Administrative History

Goshen College was founded in 1903 in Goshen, Indiana. It was a continuation of the Elkhart Institute (Elkhart, Indiana) that began in 1895. N.E. Byers was principal of the Elkhart Institute beginning in 1898, and he continued as president of Goshen College. In 1905, the school, at that time governed by an independent board, transferred the college to three organizations – the Mennonite Board of Education, The Mennonite General Conference, and the alumni associations of the Board’s schools. In 1909, the college offered their first four-year course. In 1920, the college obtained accreditation by the State of Indiana.

During the first twenty years of the school's existence, it accumulated large debts; however, in the early 1920s, the financial situation began to improve. Student enrollment, the number of courses offered, and the number of extra curricular activities were all increasing. In 1922, there was a significant drop in attendance. The board closed the college the next year in an attempt to reorganize.

The college opened again in 1924 under the leadership of S.C. Yoder and was able to reach stability. In the 1930s the college obtained more land and more facilities were built. In 1941, the school obtained North Central Association of Colleges accreditation and membership. From this time (1941) the College has experienced much success and growth. Programs such as the Study-Service Team, established in 1969 to encourage students to serve overseas, have multiplied in numbers. Between 1980 and 1985 there was a strong emphasis on widening the diversity within the school by encouraging international students to join. Numerous buildings have been purchased or built, including the observatory, dormitories, classroom buildings, science labs and recreational facilities.

Following Byers as presidents were John E. Hartzler, George J. Lapp, H. F. Reist, I. R. Detweiler, Daniel Kauffman, Sanford Calvin Yoder, Ernest E. Miller, Carl Kreider, Paul Mininger, J. Lawrence Burkholder, Victor Stoltzfus, Shirley H. Showalter.