Southern Wesleyan University is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

university in

Central, South Carolina Central is a town in Pickens County, South Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,159, roughly 3,000 of whom were considered permanent residents. Contrary to its name, it is not near South Carolina's center. It rece ...

. It was founded in 1906 by what is now the

Wesleyan Church The Wesleyan Church, also known as the Wesleyan Methodist Church and Wesleyan Holiness Church depending on the region, is a Methodist Christian denomination in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Namibia, Sierra Leone, L ...

. The institution is accredited by the

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is an educational accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. This agency accredits over 13,000 public and priv ...

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 The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...

(NCAA) Division II as well as the

National Christian College Athletic Association The National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) is an association of Christian universities, colleges, and Bible colleges in the United States and Canada whose mission is "the promotion and enhancement of intercollegiate athletic co ...

(NCCAA). Since 2007, the university's athletic teams have won 17

(NCCAA) 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 (1906–1908), subsequent names included Wesleyan Methodist College (1909–1959) and Central Wesleyan College (1959–1994). 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 (as the school was then called) 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 The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is an educational accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. This agency accredits over 13,000 public and priv ...

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 (LEAP), 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. The university was granted an exception to

Title IX Title IX is the most commonly used name for the federal civil rights law in the United States that was enacted as part (Title IX) of the Education Amendments of 1972. It prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other educat ...

in 2015 which allows it to legally discriminate against LGBT students for religious reasons.

Academics

The university has been accredited by the

since 1973. In 2008, the School of Education was also accredited by the

National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) was a professional accreditor focused on accrediting teacher education programs in U.S. colleges and universities. It was founded in 1954 and was recognized as an accreditor by ...

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 The National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) is an association of post-secondary music schools in the United States and the principal U.S. accreditor for higher education in music. It was founded on October 20, 1924, and is based in Reston ...

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 Classroom management is the process teachers use to ensuring that classroom lessons run smoothly without disruptive behavior from students compromising the delivery of instruction. It includes the prevention of disruptive behavior preemptively, as ...

, student learning and teacher instruction for the

elementary Elementary may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * ''Elementary'' (Cindy Morgan album), 2001 * ''Elementary'' (The End album), 2007 * ''Elementary'', a Melvin "Wah-Wah Watson" Ragin album, 1977 Other uses in arts, entertainment, an ...

and

secondary school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' secondary education, lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) ...

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 (BSBA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Master of Science in management (MSM) 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 (SWU) 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.

SWUnity

There is an unofficial LGBT student organization called SWUnity. The organization's faculty sponsor, Beth Stuart, was fired in 2013 because she refused to withdraw her support of SWUnity. Pre-marital sex, homosexual acts, and "sexual perversions" are prohibited by the Southern Wesleyan University handbook.

Athletics

The Southern Wesleyan (SWU) athletics teams are called the

Warriors A warrior is a person specializing in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based warrior culture society that recognizes a separate warrior aristocracies, class, or caste. History Warriors seem to have be ...

. A new logo was introduced in 2013, but the Warrior nickname was retained. The university is a member of the

NCAA Division II NCAA Division II (D-II) is an intermediate-level division of competition in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). It offers an alternative to both the larger and better-funded Division I and to the scholarship-free environmen ...

ranks, primarily competing in the

Conference Carolinas Conference Carolinas, formerly known as the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) or the Carolinas Conference, is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) primarily at the Divisio ...

since the 2014–15 academic year (with NCAA D-II full member status since 2016–17). They are also a member of the

(NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the South Region of the Division I level. The Warriors previously competed in the

Southern States Athletic Conference The Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The 11 member universities that compete in 19 sports are located in Louisiana, Mississi ...

(SSAC; formerly known as Georgia–Alabama–Carolina Conference (GACC) until after the 2003–04 school year) of the

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) established in 1940, is a college athletics association for colleges and universities in North America. Most colleges and universities in the NAIA offer athletic scholarships to its stu ...

(NAIA) from 1999–2000 to 2013–14. SWU completes in 12 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, soccer and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball. Club sports include co-ed bass fishing. Former sports included men's & women's golf, and men's & women's tennis.

Nickname

A new logo was introduced in 2013, but the Warrior nickname was retained.

Men's soccer

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.

Women's basketball

In 2007, the SWU women's basketball team was awarded the NCCAA National Championship.

Athletic director

Julia Reininga serves as SWU's athletic director.

National Championships

The SWU Warriors have won 11

(NCCAA) national championship titles: * Women's basketball - 2007 * Men's baseball - 2007 * Men's soccer - 2013 and 2015 * Men's golf (Zach Moore - Individual Play) - 2013 * Women's Indoor Track & Field 4 x 400 meters event - 2015 and 2016 * Men's Outdoor Track & Field triple jump event - 2016 * Women's Outdoor Track & Field ** 400 meters event - 2015 ** 100 meters hurdle event - 2016 ** 4 x 100 meters event - 2016

Intramural athletics

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

* Peter Campbell, professional golfer *

Gareth Lee Cockerill Gareth Lee Cockerill (born in 1944) taught at Wesley Biblical Seminary from 1984 until 2017 where he held the post of Academic Dean and Professor of Biblical Interpretation and Theology. He is also an ordained minister in the Wesleyan Church. In ...

, New Testament theologian, author, professor *

Shannon Faulkner Shannon Faulkner is an American teacher, best known for being the first female student to attend The Citadel in 1994, following a lawsuit. She currently teaches English in Greenville, South Carolina. Biography Faulkner was born in Powdersville ...

, first woman admitted into

The Citadel The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, commonly known simply as The Citadel, is a Public college, public United States senior military college, senior military college in Charleston, South Carolina. Established in 1842, it is one ...

Davey Hiott David Rudolph Hiott (born October 20, 1960) is an American politician. He is a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 4th District, serving since 2005, and the majority leader of the Republican party. He is a member of the ...

, South Carolina State Representative * Ken Schenck, New Testament theologian, author, professor * Lindsey Torgerson, American Olympic track and field athlete; silver medal winner at 2012 ITU Long Course Duathlon World Championships in

Zofingen Zofingen (french: Zofingue) is a city in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. It is the capital of the district of Zofingen. Zofingen is a walled city and home of an ancient monastic settlement. History In ancient times Zofingen was a settleme ...

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

Photo gallery

Image:Correll Hall.jpg, Administration Building Image:Intercessory Square.jpg, Intercession Square Image:Rickman Library from side.jpg, Rickman Library

References

External links

Official website

Official athletics website
{{authority control Universities and colleges affiliated with the Wesleyan Church Private universities and colleges in South Carolina Educational institutions established in 1906 Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Education in Pickens County, South Carolina Buildings and structures in Pickens County, South Carolina Conference Carolinas schools Evangelicalism in South Carolina 1906 establishments in South Carolina Central, South Carolina Council for Christian Colleges and Universities