Organization: SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Mission: SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, IS COMMITTED TO UNDERGRADUATE LIBERAL EDUCATION INVOLVING BOTH THE STUDY OF AND PARTICIPATION IN SIGNIFICANT ASPECTS OF OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE, EXPRESSED PRIMARILY THROUGH THE ARTS, THE SCIENCES, THE INSTITUTIONS AND THE PROFESSIONS OF SOCIETY. AS A TEACHING-LEARNING COMMUNITY, SOUTHWESTERN ENCOURAGES RIGOROUS INQUIRY AND SCHOLARSHIP, CREATIVE TEACHING, AND THE EXPRESSION OF FREE HUMAN LIFE. THE UNIVERSITY SEEKS TO INVOLVE THE STUDENT IN FINDING A PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DIRECTION FOR LIFE, DEVELOPING MORE SENSITIVE METHODS OF COMMUNICATION, CULTIVATING THOSE QUALITIES AND SKILLS WHICH MAKE FOR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, AND LEARNING TO THINK CLEARLY AND MAKE RELEVANT JUDGMENTS AND DISCRIMINATIONS.
Activities: INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: THE UNIVERSITY'S PRIMARY MISSION IS FOSTERING A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY OF THE HIGHEST CALIBER. THE UNIVERSITY SEEKS TO DEVELOP A COMMUNITY OF SCHOLARS IN BOTH ITS FACULTY AND STUDENT BODY THAT IS SELF-CRITICAL AND TOUGH-MINDED, AND THAT MAINTAINS RIGOROUS ACADEMIC STANDARDS. THROUGH ITS PAIDEIA PROGRAM, THE UNIVERSITY TRANSCENDS CONVENTIONAL APPROACHES TO TEACHING AND LEARNING THROUGH A STUDENT-DRIVEN, FACULTY-LED EXPERIENCE. THE PROGRAM EMPHASIZES INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY, PROMOTES CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ACADEMIC COURSES, OFFERS INTERCULTURAL AND DIVERSITY EXPERIENCES, ENCOURAGES CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND SUPPORTS COLLABORATIVE OR GUIDED RESEARCH AND CREATIVE WORKS. FOR THE YEAR, THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDED SERVICES TO 1,562 STUDENTS IN ITS ACADEMIC INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS. MOST OF THE UNIVERSITY'S ENROLLMENT IS TRADITIONAL COLLEGE-AGE STUDENTS, AND FOR THE FALL 2019 SEMESTER, 98.9% WERE ENROLLED FULL-TIME (12 OR MORE CREDIT HOURS FOR THE SEMESTER). THE STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO WAS APPROXIMATELY 12:1 IN THE CURRENT YEAR. APPROXIMATELY 99% OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS RECEIVE INSTITUTIONAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. APPROXIMATELY 60% OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS RECEIVED NEED-BASED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
STUDENT SERVICES: THE UNIVERSITY SEEKS TO SUPPORT ITS PRIMARY ACADEMIC MISSION THROUGH ROBUST STUDENT SERVICES FOR ITS PRIMARILY RESIDENTIAL LIBERAL ARTS CAMPUS. STUDENT SERVICES INCLUDE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, STUDENT ACTIVITIES, RESIDENTIAL LIFE ADMINISTRATION, CAREER COUNSELING SERVICES, STUDENT HEALTH AND COUNSELING SERVIES, NCAA III ATHLETICS, INTRAMURAL SPORTS, AND OTHER SERVICES VITAL TO SUPPORT A RESIDENTIAL ACADEMIC COMMUNITY OF THE HIGHEST CALIBER AND QUALITY.
AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES, INCLUDE STUDENT RESIDENTIAL CENTER OPERATIONS AND FOOD SERVICE OPERATIONS. APPROXIMATELY 72% OF THE STUDENT BODY LIVES ON CAMPUS IN RESIDENTIAL CENTERS. RESIDENTIAL CENTERS INCLUDE LIVING/LEARNING CENTERS WHICH INTEGRATE CLASSROOM AND OTHER EXPERIENCES INTO THE RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT. FOOD SERVICES IS PROVIDED PRIMARILY FOR RESIDENTIAL AND NON-RESIDENTIAL STUDENT USAGE, FACULTY, STAFF, AND GUESTS OF THE UNIVERSITY. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES EXPENSES INCLUDE DEPRECIATION, INTEREST, AND PHYSICAL PLANT EXPENSE ALLOCATIONS.
NTEE category: Education
Secondary category: Universities