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Freed-Hardeman University is an academic community, associated with churches of Christ, which is dedicated to providing excellent undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. The mission of Freed-Hardeman University is to help students develop their God-given talents for His glory by empowering them with an education that integrates Christian faith, scholarship, and service. Building on our heritage, Freed-Hardeman University will be the preferred academic community for students who seek to grow in faith, knowledge, and service in a changing world. FHU students are the best in the world! We are thankful for the unique gifts each individual brings to campus and the deep relationships created, as we worship, learn, live, and work together. These bonds will last a lifetime and beyond. You are an essential part of our mission to reflect His glory! The Freed-Hardeman family is a blessing like none other, as we celebrate our rich heritage and look forward to our promising future. The college experience is so much more than just going to class and getting a degree. At FHU, we know that your time inside the classroom is why you are here, but what you do outside the classroom is equally important. Find out how to get involved on campus with everything from intramurals to professional clubs and organizations, and get the most from your college experience. As a college student, the ultimate goal is to complete your education and receive a diploma. At Freed-Hardeman University, we help students get a diploma and provide each student with a well-rounded education full of opportunities to apply the knowledge they receive. This application can be seen through students' collaboration with peers and faculty members and their preparation for the professional world ahead. Our academic programs aim to help students make connections and learn not only in the classroom but through real-world experiences and collaborations. Our professional clubs provide those with similar interests to explore fields of study as a community. Our study abroad programs allow for cultural exploration and the chance to grow as an individual, learning where they fit into society. Our on-campus research center gives students of all classifications the chance to gain experience to prepare them for careers and graduate schools. So what makes FHU's academic experience different from other universities? The answer is academic excellence, guided by God's Word's truths and applied to real-world experiences. At Freed-Hardeman University, there are many opportunities for students to be involved in service. The Campus Delegate Team works closely with the Office of Admissions to help recruit prospective students and help get the word out about FHU at various schools and churches. As a CDT member, a student will be responsible for assisting with campus tours, housing students for overnight visits, traveling to recruitment events, mailing postcards to prospective students, and helping with Maroon and Gold Days. The Student Alumni Association is a national organization that maintains contact and relationships among a school's alumni. As an SAA member, a student helps with the planning and execution of Homecoming, Grandparents Day, reunions on campus, and any other events that bring FHU alumni back to campus. This group works to help those who have left Henderson, TN, to remember their time here and what they loved about it. The University Program Council helps to provide activities and entertainment for students while they are enrolled at Freed-Hardeman. Past shows have included Dr. Jim Wand, the hypnotists, concerts by Dave Barnes, Ben Rector, Ingram Hill, Acrobats of Hebei China, comedian Henry Cho, and an iceless skating rink. Buildings and facilities can have a significant impact on your college experience. At FHU, we are dedicated to providing state-of-the-art learning environments, comfortable dorms and living spaces, and enjoyable social areas. When it comes to our academic centers, students can utilize all of the cutting-edge laboratories and research areas offered in our new Anderson Science Center, or enjoy the history and tradition of classes in Old Main, FHU's oldest building and recent addition to the National Register of Historic Places. Both our guys' and girls' dorms provide welcoming environments for all students, and our privileged housing dorms offer upperclassmen the chance to room together in apartment-style housing. Freed-Hardeman University traces its origin to the 1869 charter of a private high school and college for Henderson. The first recorded school in Henderson was taught in the latter half of the 1860s in a frame house located on the property where Hall-Roland Hall and the Old Main Administration Building now stand. A. S. Sayle last headed it. On November 30, 1869, the Tennessee legislature incorporated the Henderson Male and Female Institute in an act that authorized the institute to offer high school and college courses of study and confer degrees. In 1870, the school opened in a two-story frame building on what is now known as the Milan-Sitka property, where it operated for 15 years. In March of 1877, the legislature changed the name to the Henderson Masonic Male and Female Institute, and the nominal term Masonic used earlier. In 1871, Prof. George M. Savage managed the school, and John Bunyan Inman taught and served as principal for ten years. H. G. Savage was chairman of the faculty while his son, George M. Savage, was away during part of this era. At various times, Freed-Hardeman University and its predecessors have offered associate, bachelor's, and advanced degrees. Secondary work was offered until the early 1930s and elementary into the 1940s. From 1925 through 1974, the institution operated as a standard junior college awarding diplomas and, beginning in 1956, associate degrees. Some students continued their studies in the Bible for the third year, and junior-level courses in Bible were offered beginning in 1953. In 1974-75, the junior year was added in all departments, and senior-level courses were added in 1975-76. Graduate degree programs in education and ministry were added during the summer of 1989, and graduate programs in counseling and New Testament were added in 1994. View full university