AFRICA
University 
A United Methodist-Related Institution

CHRONOLOGY OF A DREAM FULFILLED:
A BRIEF HISTORY OF AFRICA UNIVERSITY

1822     American Methodism reaches Africa through the influence of Black Americans emigrating to Liberia.
1885  Bishop William Taylor, the first missionary bishop for Africa, reaches Angola and Zaire.
1896 Joseph Crane Hartzell elected missionary bishop for Africa.
1898 British imperialist, Cecil John Rhodes, grants Hartzell the former site of the town of Mutare in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe),   including 13,000 acres, for a Methodist Mission. 
The Old Mutare Mission is established, and Hartzell's dream of  training  African teachers to educate African children takes root.
1980 Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia, gains independence from the United Kingdom.
1985 The bishops of Africa, serving on the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry , issue a call to action to the denomination to establish a university in Africa.
The Africa Initiative begins, dedicated to building a university in Old Mutare, Zimbabwe.
1987 The Zimbabwe Conference of the United Methodist Church unanimously votes to donate 1,545 acres at Old Mutare for the proposed Africa University.
1988 The General Conference of the United Methodist Church approves the Africa Initiative proposal and votes to establish and endow Africa University.
1989 A $20 million fund-raising goal is set for the Africa Initiative -to be reached by the end of 1992 (the four-year period, quadrennium, marked by the meeting of the General Conference). Half of the funds are to be raised through apportionments from churches around the world, and half from scholarship endowment fund.
1991 3,000 people gather at Old Mutare to break ground for the new university.
The Zimbabwe Council of Higher Education, a key governmental body, approves the Charter of Africa University.
1992

-Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe grants AU's Charter by official proclamation.
-The General Conference renews its financial commitment to Africa University, calling for another $20 million to be raised during the next quadrennium.
-40 students enter Faculties of Theology and Agriculture/Natural Resources.

1993 Two dormitories open with capacity to house 80 students.
1994 Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe addresses attendees at the formal dedication of buildings of Africa University; inauguration of the school's chancellor and vice- chancellor .
First graduation: Twenty-seven students received diplomas.
1996 Faculty of Management and Administration is opened.
Ireson/Kurewa Center for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Humanities is opened.
Kleist Dormitory, Faculty of Education, and Odette Kennedy Dormitory are opened. -First Staff House is completed.
Second graduation: 21 students received diplomas.
1997 First phase of the Sports Complex is completed.
Second staff house completed, and construction on third house began.
Construction of K wang Lim Chapel began.
Seven dormitories are completed with a capacity to house 432 students.
Dr. John W. Z. Kurewa retired as Vice Chancellor in December.
Third graduation: 20 students receive BA degrees; 14 members of first MBA program to graduate receive Masters degrees.
1998 Fourth graduation: 9 students received MBA degrees and 2 students received Bachelor of Science degrees from the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Graduation took place in newly completed K wang Lim Chapel.
The Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences (FHSS) opens with 3-year B.A.; B.A. (Hons.); and B.Sc. degrees with option for specialization in English. Construction on fourth staff house begun.
Professor Rukudzo Murapa, a native of Zimbabwe, was inaugurated as Africa University's second Vice Chancellor in December.
1999 Construction of Phase One of the USAID-ASHA funded University Library Complex began in January .The building is scheduled for completion around June 2000.
Construction begins on 3-storey dormitories sponsored by North and South Indiana Conferences. Ben Hill United Methodist Church in Atlanta, GA, committed to build a two-story dormitory.
Fourth staff house is completed. In the near future, the building of the first of ten junior staff houses will begin.
Fifth graduation: 115 students received Bachelor's Degrees from Faculties of  Agriculture and Natural Resources, Education, and Theology, and 12 students received Master of Business Administration Degrees from the Faculty of Management and Administration.

THE DREAM CONTINUES

2000 + The Faculties of Technology and Medicine/Dentistry are recommended for implementation.
Projected student enrollment is 1,145.
Africa University will branch out through the establishment of an Outreach Office  which will explore partnerships with other national institutions in developed countries.

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