Overview
Christian Values and Education Grounded in the Liberal Arts Make Gardner-Webb University a Strong Choice
Gardner-Webb University enrolls approximately 4,000 students on its 200-acre campus 50 miles west of Charlotte in the town of Boiling Springs, North Carolina. Gardner-Webb is a private, Christian, Baptist-related university. It strives to provide students with an outstanding education grounded in the liberal arts while integrating scholarship with Christian life. The school values its Christian heritage and works to affirm Christian and Baptist values in all aspects of life. By exposing students to a broad range of academics, Gardner-Webb hopes to educate students in respect and broaden their horizons to develop a global compassion and understanding.
Diversity Within the Student Body Contributes Awareness and Understanding to the Campus Community
Education at Gardner-Webb has a student-centered focus that respects the individuality of each student while striving to develop each student's unique strengths. The school is a community of unique individuals. Its students hail from numerous states and countries and represent a variety of races and socioeconomic groups. As students take the opportunity to learn from one another, their diversity enriches the campus community. Learning to understand varied societies and communities is an important part of the college experience, and Gardner-Webb's diverse student body is central to this process.
Western North Carolina, One of the Nation's Fastest-Growing Regions, Has Much to Offer Students
The Piedmont area of western North Carolina is one of the most rapidly developing and desirable locations in the United States. In this setting, Gardner-Webb students are exposed to a variety of opportunities in the area, as well as benefiting from easy travel to surrounding regions. Boiling Springs is nestled in a rural area near the city of Shelby. The area is committed to supporting local art and culture and fosters local and national leadership. Slightly farther away is the city of Charlotte, the largest city in the Carolinas. For more nature-oriented students, the Blue Ridge Mountains are less than an hour from the Gardner-Webb campus.
Experienced, Qualified Faculty Members Remain Dedicated to Students and Educational Excellence
Part of Gardner-Webb's commitment to academic excellence is its commitment to seeking highly qualified individuals for the school's faculty. Faculty members hold terminal degrees from prestigious institutions around the world. An innovative curriculum and small classes with a 15:1 student-faculty ratio allow students to take full advantage of the qualified, experienced faculty. Professors in all fields strive to help students do well in their chosen fields of study, so that they can not only achieve success in the working world, but can make a real contribution to society in doing so.
Study Abroad and Mission Trip Opportunities Allow Students to Expand Their Horizons and Help Others
A well-rounded college education helps students gain knowledge of the world and serves to expand their horizons. The study-abroad program at Gardner-Webb is designed to help meet these goals. Study-abroad programs are available for lengths of time ranging from one week to a full academic year. Students have access to multi-cultural educational experiences in such diverse locations as Hong Kong and Costa Rica. Students can also participate in mission trips around the globe. In designing student's programs for study abroad, Gardner-Webb maintains its commitment to its Christian principles and gives students an opportunity to experience other cultures while enriching themselves and learning to value and help others.
Student Life in "the Webb" is Exciting, With Events, Clubs, Organizations, and Athletic Programs
Outside of the classroom, Gardner-Webb students have access to many opportunities to enrich their lives and develop socially and spiritually. The school works to build a fun, enthusiastic atmosphere, which it refers to as "the Webb." This includes encouraging students to become involved in the many opportunities that student life at the school has to offer. From Division I intercollegiate athletic teams to intramural sports, student clubs and organizations, and leadership and volunteer opportunities, Gardner-Webb students can become involved in any of more than fifty student organizations that interest them. Additionally, the Student Entertainment Association offers events and activities, such as movie nights and virtual reality games, to bring the campus community closer together throughout the year.
A Wide Range of Highly-Regarded, Accredited Academic Programs Are Available to Students
Gardner-Webb's thirteen academic departments offer forty-five majors in education, business, liberal arts, fine arts, social sciences, world languages, and nursing. These include master's and doctoral programs in several areas for students who wish to go beyond their bachelor's education. About a third of the school's students pursue business programs, and almost that many major in education. The school is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and all academic programs are designed to educate students in a way that will prepare them for successful futures.
