
Southern Virginia University (SVU) is a private liberal arts college in Buena Vista, Virginia. The college embraces the values of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and offers a range of programs, including Health Pre-Professionals. While SVU does not have a medical school, it offers a variety of pre-medical programs and resources to prepare students for medical school. On the other hand, the University of Virginia School of Medicine, often referred to as UVA Medicine, is the graduate medical school of the University of Virginia. It is one of the most prestigious public medical schools in the United States, offering a range of medical programs and producing skilled physicians.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of institution | Private liberal arts college |
| Location | Buena Vista, Virginia |
| Year founded | 1867 |
| Religious affiliation | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) |
| Accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools |
| Number of majors offered | 17 |
| Number of minors offered | 18 |
| Notable programs | Health Pre-Professionals, Army ROTC, Teaching Licensure |
| Performing arts sections | Choir, opera workshop, a cappella group, dance company, orchestra, flute choir |
| Athletics | Division III level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) |
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What You'll Learn
- Southern Virginia University is a private liberal arts college
- It offers a pre-health program for aspiring med students
- The college is located in Buena Vista, Virginia
- It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- The college embraces the values of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Southern Virginia University is a private liberal arts college
Southern Virginia University (SVU) is a private liberal arts college in Buena Vista, Virginia. The college, though not officially affiliated with a particular faith, embraces the values of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It was founded in 1867 as a school for girls and is now a private four-year coeducational institution. The Carnegie Classification categorizes it as a very small baccalaureate-only college with an arts and sciences focus.
The college was founded as a for-profit institution in 1867 during Virginia's post-Civil War era when Alice Scott Chandler established the Home School for Girls in Bowling Green, Virginia, later renamed the Bowling Green Female Seminary. In 1883, Edgar H. Rowe purchased the school and operated it with Mrs Chandler as principal. Dr Rowe moved the school to Buena Vista in 1900 and changed its name to Southern Seminary. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, enrollment began to slip and the college became financially unstable, which led to a loss of regional accreditation in 1996. In 2000, the school was accepted into pre-accreditation status by the American Academy for Liberal Education (AALE) and was renamed Southern Virginia University in April 2001.
SVU offers seventeen different majors and eighteen different minors. Other programs include Health Pre-Professionals, Army ROTC, and Teaching Licensure. SVU has a code of honour, intended to help students live by its core values. LDS Church principles and activities are fully integrated into life and education at SVU. An LDS Church Institute of Religion is operated on campus. Once each semester, SVU cancels classes for a service day on which students can opt to travel to the Washington D.C. Temple, where they perform service on the temple grounds and participate in temple ordinances. Students are not required to enrol in religious classes.
SVU offers several performing arts sections to its students, including its premier choir Chamber Singers, a women's choir (Bella Voce), Men's Chorus, opera workshop, and a contemporary a cappella group Accolade. There is also a university Dance Company, which performs many different styles of dance throughout the year, including jazz, ballet, hip-hop, lyrical, modern, Irish, and other ethnic styles. Music programs consist of an orchestra and flute choir. The theatre program has performed The Diary of Anne Frank, The Sound of Music, The Importance of Being Earnest, Seeking Higher Ground, and Beauty and the Beast, among others. Another option for participation in theatre is the Shenanigans Comedy Troupe, an improv comedy group. Southern Virginia athletic teams are the Knights and the university is a member of the Division III level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
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It offers a pre-health program for aspiring med students
Southern Virginia University (SVU) is a private liberal arts college in Buena Vista, Virginia. The college embraces the values of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It was founded in 1867 as a school for girls and is now a private four-year coeducational institution.
SVU offers a pre-health program for aspiring med students. The college offers seventeen different majors and eighteen different minors. Its programs include Health Pre-Professionals, Army ROTC and Teaching Licensure. The college also offers performing arts sections, such as its premier choir Chamber Singers, a women's choir (Bella Voce), Men's Chorus, opera workshop, and a contemporary a cappella group.
Students at SVU are not required to enrol in religious classes. However, an ecclesiastical endorsement to live by the college's code of honour is part of the application process. The code of honour is intended to help students live by the college's core values.
Eric Pinkston, a graduate of SVU, has spoken about his experience of preparing for medical school. He highlights the importance of volunteer experience and preparing for the MCAT. Pinkston also mentions the value of taking classes with Dr. Roger Johnson, a former biochemistry professor at SVU, who was able to offer insight into the process and rigour of medical school.
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The college is located in Buena Vista, Virginia
Southern Virginia University (SVU) is a private liberal arts college located in Buena Vista, Virginia. The college embraces the values of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) but is not officially affiliated with a particular faith. SVU offers a range of performing arts sections, including choir, opera, and a cappella groups, as well as a dance company that performs jazz, ballet, hip-hop, and other styles. The university's athletic teams, known as the Knights, compete in the Division III level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
SVU has a rich history dating back to 1867 when it was founded as a school for girls. The college was established in Bowling Green, Virginia, as the Home School for Girls and later renamed the Bowling Green Female Seminary. In 1883, Edgar H. Rowe purchased the school and moved it to Buena Vista in 1900, renaming it the Southern Seminary. The original building, the Buena Vista Hotel, now serves as the university's Main Hall and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1919, Robert Lee Durham, a former dean of Martha Washington College, bought a half-interest in the Southern Seminary and became its resident head. Durham and his son-in-law, H. Russell Robey, added college-level courses to the curriculum, and the first class of the junior college program graduated in 1925. The period of greatest physical growth occurred under the presidency of Margaret Durham Robey, Durham's daughter.
In 1959, the Robeys transferred ownership of the college to a board of trustees, and the institution became a nonprofit organization. The school ceased offering high school courses in 1961 and was renamed the Southern Seminary Junior College. The academic program was expanded to allow students to begin careers or transfer to four-year colleges after two years. The name was changed again to the Southern Virginia College for Women and later shortened to Southern Virginia College when male students were admitted in 1994.
SVU faced financial instability and a decline in enrollment in the late 1980s and early 1990s, leading to a loss of regional accreditation in 1996. However, the college regained full regional accreditation in 2012 and has continued to develop its academic programs and offerings. Today, SVU offers personalized career coaching and graduate school placement, empowering students to achieve their dreams and make a positive impact in the world.
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It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Virginia University (SVU) is a private liberal arts college in Buena Vista, Virginia. It was founded in 1867 as a school for girls and is now a private, self-reliant, residential, four-year coeducational institution. The college, though not officially affiliated with a particular faith, embraces the values of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
SVU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools indicates that SVU meets the standards and criteria set by the accrediting agency. This accreditation provides assurance to students and stakeholders that the college delivers high-quality education and is committed to continuous improvement. It also enables students to apply for federal financial aid and facilitates the transfer of credits between institutions.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is a trusted and recognized accrediting agency that evaluates and accredits educational institutions in the Southern region of the United States. It is one of the six regional accrediting agencies in the country and is responsible for ensuring the quality and integrity of higher education. The association conducts comprehensive evaluations of institutions, including their academic programs, faculty qualifications, student support services, and administrative processes.
SVU offers seventeen different majors and eighteen different minors. The university provides a well-rounded education with a focus on the arts and sciences. Students can choose from a variety of programs, including Health Pre-Professionals, Army ROTC, and Teaching Licensure. SVU also offers a range of performing arts sections, such as choir, opera, and theatre. The university's athletic teams, known as the Knights, compete in the Division III level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
In conclusion, Southern Virginia University's accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools demonstrates its commitment to academic excellence and adherence to high educational standards. This accreditation ensures that SVU's programs and services meet the expectations of the accrediting agency and provides confidence to students considering the university as a pathway to their medical careers.
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The college embraces the values of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Southern Virginia University (SVU) is a private liberal arts college in Buena Vista, Virginia. The college is not officially affiliated with a particular faith, but it does embrace the values of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
SVU was founded in 1867 as a school for girls and is now a private, four-year, coeducational institution. The college offers a range of performing arts sections, including choir, opera, and a contemporary a cappella group. There is also a university Dance Company, which performs various styles of dance, including jazz, ballet, hip-hop, and modern. SVU's athletic teams are known as the Knights, and the university is a member of the Division III level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
The college's campus consists of twelve main buildings, including administrative offices, student centers, sports arenas, residence halls, and academic buildings. SVU offers seventeen different majors and eighteen different minors, including programs such as Health Pre-Professionals, Army ROTC, and Teaching Licensure.
LDS Church principles and activities are fully integrated into life and education at SVU. The college operates an LDS Church Institute of Religion on campus, and once each semester, classes are canceled for a service day. On this day, students have the option to travel to the Washington D.C. Temple, where they can participate in service and temple ordinances. While students are not required to enroll in religious classes, SVU has a code of honor that helps students live by the college's core values.
SVU also offers resources to help students prepare for medical school. For example, students can gain valuable volunteer experience by working with Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinics, which can provide opportunities to shadow medical professionals. Additionally, SVU offers prerequisite courses for medical school, such as history, biology, physics, and biochemistry.
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Frequently asked questions
Southern Virginia University (SVU) is a private liberal arts college in Buena Vista, Virginia. The college is not officially affiliated with a particular faith but embraces the values of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
Southern Virginia University is not a medical school. However, it does offer a Health Pre-Professionals program, and students can prepare for medical school by taking relevant courses and gaining practical experience through volunteering.
The University of Virginia School of Medicine, also known as UVA Medicine, is a graduate medical school of the University of Virginia. It is the oldest medical school in Virginia and the tenth oldest in the United States, founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson.
The University of Virginia School of Medicine offers a unique "Next Generation" integrated curriculum that allows students to spend more time in the clinic. The school has a selective admissions process and is widely considered one of the most prestigious public medical schools in the country.











































