There are many universities in the USA representing its unique culture of propagating the culture of knowledge and freedom. Universities remain the pillars of human development through education and USA is a world leader with the highest number of quality universities serving society. Taking this spirit forward is Belhaven University which has sought to fulfill the mission expressed in its motto: “To serve, not to be served.” The university was founded in 1883, through the merger of Mississippi Syndical College and McComb Female Institute. Consequently, the actual work started in Jackson in 1894 with Dr. Lewis Fitzhugh as president.
The formal university functions were started in 2010 by changing its name from Belhaven College to Belhaven University in order to better represent the institution’s expanded breadth of programs and reach. From 2010 to 2017, other campus locations come up such as Chattanooga, Atlanta, Memphis, Houston, and Madison, Miss. An online field was launched in 2006 and has fully grown to supply undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Inculcating Spirituality as Core Value
Known for its nationally recognized arts degrees and business school, the university serves diverse, out-of-state and international communities. University leaders create such learning environments in which students can discover their purpose of life and mature in their ability to impact the world through service to Christ and others.
Belhaven develops students in a dynamically organized learning environment that enables them to thrive in all situations of life as including residential life, career preparation, community care, international student care, student leadership, student jobs, campus recreation, intramurals and counseling services.
Belhaven’s Career and Calling program offer practical and spiritual preparation to students, as future professionals through intentional, passion-searching approaches. ‘The workplace of Student Care’ at Belhaven includes services and programs designed to produce students with steering, practical strategies, and support.
The student activities and recreation programs seek to encourage responsible, Christ-like leadership among students through their involvement in campus activities, recreation, and student organizations. The ‘Office of Student Development’ seeks to reinforce the mission of the University by partnering with academic leaders and students within the common goal of developing mature and sensitive men and women who can impact the world.
Benefits of Location
Belhaven University is located on a site with an area of forty-two acres near the heart of Jackson, the capital and largest city in Mississippi. Jackson is a growing center of business, commerce, culture, and the arts. Every part of Mississippi is a treasure and a brand new journey waiting to be explored. Mississippi has everything from cultural activities, food, and shopping to outdoor activities, music, and entertainment.
The Campus and Students Facilities
The facilities have been remodeled with the addition of major buildings and comprehensive renovations. From 1998 to 2016, there was a series of additions done with various halls, stadium, pavilions, and art galleries to renovate and equip the campus. The University develops its students in settings that include residence life, career preparation, community care, international student care, student leadership, student jobs, campus recreation, intramurals and counseling services.
The University serves its international students throughout their time at Belhaven. The University arranges support systems for international students through a variety of programs including International Peer Partners, a student-based ministry, Family Partners program, and intentional events throughout the year.
Major Achievements and Accolades
Belhaven has received many national ranking accolades, including being named a U.S. News & World Report Top Regional University in the South, a U.S. News Best Online Education Program, and a U.S. News Best Value College. The Chronicle of Higher Education also honored Belhaven University as a “Great College to Work For.” Angie Thomas is a graduate of Belhaven University and author of the NYT bestseller The Hate U Give.
The Career Opportunities and Exposures
Life Quest, the University’s Quality Enhancement Plan, enhances traditional student awareness of personal calling and improves student preparedness to reach individual career goals or potential career paths. The Center for Career and Calling works in conjunction with Life Quest initiatives to assist students with ‘delving deeper’ into career exploration, placement in student job programs and providing workshops and career fairs for college kids to explore varied educational disciplines and connected job fields.
International Links and Collaborations
Study-abroad opportunities are available to all students. Belhaven partners with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities study abroad program, called ‘Best Semester’. The University also maintains tuition exchange programs with some foreign and US-based universities such as Chung Yuan Christian University, Dong-Ah Institute of Media and Arts, Seoul Women’s University, and more.
Meaningful international partnerships are created for each student and faculty; as a result, Belhaven attracts students from twenty-four nations. The University enjoys a special relationship with South Korea and memorialized this friendship with the construction of the Dr. Billy Kim International Center. The international student body at Belhaven is currently representative of 23 countries.
President – Contributions making for the Institute
Dr. Roger Parrott is in his twentieth year as President of Belhaven University. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland in teaching administration. Dr. Parrott is a third-generation school president and was one of America’s youngest college presidents elected at the age thirty-four. He serves on many boards and was chair of the 2004 Forum for World Evangelization hosted by the metropolis Committee for World Evangelization. Dr. Parrott is the author of The Longview: Lasting Methods for Rising Leaders. Dr. Parrott was elected the tenth president of Belhaven in the fall of 1995, after having served as president and vice president of other Christian colleges. An aggressive effort was launched to start a pattern of enrollment and program growth, coupled with a commitment to spiritual vitality and expanded service. During Dr. Parrott’s tenure, overall enrollment has increased from 1,000 to 5,000 students.
Expansion of Academic Programs and Faculty Strength
Since 1995, the number of full-time faculty has quadrupled, undergraduate academic majors have expanded dramatically, and a new general core Worldview Curriculum has been established. The first master’s degree (Master of Business Administration) was begun in 1996, and an array of master’s degrees followed. In 2017, doctoral-level education began. Dance and theatre were added as majors in the late 1990s, eventually leading to national distinction for Belhaven as one of only thirty-six schools earning national accreditation in all four of the primary arts—theatre, music, visual art, and dance. Additional arts majors were added as well, including Creative Writing, Graphic Design, Arts Administration, and Film Production. The MFA in Dance began in 2013.
Dramatic expansion of academic programs was led by long-term senior vice-president and provost, Dr. Dan Fredericks, who also served as interim president in 1995 and as chair of the Biblical Studies Department before moving into administration. In 2010, Belhaven College changed its name to Belhaven University in order to better represent the institution’s expanded breadth of programs and reach.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Belhaven University is considered one of America’s 100 Best College Buys and has been named as a ‘Best Value’ college by U.S. News and World Report. Belhaven offers merit-based scholarships to undergraduate students and audition-based scholarships for art students, as well as access to federal and state student aid programs.
Contribution to Community
Campus smart-classrooms, advanced learning laboratories, and blazing-fast wireless Internet enhance the academic experience of students while they study in a dynamic state capital famous for its literature, art, sports, music, cuisine, medical analysis, and business opportunities, just to name a few.
Students live and study on the charming campus in a historic neighborhood, located in Jackson, Mississippi – or attend one of the adult education centers providing accelerated Christian education throughout cities within the Southeast. Students can also choose to attend class from anywhere in the world through the online degree program.
