Southern Virginia University
| Southern Virginia University | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Motto | Learn that Life is Service |
| Established | 1867 |
| Type | Private college |
| Endowment | US $0.574 million[1] |
| President | Rodney K. Smith |
| Academic staff | ~100 |
| Students | 804[2] |
| Location | Buena Vista, Virginia, USA |
| Campus | Rural, 155 acres (0.63 km2) |
| Colors | Green, White and Black |
| Athletics | NAIA, USCAA, 20 varsity teams |
| Nickname | Knights |
| Website | www.svu.edu |
Southern Virginia University (SVU) is a liberal arts college located in Buena Vista, Virginia, United States, that promotes standards and values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), although it is neither owned nor operated by the church. Founded as Southern Seminary in 1867, it is now a private, 4-year coeducational institution.
Due to Southern Virginia's promotion of LDS standards and ideals, 96% of students are Mormon.[3] The university is accredited by the American Academy for Liberal Education. The campus consists of more than 155 acres (0.63 km2).
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[edit] History
The school was founded as a for-profit institution in 1867 as the Home School for Girls by Alice Scott Chandler.[4] In 1900 the school was moved to Buena Vista and renamed Southern Seminary. In 1922 the school became a junior college and was renamed Southern Seminary and Junior College.[5] In 1959 it became a non-profit college under the control of trustees. In 1961 the school ended its high school program and became Southern Seminary Junior College.[5][6]
The financial health of the college began to decline in the 1980s, and by 1996 the school was at the point of closing. Late name changes were to Southern Virginia College for Women in 1993 and simply Southern Virginia College when the school began accepting male students in 1994.[citation needed]
In 1996, Southern Virginia College's board of trustees transferred the school's assets and liabilities to a new board, most of whom were members of LDS Church. The main figure in this reorganization was Glade Knight. They reorganized the school to put forth standards, values, and beliefs of the LDS Church. In 2000 the school was accepted into pre-accreditation status by the American Academy for Liberal Education (AALE), which is separate from regional accreditation bodies[7][8] and was renamed Southern Virginia University.[9] In 2003 it was granted full accreditation by the AALE.
[edit] Campus
The university's campus consists of twelve major buildings, including Main Hall (the most visible building at SVU, serving as administrative offices and as a residence hall), the Kimball Student Center, the Knight Sports Arena, the Stoddard Activities Center, the Von Canon Library, Landrum Hall, Craton Hall and Robey Hall (men's residence halls), The Lofts, (women's residence hall) Durham Hall (the main academic building), Chandler Hall (theatre and music), and over 16 homes which are used for additional student housing and office space. There is also a LDS Church building where the Institute of Religion classes are held and where church meetings are attended on Sundays. The university owns approximately 155 acres (0.63 km2), most of which is slated for future development.[citation needed]
SVU is located in the midst of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a scenic area of Virginia. The Knight Statue, placed in front of Main Hall, was a gift to the university from Glade Knight, chairman of the board of trustees.[citation needed] On March 6, 2008, members of the Buena Vista, Virginia city council and administrators from the University met to discuss a ten-year master plan.[10] A study[10] conducted in 2007 denoted that SVU has a $17 million impact in Buena Vista and in the surrounding community. Additionally, the university plans to build a new performing arts center, facilities maintenance building, and academic classroom building.[citation needed]
[edit] Academics
Southern Virginia University offers thirteen different majors: Art, Biology, Business Management and Leadership, Computer Science, English, Family and Child Development, History, Liberal Arts, Music, Philosophy, Politics, Spanish, and Theatre.[11] There are also four additional minors at Southern Virginia University: Chemistry, Creative Writing, Early Childhood Education, and Mathematics. Other Programs include Health Pre-Professionals, Pre-Law and ROTC.[12]
Incoming students have averaged a 3.34 high school GPA with ACT and SAT test scores averaging about 23 and 1050, respectively.[3] Tuition costs as of 2010 are roughly $17,800 annually.[13] The retention rate at SVU is around 37% (after Freshman year), with a significant number of students leaving to serve as Mormon missionaries, and the graduation rate is 28%.[14]
[edit] Student life
[edit] Religious activity
LDS Church principles and activities are fully integrated into life and education at SVU. An LDS Church Institute of Religion is operated at an on-campus church. Also, once each semester the university organizes a trip to the Washington D.C. Temple, during which students perform service on the temple grounds and participate in temple ordinances.[15]
[edit] Honor code
SVU requires all students and faculty to adhere to a strict honor code,[16] similar to the Brigham Young University Honor Code. The SVU honor code includes the following guidelines:
- Honesty in academic and personal behavior
- Living a chaste and virtuous lifestyle
- Abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee, and illicit drugs
- Respect for the rights and property of others
- Obedience to law and University policies
- Observation of University dress and grooming standards
An ecclesiastical endorsement to live the honor code is part of the application process. This consists of students signing a compact in conjunction with their bishop if they are LDS, or with their respective ecclesiastical leader, if they are of another faith.[17]
[edit] Performing arts
SVU offers several performing arts sections to its students, including Chamber Choir, a Women's Choir (Bella Voce), a show choir (ENCORE), and a contemporary a cappella group (The Fading Point). There is also the Southern Virginia University Dance Company, which performs many different styles of dance at different functions throughout the year, including ballet, jazz, lyrical, and hip-hop. Music programs consist of an Orchestra, Pep Band, Jazz Ensemble, Wind Symphony, and Flute Choir. The theater program has performed The Diary of Anne Frank, The Sound of Music, The Importance of Being Earnest, Seeking Higher Ground, and Beauty and the Beast, among many others. Other options for participation in the Theater program include the Shenanigans Improv Comedy Group, student directed one act plays, pageant wagon, and participation in the SVU Film Festival.[18]
[edit] Athletics
The school's athletics programs compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. But they currently compete in USCAA National Tournaments. The school is currently in the preliminary stages of gaining NCAA Division III standing.
[edit] People
[edit] Faculty
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[edit] Alumni
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[edit] References
- ^ As of June 30, 2011. "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2011 Endowment Market Value and Percentage Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2010 to FY 2011" (PDF). National Association of College and University Business Officers. June 30, 2011. p. 23. http://www.nacubo.org/Documents/research/2011_NCSE_Public_Tables_Endowment_Market_Values_Final_January_17_2012.pdf. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
- ^ "Record Enrollment Exceeds 800 Students". Southern Virginia University. http://svu.edu/news/archives/2011/record-enrollment. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
- ^ a b Admissions – New Freshman
- ^ "SVU Scholarships". Southern Virginia University. http://www.svu.edu/d1/?q=node/43. Retrieved 2006-07-11.[dead link]
- ^ a b "History of Southern Virginia University". Southern Virginia University. http://svu1.southernvirginia.edu/about/history.html. Retrieved 2006-07-11. Additional copy of history.
- ^ "Utah Family Donates Prime Real Estate to Southern Virginia College" (Press release). Southern Virginia University. 2000-02-23. http://svu1.southernvirginia.edu/News/full_release/2000_feb23.html. Retrieved 2006-07-11.
- ^ "SVC Receives Preaccreditation Status" (Press release). Southern Virginia University. 2000-05-15. http://svu1.svu.edu/News/full_release/2000_may15.html. Retrieved 2006-07-11.
- ^ current SVU accreditation information from the school
- ^ "SVC changes name to SVU" (Press release). Southern Virginia University. 2000-04-17. http://svu1.svu.edu/News/full_release/2001_apr17.html. Retrieved 2006-07-11.
- ^ a b "SVU Announces 10-Year Master Plan" (Press release). Southern Virginia University. March 6, 2008. http://www.svu.edu/news/archives/2008/SVU%20Announces%2010%20Year%20Master%20Campus%20Plan.aspx. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
- ^ SVU Catalog – Graduation Requirements
- ^ Majors and Minors
- ^ Southern Virginia University – Tuition and Fees. Svu.edu. Retrieved on 2011-01-04.
- ^ Southern Virginia University Review from American School Search
- ^ SVU students serve — inside and out — at the Washington D.C. Temple. Mormon Times. Retrieved on 2011-01-04.
- ^ "Honor Code". Southern Virginia University. http://www.svu.edu/honor. Retrieved 2010-12-28. See [1] (PDF) for full text of the pledge.
- ^ Student Pledge & Ecclesiastical Endorsement, Southern Virginia University form
- ^ [2][dead link]
[edit] External links
- Southern Virginia University
- "Why I am Teaching at SVU...And Why SVU is Important" by Orson Scott Card
- "Virginia is for Leaders" by Provo Daily Herald
- "A bastion of Mormonism rises in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains" by Religion News Service
- "Faux BYU's: The Making of Two Independent Mormon Colleges" – 1996 article in Sunstone about LDS transformation of SVU
Coordinates: 37°44′27″N 79°21′01″W / 37.740771°N 79.350343°W
- Education in Buena Vista, Virginia
- Educational institutions established in 1867
- Educational institutions established in 1996
- Former women's universities and colleges in the United States
- Latter Day Saint universities and colleges
- Southern Virginia University
- Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Universities and colleges in Virginia
