A Conversation with the President
Samford President Andrew Westmoreland shares his thoughts on plans to return to campus this Fall and upcoming virtual commencement ceremonies.
Samford Announces Plans to Bring Back the Bulldogs
Samford University will welcome students for on-campus instruction and residential life for the Fall 2020 semester. Plans were developed by teams of dedicated employees, students and community partners in close consultation with national, state and local public health officials.
Samford Announces Task Force on Racial Justice
Throughout the summer, Samford has announced new initiatives to advance racial justice throughout the campus community, including the creation of a new Task Force for Racial Justice. The primary goal of the task force is to assist the university in fostering positive, enduring changes in campus culture and existing systems so that racial justice may become a known attribute of the institution.
Bulldog Days Hosts More Than 1,000 New Students for Virtual Orientation
This year, Samford’s Office of Admission faced the unique challenge of developing a virtual orientation to prepare incoming freshmen and transfer students for the Samford experience. The result was a two-day, online schedule delivered to more than 1,000 families, the largest number of Bulldog Days attendees ever.
Samford Virtually Celebrates Spring Graduates
While Samford plans to honor the class of May 2020 with virtual commencement ceremonies in August, the university celebrated spring graduates with a variety of video tributes.
Nursing Receives $2 Million Nurse Educators Grant
Ida Moffett School of Nursing received more than $2 million to help make graduate nursing education more affordable for current and aspiring nurse educators.
New Mann Fellows in Community-based Learning
The Frances Marlin Mann Center for Ethics and Leadership honored eight faculty and three staff members as the center’s 2019-20 class of Mann Fellows in Community-based Learning.
Rankings and Recognitions
Macon and Marshall Award Winners
Samford presented Carol Ratcliffe and Jane Martin with two of its top awards for faculty during opening convocation for the spring term.
Accounting Program Ranks in Top 9% in the Nation
Samford students taking the Certified Public Accountant exam ranked #1 in Alabama placing the program in the top 9% in the nation.
Trial Advocacy Program Ranks 7th in the Nation
The 2021 U.S. News & World Report rankings released March 17 list Cumberland’s program as #7 in the nation out of 188 law schools.
Five Things to Know
Lane Smith, Director of Student Financial Services
Since 2007, Lane Smith has served Samford University students and families. He currently works to ensure that students can enroll, remain enrolled and reach their goals of earning a Samford degree. Learn more about the many ways Lane serves our students.
Samford Geographic Information Systems
Samford’s Howard College of Arts and Sciences offers both undergraduate and graduate education in the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, which allows sophisticated gathering, analysis, mapping and reporting of geographic data.
Office of Diversity and Intercultural Initiatives
The Office of Diversity and Intercultural Initiatives advances efforts engaging the Samford community in multicultural curricular and cocurricular development through programming, community partnerships, training and collaboration.
Around the Campus
School of the Arts Announces New Programs
Technology-rich programs in commercial music and game design and 3D animation will complement existing programs in the School of the Arts.
Samford Professor Creates COVID-19 Data Dashboard for State, Students
Samford’s Department of Geography and Sociology has long been engaged with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, which allows sophisticated gathering, analysis, mapping and reporting of geographic data. In mid-March, as higher education was upended by COVID-19, professor Jonathan Fleming sought a way to apply the technology to help make sense of the pandemic.
Brock School of Business Earns Extension of AACSB Accreditation
In April, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) officially announced an accreditation extension for Brock School of Business, placing the school in the top 5% of the world’s business schools. AACSB, a global association of leaders in education and business, is dedicated to supporting and advancing quality business education worldwide.
Beeson Divinity Students Help to Meet Needs of Midfield Community During COVID-19 Crisis
Beeson Divinity student David Austin opened his church in Midfield to provide food to low-income families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
School of Education Among the Top National Institutions for Excellence in Educator Preparation
The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) announced that Samford University’s Orlean Beeson School of Education is one of 59 providers to receive accreditation for their educator preparation programs.
Physical Therapy Department Helps Classmate Caring for Parents with COVID-19
On Friday, March 27, Matthew Ford, professor and chair of Samford's Department of Physical Therapy, learned that one of his students was quarantined at home helping care for both of her parents who had contracted COVID-19. By Saturday morning, he was driving 3.5 hours to deliver needed supplies to the student and her family.
Employment Report for Cumberland’s Class of 2019 Reveals Record-breaking Statistics
The official American Bar Association employment report for Cumberland’s class of 2019 has been released. Overall, the employment rate for the class reveals a record-breaking statistic of 87.21%, a 4% increase over the previous year and the second-highest class employment rate ever.
Camo to College: Ida Moffett School of Nursing Hosts Professional Development Simulation
Samford University partnered with Davenport University to present a simulation highlighting the experiences and obstacles commonly reported by military service members and veterans transitioning into an academic setting.
Clinical Pharmacists Play Essential Roles in COVID-19 Units
Alison Lyons Thomas '98 has worked as a clinical pharmacist on the same unit at Northside Hospital Forsyth in Cumming, Georgia, for eight years. In March, her unit converted into a COVID med-surgery unit.
Coronavirus: Social Work Faculty Emphasizes the Importance of Preparedness
Lisa Baker, professor and chair of Samford's Department of Social Work, shares how general principles of emergency preparedness can be applicable to disease outbreak, including the current coronavirus pandemic, by following three basic steps: be aware, make a plan and assemble a kit.
Social Media in Divisive Times
Clark Watson, Samford's general counsel, shares timely advice on wise and discerning use of social media by following a simple four-way test.
Samford Launches Joint Business and Healthcare Administration Degree
In coordination with its School of Public Health and Brock School of Business, Samford University now offers a joint Master of Healthcare Administration (M.H.A.) and Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program that can be completed fully online.
Advancement
Big Give: Meeting Student Needs
Each year, the Big Give brings employees, alumni, parents and community members together to support students, scholarships and programs. This year the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the event and shifted our focus to accomplishing one goal: meeting student needs.
Alumni Virtual Book Club
The Alumni Association launched a virtual book club celebrating alumni authors. Each quarter, a book will be selected and announced via email. Register via email to be invited to a video conference call with the author and a closed Facebook discussion group.
Annual Alumni Honorees Named
Samford University has named the six outstanding alumni to be honored as the 2020 alumni awards recipients. The Alumni of the Year, Outstanding Young Alumna and Humanitarian of the Year will be celebrated during Homecoming festivities Nov. 13-14.
Athletics
Washington Named Preseason All-American
HERO Sports recently named Samford's Montrell Washington preseason first team All-American as a punt returner. Last season, Washington was named All-American by STATS and HERO Sports and earned second team All-SoCon honors.
Carlson Named First Team All-American
Samford junior second baseman Brooks Carlson was named to the 2020 Collegiate Baseball First Team All-American Team by Collegiate Baseball. Carlson led the Southern Conference in batting average and he tied for the league lead in hits.
Athletics Announces Diversity Initiatives
Samford University director of Athletics Martin Newton announced on Monday, June 29, a broad action plan to address racial justice, diversity and cultural awareness within the Department of Athletics.