Facts and Standards

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Explore below to learn more about Southwest Baptist University including quick facts about our campus, academics, financial aid, enrollment, community involvement and athletics, and information about key standards, such as Title IX compliance and the Clery Act.

quick facts

General Campus

  • Southwest Baptist University is a private, four-year comprehensive evangelical Christian university offering more than 80 areas of academic study.
  • SBU was founded in 1878 and has always been a distinctively Christian educational institution.
  • SBU's main campus is located on a campus of 152 acres in Bolivar, Mo., which is a town of approximately 10,300 just 25 miles north of Springfield, Mo., which is the third-largest city in the state.
  • SBU also offers additional campuses in Mountain View, Salem and Springfield (primarily the Mercy College of Nursing and Health Sciences of SBU).

Academics and faculty

  • SBU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
  • SBU is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.
  • SBU offers 13 undergraduate and 6 graduate degrees in more than 80 areas of study.
  • SBU has six academic colleges:
    • College of Education and Social Sciences
    • College of Science and Mathematics
    • Courts Redford College of Theology and Ministry
    • Geneva Casebolt College of Music, Arts and Letters
    • Mercy College of Nursing and Health Sciences
    • Robert W. Plaster College of Business and Computer Science
  • More than 67% of full-time faculty holds the terminal degree in their fields.
  • The average undergraduate class size is 21 students, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 12:1.
  • SBU has been recognized as one of America's Best Christian Colleges® since 1997.
  • Undergraduate top majors (based on degree-seeking undergraduate students on Bolivar campus): 
    • Biology — 109
    • Exercise Science — 95
    • Elementary Education — 86
    • Psychology — 62
    • Computer Science — 58
    • Christian Ministry — 52
    • Management — 45
    • Pre-Nursing— 42
    • Criminal Justice — 33
    • Athletic Training — 33
  • Average ACT score of all full-time, first-time students: 22.49 (Fall 2018)
  • Average high school GPA of all full-time, first-time students: 3.45 (Fall 2018)

Admissions and Financial Aid

  • More than 98% of students receive financial aid at SBU.
  • More than $23.5 million in financial aid is available to qualified students.
  • SBU has been recognized as one of America's 100 Best College Buys® since 1996.

Enrollment Figures (as of Fall 2018)

  • Total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate) on all campuses: 3,356
  • Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,663
    • Bolivar: 1,379
    • Mountain View: 72
    • Salem: 150
    • Springfield: 559
    • Dual credit: 503
  • Total graduate enrollment: 693
    • Doctoral students: 307
    • Specialist students: 52
    • Master's students: 334
  • Gender breakdown:
    • University-wide undergraduate degree-seeking students: Female 63%, Male 37%
    • University-wide full-time degree-seeking students: Female 61%, Male 39%
    • Bolivar campus undergraduate students: Female 56%, Male 44% (Fall 2018)
  • SBU's Bolivar campus is comprised of students representing 249 Missouri communities, 85 of Missouri's 114 counties, 32 states, 16 countries, and 5 continents (Fall 2018).
  • Ethnicity/race breakdown (all undergraduates on all campuses):
    • Non-resident aliens: <1%
    • Black or African-American, non-Hispanic: 4%
    • American Indian/Alaska native: 1%
    • Asian or Pacific Islander: 1%
    • Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: >1%
    • Hispanic: 2%
    • Two or more races: 1%
    • White, non-Hispanic: 71%
    • Unknown: 20%
  • Retention rates for first-time students pursuing bachelor's degrees (fall 2017 to fall 2018):
    • Full-time students: 71%
    • Part-time students: 38%
  • Graduate rate 2012 (six-year rate), university-wide: 51%

In the Community and Around the World

  • SBU's Center for Global Connections evangelizes the nations, specifically targeting the unreached people groups of the 10/40 window, exposes students to short-term volunteer programs in a cross-cultural context, develops grace-oriented leadership, and provides students with a healthy, safe, and loving community experience.
  • Mission trip opportunity examples include: Baja; Guatemala; Honduras, Houston, Texas; New Orleans, La.; Philippines; South Asia; South Sudan; and many more
  • SBU students benefit from spiritual growth opportunities such as chapel services, community service, mission trips, and small group Bible studies through the Community Life + Worship program.

Athletics and Wellness

  • SBU Athletics are NCAA Division II, MIAA conference (with exception of football which plays in GLVC)
  • 19 sports are offered:
    • Men — Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Track and Field (indoor and outdoor)
    • Women — Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field (indoor and outdoor), Volleyball
    • Co-Ed — Esports (CESPA)
  • Additionally, SBU Bearcats will have a Cheer and STUNT team beginning in fall 2018
  • The Jane and Ken Meyer Wellness Center offers facilities including aerobics rooms, fitness rooms, intramural courts, natatorium, racquetball courts, rock climbing wall, and running track.

standards

title ix

Southwest Baptist University is committed to helping students and employees engage life with positive affirmation through a Christ-centered perspective creating a healthy, well-informed community that continues to function in a safe environment.

The University expects behavior from all members of the University family that demonstrates the highest standard of respect for people and property and that exemplifies the Christian commitment to loving one another. Certain behaviors, such as sexual harassment and sexual violence, are not acceptable according to this moral and ethical standard and are deemed as discrimination on the basis of sex; thus, prohibited by federal law (Title IX).

SBU prohibits all forms of sexual harassment and sexual violence including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, rape, acquaintance rape, and stalking. SBU takes all allegations of sexual harassment and sexual violence seriously, initiating investigations and informing complainants of their rights, options and available resources under Title IX. We remain serious about our commitment to ensure the safety and well-being of all of our students and employees, particularly victims of sexual harassment and sexual violence.

Submit a Title IX Report

title ix committee

SBU has a dedicated Title IX committee comprised of one coordinator and five deputy coordinators to assure Title IX compliance and care for individuals who may have been victims of discrimination under Title IX.

The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for: 1) overseeing education and training about discrimination and harassment to the university community; 2) overseeing the schools response to Title IX reports and complaints; 3) identifying and addressing any patterns or systemic problems revealed by such reports and complaints.

Deputy Coordinators are primarily responsible for investigating sexual harassment or sexual violence complaints. The Deputy Coordinators may designate other appropriately trained individuals to receive and investigate reports and complaints as is appropriate.

You may contact any Title IX committee member if you have questions or concerns related to Title IX.

Interim Title IX Coordinator:
Dr. Robert Harris, Vice President for Student Development, Goodson Student Union, (417) 328-1827, rharris@SBUniv.edu

Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Staff:
Ashley Dinwiddie, Executive Coordinator, Sells Administrative Center, (417) 328-1500, adinwiddie@SBUniv.edu

Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Faculty:
Dr. Allison Langford, Associate Provost for Teaching and Learning, Sells Administrative Center, (417) 328-1601, alangford@SBUniv.edu

Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Athletics:
Gina Whitehead, Associate Director of Athletics, Meyer Wellness and Sports Center, (417) 328-1793, gwhitehead@SBUniv.edu

Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Safety and Security:
Mark Grabowski, Director of Safety and Security, Hammons Center, (417) 328-1556, mgrawbowski@SBUniv.edu

notice of non-discrimination policy

Applicants for admission and employment, students, parents of students, employees, sources of referral of applicants for admission and employment, and all unions or professional organizations holding collective bargaining or professional agreements with Southwest Baptist University are hereby notified that this institution does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or marital status in employment, admission, access to, or treatment in, its programs and activities, except to the extent permitted by religious exemptions recognized by law.

Any person having inquiries concerning Southwest Baptist University’s compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, section 504, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 is directed to the Director of Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator, 1600 University Avenue, Bolivar, MO, 65613, (417) 328-1512.

Any student having inquiries concerning Southwest Baptist University's compliance with regulations implementing the American with Disabilities Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is directed to the Director of Career Services and External Studies, 1600 University Avenue, Bolivar, MO, 65613, (417) 328-1689.

Any person may also contact the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, regarding the institution’s compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, or the Age Discrimination Act of 1975. More information can be found on The Office of Civil Rights website.

clery act

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (20 USC § 1092(f)) is the landmark federal law that requires colleges and universities across the United States to disclose information about crime on and around their campuses.

SBU complies with the Clery Act by providing:

  • Annual crime and fire report, including all campus crime statistics
  • SBU Alert emergency notification system for notification of significant emergency or dangerous situations on campus involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees
  • Timely warnings of Clery Act crimes that pose a serious or ongoing threat to students and employees
  • Public crime log available for viewing in the Safety and Security Office in the Hammons Center for Facilities Excellence