Southern Virginia University

What is the history of Southern Virginia University?

Southern Virginia University is a private university in Buena Vista, Virginia, whose history began in 1867 as a school for women in Bowling Green, Virginia. It later moved to Buena Vista and operated under names including Southern Seminary and Southern Virginia College before adopting its current name.

A major change came in the 1990s, when the institution developed a new identity as a coeducational liberal arts college with an educational approach informed by the values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The university is independently operated; it is not owned or operated by the church. That distinction remains important to understanding both its history and its present-day campus culture.

What are the faculties and departments at Southern Virginia University?

Southern Virginia University focuses on undergraduate liberal arts education rather than a broad range of graduate or professional degrees. Its academic offerings include humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, arts, business, computer science, and education-related fields.

Examples of fields represented in its academic offerings include biology, business, computer science, English, history, mathematics, music, psychology, and theater. Students comparing majors should look beyond the program name to the current catalog: required courses, available concentrations, teaching or other licensure requirements, and the frequency of upper-level classes can affect a graduation plan. The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 14 to 1, though that institution-wide figure does not describe the size of every class.

What is the location of Southern Virginia University?

Southern Virginia University is in Buena Vista, a small city in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. Its setting is substantially different from an urban campus: daily life is centered on the university and the surrounding community, while some shopping, services, and travel connections require a trip beyond town.

Students planning to commute or travel home should account for ground transportation as well as distance. Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport is a regional air-travel option, but it is not on campus. A prospective student who will not have a car should check how they would reach classes, appointments, off-campus jobs, and an airport during breaks.

What is the mission and vision of Southern Virginia University?

Southern Virginia University describes its educational purpose in terms of liberal arts learning, character development, and service. Its stated approach is informed by the values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, while the university remains institutionally independent of the church.

For applicants, this is more than a historical affiliation: the university's stated philosophy helps shape its expectations for campus life and community participation. Students of different backgrounds should review the current student handbook and campus policies to determine how those expectations would affect their everyday experience.