Averett University

Averett University
Motto Irreparabile Tempus
Type Private university
Established 1859
Endowment $19.3 million[1]
President Tiffany McKillip Franks
Dean Lesley Villarose
Academic staff
 270
Students 2,719
Undergraduates 2,071
Postgraduates 648
Location Danville, VA, USA
Campus Suburban
Colors Blue and Gold          
Nickname AU
Mascot Cougar
Website www.averett.edu

Averett University is a private non-profit college in Danville, Virginia, USA, in south-central Virginia near the North Carolina border. Founded in 1859 as a women's college, Averett became a 4-year, coeducational institution in 1969. In 2011 the university restored its Baptist affiliation, renewing a relationship that had existed from Averett's founding until 2005.

History

The school was chartered in 1859 as Union Female College and became affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia in 1910. The school's name was changed to Averett College and received accreditation as a junior college in 1917. Accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools followed in 1928. Averett became a coeducational four-year college in 1969 and offered its first graduate programs in the 1980s. The school changed its name to Averett University in 2001.

In 2005, the Baptist General Association of Virginia dissolved their ties with Averett after two years of growing disagreement over homosexuality.[2] In November 2011, the Baptist General Association of Virginia voted to restore the association's relationship with Averett University.[3]

Admissions

In 2011, 54% of applicants were admitted.[4] Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Academics

Averett offers associate and bachelor's degree programs in approximately 30 majors. There are also two master's degree programs available: Master of Education degree and a Master of Business Administration degree. The student-to-faculty ratio is 14:1.[5]

Campus

Averett's main campus is a 19-acre (77,000 m2) campus located on West Main Street in Danville. The 70-acre (280,000 m2) North Campus Athletic Center and Averett Flight Center at Danville Regional Airport are also located within Danville. The 100-acre (0.40 km2) Equestrian Center in Pelham, NC lies just across the Virginia-North Carolina border.

Averett's adult education program, Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS), has campus centers in Danville, Richmond and Tidewater. GPS classes are offered at 12 locations around Virginia.

Extracurriculars

There are a number of ways through which students can become involved in campus activities.

Averett Student Foundation

Averett Student Foundation members represent the University at special functions such as plays, receptions and donor recognition events.

The Chanticleer

Averett's student-run news magazine, established in 1922.

Student Government Association

The Student Government Association (SGA) is the governing body of students at Averett University.

Athletics

The Averett Cougars play in NCAA Division III in the USA South Athletic Conference.

Baseball

The baseball team has been coached by Ed Fulton (I) since 1997. The Cougars won the 2003 USA South Conference Tournament championship and earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Men's basketball

The men's basketball team is coached by Matt Parke, who accepted the position in May 2010. He replaced Jimmy Allen, who left Averett after six seasons to become an assistant at Army. Averett won four USA South Athletic Conference championships (three regular-season titles and three conference tournament titles in four years) and made three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. In March 2007, Averett enjoyed its first bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament, but were ousted by defending national champions Virginia Wesleyan College in the first round despite having beaten them earlier in the year. In March 2008, the Cougars lost in the opening round of the tournament to Widener. Averett's lone NCAA Tournament win under Allen came on March 6, 2009, when the Cougars defeated Centre College 76-71 on Centre's campus in Danville, Ky. The Cougars fell in the second round to eventual Final Four participant Guilford College, 91-81.

Averett also made an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1990. The 1990 team won the school's first conference tournament championship (Dixie Conference) and advanced to the Sweet 16 by defeating Randolph-Macon in the first round. The 1990 team was led by Head Coach Ed Hall.

Women's basketball

The women's basketball team is guided by head coach Liz Hickey, who has been at the helm since April 2011. Averett set program records with 17 overall wins and 12 conference wins during the 2009-10 season.

Football

Cleive Adams was named Averett's head coach in 2014. The Averett football program boasts the 2006 USA South Conference championship and more than 100 all-conference selections since the program made its debut in 2000. In 2014, Averett's football field was upgraded to include state-of-the-art turf and lights. 2000-2015 State Champions.

Men's golf

The Averett men's golf team is led by head coach Keith Goodaker, who took over the program in the summer of 2014. The Cougars were the 2003 NCAA Division III national champions. Averett's Janne Mommo was the medalist at the 2003 national championship. Averett's golf program has produced four players who have combined for seven All-America selections (Janne Mommo, Toni Karjalainen, Craig Hosie and Onni Hurri). In 2013, Brandon Grogan became the first Averett player to earn medalist honors at the USA South Conference championship.

Men's soccer

The men's soccer team is led by head coach Philip Wilson, who took over the program in 2014 after serving as an assistant coach. Averett won conference titles in 1979, 1980 and 1982 and earned NCAA Tournament berths in 1979, 1980 and 1981.

Women's soccer

The women's soccer team has been coached by Carly Pearce since 2008. Pearce guided the Cougars to their first-ever USA South Conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2012. Under Pearce, the Cougars have produced two USA South Players of the Year and numerous all-conference performers.

Softball

The Averett softball team is coached by Bren LaFlamme Taylor, who took over the program in July 2010. The Cougars earned a share of the 1995 USA South Conference regular season championship, and won the 2004 USA South Tournament title to earn a berth into the NCAA Tournament.

Women's volleyball

The women's volleyball team is coached by Danny Miller, who has led the program since 1995. Since taking over the program at Averett, Miller has won more than 400 games, led the Cougars to four NCAA Tournament appearances. He has also won seven conference tournament titles and 10 regular season crowns. Averett's program has won 14 regular season conference titles and 10 conference tournament titles. Miller, a seven-time USA South Coach of the Year, has produced three All-Americans (Brenda LaFlamme, Samantha Kirby and Allison Sparks), 13 USA South Player of the Year selections, five USA South Rookies of the Year and one USA South Defensive Player of the Year.

Notes and references

  1. ↑ As of June 30, 2009. "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2009 Endowment Market Value and Percentage Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2008 to FY 2009" (PDF). 2009 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments. National Association of College and University Business Officers. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  2. ↑ "College and Baptists Split Over Gay Issues". insidehighered.com.
  3. ↑ "Controversy at Shorter over faith statements". insidehighered.com.
  4. ↑ "Averett University - AU - The College Board". collegeboard.org.
  5. ↑ "Media". averett.edu.

External links

Coordinates: 36°34′43.9″N 79°24′44.1″W / 36.578861°N 79.412250°W / 36.578861; -79.412250

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