Averett University is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...

Baptist Baptists are a Christian denomination, denomination within Protestant Christianity distinguished by baptizing only professing Christian believers (believer's baptism) and doing so by complete Immersion baptism, immersion. Baptist churches ge ...

university in

Danville, Virginia Danville is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Virginia, Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The city is located in the Southside (Virginia), Southside Virginia region and on the fall line of the Dan River ( ...

. 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

left, 230px, Averett College building depicted on an old postcard The school was chartered in 1859 as "Union Female College" and became affiliated with the

Baptist General Association of Virginia The Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV), founded in 1823, is an umbrella organization of Baptist churches in Virginia. It is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Baptist World Alliance. History Baptists have been i ...

in 1910. The school's name was changed to "Averett College" and received accreditation as a

junior college A junior college is a type of post-secondary institution that offers vocational and academic training that is designed to prepare students for either skilled trades and technical occupations or support roles in professions such as engineering, a ...

in 1917. Accreditation by the

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is a regional educational accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. As of 2022, the organization oversees ap ...

followed in 1928. Averett became a coeducational four-year college in 1969 and offered its first

graduate programs Postgraduate education, graduate education, or graduate school consists of academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications usually pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate (bachelor' ...

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 the university abandoned Baptist positions on

homosexuality Homosexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or Human sexual activity, sexual behavior between people of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality is "an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexu ...

. In November 2011, the Baptist General Association of Virginia voted to restore the association's relationship with Averett University.

Academics

Averett University offers associate and

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...

programs in approximately 25 majors. There are also two

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional prac ...

programs available: a

Master of Education The Master of Education (MEd or M.Ed. or Ed.M.; Latin ''Magister Educationis'' or ''Educationis Magister'') is a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum an ...

degree and a

Master of Business Administration A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a professional degree focused on business administration. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration; elective courses may allow further study in a particular ...

degree. The student-to-faculty ratio is 12:1.

Undergraduate admissions

In 2023, the university accepted 76% of applicants to undergraduate programs, with those admitted having an average 3.07

GPA Grading in education is the application of standardized measurements to evaluate different levels of student achievement in a course. Grades can be expressed as letters (usually A to F), as a range (for example, 1 to 6), percentages, or as num ...

. Averett University is standardized test optional and applicants do not have to submit either

SAT The SAT ( ) is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. Since its debut in 1926, its name and Test score, scoring have changed several times. For much of its history, it was called the Scholastic Aptitude Test ...

or ACT scores. Of applicants, only 3–4% submitted scores.

Flight School

Averett University has a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Management degree with two concentration options: Aviation Business and Flight Operations. Also available is a joint Aerospace Management/Criminal Justice bachelors degree. The university has a FAA-approved Part 141 Pilot School with flight operations conducted out of the

Danville Regional Airport Danville Regional Airport is three miles east of Danville, Virginia, Danville, in southern Virginia. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021 FAA airport categories, categorized it as ...

(KDAN) that is close to campus.

Rankings

For 2024, '' U.S. News & World Report'' ranked Averett University #62 out of 132 Regional Universities South, #28 in Best Value Schools, and #31 in Top Performers on Social Mobility.

Campus

Averett's main campus is a campus on West Main Street in Danville. The North Campus Athletic Center and Averett Flight Center at

are also in Danville. The Equestrian Center in

Pelham, North Carolina Pelham is an unincorporated community in northwestern Caswell County, North Carolina at the North Carolina–Virginia border. Pelham is located along Pelham Loop Road near the eastern terminus of NC 700 at US 29 (future Interstate 785). It wa ...

, lies just across the Virginia–North Carolina border. Averett's adult education program, Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS), has campus centers in Danville,

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, a city in the United States * Richmond, London, a town in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town ...

, and Tidewater. GPS classes are offered at 12 locations around Virginia.

Student life

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, ''

The Chanticleer ''The Chanticleer'' is Averett University's student-run news magazine A news magazine is a typed, printed, and published magazine, radio, or television program, usually published weekly, consisting of articles about current events. New ...

'', was established in 1922.

Student Government Association

The Student Government Association (SGA) is Averett's student governing body.

Athletics

Averett competes in 23 intercollegiate varsity sports, and its athletic teams are called the Cougars. The university is a member of the

Division III In sport, the Third Division, also called Division 3, Division Three, or Division III, is often the third-highest division of a league, and will often have promotion and relegation with divisions above and below. Association football *Belgian Third ...

of the

National Collegiate Athletic Association The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...

(NCAA), primarily competing in the

Old Dominion Athletic Conference The Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference that competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. Of its 15 member schools, all but one are located in Virginia; the other ful ...

(ODAC) since the 2022–23 academic year. The Cougars previously competed in the

USA South Athletic Conference The USA South Athletic Conference (formerly the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference or the Dixie Conference) is an intercollegiate athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. Member schools are located in North Carolin ...

(USA South) from 1978–79 to 2021–22.

List of teams

Facilities

Matches are played at "Cougars Den", in Danville, which has a maximum seating capacity of 1,500.Cougar Den
Averett University, 2008. Accessed 2009-01-01 Redevelopment of the facility began in 2014 with new turf and lights for the existing stadium, and the field being renamed "Daly Field". Further development of the stadium complex followed, with it being named "Frank R. Campbell Stadium".

References

External links

*
Athletics website
{{Coord, 36, 34, 43.9, N, 79, 24, 44.1, W, display=title Private universities and colleges in Virginia Universities and colleges established in 1859 Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Education in Danville, Virginia Buildings and structures in Danville, Virginia Tourist attractions in Danville, Virginia 1859 establishments in Virginia Universities and colleges affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention