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The University

Southern Virginia University (SVU) is a private, nonprofit, coeducational four-year university operated by a board of trustees predominantly made up of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Although SVU is not owned or operated by the Church, its primary purpose is to provide a high-quality education in an environment that is supportive of LDS values and standards.

Southern Virginia University began in 1867 as Bowling Green Female Seminary, an institution of higher education for women. (At that time, a seminary often referred to an institution of secondary or higher education.) In 1894, the school moved to a resort hotel in Buena Vista and changed its name to Southern Seminary. The hotel, which was built in 1890, is now Main Hall and is listed on the National Register as a National Historic Landmark. From 1922 to 1996, the school operated as a junior college, until declining enrollment and financial instability threatened to close its doors. In 1996, a group of Latter-day Saint educators and business leaders assumed responsibility for the college, converting it into a four-year liberal arts college. That fall, the new Southern Virginia College enrolled 74 students. It has since grown dramatically, enrolling 700 students in fall 2007. In 2001, the name was changed to Southern Virginia University to reflect growth of the curriculum and the rapidly increasing size of the student body.

Southern Virginia University offers thirteen majors and seventeen minors and is fully accredited by the American Academy for Liberal Education. There are twenty-one intercollegiate sports, a student government association, a student orchestra, a chamber choir, a theater guild, and other various campus groups and activities. SVUs intercollegiate sports include mens and womens basketball, cheerleading, cross-country, golf, lacrosse (club), soccer, tennis (club), and track and field; mens baseball, football, and wrestling; and womens softball and volleyball. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints operates an Institute of Religion on campus and five student wards.

Location

Buena Vista, Virginia, a town of nearly 7,000 residents, is located by the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. Buena Vista is close to Interstate 81 and is approximately 6 miles east of historic Lexington, a popular tourist destination. Nearby cities include Roanoke (50 miles south), Charlottesville (55 miles northeast), and Washington, D.C. (165 miles northeast). Air service to SVU is available from the Roanoke Airport, which is less than an hours drive from Buena Vista.

The Blue Ridge Parkway, Appalachian Trail, and Blue Ridge Mountains offer many opportunities for hiking, skiing, biking, camping, and other outdoor activities. Many American historical sites are also nearby, including Monticello, Appomattox, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. The Virginia Military Institute and Washington and Lee University, which are located in the neighboring town of Lexington, offer many additional services to students.

Majors and Degrees

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) has granted Southern Virginia University approval to confer Bachelor of Arts degrees. SVU offers majors in the following areas: art, biology, business management and leadership, computer science, English, family and child development, history, liberal arts, music, philosophy, politics, Spanish, and theater.

Academic Programs

To be eligible for a baccalaureate degree, students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours of study; at least 60 of the credit hours or at least the last two full-time semesters before graduation must be completed at SVU. No more than 9 credit hours are granted for internship courses. In addition, students must complete all general education requirements (typically 61 hours), a minimum of 36 credit hours in upper-division (300- and 400-level) courses, and all the requirements of at least one major. Students must earn a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on all course work taken at the University, and they must comply with all University standards, regulations, and procedures from the date of matriculation through the date of final graduation.

The academic year consists of two semesters (fall, August to December; spring, January to April) and one term each in May and June.

Academic Facilities

The Von Canon Library offers students access to a collection of 123,000 titles, 18,200 periodicals, 4,800 reference materials, 4,000 audiovisual materials, and an on-campus computer lab. Durham Hall is the main academic building on campus, housing biology, chemistry, and geology lecture rooms and labs on the lower level. Classrooms for the social sciences, math, English, and business are located throughout the building, as are faculty offices. Other academic buildings include Landrum House, Chandler Hall, Tucson Art Building, the Knight Sports Arena, Main Hall, and the Student Union Building.

Costs

Southern Virginia University is a private, nonprofit institution. Tuition and other fees are maintained at a minimum consistent with high academic standards and efficiency of operation. The basic expenses for a full-time student for the 200708 academic year (excluding summer school) were $16,500 for tuition and fees and $4900 for room and board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

Financial Aid

Through its financial aid program, Southern Virginia University attempts to keep education costs as affordable as possible by providing assistance to many students through various scholarships and grants. SVU facilitates financing of educational expenses by offering financial aid from four general sources: federal, state, private, and institutional. A financial aid package often includes more than one type of aid.

To ensure that every student receives the maximum assistance for which they are eligible, every student is encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov). The U.S. Department of Education uses a standard formula, which was established by Congress, to evaluate the information reported on the FAFSA to determine a students eligibility.

SVU offers a number of institutional scholarships, grants, and employment opportunities to both incoming and returning students. Scholarships and grants are awarded only to full-time students and are applicable only to tuition. Students may receive additional funds from federal, state, and private sources other than SVU. Most SVU scholarships and grants are awarded for an academic year (meaning that they are good for both the fall and spring semesters) and are awarded half in the fall and half in the spring, unless otherwise stipulated. Institutional work-study and tuition installment plans are also offered by the University to assist in financing educational expenses.

Faculty

Eighty percent of all full-time faculty members at SVU hold terminal degrees in their fields of study. Including part-time professors, the SVU faculty is made up of 69 professors. With a student-faculty ratio of 16:1, SVU offers an interactive course setting where faculty members and students have a close mentor relationship. Faculty members also serve as academic advisers to all students enrolled.

Student Government

The SVU Student Association (SVUSA) provides students with a means to carry out programs, activities, and events that enhance student life and promote within students the qualities of service, integrity, leadership, academic excellence, fellowship, and moral conduct. Student leaders are elected by students and are advised through the Office of the Dean of Students. SVUSA also acts as a mediator and advocate with the administration for student needs.

Admission Requirements

Each applicant is evaluated individually on academic performance, ACT or SAT scores, class rank, extracurricular activities, demonstrated leadership, exemplary standards of conduct, maturity, service, and a commitment to the pursuit of a college degree. An applicants high school course of study should include at least 14 units of core academic classes in English, foreign language, mathematics, science, social science, and history and at least 4 units of elective classes. Although the University does not require specific courses for admission, successful applicants usually have completed at least 4 years of English, 2 years of foreign language, 2 years of college-preparatory mathematics, 2 years of laboratory science, and elective credits in subjects such as art, music, drama, and physical education. Transfer students with fewer than 24 semester credit hours are evaluated according to the same admission criteria used for incoming freshmen, except that their college transcripts are also considered. Transfer students with 24 semester credit hours or more are evaluated academically according to their previous college work. Transfer students should have at least a 2.0 GPA for all previous college work.

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