Regent University
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Regent University is an accredited U.S. Christian university with its main campus located in Virginia Beach, Virginia and a satellite campus in Alexandria, Virginia.
Many of Regent's degrees can be earned either on-campus or online. Some programs, especially in the School of Government, are available at either the Virginia Beach or Alexandria campus. The J.D. can only be earned at the Virginia Beach campus. The School of Law formerly offered a LL.M. in international taxation that was the first law degree program in the United States to receive American Bar Association approval for distance education.
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[edit] History
Regent University was founded in 1977 as CBN University by Pat Robertson, who currently holds the title of Chancellor of Regent University.
The school did not actually conduct its first classes until the fall of 1978, in leased classroom space in Chesapeake, Virginia. The first students were all enrolled in what is now the School of Communication & the Arts. Its first students graduated in May 1980; the School of Education opened the following October. At the same time, CBN University opened the first building on its current Virginia Beach campus.
The school proceeded to open its schools of business, divinity, government, and law by the mid-1980s. In 1984, CBN University received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; later in the decade, it started a distance education program.
In January 1990, the school changed its name to Regent University. Five years later, Regent began outreach programs geared to teachers in the Washington, D.C. area, which eventually led to the opening of its Alexandria campus. In 2000, Regent began an undergraduate degree-completion program under the auspices of a new program, the Center for Professional Studies, which became Regent Undergrad in the fall of 2004.
For a brief time before its closing in December 2004, William Tyndale College in Farmington Hills, Michigan was treated as a satellite branch of Regent. In order to assist WTC through their financial problems, Regent invested over $1 million (USD) in order to help keep the struggling college afloat.
[edit] Graduate schools
Robertson's original vision for Regent University was that of a graduate institution. Although Regent now offers undergraduate programs (see next section), the school has mostly remained true to its original focus. The vast majority of Regent's approximately 3,000 students (as of 2004) are enrolled in one of the following seven graduate or first-professional schools:
- School of Communication & the Arts
- School of Divinity
- School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship
- School of Education
- Robertson School of Government
- Regent School of Law
- School of Psychology and Counseling
These schools offer master’s, doctoral, and law degrees, as well as a professional degree completion program, from a Judeo-Christian perspective.
[edit] Undergraduate school
The newest addition to Regent is Regent School of Undergraduate Studies, designed primarily for non-traditional students who wish to complete undergraduate degrees. Regent Undergrad offers bachelor's degrees in the following disciplines:
- Communication
- Global Business
- Interdisciplinary Studies
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Organizational Leadership & Management
- Religious Studies
Regent Undergrad, as with the rest of the university, teaches its programs from a Judeo-Christian perspective. Regent School of Undergraduate Studies is fully regionally accredited 4 years program.
School of Undergraduate Studies also offers certificates.
[edit] People and distinctions
In October of 2003 Dr. M.P. "Pat" Robertson, founder and current President of the University, was awarded the first annual(and to date only) Lifetime Achievement Award by the University on the occasion of its 25th anniversary.
Lt.-Gen Paul G. Cerjan was president of the University from 1997-2000.
Dr. David Clark was the founding Dean of Regent University in 1978 and served as Dean of the School of Communication and the Arts from 1988-91.He has subsequently been President of KMC Media and of Family Net, and is now President of Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Terry Lindvall, formerly Dean of the School of Communication & the Arts and President of the University subsequently taught at Duke School of Divinity and the College of William and Mary. He nopw holds the C. S Lewis Chair of Communication and Thought at Virginia Wesleyan College. Lindvall has authored "The Mother of All Laughter: Sarah and the Genesis of Comedy", "The Silents of God: Silent American Film and Religion", "Surprised by Laughter: The Comic World of C.S. Lewis", and Sanctuary Cinema: Origins of the Christian Film Industry."
Kay Coles James was Dean of the Robertson School of Government from 1996-99.
Kathaleen Reid-Martinez served as Dean of the Center for Leadership Studies from 1998-2004 and was made Dean of the Robertson School of Government in 2000.
Charles W. Dunn was named Dean of the Robertson School of Government in 2004.
The founding Dean of the School of Law, Herbert W. "Herb" Titus, was subsequently the U S Taxpayers Party nominee for Vice President of the United States in 1996.
J. Nelson Happy, Dean of the School of Law from 1993-99, has subsequently served as Chief Executive of CENCO Refining Co. and President and CEO of Mooney Aerospace Group Ltd.
Jeffrey A. Brauch has been Dean of the School of Law since 2000.
Peter Engle, named Dean of the School of Communication & the Arts in 2003, was a veteran television producer and writer best-known as the producer of Saved by the Bell.
The founding Dean of the School of Divinity was Dr. Jerry Horner.
Vinson Synan was formerly Dean of the School of Divinity.
Rosemarie Scotti Hughes has served as Dean of the School of Counselling and Human Services since 1994.
Allan Arroyo has served as Dean of the School of Education.
Jim Flynn was named Dean of the Center for Professional Services in 2003.
In 1999 Justice Leroy Hassell was appointed the School of Law's first Jurist-in-Residence.
In March, 2005,former United States Attorney General John Ashcroft was appointed to a joint faculty position in the School of Law and the Robertson School of Government, effective July 1.
Walter Kelley, Jr., an Adjunct Professor in the School of Law, was appointed a Judge of the USDC (EDVa) in 2004.
Robert F. "Bob" McDonnell, a graduate of the School of Law and the School of Government, served seven terms in the Virginia House of Delegates and is currently Attorney General of the State of Virginia.
Dr. Nevers Mumba, a student in the Robertson School of Government, was appointed Vice President of Zambia in 2003.
Maria Boren, a 2002 graduate of the School of Business, was a candidate/cast member in the second season of NBC's The Apprentice.
Tony Hale, a 1994 graduate of the School of Communication & the Arts,was an actor on the show Arrested Development.
Nicole Johnson, a 1998 graduate of the School of Communication and the Arts, was chosen as Miss Americain 1998.
Mark Weber, a 2002 graduate of the School of Communications, runs http://www.christianmusicdaily.com
In April 2006, the Regent University School of Law Moot Court team won the prestigious American Bar Association National Moot Court Competition.
Regent University students have won three Student Academy Awards, most recently in 2000 in the Documentary category for Douglas Smith's "Between Two Fires". Previously students won Oscars in the Dramatic category in 1987 and 1991. [1]
[edit] Accreditation description
Regent University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097: Telephone number 404-679-4501) to award the bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. Regent University School of Divinity is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). The School of Law is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). Students who complete their course of legal study at this approved law school are eligible to take the bar examination in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Committee on Accreditation (CoA) of the American Psychological Association, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for the Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), has conferred accreditation to Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D) offered within the School of Psychology and Counseling. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), has conferred accreditation to the following program areas offered by the School of Psychology & Counseling of Regent University: Community Counseling (M.A.), School Counseling (M.A.).
