Samford Information and Data
Samford University Mission
The mission of Samford University is to nurture persons in their development of intellect, creativity, faith, and personhood. As a Christian university, the community fosters academic, career, and ethical competency, while encouraging social and civic responsibility, and service to others.
Updated Institutional Statistics and Facts http://www.samford.edu/instresearch/index.html
Samford University Background and General Information
Samford History and Mission
Founded in 1841 by educational, economic, and religious leaders, Samford University is the largest private school in Alabama. Affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention, Samford is located in Birmingham, at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Emphasizing quality liberal arts education, Samford attracts students from around the world. Its 4,500 student-body hale from more than 40 states and 30 nations.
The mission of Samford University is to nurture persons, offering learning experiences and relationships in a Christian community, so that each participant may develop personal empowerment, academic and career competency, social and civic responsibility, and ethical and spiritual strength, and continuously to improve the effectiveness of the community.
Samford University welcomes students of all faith traditions. Students are encouraged to think, reflect and reason; they are challenged to weigh differing points of view and to arrive at their own conclusions and convictions. Samford students are encouraged to think holistically, to reflect thoughtfully, to relate authentically, and to serve throughout their community.
The John Templeton Foundation Honor Roll of Character Building Colleges includes Samford in its list of the nation's top 100 character building schools. There are many elements that distinguish Samford from other universities, but central is Samford's dedication to rigorous academic inquiry in a Christian setting.
Samford Degree Programs
Ranked fourth in the South by the U.S. News and World Report, Samford University places a high value on classroom teaching. Both freshmen and advanced students are taught by mature scholars who have broad experience in stimulating the young student as well as in directing the specialist.
Samford offers 23 degree programs and more than 100 majors through its eight schools. As a liberal arts university, approximately 65 percent of students are enrolled in the university's undergraduate programs. Within its graduate and professional programs, Samford has one of only two accredited law schools and one of only two accredited pharmacy schools in Alabama. In 1988, Samford established the only divinity school in the state.
Samford University grants 23 degrees. It is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the Associate Degree, the Bachelor's Degree, the Master's Degree, the Specialist in Education Degree, the Doctor of Pharmacy Degree, the Juris Doctor, the Doctor of Ministry Degree, and the Doctor of Education Degree. Samford has been in continuing relationship with the Southern Association since 1920.
The U.S. Department of Education has presented Samford's Orlean Bullard Beeson School of Education and Professional Studies with the National Award for Effective Teacher Preparation, calling Samford's program ". . . a national model of excellence that other colleges and universities can look to as they seek to transform their own institutions."
2005-06 Highlights (2006-07 Highlights, Summer 2007)
The 2005-06 academic and fiscal year provided some of the most dramatic changes and accomplishment in Samford University's 164-year history. In addition to presidential transition and physical changes on the campus, the university had significant achievements in the classroom, in the community and on the field of competition that affirmed Samford's leadership role in higher education.
• Ranked fourth (current) among universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report, the 18th consecutive year in the top 10 and the only university in Alabama with that consistent high ranking.
• Enrolled 4,507 students representing 48 states and 29 foreign countries.
• Awarded 1,064 degrees, including 490 graduate degrees.
• A Cappella Choir invited by China's Ministry of Culture to participate in the "Meet in Beijing Arts Festival" in May. The choir performed in two major Beijing concert halls, including the Concert Hall at the Forbidden City, and joined six Chinese choirs in an event that drew coverage from China's national public television network.
• Honored Betsy Box '71, of Atlanta, Ga.; William Hull '51 of Birmingham; and L. Durwood McAlister '49 of Atlanta, Ga., as 2005 alumni of the year
• Total market value of actively invested assets and endowment was $274.5 million, with earnings outperforming the benchmark by 6.36 percent *
• Total operating budget was $109 million *
• Revenue from student tuition and fees was $72 million *
• Total annual gifts were $20.95 million *
• Total gifts from Alabama Baptists were $5.6 million *
• Awarded about $16 million in scholarships and grants *
• Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing was one of four schools of nursing designated as a National League for Nursing Center of Excellence in Nursing Education for creating environments that enhance student learning and professional development
• David Broder, nationally syndicated columnist for the Washington Post, spoke at the first Robinson Forum, named for Samford alumnus Timothy Sumner Robinson, who reported on the Watergate hearings for the Post
• Pulitzer-Prize winning authors Anne Applebaum and Marilynne Robinson spoke at campus events. Applebaum presented the annual Ray Rushton Lecture with her husband, Radek Sikorski, shortly after his election to the Polish senate.
• Fawaz Gerges gave the fourth annual Davis Lecture to a standing-room-only audience in Reid Chapel. Gerges is professor in Middle Eastern studies at Sarah Lawrence College and author of The Jihadis: Unholy Warriors.
• Mary McCullough, associate professor of world languages and culture, studied in Egypt on a Fulbright-Hays Fellowship
• Student-athletes excelled in 2006 NCAA academic progress ratings, leading in three major sports – football, men's basketball and women's basketball – among all peer groups. Eight Samford teams score in top 10 percent nationally.
• Baptist statesman W. Randall Lolley '52 presented inaugural Auchmuty Lecture in Congregational Leadership
• Hosted the "Faith, Vocation and Learning" national conference in October with 30 participants from 18 different institutions.
• Senior J. Robert Merritt named Ohio Valley Conference male athlete of the year, the second time for a Samford student-athlete to receive the honor in the university's three years of OVC membership
• Samford-in-Mission funded $28,000 in mini-grants to faculty
• Samford-in-Mission sponsored three poverty simulation events for students
• Launched new student magazine, Engage, conceived and published by students with a Samford-in-Mission grant.
• Hosted a national student conference, "Faith in Action," in January
• Resource Center for Pastoral Excellence sponsored an interdenominational respite retreat for clergy and spouses directly affected by Hurricane Katrina
• Resource Center for Pastoral Excellence hosted 10 Sabbath Leave participants from seven denominations; projects included writing, painting, pastoral counseling, physical fitness, connecting the arts and spiritual formation and studying approaches to grief.
• Resource Center for Pastoral Excellence coordinated 19 student internships, connecting interns with experienced mentors in youth and children's ministry, medical missions, parachurch ministries, Hispanic ministries and chaplaincy in a variety of denominational and organizational settings
• Center for Teaching, Learning and Scholarship implemented Exploration: Traversing Samford University's Teaching Pathways, the first new faculty workshop
• Implemented Focus, a learning community funded by the Samford in Mission grant, which combined Horizons, Communication Arts and Cultural Perspectives. Goal: to help students study the historic problems of inner-city Birmingham, partner with agencies that are creatively tackling Birmingham's problems and challenge students to integrate their faith, learning, and vocational choices by reflecting upon their service experiences.
• Implemented redesigned first-year course focusing on the value and meaning of the Samford University educational experience. A Samford-specific text, Samford University: First Year in Focus.
• Honors program had the greatest number of graduating honors students; more professional school graduates, first graduate from the School of Business
• Initiated interaction with other university honors programs by attending the Alabama Honors Council conference and joining the National Collegiate Honors Council
• Reviewed processes related to study abroad, including course approvals and risk managements policy and protocols
• Participated in the Consortium for Global Education Conference; the National Association of Foreign Student Advisors; Association for International Educators state, regional and national conferences; and in the NAFSA Academy for Professionals in International Education.
• Continued university-wide preparation for reaffirmation with Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Compliance audit will be submitted to SACS in September, with on-site visit scheduled for April 2007.
• Students continued to express overall satisfaction (86%) with living on campus according to an end-of-the year exit survey conducted by the Residence Life Department in the spring, 2006. More than 1,000 students participated in the survey.
• Fraternities and sororities raised approximately $113,000 to support seven different philanthropies
• Through leadership of the Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils, the Greek letter organizations agreed to a 3-year commitment in an Adopt-A-School program for Birmingham's McElwain Elementary School, including after-school tutoring, assistance with special events and labor for fix up projects.
• Career Development Center sponsored four job fairs targeting specific majors.
• University Ministries sponsored 13 hurricane relief trips during fall break involving 175 students and staff. During spring break, five groups involving 120 persons performed miscellaneous projects.
• Approximately 500 students are involved in summer missions activities, using approximately $31,000 raised through University Ministries.
• According to a survey of fall semester entering students, 85 percent believe their professors care about them as an individual, 90 percent feel acceptance from their peers and 89 percent indicate they are having fun at Samford
* These are unofficial totals as of July 15, 2006. The annual financial audit had not been completed at the time of printing. Information provided by Samford Communications Department.
Required Support Documents
Contact Academic Grants Officer, Dr. Mary Sue Baldwin, msbaldwi@samford.edu Ext. 4097 for the following:
• SU Operating Budget
• SU Trustee Board Members
• SU Certified Financial Statements
• SU Operating Budget
• Non-profit Documentation: copy , 501(c)3 document
• Chief Operating, Academic, Business Officer Sign-offs
