(EDITOR’S NOTE — Each North
Carolina Baptist college was invited to submit an article for a feature package
in the Sept. 11 issue of the Biblical Recorder. Scroll to bottom to find links
to all the stories.)
Chowan University appears
bound for yet another record-breaking enrollment year, with more than 585
freshman attending Fall Semester Check-in Day. These exciting numbers do not even
include the 33 masters degree students signed up for the inaugural year of our
new School of Graduate Studies program, nor the 38 Adult Degree Completion
Program students already enrolled. With an increased retention rate, this
year’s total enrollment is looking to exceed 1,200, a record breaking rise over
the 1,080 enrolled last year.
To assist this growing
Christian college’s population, Chowan actively sought a significant increase
in Christian student financial aid like the recently endowed Craig B. and Tucie
P. Vaughan Scholarship, given to express the Vaughan’s commitment to Christian
higher education and the values held by Chowan University, or the $112,000
grant from the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation given to support Southern
Christian women.
Over the 2010 summer, Chowan
University invested more than $2 million dollars for its students in its
residence hall systems to give them the most modern conveniences and ensure our
campus stays state-of-the-art and meets the green standards of energy efficiency
we are striving for. Other renovations across the 300+ acre campus include the
complete overhaul of our new Reed Hall, which will now house the Sports Studies
and Physical Education department with the neighboring Jenkins Wellness Center
facilities located conveniently next door. The campus also expanded its corners
to include the newly acquired University House, which will become a rewarding
home to the top-ranked Leadership Scholar students.
With the addition of the new
graduate program also came the constructive addition of the School of Graduate
Studies Suite through the generous gifts of our proud donors, like Gwendolyn
Phelps of Tarboro.
“Support from alumni and
friends allows our institution to maximize the educational experience for our
students to the fullest,” explained John Tayloe, vice president for development
at Chowan University. “Students are always first here at Chowan, and people
like Gwen Phelps are making it possible for them to receive a quality Christian
education.”
Chowan’s new School of
Graduate Studies offers the only Christian university masters degree program
east of North Carolina’s I-95, and the only Elementary Education Masters Degree
within a 60 mile radius.
“My whole life was reared
with education and church foremost in our hearts and minds,” explained Mrs.
Phelps, a Chowan alum from the class of 1942. “Both mean a lot to me and my
family.”
Also donated this year, in
the memory of their beloved parents, President Chris White and his wife Linda
erected an inspiring Veteran’s Memorial in front of the Helms Center to honor
all the military service men and women who watch over our nation.
Located near the 50’
flagpole and 12’ foot flag of the memorial, Chowan also installed an electronic
message board for graphically-enhanced announcements inviting the community to
join us in celebrating all the rich activities happening this year at Chowan.
Chowan is also one of the
few institutions able to increase its employment this year and even expanded
its number of academic programs, adding four new areas of study to the
2010-2011 curriculum.
The largely popular School
of Education has now grown to include the addition of biology education, math
education and English education for a new total of seven majors within the
school, while Chowan’s English major has also grown to include a creative
writing tract. Also new to Chowan this year are 14 full-time faculty positions,
13 new adjunct faculty members, and 22 new full-time staff positions.
One of those staff positions
includes the new Assistant Vice President for Development and Director of
Church Relations, Jarrett G. Banks, assuming the position of the retired Ron
McSwain. Banks’ major responsibilities will be planning all activities that
relate to church and denominational relations including the leadership role on
the Ministerial Board of Associates and the Chowan Christian Service
Association. Banks will be available to speak in churches throughout North
Carolina and Virginia, and will represent Chowan University at state and national
conventions and meetings. Banks will also spearhead the SeniorFest series,
going into its fifth annual event this year.
Chowan University
Location — Murfreesboro
Founded — 1848
Enrollment — 1,200
Undergraduate Students, 33 Graduate Students, 38 Adult Degree Completion
Program
School of Arts and Science,
School of Business, School of Education, Honors College, School of Graduate
Studies
President — M. Christopher
White (July 2003-present)
Motto — Faith in your
future.
(888) 4-CHOWAN
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