Sept. 28, 2012
For Immediate Release
By Tanner Royalty, student news writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. -The 16th annual report of America's Best Christian Colleges® by the Institutional Research & Evaluation Inc. has included Campbellsville University for 2012-13. This is the sixth consecutive year Campbellsville University has received this honor.
John Chowning, vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president at Campbellsville University, said, “This designation is another in a series of recognitions bestowed upon Campbellsville University that document the continuing progress and momentum that has been experienced over the past decade.”
He said, “CU is emerging as a comprehensive Christian university with a national and global perspective and positive reputation. We remain committed to our traditional service area in south central Kentucky - those 22 counties where Campbellsville University's reputation and base of support have long been strong, while expanding our contacts, partnerships, and student recruitment base nationally and even internationally.
“Although Campbellsville University's positive reputation as a quality institution is expanding, we remain committed to our historical mission of providing quality Christian higher education and affiliated with our Baptist family.”
The Institutional Research & Evaluation Inc. is an independent research and consulting organization specializing in the recruiting and retention of students for institutions of higher education. Consistent with its mission, and as a guide by which institutions may be compared, each year Institutional Research & Evaluation Inc. identifies the American colleges and universities providing students the highest quality education in a Christian environment. Institutions are included solely on the basis of merit.
In order to achieve the honor of being named among America's Best Christian Colleges®, there are four main qualities an institution must have.
First, an institution must be an accredited, four-year institution offering bachelor degrees. Second, an institution must offer full residential facilities including residence halls and dining services. Third, the institution must also have had an entering freshman class in the fall of 2011 with a high school grade point average and/or SAT/ACT score equal to or above the national average for all freshmen entering Christian institutions of higher education. The American ACT average for fall 2011 was a 22.
Lastly, the institution must be affiliated with a recognized Christian denomination providing an educational experience incorporating basic Christian principles and beliefs into the instructional curriculum and/ or social environment.
According to Chowning, “Vision 2025 - Preparing Christian Servant Leaders” is the official long-term plan for the continuing growth and development of Campbellsville University.
“A primary goal of Vision 2025 is for Campbellsville University to become one of America's premier Christian universities. Certainly, being named as one of America's Best Christian Colleges, for the sixth consecutive year, is an external affirmation that CU is progressing toward fulfillment of that goal,” Chowning said.
He said Vision 2025 also speaks to the continuing growth of CU in terms of enrollment, expansion of quality academic programs that prepare students for employment opportunities and professional career paths, emphasis on Christian values and world view in an increasingly secular culture, integration of faith and learning, and creation of a diverse community of learners.
“We remain committed to quality Christian higher education that emphasizes the preparation of servant leaders for the 21st century,” Chowning said.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.