Bethune-Cookman University

What does Bethune-Cookman University offer in terms of athletics?

Bethune-Cookman's Wildcats compete in NCAA Division I athletics as members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, or SWAC. Varsity sports include football, basketball, baseball, softball and track and field, among others.

Varsity participation involves team selection and substantial practice and travel commitments; it is different from informal recreation or intramural play. Prospective athletes should check the current roster and recruiting procedures for their sport rather than assuming that every activity listed in a broad campus-sports directory is an active varsity team. Athletic scholarships, where offered, have separate eligibility and award decisions.

What student groups and Associations are available at Bethune-Cookman University?

Students at Bethune-Cookman can pursue involvement through student government, academic and service groups, performing arts organizations, and Greek-letter organizations. The available choices offer ways to participate that do not depend on playing a varsity sport.

Examples of recognizable campus activities include the Marching Wildcats band and choral and theater groups. A prospective member should distinguish an established university performance ensemble from a student-run club: auditions, course enrollment or other participation requirements may apply to an ensemble. Because recognition and activity can change from year to year, the current student-organization directory is the best place to check which clubs are accepting members and how to start a new group.

Who studies at Bethune-Cookman University?

Bethune-Cookman enrolled 2,853 students in the reported institutional count. It is a historically Black university whose students include both new first-year entrants and transfers.

The reported entering group included 1,012 first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates and 103 transfer-in students. The university's geographic-origin reporting indicates that most students were Florida residents, with smaller groups coming from other states and abroad. Its age counts also show a predominantly traditional college-age population, while including students in their late twenties and older. These measures describe enrollment patterns; they do not determine what an individual student's classroom or social experience will be.

How does student life look like at Bethune-Cookman University?

Everyday student life at Bethune-Cookman centers on a relatively small university community in Daytona Beach, with academic work, performances, student activities and athletic events contributing to the campus calendar. Students can participate in campus life in different ways depending on whether they live in university housing or commute.

For a new student, orientation and the first weeks of classes are practical times to learn where to seek academic help, how to use campus services and which activities fit a course schedule. Commuters may need to plan deliberately for events outside class hours; residential students have different scheduling and social opportunities. The 17-to-1 reported student-to-faculty ratio provides broad context, but students evaluating a major should also consider its advising and course sequence.

What libraries are available to students at Bethune-Cookman University?

The Carl S. Swisher Library is Bethune-Cookman University's main academic library. It is a place to find research materials and study support, not simply a collection of print books.

Students researching papers or projects should look to the library for its catalog, electronic research resources and help locating credible sources. Access arrangements for databases, borrowing and study spaces can differ for on-campus and remote use, so students should check the library's current services when planning a project. The library's name also connects it to the university's history, though students seeking particular historical materials should confirm where a collection is held before visiting.