Andrews University is a private university affiliated with one of the largest Christian churches in the world – the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, of which presidential candidate Ben Carson is a member. (Dr. Carson received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Andrews University on June 4, 1989.) Andrews is the flagship university of the Seventh-Day Adventist school system, the world’s second largest Christian school system.
Andrews University is named after John Nevins Andrews, the Adventists’ first sponsored overseas missionary. Founded in 1874 as Battle Creek College, and later called Emmanuel Missionary College, it was the first higher education facility to be started by Seventh-Day Adventists. Andrews is the largest evangelical college in the state of Michigan, and is the only fully accredited institution in the immediate area. (It is accredited by the Adventist Accrediting Association and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.)
Located in the rural village of Berrien Springs, the Andrews University campus is a 1,600 acre arboretum with plenty of room to roam among 26 instructional buildings, a performance hall, four residence halls, four apartment complexes, an airport, and many other buildings. Historic downtown Berrien Springs and Lake Chapin are within walking distance of campus. The university is only 12 miles away from Lake Michigan beaches and sand dunes, and an hour’s drive from Battle Creek, aka “Cereal City.”
Mission and Vision
Andrews University is a distinctive Seventh-Day Adventist institution, and the only Seventh-Day Adventist institution recognized as a national university. Much of the theology of the Seventh-day Adventist Church corresponds to common Evangelical Protestant Christian teachings, though distinguished by its observance of the Sabbath from Friday sunset through Saturday sunset.
The Seventh-Day Adventist Church is also known for its emphasis on diet and health, its holistic understanding of the person, its promotion of religious liberty, and its conservative principles and lifestyle. Andrews takes pride in offering the best Adventist education available. Along those lines, Andrews University is dedicated to educating the “Body, Mind, and Spirit” as students “seek knowledge, affirm faith, and change the world.”
Seek Knowledge: The university consists of eight schools and colleges offering 130 undergraduate majors and 70 graduate majors that combine real-world experience (in the form of research projects, peer-reviewed publications, professional presentations and internships) with classroom knowledge taught by seasoned professors, not graduate assistants.
Affirm Faith: Andrews is centered around faith, both in the classroom and out. Students attend weekly chapel, church and vespers services; 40 active campus-based ministries ground the academic schedule; and there are many opportunities on campus to worship, grow, and serve.
Change the World: Using the skills you’ve cultivated at Andrews, you’ll be ready to face the opportunities and trials that come your way. Students and alumni are committed to generous service, innovatively solving real-world problems, and global leadership.
From the very beginning, Andrews has promoted serious scholarship, quality research, and a strong focus on practical Christianity. The most popular majors at Andrews University include: Visual and Performing Arts; Architecture; Aviation; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Computer Science; Education; Mechanical and Electrical Engineering; Agriculture, Horticulture, and Related Sciences; and Biological and Biomedical Sciences; and Physical Therapy.
The student-faculty ratio at Andrews University is 10:1, and the school has 69 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. Representative of the global community, Andrews’ students, faculty, and staff come from 98 different countries. With roughly 3,551 students and 885 international students, U.S. News & World Report 2015 ranked Andrews University as second in the nation for racial diversity and seventh for highest percentage of international students compared to other national universities. Andrews was also included in Newsweek‘s top 25 schools for ethnic/cultural diversity.
If you desire to be the international student, Andrews co-sponsors Adventist Colleges Abroad, a language and cultural immersion program in which qualified students study in one of ten locations overseas while completing requirements for graduation at Andrews. Students can study in Argentina, Austria, Brazil, England, France, Greece, Italy, Singapore, Spain, or Taiwan. In addition, affiliate and extension schools are located in 19 countries on five continents. Besides the 3,500 students studying at the Michigan campus, another 7,000 are studying in affiliation, extension and distance programs around the world. Andrews University partners with Griggs University and Griggs International Academy. Off-campus/online programs are coordinated through the School of Distance Education.
Campus Life
Living a clean and healthy lifestyle has been an emphasis of the Adventist church since its establishment in the 1860s. As Andrews’ motto of “Body, Mind, Spirit” affirms, development of the whole person is essential to quality education. That’s why Andrews University provides not only superior academics, but also an active physical education and recreation scene. The university offers numerous sports including soccer, basketball, and hockey teams. One of its best-kept secrets is the Andrews Trails, more than 11 miles of walking, running and mountain biking trails that are quietly tucked away on the northwest side of campus.
Andrews also offers over 100 clubs for a variety of academic and personal interests and hobbies. No matter what your major is, you can join various choirs or symphonies, and/or participate in drama clubs at Andrews. The Howard Performing Arts Center (HPAC) is the premier performing arts center in the local area and hosts a variety of world-renowned Christian and classical music performers. There are six libraries and eight computer labs on campus. Andrews University Dining Services has a modern atmosphere with lots of food options. Adventists have long been known for advocating a vegetarian cuisine, and student diversity is also reflected in the various cultural selections.
The university provides a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. Andrews University also has many campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). 70 percent of the students have cars on campus. Alcohol is not permitted for students of legal age at Andrews University.
Berrien Springs itself is home to a large Seventh-Day Adventist community. Reflecting the town’s population, many of the local businesses are closed on Saturdays. Incidentally, the Adventist Church had much to do with the common acceptance of breakfast cereals into the Western diet. The Kellogg brothers were local Adventists who pioneered the process of making flaked breakfast cereal in 1906. The nearby city of Battle Creek is the world headquarters of Kellogg Company as well as the place where the Seventh-Day Adventist Church was formally established in 1863.
Admissions
Many students of various backgrounds from across the United States and around the world are attracted to Andrews because of what the university stands for and what it offers. Homeschool students have to meet the same requirements as prospective freshman who graduate from a traditional school. You must fill out an online application, submit ACT/SAT test scores, obtain two recommendations from non-relatives, and provide a detailed transcript with a cumulative GPA, signed by the person who directed your program. You need to have a GED certificate only if a transcript isn’t available from your parents. See more at: http://www.andrews.edu/undergrad/apply/homeschool.html