Shenandoah University is a comprehensive private liberal arts university located in Winchester, Virginia in the United States. It has an enrollment of approximately 4,000 students across more than 90 programs in seven schools: College of Arts & Sciences, Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business, Shenandoah Conservatory, Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy, Eleanor Wade Custer School of Nursing, School of Health Professions (Athletic Training, Respiratory Care, Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies and Physical Therapy) and the School of Education & Human Development. Shenandoah University is one of five United Methodist Church-affiliated institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
History
Shenandoah University Campus Overview 2017 - Shenandoah University students can study within the kind of environment that suits them best, with a residential main campus in Winchester, which features the majority of the university's academic...
The university was founded as Shenandoah Seminary in 1875 in Dayton, Virginia, by Dr. Abraham Funkhouser and Professor Jay Fries. Shenandoah Seminary became a junior college in 1924, changing its name to Shenandoah College the following year. Shenandoah Conservatory became a separate corporation in 1937 and began granting four-year degrees. In 1960, Shenandoah College and the Shenandoah Conservatory moved to the current 126-acre Winchester campus and began offering four-year degrees in 1974 (at which time the college and conservatory corporations were merged). Shenandoah obtained university status on January 1, 1991, and today the student body represents 43 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The student body and faculty combined represent 73 countries. Ninety-one percent of full-time faculty have an earned doctorate (Ph.D. or similar) in their fields or a terminal degree.
Locations
The university operates on six campuses:
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- Main Campus
- East Campus Commons
- Downtown Campus
- Medical Campus
- Shenandoah River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield
- Northern Virginia Campus
The Main Campus is located in Winchester near Interstate 81, and the Medical Campus located near the Winchester Medical Center. The Northern Virginia Campus in Ashburn, Va., has two locations: the Northern Virginia Campus Ashmill Building, located along Route 7, is home to undergraduate nursing programs, as well as graduate programs in education/leadership, occupational therapy, physical therapy and physician assistant studies. The Northern Virginia Campus at George Washington University (GWU) is the location for doctoral-level programs in pharmacy. There are also a number of satellite offices and facilities located throughout Winchester.
In 2013, Shenandoah University accepted stewardship of 195 acres of land along the Shenandoah River, now known as the Shenandoah River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield. Purchased by the Civil War Trust in 2012, stewardship of the property transferred to the university in spring 2013 to ensure protection and preservation of the former battlefield site. The property now serves as an outdoor classroom and living laboratory for the university community and the general public.
Schools and programs
Shenandoah offers more than 90 programs of study at the bachelor's-, master's-, and doctoral-degree levels in seven schools. Undergraduate and graduate certificate programs are also available.
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- College of Arts & Sciences
- Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business
- Shenandoah Conservatory
- Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy
- Eleanor Wade Custer School of Nursing
- School of Health Professions
- School of Education & Human Development
Athletics
Shenandoah University's Department of Athletics sponsors 21 intercollegiate sports, 10 for men and 11 for women. Shenandoah's men's and women's teams are known as the Hornets. All teams compete as members of the Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the department holds membership in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). Shenandoah University formerly competed in the USA South Athletic Conference (USA South).
Partnership relations
Shenandoah University has agreements with many international colleges and universities, and also participates in the British Council's Business Education Initiative and Irish-American Scholars program in conjunction with universities and colleges in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
Notable alumni
- Kate Flannery, actress, played Meredith Palmer (2005-2013) in the television comedy, The Office
Name
According to the university's official history page, the name Shenandoah is derived from the Native American legend of Zynodoa, a brave warrior whose life of strength and courage and his appreciation of beauty resulted in having a river and a valley named for him. Popular myth further ascribes translation of the word "Shenandoah" to mean "daughter of the stars."
References
External links
- su.edu, university's official website
- su.edu/conservatory, Shenandoah Conservatory's module
- SU Hornets Shenandoah University Athletics webpage