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Regent University

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Regent University
File:Regent logo.gif
MottoChristian Leadership to Change the World
TypePrivate
Established1978[1]
Endowment$267,636,000[2]
ChancellorPat Robertson
Students4,266 (1,953 full-time, 2,313 part-time)[1]
Undergraduates987 [3]
Postgraduates2,142 [3]
895 [3]
Other students
242 [non-degree seeking][3]
Location
Virginia Beach & Alexandria
,
Virginia
,
U.S.
CampusUrban
ColorsBlue & Green
Websitehttp://www.regent.edu/

Regent University is a private coeducational interdenominational Christian university located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. The school was founded by the American televangelist Pat Robertson in 1978 as CBN University[1] In addition to its main campus, Regent has a satellite campus located in Alexandria, Virginia and offers extensive distance education program.[3] Through its eight academic schools, Regent offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in over 30 courses of study.[4]

History

Plans for the university (originally named CBN University) began in 1978 by Christian Broadcasting Network founder and current Chancellor Pat Robertson. In 1990, the name was changed to Regent University. The university's name is designed to reference a regent, who is someone that exercises the ruling power in a kingdom during the minority, absence, or disability of the sovereign. The university's current motto is "Christian Leadership to Change the World."

The first classes were not conducted until the fall of 1978, when the school began to lease classroom space in Chesapeake, Virginia. The first students were all enrolled in what is now the School of Communication & the Arts. In May 1980, the first graduating class held its commencement, while the School of Education opened the following October. Simultaneously, the university took residence for the first time on its current campus in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

The school proceeded to open its Schools of Business, Divinity, Government, and Law by the mid-1980s. In 1984, Regent University received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; later in the decade; it started a distance education program.

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 curriculum under the auspices of a new program, the Center for Professional Studies, which became Regent School of Undergraduate Studies in the fall of 2004.

Academics

Profile

Regent University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor, master and doctoral degrees.[1] The School of Divinity is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS).[2] Whereas, the School of Law is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).[3] The Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D) is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association. Lastly, The Community Counseling (M.A.) and School Counseling (M.A.) program areas offered by the School of Psychology & Counseling of Regent University have been accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Undergraduate studies

The newest addition to Regent is the School of Undergraduate Studies, designed primarily for non-traditional students who wish to complete undergraduate degrees. Regent's School of Undergraduate Studies offers bachelor's degrees in Communication, Global Business, Interdisciplinary Studies (Elementary Education), Government, Psychology, Organizational Leadership & Management, Religious Studies and English beginning in Fall 2007. Furthermore, four new bachelor's programs are set to begin in the fall of 2007 focusing on theater, animation, journalism and cinema-television. These programs will be taught through the School of Communications & the Arts.

Regent's School of Undergraduate Studies, as with the rest of the university, teaches its programs from a Judeo-Christian perspective, emphasizing Christian values and ethics.

Graduate studies

Robertson's original vision for Regent University was that of a graduate institution. Although Regent now offers undergraduate programs, the school has mostly remained true to its original focus. The vast majority of Regent's students are enrolled in one of seven graduate or first-professional schools.[3] Regent's schools offer master’s, doctoral, and law degrees, as well as a professional degree completion program, from a Judeo-Christian perspective.

Law school

Regent University School of Law is housed in Robertson Hall located on the south side of the campus plaza. The law library is situated on the top floor of the university library building.[5] The school offers a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. The current Dean is Jeffrey A. Brauch.[6]

The law school was founded in 1986 after Oral Roberts University School of Law closed and donated its library to Regent University.[7] The law school was approved by the American Bar Association ("ABA") in 1989[8] and received full accreditation in 1996.[9]

The size of the student body numbers approximately 500 students.[9] Currently, the school offers both a full-time and a part-time track for completion of the J.D. degree.[8] For the 2007 entering class, 153 matriculated out 619 applications, the average LSAT score was 153 (out of 180) and a GPA of 3.29 (out of 4.0).[10]

Admission policies

While academic credentials are important, the admissions process also places emphasis on personal statements and recommendation letters. According to Regent, the school seeks students who are "dedicated to becoming Christian leaders who will change the world for Christ" and want "to receive a legal education integrated with Christian principles."[11]

Publications

Law students publish the Regent Law Review, established in 1991. The journal describes itself as "committed to a jurisprudence based upon a Higher Law; that is, law based upon the Law of God, yet remains open to publishing opposing viewpoints in certain contexts." Previous contributors include United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Attorney General John D. Ashcroft, Judge Edith H. Jones, Attorney General Edwin Meese III, Robert P. George, George Allen, Nancy R. Pearcey, Charles E. Rice, Phillip E. Johnson, Charles W. Colson, and David Barton.[12]

Additionally, the students publish the Regent Journal of International Law, founded in 2000.[13]

Reputation

Rankings

U.S. News & World Report ranks Regent University School of Law as a Tier 4 school.[14] The Princeton Review ranked Regent University seventh in the country for quality of life[15] and the most conservative school.[16]

Bar passage rates

The 2006 bar passage rate was 67.5%, up from 61% in 2005. This compares to the statewide average of 74% for the two years. The five year average was 54.7%.[17]

Bush administration hires

According to Regent University, more than 150 of its graduates have been hired by the federal government since George W. Bush came to office in 2001. As it was previously rare for alumni to go into government, Boston Globe journalist Charlie Savage suggested that the appointment of Office of Personnel Management director Kay Coles James, the former dean of Regent's government school, caused this recent sharp increase in Regent alumni employed in the government.[7] An article about a recent Regent graduate who interviewed for a government position and Regent's low school rankings have been cited as an example of the Bush administration hiring applicants with strong conservative credentials but weaker academic qualifications and less civil rights law experience than past candidates in the Civil Rights Division.[7] In addition to Savage, similar assertions have been made by several other commentators.[18][19][20][21]

However, Savage also noted that the school had improved since its days of "dismal numbers" and that the school's has had recent wins in national moot-court and negotiation competitions.[7][22] Though a prominent critic of the school, Reverend Barry Lynn of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State advised against "underestimat[ing] the quality of a lot of the people that are there."[7]

Campus

Main Campus (Virginia Beach, VA

Regent University's Virginia Beach Campus sits on 70 acres complemented by buildings of Georgian architecture which are historic in design.

Academic Buildings:

The University Library Building: housing the University Library and the Law Library.

Robertson Hall, home for the Schools of Divinity, Government, Law and Undergraduate Studies.

The Communication & Performing Arts Center, home for the School of Communication & the Arts, is a 135,000-square-foot building that features a 750-seat theatre. The center also houses a 200-seat experimental theatre, cinema-television production studio, film sound stage, screening theaters, technical studios, classrooms and teaching labs. A back lot area offers space for sets for indoor and outdoor filming.

The Student Center is a 31,000-square-foot facility housing the University Bookstore, student organization offices, The Ordinary dining facility, a computer lab, a student lounge and meeting rooms.

The Administration Building, utilized for the School of Education and administrative offices; and the Classroom Building, utilized for the schools Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship and Psychology & Counseling.

Washington, DC Campus

The Regent University Washington, D.C. Campus is located at 1650 Diagonal Road directly across from the King Street Metro station (Yellow/Blue Lines) in Alexandria, Va.

Student life

Student Government and Councils

The Student Bar Association (SBA) - The SBA is the student government at Regent University School of Law. Among the responsibilities granted to the SBA is providing law students with representative leadership to the law school and the university. The SBA also has a strong history of providing social and ministry occasions for the entire community and seeks to provide students with the best law school experience attainable.

Council of Graduate Students (COGS) - COGS is the student council for graduate students of Regent University. The Council’s constitution says that its purpose is to: “A) to foster and encourage a quality academic and professional environment; (B) to facilitate the interchange of ideas and programs between respective Schools and Colleges; (C) to promote the University’s commitment to Biblical principles and spiritual development, and in everything to bring glory to God and His Son, Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit; (D) to advocate and represent the collective ideas, interests, and concerns of the student body to the administration and vice versa.” This is primarily done through social and ministry activities for the student body.

Student Advisory Leadership Team (Washington DC) -

Undergraduate Student Advisory Council -

Student Organizations

American Bar Association - Law Student Division, Association of Black Psychologists, Black Law Student Association, Business Transactions Law Society, Christian Legal Society, College Republicans of Regent University, Entertainment and Sports Legal Society, Federalist Society, International Law Society, International Student Organization, Law Wives Association, Moot Court Board, National Law Student Association, Newman Club, Public Interest Law Association of Regent, Regent Students for Life, Students in Free Enterprise, Student Alumni Ambassadors, The King's Knights, and the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association - Student Chapter

Student Housing

Regent Village—Open to graduate students with families, Regent Village consists of more than 200 two- and three-bedroom apartments located less than one mile from campus.

Regent Commons—Open to undergraduate and graduate students without children. This facility provides a wide range of apartment styles and square footage.

Notable people

Faculty

Name Position Known For
John Ashcroft Distinguished Professor of Law and Government Former Attorney General of the United States and Politician
Admiral Vern Clark Distinguished Professor of Leadership Studies Former Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Navy
Graham Twelftree Distinguished Professor of New Testament Biblical Scholar, Studied under James D.G. Dunn

Alumni

Name Known for Relationship to Regent University
Maria Boren Candidate/cast member in the second season on The Apprentice 2002 graduate of the School of Business (now the School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship)
Sharon Weston Broome Current Louisiana State Senator 1984 graduate of the School of Communication & the Arts
Monica Goodling Former Director of Public Affairs for the U.S. Department of Justice (2001–March 2007) [23] best known for her involvement in the dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy [24] 1999 graduate of Regent University Law School
Tony Hale Actor, best known as Buster Bluth on the TV show Arrested Development 1994 graduate of the School of Communication & the Arts
Nicole Johnson Miss America in 1999 1998 graduate of the School of Communication & the Arts
Lisa Kruska Current Assistant U.S. Secretary of Labor 1988 graduate of the School of Government
Bob McDonnell Current Attorney General of the State of Virginia 1989 graduate of the Schools of Law and Government
Cheryl McKay Screenwriter of The Ultimate Gift 1995 graduate of the School of Communication & the Arts
Nevers Mumba Former Televangelist and former Vice President of Zambia (2003-2004)[25] Former student in the School of Government
Jason Upton Contemporary Christian worship artist 2000 graduate of the School of Divinity with a Master's in Divinity
Jay Sekulow Chief Counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice Ph.D. with a dissertation on American Legal History

References

  1. ^ a b c "About Regent University".
  2. ^ "America's Best Colleges 2008: Regent University: At a Glance". US News and World Report.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Regent University Facts".
  4. ^ "Regent University - Academics".
  5. ^ "Grounds". Regent University. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  6. ^ "Message from Dean Jeffrey Brauch". Regent University. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  7. ^ a b c d e Savage, Charlie (April 8, 2007). "Scandal puts spotlight on Christian law school". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  8. ^ a b "Official ABA Law School Data Sheet: Regent University" (PDF). American Bar Association. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  9. ^ a b "About Regent Law". Regent University. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  10. ^ "Admissions". Regent University. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  11. ^ "Admissions". Regent University. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  12. ^ "Regent University Law Review". Regent University. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  13. ^ "Student Organizations". Regent University. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  14. ^ US News & World Report America's Best Graduate Schools 2008: Tier 4 Law Schools
  15. ^ Princeton Review - Quality of Life
  16. ^ Review - Conservative Law Schools
  17. ^ Internet Legal Research Group 2008 Law School Profile - Regent University (VA)
  18. ^ Lithwick, Dahlia (April 8, 2007). "Justice's Holy Hires". Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-11-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ Krugman, Paul (April 13, 2007). "For God's Sake". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-11-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ Cohen, Andrew (April 9, 2007). "The Gutting Of The Justice Department". CBS News. Retrieved 2007-11-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ Moyers, Bill (May 11, 2007). "Bill Moyers Journal Transcript". PBS. Retrieved 2007-11-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ ABA Law Student Division, 2006-07 Negotiation Competition Results
  23. ^ "Deputy AG 'not fully candid,' ex-Justice aide testifies". CNN. 2007-05-28. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  24. ^ "Witness for the Prosecutors". The New York Times. 2007-11-04. Retrieved 2007-11-04.
  25. ^ "Zambian leader sacks his deputy". BBC News. 2004-10-04. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
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