SVU expands to accommodate growing interest
Ashley Metzloff
Issue date: 2/9/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Buena Vista may have between 600 and 900 more residents within the next few years.
Southern Virginia University has grown from 76 to about 600 since it was reorganized by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or Mormon Church, in 1996, and growth is likely to continue. Rodney Smith, president of SVU since last June, expects next year's enrollment to be about 700, and estimates the school will grow to between 1,200 and 1,500 students within the next seven years.
Yvonne Carpenter, director of public relations, said the school is at full capacity this year. The university owns about 150 acres of land adjacent to the campus, but no plans have been made yet for new facilities to support expected growth.
"We don't have any exact plans yet- when we get the money, we'll figure it out," said Carpenter. Housing, Carpenter added, will be the first priority for new development. Smith hopes to build athletic fields, dorms, classrooms, a fine arts center, and a library addition as well.
All unmarried freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus, and the university promises to provide housing for all full-time, unmarried students who wish to live on campus. About 20 percent of students live off-campus this year, Carpenter said.
Smith believes SVU has seen so much growth because there is a high demand for the kind of environment the university offers. While 95 percent of students are Mormon, this year there was an increase in non-Mormon students, Smith said. He said non-Mormon students are attracted to the school because of athletics, fine arts, and the honor code the school upholds.
While most colleges and universities support honor codes, SVU has honor and conduct codes which are both ethically and morally strict. The honor code says students must be honest in all behaviors, lead "a chaste and virtuous lifestyle," and observe the university's dress and grooming standards. Students also pledge to abstain from all forms of sexual intimacy outside of Church-recognized, lawful married relationships, alcoholic or caffeinated substances, and R-rated movies. Students also submit to a dress code that stipulates clothing and grooming standards.
Southern Virginia University has grown from 76 to about 600 since it was reorganized by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or Mormon Church, in 1996, and growth is likely to continue. Rodney Smith, president of SVU since last June, expects next year's enrollment to be about 700, and estimates the school will grow to between 1,200 and 1,500 students within the next seven years.
Yvonne Carpenter, director of public relations, said the school is at full capacity this year. The university owns about 150 acres of land adjacent to the campus, but no plans have been made yet for new facilities to support expected growth.
"We don't have any exact plans yet- when we get the money, we'll figure it out," said Carpenter. Housing, Carpenter added, will be the first priority for new development. Smith hopes to build athletic fields, dorms, classrooms, a fine arts center, and a library addition as well.
All unmarried freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus, and the university promises to provide housing for all full-time, unmarried students who wish to live on campus. About 20 percent of students live off-campus this year, Carpenter said.
Smith believes SVU has seen so much growth because there is a high demand for the kind of environment the university offers. While 95 percent of students are Mormon, this year there was an increase in non-Mormon students, Smith said. He said non-Mormon students are attracted to the school because of athletics, fine arts, and the honor code the school upholds.
While most colleges and universities support honor codes, SVU has honor and conduct codes which are both ethically and morally strict. The honor code says students must be honest in all behaviors, lead "a chaste and virtuous lifestyle," and observe the university's dress and grooming standards. Students also pledge to abstain from all forms of sexual intimacy outside of Church-recognized, lawful married relationships, alcoholic or caffeinated substances, and R-rated movies. Students also submit to a dress code that stipulates clothing and grooming standards.