Facilities
The main campus of Mount Vernon Nazarene University is located at 800 Martinsburg Road about two miles south of the Public Square of Mount Vernon, Ohio. As the county seat of Knox County, Mount Vernon is an attractive city of approximately 17,000, with a balance of industrial, residential, commercial, agricultural, cultural, and spiritual interests.
The campus consists of 340 acres on the historic Lakeholm Farm. Adjacent to the campus (to the north) are the Knox County Career Center, the Mount Vernon Senior High School, the Mount Vernon Middle School, and the Kokosing River. MVNU buildings are of Williamsburg colonial design, complementing Mount Vernon’s reputation as "Ohio’s Colonial City."
The Thorne Library/Learning Resource Center (1996) houses more than 122,000 print and non-print items, 410 print periodicals, and 17,000 electronic journals. Renovated in 2011, the lower level includes a the Educational Resource Center, the technology help desk, a computer lab, a general purpose classroom, and offices for Computer Science and Information Technology services. The main floor houses the Center for Student Success, which opened in 2016, and includes the Office of Career Development. A branch of Happy Bean Coffee is open during the academic year. The Center for Innovative Education is also on the main floor, offering a number of services throughout the building, including a one-button video studio, a lightboard recording studio, and a podcast studio. The student Test Center is found on the second floor.
The Hyson Campus Center (1969) is a three-story facility with an external design patterned after the historic Wren Building in Williamsburg. A Dining Commons that seats 540 is found on the ground floor, which also contains the offices for the Student Government Association and President’s Dining Room (PDR). The Student Life Office and the Counseling Center are housed on the second floor and were fully renovated in 2011. The Bailey Conference room, Alumni Relations, and offices for the School of Christian Ministry, the Education Department, Campus Ministry, and the Center for Global Engagement are also found on the second floor. Classrooms and common areas comprise the remainder of the second and all of the third floors.
Faculty Hall (1970), named in honor of the University’s original faculty and staff, houses the Biology Department, as well as Mathematics offices. A large lecture hall is located on the main level. Classrooms, several biology laboratories, and a chemistry laboratory are housed in Faculty Hall as well.
Regents Hall (1985), a three-story classroom building, was named in honor of the Board of Trustees. The main level houses the English and History department as well as the Psychology, Criminal Justice, and Emergency Management and Homeland Security departments. The upper level houses the Chemistry and Physics offices; and chemistry, biology, electronics, and research laboratories. Classrooms, a general purpose physics laboratory, and the Elaine (Toler) Mahaffey Microbiology Laboratory are located in the lower level.
Founders Hall (1969) was named in honor of those who contributed to the University’s first financial campaign. On the second floor are faculty offices for the Communication Department, staff offices for Dual Enrollment, a sound/video studio classroom, a computer (MAC) laboratory, and the WNZR FM radio station. On the ground floor are the Admissions/Enrollment Management offices and Student Financial Services.
The R. R. Hodges Chapel-Auditorium and Fine Arts Center (1990) was named for the father of a founding trustee. The auditorium seats over 1,800 and is equipped with state-of-the-art sound and presentation equipment along with a three-manual, 50-rank Schantz pipe organ. Thorne Performance Hall is a smaller auditorium for theatre and musical presentations. The chapel facility also includes the Music Department offices, music practice rooms, the Office of University Advancement, classrooms, and the David H. Nease Rehearsal Hall.
Jetter Hall (1990) was named for the late Dr. George Jetter, a founding trustee and major donor to the University. Jetter Hall houses the Business Department and includes faculty offices, a computer laboratory, classrooms, and a lecture hall.
The Jennie K. Moore Family and Consumer Science Center opened in 2000 with a second floor expansion completed in 2004. The name of the building was changed to the Clarence and Jennie Moore Center in April 2016. The first floor contains an Honors suite and general purpose classrooms, and houses the Esther Jetter Pre-school, which operates during the academic year. The second floor is comprised of classrooms and of offices for the Social Work Department.
Formerly used as the intercollegiate basketball and volleyball court, the gymnasium (1975) houses indoor practice facilities for athletics. In 1983, athletic training, weight lifting, and exercise facilities were added. Office facilities for the Physical Education Department and coaches were added in 1986. The Donoho Recreation Center (1969 and remodeled in 1991) is named in honor of Dr. John Donoho and Dr. Lora Donoho, who served respectively as dean of students and director of athletics from 1975 to their joint retirement in 1990.
The William J. and Evelyn Prince Student Union (PSU) was added to the gymnasium complex in 2004 in honor of the third MVNU president and his wife. The PSU provides additional recreational and leisure activities, including the "586" grille, a fitness room, and the Esports room.
The Ariel Arena (2014) building, named for the Ariel Corporation, houses a state-of-the-art athletic arena, which is home to the intercollegiate basketball, volleyball, and competitive cheer teams. The lower level houses a weight training room, a physical therapy office, a classroom, and offices for the Athletic Department. Foster Hall, a sizable multipurpose room used for campus and community events, encompasses much of the upper level of the arena.
The Ramser Tennis Courts opened for play in 2016 as the home of the men's and women's intercollegiate tennis teams. Named for donors Mark and Denise Ramser, the facility features eight full-size, outdoor, lighted courts.
CH4 Stadium, home to the intercollegiate soccer and lacrosse teams, was completed in two phases. The turf field, lights, and scoreboard were completed in 2019 so that teams could begin competing on the field. Phase two, which included adding locker rooms, concessions, a press box, and bleacher seating for 500 was completed in 2022. The name CH4 Stadium was chosen for the Ariel Corporation's connection with methane gas (CH4),and as a testament to the value of natural gas in our everyday lives.
Other outdoor recreational facilities include athletic fields for baseball and softball, sand volleyball courts, and an eighteen hole disc golf course that was renovated in 2022.
The University maintains academic facilities in downtown Mount Vernon in addition to the campus at 800 Martinsburg Road. Student transportation between the two locations is provided by the University.
The Buchwald Center (2009) is located in a fully-renovated former department store in downtown Mount Vernon and is named for Jim and Maureen Buchwald, founders of the Ariel Corporation. Within its three main floors and 32,000-square feet are housed the University’s visual arts and graphic design programs, including the Schnormeier Gallery; classrooms; faculty offices; conference rooms; an atrium that was original to the building; and studios for printmaking, ceramics, design, photography, sculpture, woodworking, painting, drawing, graphic design, and senior art students.
Hunter Hall (2011) is adjacent to the Buchwald Center in another fully renovated building in downtown Mount Vernon. It houses the School of Nursing and Health Sciences and includes various laboratories, classrooms, and offices; Happy Bean Coffee, a contemporary café; and state-of-the-art conference and computer facilities. The building was named in recognition of Richard and Theresa Hunter and Maureen Hunter Buchwald.
The Stephen W. Nease Center (2018), named in honor of the first president of the University, is located about a block north of Hunter Hall and the Buchwald Center in what was formerly the J.C. Penney department store. The nearly 11,000-square foot building is home to the Engineering Department, and includes classrooms, engineering labs, and faculty offices. In partnership with Knox Labs, the building is also intended to be a public makerspace, servicing the Mount Vernon community.
The South Main Plaza provides an outdoor space for students and community members to relax when the weather is fit. The focal point of the plaza is an inviting, fun fountain, inspired by a fountain in Toronto's Berczy Park. The fountain features painted cast aluminum sculptures of 18 dogs, one cat, two pairs of birds, and a pony.
Four residence halls provide spacious and well-maintained living quarters for residential students: Pioneer Hall (1968), named to commemorate the inaugural class of students; Oakwood Hall (1969); Galloway Hall (1972), named in honor of Dr. Harvey S. Galloway, the first chairman of the Board of Trustees; and Redwood Hall (1998).
Pioneer, Oakwood, Galloway, and Redwood halls each have a center section comprised of a common area lobby and an apartment for the resident director.
Eight apartment complexes provide housing for upper division students. Cedar, Maplewood, and Elmwood apartments were completed between 1975 and 1977, while Birch, Spruce, Rosewood, and Cypress apartments, were added between 1988 and 2002. Each unit has three bedrooms, two baths, a kitchenette, and a living room--all sufficient to house six students, or a married couple. The residence facilities can accommodate 1,116 students.
The Lakeholm mansion, an original building on the Lakeholm Farm, was built by Columbus Delano, Secretary of the Interior under President Ulysses S. Grant. The home dates to the post-Civil War era and still contains many of its original rooms. In 1966 the land became property of Mount Vernon Nazarene College, with the mansion serving as offices, meeting rooms, and even classrooms in the early days of the institution. Today, Mount Vernon Nazarene University uses the Lakeholm building to house the Office of the President, as well as the Offices of Civil Rights, Institutional Effectiveness, and Academic Affairs. University guests often admire the building’s beauty, inside and out, and the University takes pride in keeping the original mansion looking like the historical gem it is. In November 2004, MVNU was honored to receive an Ohio Historical Marker from the Ohio Historical Society to commemorate the importance of this structure to the University and to the local community. It is placed along State Route 586 in front of the stone gates that flank the house.
The Parry building is adjacent to Lakeholm and was originally constructed in 1976, with additional offices added in 1996. Offices for accounting, auxiliary services, finance, and human resources are housed there.
Cougar Corner Bookstore (1984), a colonial-style brick building houses the bookstore and University printing and mailing services on its first floor. The Roberta Simmons Post Office encompasses the lower level of the building, and was dedicated in 2023 in honor of Roberta Simmons' 46 years of service to MVNU.
The Academic Services Building was renovated in 2010 and houses the registrar’s office, Graduate and Professional Studies staff, and the marketing department.
The Barn is one of the original Lakeholm Farm buildings and, over the years, has been used as a cafeteria, gymnasium, chapel, classrooms, and recreational area. Renovated and refurbished in 2008, it includes a large, open space for receptions, dinners, and alumni activities, and it currently serves as the commuter lounge. The upper-level meeting room is named in honor of Chet Foraker, MVNU’s first athletic coach. The lower level houses offices for resident directors.
Morrison Facilities Services Building (2011) houses Campus Safety, Facilities Services, Groundskeeping, shipping/receiving, purchasing, campus transportation, and housekeeping. The 12,000-square foot facility is named for the founding superintendent of buildings and grounds.
The Couchenour House, formerly used as the University president’s home, offers guest housing. Located on Glen Road, the facility is named for Dr. James Couchenour, long-time friend of MVNU and former Board of Trustees chair.
Campus development purposely blends the new with the old, reflecting how the wisdom of the past is confronted by the opportunities and challenges of the present. Similarly the University colors --blue and green-- speak of the familiar sky and land, marks of security and beauty from the past and hope for the future.