Southern Virginia University
Encyclopedia
Southern Virginia University (SVU) is a liberal arts college
located in Buena Vista, Virginia
that promotes standards and values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS "Mormon" Church) while not being 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 Church members. The University is accredited by the American Academy for Liberal Education
, and the campus consists of more than 155 acre (0.6272633 km²).
and was renamed Southern Seminary and Junior College. 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.
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.
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 and was renamed Southern Virginia University. In 2003 it was granted full accreditation by the AALE.
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.
Incoming students have averaged a 3.34 high school GPA with ACT and SAT test scores averaging about 23 and 1050, respectively.
Tuition costs as of 2010 are roughly $17,800 annually.
The retention rate at SVU is around 37% (after Freshman year) and the graduation rate is 28%.
. But they currently compete in USCAA National Tournaments. The school is currently in the preliminary stages of gaining NCAA Division III standing.
classes are held and where church meetings are attended on Sundays. The University owns approximately 155 acre (0.6272633 km²), most of which is slated for future development.
The University is nestled 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.
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. A study conducted in 2007 denoted that the University has a $17 million impact in Buena Vista and in the surrounding community. Additionally, the University plans to build a new library, performing arts center, facilities maintenance building, academic classroom building, an addition to the Stoddard Activities Center and a renovated Student Union.
, and participation in the SVU Film Festival.
is operated at an on-campus church. Institute classes range from studying scriptures such as the Book of Mormon
, the New and Old Testaments of the Bible
, other LDS scriptures (includes the Pearl of Great Price
and Doctrine and Covenants
), and also other courses that explore teachings of LDS prophets and other leaders, family history, marriage, leadership, preparing oneself for a mission, and living the gospel fully and productively. An Institute choir (also a course) usually performs a few times every semester. Also, once each semester the University organizes a trip to the Church's Washington D.C. Temple
during which students perform service on the temple grounds and participate in temple ordinances.
. The SVU honor code includes the following guidelines:
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.
Liberal arts college
A liberal arts college is one with a primary emphasis on undergraduate study in the liberal arts and sciences.Students in the liberal arts generally major in a particular discipline while receiving exposure to a wide range of academic subjects, including sciences as well as the traditional...
located in Buena Vista, Virginia
Buena Vista, Virginia
Buena Vista is an independent city located within the confines of Rockbridge County, Virginia. The population was 6,650 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Buena Vista with Rockbridge county for statistical purposes.-Geography:Buena Vista is located at...
that promotes standards and values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS "Mormon" Church) while not being 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 Church members. The University is accredited by the American Academy for Liberal Education
American Academy for Liberal Education
The American Academy for Liberal Education is a United States educational accreditation organization.- Accreditation :AALE provides two types of accreditation for higher education institutions that offer general education programs in the liberal arts...
, and the campus consists of more than 155 acre (0.6272633 km²).
History
The school was founded as a for-profit institution in 1867 as the Home School for Girls by Alice Scott Chandler. In 1900 the school was moved to Buena Vista and renamed Southern Seminary. In 1922 the school became a junior collegeJunior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
and was renamed Southern Seminary and Junior College. In 1959 it became a non-profit college under the control of trustees. In 1961 the school ended its high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
program and became Southern Seminary Junior College.
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.
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
American Academy for Liberal Education
The American Academy for Liberal Education is a United States educational accreditation organization.- Accreditation :AALE provides two types of accreditation for higher education institutions that offer general education programs in the liberal arts...
(AALE), which is separate from regional accreditation bodies and was renamed Southern Virginia University. In 2003 it was granted full accreditation by the AALE.
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.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.
Incoming students have averaged a 3.34 high school GPA with ACT and SAT test scores averaging about 23 and 1050, respectively.
Tuition costs as of 2010 are roughly $17,800 annually.
The retention rate at SVU is around 37% (after Freshman year) and the graduation rate is 28%.
Athletics
The school's athletics programs compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate AthleticsNational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
. But they currently compete in USCAA National Tournaments. The school is currently in the preliminary stages of gaining NCAA Division III standing.
Campus
The University's campus currently 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 ReligionInstitute of Religion
Institutes of Religion provide religious educational classes for young single adult and university students who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
classes are held and where church meetings are attended on Sundays. The University owns approximately 155 acre (0.6272633 km²), most of which is slated for future development.
The University is nestled in the midst of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
, 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.
On March 6, 2008, members of the Buena Vista, Virginia
Buena Vista, Virginia
Buena Vista is an independent city located within the confines of Rockbridge County, Virginia. The population was 6,650 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Buena Vista with Rockbridge county for statistical purposes.-Geography:Buena Vista is located at...
city council and administrators from the University met to discuss a ten year master plan. A study conducted in 2007 denoted that the University has a $17 million impact in Buena Vista and in the surrounding community. Additionally, the University plans to build a new library, performing arts center, facilities maintenance building, academic classroom building, an addition to the Stoddard Activities Center and a renovated Student Union.
Performing arts
SVU offers several performing arts sections to its students. For choir, students may choose from 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 wagonPageant wagon
A pageant wagon is a movable stage or cart used to accommodate the mystery and miracle play cycles of the 10th through the 16th Century. These religious plays were developed from biblical texts and they reached the height of their popularity in the 15th century before being rendered obsolete by the...
, and participation in the SVU Film Festival.
Students and faculty
SVU's stated mission is to "prepare leader-servants in the workplace and the world, in the community and the church, and in the home." It primarily serves faithful members of the LDS Church but also invites all who will adhere to its values (delineated in its honor code) to participate.Religious activity
LDS Church principles and activities are fully integrated into life and education at SVU. An LDS Church Institute of ReligionInstitute of Religion
Institutes of Religion provide religious educational classes for young single adult and university students who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
is operated at an on-campus church. Institute classes range from studying scriptures such as the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
, the New and Old Testaments of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, other LDS scriptures (includes the Pearl of Great Price
Pearl of Great Price (Mormonism)
The Pearl of Great Price is part of the standard works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and some other Latter Day Saint denominations....
and Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement...
), and also other courses that explore teachings of LDS prophets and other leaders, family history, marriage, leadership, preparing oneself for a mission, and living the gospel fully and productively. An Institute choir (also a course) usually performs a few times every semester. Also, once each semester the University organizes a trip to the Church's Washington D.C. Temple
Washington D.C. Temple
The Washington D.C. Temple is the 18th constructed and 16th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is located in Kensington, Maryland, USA, near the Capital Beltway just north of Washington, D.C...
during which students perform service on the temple grounds and participate in temple ordinances.
Honor code
SVU requires all students and faculty to adhere to a strict honor code, similar to the Brigham Young University Honor CodeBrigham Young University Honor Code
The Brigham Young University Honor Code is a set of standards by which students and faculty at Brigham Young University, a school owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are required to live. The standards derive in many ways from codes of conduct of the LDS Church,...
. 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.
External links
- Southern Virginia University
- "Why I am Teaching at SVU...And Why SVU is Important" by Orson Scott CardOrson Scott CardOrson Scott Card is an American author, critic, public speaker, essayist, columnist, and political activist. He writes in several genres, but is primarily known for his science fiction. His novel Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead both won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Card the...
- "Virginia is for Leaders" by Provo Daily HeraldProvo Daily HeraldThe Daily Herald is a daily newspaper that covers news and community events in Utah County, central Utah. Much of the coverage focuses on the Provo-Orem metropolitan area in Utah Valley....
- "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 SunstoneSunstone MagazineSunstone is a magazine published by the Sunstone Education Foundation, Inc., a 501 nonprofit corporation, that discusses Mormonism through scholarship, art, short fiction, and poetry. The foundation began the publication in 1974 and considers it a vehicle for free and frank exchange in The Church...
about LDS transformation of SVU - Google Maps