Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU; ) is a private university in Zhongli District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan. The university was established as Chung Yuan Christian College of Science and Engineering in 1955 by a group of Taiwanese and American Christian educators to train science and engineering talent in the Christian spirit. The school was upgraded to a full university and renamed Chung Yuan Christian University in 1980. CYCU is a Member of United Board.

Education mission and ranking

CYCU's stated mission is "to promote higher education for the benefit of the Chinese people, aiming at the pursuit and advancement of genuine knowledge in order to maintain our cultural heritage and, thus, to serve humankind."

History

The university was originally established as Chung Yuan Christian College of Science and Engineering (CYCC) in October 1955 by a group of Christian educators and local gentry. The college comprised four departments: physics, chemistry, chemical engineering, and civil engineering. CYCC was renamed Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) on 1 August 1980.

Colleges

CYCU has 7 colleges, 26 departments, 24 Masters programs, and 12 PhD programs. CYCU has more than 70,000 alumni.

Presidents

Dr. Samuel K.C. Chang has been the school's president since 2013. Past presidents and administrators include Kuo Ke-tee, Hsieh Ming-shan, Han Wei, Yuan Ta-nien, Yin Shiu-hau, Chang Kwang-cheng, Hsiung Shen-kan and Cheng Wan-Lee.

Notable alumni

Name

Although similar in name, Chung Yuan Christian University does not have any relationship with the following universities in China: Zhongyuan University of Technology in Zhengzhou, and the short-lived Zhongyuan University which was founded by Deng Xiaoping, existed in the 1940s and 1950s, and later merged into Zhongnan University of Economics and Law and Huazhong Normal University, both in Wuhan.

Tradition and Founding Principles

In response to Taiwan's 2016 recognition of same-sex marriage, Chung Yuan Christian University released a statement in opposition, citing the university's Christian and Biblical founding principles.

Asteroid

Asteroid 187636 Chungyuan was named in honor of the university. The official was published by the Minor Planet Center on 25 September 2018 (M.P.C. 111803).