mack Trucks, and was funded in part by The Zenon Hansen Foundation.

Lauritsen Track is named for the late Walter Lauritsen ‘30, an outstanding former athlete in basketball, football and track and field. As chairman of the Board of Trustees, he did much to further the academic and financial advancement of the college.

The Jose M. and Elizabeth Ledon Softball and Baseball Complex opened in 2007. Named for the parents of a former softball team member, the complex is located on the eastern edge of campus. It includes two fields with stadium seating, batting cages, a two-story press box and a concession stand. The complex also includes new track and field throwing competition areas.

The Lied Science and Mathematics Building was completed in 1999, and was funded in part by a $3 million gift from the Lied Foundation Trust. The $10.2 million, 60,000 square-foot building houses the science, mathematics, and Information Science and Technology departments. The Lied building is connected to campus by a bridge dedicated to the Crete area.

Martin Maintenance Building was built in 1991 and houses the maintenance department and storage areas. Funding was provided by Alfred Martin, a former member of the Board of Trustees, and the Martin Foundation.

Memorial Stadium was officially dedicated Nov. 11, 1948, as the Doane-Crete Memorial Stadium, honoring veterans of both world wars. Simon Field and Lauritsen Track are features of the stadium.

Miller Pond was named in memory of Florence Hazen Miller of Crete, who designed the Nebraska flag. In 1962, she provided funds for the renovation of this biology/”bug” pond, a natural campus feature. A 1989 project dredged the pond and added a retaining wall. In 1990, a fountain was installed in the center.

Osterhout Lane was constructed in 2001-02, and connects the eastern part of campus to Iris Avenue. The lane is named for the late David Osterhout, a 1937 Doane graduate and a longtime college administrator, and his family. It features the Navy Memorial Plaza, dedicated to the Navy V5/V12 trainees. More than 700 men received officer training at Doane during World War II.

Padour Walker Administration Building was dedicated in 1972 as a replacement for Merrill Hall, which was destroyed by fire in 1969. Built just west of the Merrill site, it houses administrative offices, a conference room, and Noyce Chapel, which was dedicated in the spring of 1975. The chapel is located in the lower level, and was dedicated in the spring of 1975 in memory of Ralph B. Noyce ‘15 by his family. Funding for the building was provided by Edson O. Walker in honor of his wife, Ida Padour ‘15. An interior renovation in 1999 was funded by former trustee Alfred Martin and the Martin Foundation.

Perry Campus Center is named for Doane’s first president, David Brainerd Perry. The Rev. Perry came to Nebraska as a missionary/circuit rider and stayed to establish a college on the treeless prairie. The Perry building opened in January of 1963 and included recreation areas, a lounge, and Tiger Inn snack bar. In 1970, a two-story addition was built onto the southern façade of the building. The building was again enlarged in 1995 and further renovated in 2007-08. Common Grounds Coffeehouse opened in 2006. It provides assorted beverages and pastries and a relaxing, social atmosphere. In 2011, one wing of Perry Campus Center was rededicated as the Don Nyrop Great Hall. The designation honors the late Don Nyrop, a Nebraska native who graduated from Doane in 1934 with a history degree, earned a law degree from George Washington University and then went on to a distinguished career in aviation. His career included heading the Civil Aeronautics Administration and running Northwest Airlines. He was a 14-year member of Doane’s Board of Trustees and the recipient of numerous Doane awards for his longtime, generous support and leadership on behalf of the college.

Poets’ Grove is an area south of Whitcomb Lee Conservatory where students planted trees to honor poets. On Arbor Day 1884, Doane Trustee Samuel Andrews tossed pebbles across the lawn. Students then planted trees at the landing site of each stone.

Porter Memorial Bridge was built in 1931 to span the small stream between Gaylord and Frees Halls. Constructed in the same design as Brandt Memorial Bridge, this bridge honors Kezzie Porter Brande, 1905 graduate who, according to the dedication plaque, “Loved the Doane Campus.”

Sally Smith Fountain was constructed in memory of Sally J. Smith ‘82, who was killed in a 1981 automobile/bicycle accident. The fountain is located just south of Cassel Open Air Theatre. The waterfall flows into nearby Doane Lake.

Sheldon Hall, a co-ed residence hall located east of Frees Hall, opened in 1970 as a women’s residence hall. The three-story building remained nameless until 1978, when it was dedicated as Sheldon Hall after Margaret Thompson Sheldon, class of 1886, Doane’s first dean of women and professor of English. She served the college for 21 years. A renovation project in 2010 enhanced the hall’s living spaces and added an exterior gathering area, lounges, meeting space and other amenities.

Simon Field, in Memorial Stadium, was constructed in 1929 following a generous gift from G. Eli Simon, a Nebraska attorney and father of a graduating senior. The field, which features new FieldTurf installed in 2011, is used by the college and the community for numerous football and soccer games throughout the year.

Smith Hall (formerly Men’s Hall) was renamed in 1977 to honor Charles C. Smith, class of 1887, a former trustee and benefactor of the college. In 1929, Smith contributed a substantial, then-anonymous gift to assure construction of Men’s Hall. The renaming of the building provided public recognition of his earlier contribution. The building became a co-ed residence with the completion of a 2011 renovation project. The project added a fourth floor to the landmark building. Other improvements included a lounge area, gaming room, kitchen, business center and an outdoor courtyard.

Taylor House, 1110 E. 4th St., was purchased in 1976 with the help of a generous gift from the Kruse family, former occupants of the house. This two-story frame house was the original home of Doane’s former Academic Dean J.E. “Josh” Taylor.

Teachers’ Grove is located on the site of the former Goodall Science Building. Dedicated in 2008, it is a place of respite in honor of those who open the doors of knowledge. The grove also honors those in the education field whose donations helped landscape the area.

Tiger Inn was the name given to the snack shop located at 13th Street and Forest Avenue in the 1940s and 1950s. The name stuck when Tiger Inn moved to campus in the 1950s. Located for a time in Fiske Lodge, it was then moved to Perry Campus Center in 1964. Tiger Inn was given a new look in 1995, offering an alternative area for meals. The Tiger Inn snack bar was renovated in 2007.

Whitcomb Lee Conservatory was built in 1906-07 in the prairie school style. The building, which originally housed a chapel and the music department, was named for Mr. and Mrs. George F. Lee of Otoe County, and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Whitcomb of Massachusetts. The Conservatory is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Renovated in 2003-04, the Conservatory now houses the theatre and speech/forensics departments. The auditorium is used for theatre productions and other events and activities.