BOLIVAR, Mo. — Southwest Baptist University has been recognized for its honorable
commitment to engaged, hands-on education by Colleges of Distinction, a one-of-a-kind
guide for college-bound students. As an institution whose primary goals are based
on student success and satisfaction, SBU claims its honor as one of the renowned Colleges
of Distinction.
“We are honored to receive this distinctive recognition and affirmation of the outstanding work of our faculty and staff at SBU,” said Dr. Brad Johnson, SBU interim president. “Our focus on student success shines through the framework of our Christ-centered, caring academic community. Students can expect a personal experience at SBU with faculty and staff who go above and beyond to help students pursue their God-given purpose.”
SBU also is on the Christian Colleges of Distinction list and one of 11 institutions on the Missouri Colleges of Distinction list.
Colleges of Distinction’s longstanding support for student-centered schools highlight those that traditional rankings often overlook. Founder Wes Creel created Colleges of Distinction to draw more attention to schools like SBU, whose student-centered education prevails in applying theory to practice while fostering a dynamic learning community.
Colleges of Distinction’s selection process comprises a sequence of in-depth research and detailed interviews with the schools about each institution’s freshman experience and retention efforts alongside its general education programs, career development, strategic plan, student satisfaction, and more — and accepting only those that adhere to the Four Distinctions: Engaged Students, Great Teaching, Vibrant Community, and Successful Outcomes.
These principles are all informed by the High-Impact Practices to prioritize the ways that institutions enable students to have a fulfilling, individualized college experience.
“Every student has their own unique set of abilities, their own goals, and their own ideal settings in which they would thrive,” said Creel. “That’s why we don’t rank our schools. It’s about finding the best opportunities for each individual’s needs and desires.” SBU’s inclusion is informed by the unique ways it commits to achieving success.
Creel and his colleagues found that the most popular college rankings systems rely on metrics like peer reputation, size of endowment and alumni salaries. They knew instead that the effective strategies for student satisfaction and outcomes were the kinds of engaging experiences found at SBU: First-year seminars, community-based learning programs, service-learning programs, interdisciplinary programs, collaborative assignments and projects, undergraduate research, capstone projects, study abroad programs and internships.
Additional recognitions
SBU also received specialized recognition in Business, Education and Nursing. These additional accolades were developed out of a need for college curricula that are comprehensive not only in course material, but also in practical- and soft-skills development. SBU has met these needs with a blend of liberal arts education, program-specific training and abundant opportunities for real-world application.
“We complete a thorough review of the programs in question before giving the awards,” said Tyson Schritter, Chief Operating Officer for Colleges of Distinction. “We’re looking for such qualities as accreditation, breadth of program, advising and mentoring, integration of career services, and successful outcomes for students. It’s wonderful to see how SBU really exemplifies these qualities.”
To view SBU’s profile or to find more information about the innovative learning experiences it offers, visit https://collegesofdistinction.com/school/southwest-baptist-university or www.SBUniv.edu.
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Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating
Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable
price. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare
students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.
About Colleges of Distinction
Since 2000, Colleges of Distinction has been committed to honoring schools throughout the U.S. for true excellence in higher education. The member schools within the Colleges of Distinction consortium distinguish themselves through their dedicated focus on the undergraduate experience. Its website provides dynamic college profiles, customized tools, and resources for students, parents, and high school counselors. For more information, and to learn how to become a College of Distinction, visit CollegesofDistinction.com.
*Published: 8-11-2021