Ottawa University-Arizona
Surprise, Arizona
The vision of Ottawa University-Arizona is to prepare diverse student populations for lives of enlightened faith, exemplary service, inspired leadership, and personal significance. Administrators and faculty at OUAZ are committed to helping students learn to grow, care for, and balance all aspects of their lives (spiritual, professional, financial, relational, physical, etc.) in order to “prepare for a life of significance” that is both personally fulfilling and outwardly impactful. That’s why every student at OUAZ participates in weekly “Personal Growth Days” during their academic tenure. Each Wednesday is set aside to teach life skills as part of OUAZ’s faithful pursuit to develop the “whole person” in its students.
Ottawa University-Arizona’s vision draws directly from the institution’s mission: to provide the highest-quality liberal arts and professional education in a caring, Christ-centered community of grace, which integrates faith, learning, and life skills. OUAZ is blessed to draw upon the rich heritage of its founding institution in Kansas, which is imbued by the spirit of the Ottawa Indian Tribe, in tandem with Baptist missionaries, and has an unquenchable commitment to educate increasing numbers of students for lifetimes of significance. The special quintessence, from which OU was born, permeates the foundation on which OUAZ is being built.
The growing, 15-acre campus in Surprise, Ariz., is anchored by Spirit Field and consists of three newly constructed, state-of-the art buildings—a student union, a residence hall, and the O’Dell Center for Athletics—along with an existing administration and classroom building. OUAZ boasts 24 men’s and women’s athletic teams—the Ottawa Spirit—competing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Opened in 2017, Ottawa University-Arizona is student centered, value priced and technology enabled. Along with its main campus in Ottawa, Kan., which was founded in 1865, OUAZ is part of a comprehensive educational institution that serves more than 4,000 students through its two residential campuses, burgeoning online programs, and adult and professional studies campuses in the Phoenix, Milwaukee, and Kansas City metropolitan areas.
Get to know Ottawa University-Arizona
Benefits
Student Activities
- Campus Ministries
- Choral groups
- Dance
- Drama/theatre
- International Student Organization
- Student government
- Television station
Campus Resources
- Career Services
- Academic Advisors
- Library Services
- Faculty Mentors
- Disability Services
- Health Services
- Academic Tutors
- Financial Aid Advisors
- Student Success Initiative (LifePlan)
- Counseling
College Highlights
REAL-WORLD READY
“How am I going to use this in the real world?” Ottawa University-Arizona faculty delight in answering this common question and usually do so with long lists of opportunities that allow and require students to put their newfound skills to work.
FROM TEXTBOOK TO TANGIBLE
Many OUAZ students have participated in incredible opportunities abroad. Through missional and charitable work, students are leaving their mark on the world. During a mission trip to Havana, Cuba, in January 2019, OUAZ baseball players and other students delivered 35 bags of clothing to those in need as well as baseball equipment for local children.
PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE
Every student at Ottawa University-Arizona completes a Senior Core capstone course that requires research on social issues. Students must develop possible solutions to address their topics and take action to raise awareness. At OUAZ, students are provided every opportunity to make an impact on the world.
ENROLLMENT BY ETHNICITY
Nonresident aliens: 0%
Hispanic/Latino: 29%
Black or African American, non-Hispanic: 10%
White, non-Hispanic: 45%
American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: 1%
Asian, non-Hispanic: 2%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: 0%
Two or more races, non-Hispanic: 2%
Race and/or ethnicity unknown: 11%
NOT WHAT TO THINK, BUT HOW TO THINK
From embracing spiritual values to executing business practices, students are pushed to explore, research, and evaluate questions for themselves, arriving at answers rather than being spoon-fed long lists of facts and information. At Ottawa University-Arizona, mastery is as much about the discovery of knowledge as it is the knowledge itself.
TOP-LEVEL, EASILY ACCESSIBLE FACULTY
With a student-faculty ratio of 17:1, personal engagement, direction, and collaboration clearly define OUAZ’s typical professor/student relationship. Teachers know their students by name (most of the staff do, too!), and each individual gets the personal attention needed to succeed. Through a wide range of service-learning projects and experiential learning opportunities, students can also engage directly in their education by completing dynamic projects that are particularly meaningful to them.
A MEANINGFUL CAREER BEGINS AT OTTAWA UNIVERSITY
With more than 20 majors offered across three schools (Arts & Sciences, Education, and Business), students can select from a wide range of majors and concentrations that prepare them for meaningful careers or graduate programs.
BRAND NEW, STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES
A new residence hall and student union opened in Fall 2019 on the OUAZ campus to augment the overall teaching and learning experience. To enhance the educational experience, other facilities have also recently opened, such as the state-of-the-art O’Dell Center for Athletics. OUAZ is the only school in the West Valley to offer facilities of this caliber.
SPECIAL STUDY OPTIONS
Accelerated program
Internships
Teacher certification program
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
In today’s global society, students often hear, “The world is your classroom.” At Ottawa University-Arizona, that means traveling abroad, working with inner-city children, and gaining insight from their fellow classmates’ diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Other times, it means that the world is brought directly to the students through arts and cultural events, speakers, conferences, workshops, or weekly Personal Growth Days. OUAZ believes that, by exposing students to a broad base of ideas, experiences, and people, they learn to achieve a better understanding of who they want to become.
DIVERSE SPEAKERS
Some of the esteemed speakers who have come to inspire Ottawa University-Arizona students have been:
- Dr. Anne Bradley – Vice President of Economic Initiatives at the Institute of World Politics
- Debbie Lesko – U.S. Representative from Arizona’s 8th District
- Sam Acho – NFL Football player
- Mike Sanfratello – VP for Fellowship of Christian Athletes & retired NFL player
- Kevin Youngblood – Founder & President of Odysseyware Inc.
- Bay Forrest – Founder of Focus Ministries and retired NBA player
- Josiah Igono – Director of Peak Performance for the Texas Rangers
- Sheriff Paul Penzone – Maricopa County Sheriff
- Dr. Arthur Robinson – President & Research Director of the Oregon Institute of Science & Medicine
ANNUAL CONFERENCES/EVENTS
There is always something for students to do. Ottawa University holds a variety of events every year, including:
- Emotional Health Week
- Norwood Jones Convocation
- Black History Month
- Angell Snyder School of Business Symposium
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
OUAZ is continuing to build volunteer relationships as the new university experiences growth. To date, the following volunteer opportunities are available:
- Circle K International
- St. Mary’s Food Bank
- Habitat for Humanity
PERSONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES
Personal growth is a cornerstone of student life at Ottawa University-Arizona. Opportunities for life-changing experiences include, but are not limited to:
- Weekly Personal Growth Days (PGD’s) featuring worship music, notable speakers, and “adulting” workshops
- Donor-provided scholarships to attend the annual Foundation for Economic Education Conference in Atlanta
- Honorariums for participating in a reading colloquium with students from other local schools on the topic “Toleration in a Free Society”
- The opportunity to apply to travel to Israel as part of Ottawa’s relationship with Passages Israel
- Such professional opportunities as an Insurance/Risk Management Career Night and other networking events
SCHOOL LOCATION
Ottawa University’s residential campus in Surprise, Ariz., is 30 miles northwest of Phoenix.
ATHLETICS
Athletic Association: NAIA
Athletic Conference: Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC)
OUAZ Varsity Athletic Teams: (24) Baseball, Basketball (men/women), Beach Volleyball (women), Cheer & Dance (men/women), Cross Country (men/women), Football, Golf (men/women), Soccer (men/women), Softball, Swimming & Diving (men/women), Tennis (men/women), Track & Field (men/women), Volleyball (men/women), Water Polo (men/women).
Team Name: Spirit
Mascot: “Fang” (gray wolf)
Colors: Orange, Crimson & Black
RESIDENCE LIFE
Campus housing options.
Coed Dorms
Apartments for married students
Apartments for single students
Special housing for disabled students
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
At Ottawa University-Arizona, endless opportunities abound. Whether students want to make groundbreaking scientific discoveries or change lives in a classroom full of children, it all starts right here. Students at OUAZ know it’s okay if they are not sure what they want to do. That’s why each student gets their own personal Faculty Mentor to help figure it all out!
Every OUAZ student, along with their Faculty Mentor, craft a LifePlan Narrative—a look at their goals, where they are in life, and where they want to be. They explore facets of life, including Academic & Intellectual, Career & Lifestyle, Healthy Relationships, Identity Formation, Health & Wellness, and Enlightened Faith.
CRITICAL THINKING
One feature that distinguishes Ottawa University-Arizona from other universities that offer liberal arts and pre-professional education is its unique Liberal Arts Studies program (LAS). Throughout a student’s broad area coursework at OUAZ, they will be challenged to develop critical thinking skills that will prepare them for post-graduate endeavors, such as entering the workforce or going to graduate or professional school.
PERSONAL GROWTH
OUAZ is so committed to the notion that students should develop work-ready and practical life skills that it has eliminated standard classes on Wednesdays through each 8-week term. During OUAZ’s unique “Personal Growth Days,” Wednesdays are set aside for advising, tutoring, and private study in the morning. The remainder of the day is split into three parts, which include “Spirit Life,” a time of fellowship when the OUAZ community comes together to hear an impactful speaker along with music from a praise and worship band; “The Gathering,” a community dining experience on campus that allows for networking in a welcoming and accepting atmosphere; and “Adulting Workshops,” which aim to hone and shape student competencies in such areas as public speaking, project management, leadership, negotiations, personal finance, research, conflict management, and much more.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition: $29,980
Fees: $2,450
Room & Board: $10,283
Room Only: $4,283
Board Only: $6,000
Aid
TOP SCHOLARS SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION
Ottawa University-Arizona’s semi-annual “Top Scholars” competition is a multi-phase scholarship competition that awards the Presidential (full-tuition) and Provost Scholarships (three-quarter-tuition). The University is looking for “Top Scholars” who strive to make a difference in their own lives as well as the lives of others. This rigorous competition is only open to students who have achieved a composite ACT score of 25 or greater, earned a minimum high school GPA of 3.5, and have been accepted to OUAZ.
Through the “Top Scholars” competition, awards are presented to an elite group of students who promise to add significant value to the University’s academic, cultural, and civic environment.
Contact Ottawa University-Arizona
Contact Admissions
www.ottawa.edu/ouaz/admissions
(855) 546-1342
ouazadmiss@ottawa.edu
Campus Location
15950 N. Civic Center Plaza
Surprise, AZ 85374