Southern Wesleyan University


Southern Wesleyan University is a private Christian university in Central, South Carolina. It was founded in 1906 by what is now the Wesleyan Church. The institution is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.
The university offers approximately 35 major areas of study for undergraduates and also offers graduate and doctoral degrees in the areas of business and education. The university serves approximately 1,600 students. There are more than 800 undergraduates enrolled at the main campus in Central, South Carolina. In addition, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs are offered in a fully online format.
The school has 18 intercollegiate athletic teams that compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II as well as the National Christian College Athletic Association. Since 2007, the university's athletic teams have won 17 National Christian College Athletic Association national championship titles including titles in men's baseball, women's basketball, men's soccer, individual men's golf, women's indoor track and field events, women's outdoor track and field events, and men's outdoor track and field events.

History

In 1904, representatives of Wesleyan Methodist churches in South Carolina and surrounding states met at Central to consider the possibility of establishing a college. Classes at the new school began on October 15, 1906, with students from first grade through college. Initially known as the Wesleyan Methodist Bible Institute, subsequent names included Wesleyan Methodist College and Central Wesleyan College. The school was renamed Southern Wesleyan University in 1994.
A campus fixture for nearly 60 years, Smith Hall was the first building constructed on College Hill. When it opened in 1906, it housed the chapel, six classrooms, administrative space and a small library collection. In 1916, construction was completed on Grimes Hall, which became the central campus landmark until the early 1970s. The building served classroom and administrative purposes, as well as chapel, library and dining hall at times. Since then the campus has expanded to nearly 20 buildings over.
Beginning in 1928, the college operated as a two-year junior college, with a four-year theological program. For many years elementary and secondary school classes were offered as well. In 1958, the pre-college programs were phased out, and the college moved to a full four-year program. The junior college program received accreditation that same year, and Central Wesleyan College was accredited to award bachelor's degrees in 1973. The university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees.
In addition to the traditional program, in 1986 a nontraditional program for working adults was added. Initially known as Leadership Education for Adult Professionals, the program expanded to include various associate, bachelor's, and master's programs in an evening class format. As technology progressed, the program evolved into what is now the fully online programs at SWU.

Academics

The university has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since 1973. In 2008, the School of Education was also accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education for the teacher education programs at the undergraduate and master's levels. Degree programs in music and music education are also accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music as of 2008.
Southern Wesleyan University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in two schools and one college.

School of Education

The school of education provides training for teaching careers in public and private education. This training is geared toward classroom management, student learning and teacher instruction for the elementary and secondary school levels.

School of Business

The Benson School of Business provides business education with a Christian perspective that prepares students for positions of leadership and service. It offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Science in Management in various concentrations.

College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences at Southern Wesleyan University offers a broad range of academic disciplines, such as Christian ministry, the humanities, fine arts, and the social, natural and computational sciences.

Campus

Southern Wesleyan University occupies a campus near the town of Central, South Carolina.

Student activities

Student Life

Student Life maintains student government, Student Activities, athletics, first year experience, counseling, retention, and overall student life. Student Life hosts an annual Day of Service in which students and staff participate in various projects in the local community. Service projects include such things as food drives, brush clean up, entertainment and cleaning. Southern Wesleyan's goal for student life is to integrate faith, living, and learning into students’ education and to cultivate strong men and women who desire to embody the character of Christ.

Athletics

Southern Wesleyan teams are nicknamed the Warriors. A new logo was introduced in 2013, but the Warrior name was retained. SWU competes as part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II level, primarily competing in Conference Carolinas. The Warriors also compete as a Division I member of the National Christian College Athletic Association. Chris Williams serves as SWU's athletic director.
SWU men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, and track & field. In 2013, the men's soccer team won the Division I NCCAA National Championships and Camilo Rodriguez, the team's head coach was awarded NCCAA's Coach of the Year. SWU women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. In 2007, the SWU women's basketball team was awarded the NCCAA National Championship.

National Championships

The SWU Warriors have won 11 National Christian College Athletic Association national championship titles:
Open to students of all skill levels, intramural sports include basketball, flag football, ping pong, sand volleyball, soccer, and softball.

Spiritual life on campus

Chapel and discipleship opportunities

Students have the opportunity to grow in their faith through weekly chapel experiences with guest speakers and worship. The university also offers discipleship groups, ministry teams, local serving opportunities and global missions experiences.

Ministry teams

Southern Wesleyan University offers opportunities for students to be involved with a ministry team that is funded by the university. There are three types of ministry teams sent out by the university: Recreation Ministry Teams, The Difference and University Singers.

Recreation Ministry Teams

Recreation Ministry Teams serve as needed at various Christian summer camps in the months of June and July.

The Difference

The Difference is a year-long program, in which members travel to lead worship at churches, events and summer camps. There are eight members in this contemporary worship band. They also serve as a recreation team at summer camps.

University Singers

University Singers is a traveling vocal group which performs religious music at various churches and events. They sing a mixture of contemporary and traditional gospel music.

Notable alumni