Lee University

Lee University is an American accredited, private, four-year liberal arts college located in Cleveland, Tennessee, United States. It is historically affiliated with the Church of God, a Pentecostal denomination, and was the denomination's Bible Training School from 1918 until 1947, when the name was changed to Lee College. Lee became a university in 1997. The university comprises five colleges: the College of Arts & Sciences, the Helen DeVos College of Education, the School of Music, the School of Religion, and the Center for Adult & Professional Studies. Lee University is named for F.J. Lee, the institution's second president.

Lee is consistently ranked by US News and World Report among the top Southern liberal arts colleges. As such, the university's enrollment has more than quadrupled since 1986, marking the 25th straight year of increased enrollment under president Dr. Paul Conn. Lee University now maintains the fifth largest undergraduate enrollment among the 103 Christian colleges who are member institutions of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

History
Lee University has seen its strongest growth since the 1980s, during which time enrollment has quadrupled and full university status attained. Lee's student body consists of 4,377 (grown from 960 in 1986) students (as of Fall 2010). This makes Lee the 5th largest undergraduate enrollment among the 103 Christian colleges who are member institutions of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. Students currently represent all 50 states and more than 49 countries. On average, Lee also accepts more than 200 transfer students each fall. Since 1986, Lee has also added twenty-two major buildings necessary to serve the students.

Academic program
Lee University has a wide range of academic disciplines and extracurricular activities. Many activities such as chapel attendance (offered 2 times per week, students are required to attend 70% of services a month), service requirements (10 hours per semester-80 total hours to graduate), and the study abroad program (Typically taken during a summer break), are required of all graduates before they can receive their respective degree. Exceptions to these are made only under rare circumstances and only under the approval of an academic dean or the school president. All non-local entering freshmen are also required to live on-campus with exceptions made to married/divorced/widowed students, students with children, students 21 years and older, part-time students, and students living locally with immediate relatives.

Entering freshmen of Lee University choose their courses of study, developed under the guidance of a faculty adviser. New freshmen and transfer students with under 16 credit hours are required to take a Gateway-Seminar course (a one-semester special topics seminar that stresses methods of inquiry, critical analysis, writing skills) and helps to transition the student to college life. The Gateway course is taught by a professor who is paired with an upper class student. To graduate, all students are generally expected to complete at least 42 credit hours in a major field and a total of 130 credit hours of academic work. Included in the total is a minor in Theology that consists of 18 credit hours and is required of all students, regardless of their program of study.

Lee has forty-nine different majors offered for study. Although Lee is notable for its religious education; pre-medicine, business, elementary education, and music are also considered among its strongest specialties. Lee's intensive teaching, active learning, residence in a community of cultural and global diversity, and the institution's commitment to Christian philosophy in both social and academic life come together to form a distinctive experience of liberal education.

Reputation
Lee is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate and masters degrees. Lee has been selected for many years as a “Top Tier” institution in the US News and World Report college rankings. “America’s 100 Best College Buys” chose Lee as one of their top choices every year since 2006. Since the year 2000, Lee University has been listed in the Princeton Review ranking of “best colleges” in the South. The Intercollegiate Studies Institute has recommended Lee University as one of 50 "All-American Colleges". Lee University ranks third in the country among the top 20 baccalaureate institutions in the percentage of undergraduates receiving credit for studying abroad, according to Open Doors 2006, an annual report published by the New York-based Institute of International Education (IIE), Lee has also been among the top 20 baccalaureate institutions nationally for the number of international students (248 in fall 2006). The music program achieved national recognition by becoming a full member of the National Association of Schools of Music in 1998.

Admission
Lee University is considered a selective liberal arts university. Historically, it has offered admission to 64% of its applicants, and approximately 80% of accepted students typically enroll in the fall. The average ACT scores achieved by its students is 23 and the average high school GPA is 3.41.

Lee's admissions selectivity rank according to The Princeton Review is 82 out of 99. This ranking is determined by several institutionally-reported factors, including: the class rank, average standardized test scores, and average high school GPA of entering freshmen; the percentage of students who hail from out-of-state; and the percentage of applicants accepted. The primary factor in evaluating applicants is the quality of the education they have received, as shown by their transcript. Early decision opportunities are offered to students in the fall; most students apply in January of their final year in high school. Admissions letters are usually received by April 1 of each year. All students begin classes in August. In some cases students are admitted before they graduate from high school; these students have typically taken all of the academic classes offered at their school.

Tuition
Lee's combined tuition, room, board, and fees for the 2009-2010 academic year is $8,680 per semester. Tuition and fees are $5,805 per semester, and room and board (plus other assorted fees) are $3,475 per semester.

Athletics
The school's sports teams are named the Flames. With membership in the NAIA Division I-AA (NAIA), the Flames offer 15 team sports for their men and women student athletes. The available men's sports are: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, JV Basketball, Rugby, Soccer, Tennis, and Track. Athletic programs offered for women are: Basketball, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Fastpitch softball, Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Track, and Volleyball. Lee's Lady Flames soccer team won the NAIA National Championship in 2008 2009, and 2010.

Student organizations
Lee features more than 60 student organizations in which to participate, which include:

Spiritual

 * Backyard Ministries
 * Baptist Collegiate Ministries
 * Big Pal/Little Pal
 * Chattanooga Church
 * Fellowship of Christian Athletes
 * God's Own
 * Invisible Children
 * Invasion
 * Liturgical Charismatic Fellowship
 * Mission Alive
 * Outreaching Hands
 * Outstretched Arms
 * Pioneers for Christ
 * Saving Arrows (Pro-Life Ministry)

Diversity

 * Asian Council
 * Bahamian Connection
 * Chinese Student Fellowship
 * Diversity Council
 * Familia Unida (Hispanic Cultural Awareness Club)
 * International Student Fellowship
 * Umoja
 * WASA

Social Service

 * Acting on Aids
 * Amnesty International
 * College Democrats
 * College Republicans
 * Family Life
 * International Justice Mission
 * Invisible Children
 * Women's Rugby
 * Fiber Arts Club/ "Knit Wits"
 * Lee Ultimate
 * Lee University Rugby Football Club
 * Student Leadership Council
 * Lee Men's Volleyball
 * Shenanigans - Lee Improv Team

Academic

 * Academic Council
 * Anthropology Club
 * Art Club (C.I.V.A.)
 * AACC (American Assoc. of Christian Counselors)
 * Deutscher Klub (German Club)
 * Financial Management Association International
 * Math Club
 * Model UN
 * Music Educators' National Conference
 * Philosophy Club
 * Public Relations Student Society of America
 * SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise)
 * Society for Law and Justice
 * Sociology Club
 * Students National Assoc. of Teachers of Singing
 * Tri-Beta (Biology HS)

Social Organizations

 * Upsilon Xi
 * Delta Zeta Tau
 * Alpha Gamma Chi
 * Sigma Nu Sigma
 * Pi Kappa Pi
 * Epsilon Lambda Phi
 * Theta Delta Kappa
 * Omega Alpha Phi
 * Tau Kappa Omega
 * Zeta Chi Lambda
 * Greek Council

Honorary/service fraternities

 * Alpha Chi
 * Alpha Kappa Delta
 * Alpha Phi Delta
 * Alpha Psi Omega
 * Aria De Capo
 * Delta Mu Delta
 * Iota Tau Zeta
 * Kappa Delta Pi
 * Kappa Lambda Iota
 * Lambda Pi Eta
 * Phi Alpha Theta
 * Phi Delta Psi
 * Phi Eta Sigma
 * Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
 * Phi Alpha Sigma
 * Pi Delta Gamma
 * Phi Delta Phi
 * Pi Kappa Lambda
 * Pi Sigma Alpha
 * Psi Chi
 * Sigma Alpha Iota
 * Sigma Delta Pi
 * Sigma Tau Delta

About the campus
Lee University is located in the town of Cleveland, Tennessee, which lies between Chattanooga, Tennessee and Knoxville, Tennessee. Cleveland is located near the Ocoee River, the site of the 1996 Summer Olympics whitewater events, the Smoky Mountains, and the popular Gatlinburg area.

The 120 acre campus consists of various old and newly constructed academic buildings. The residential part is also spread throughout the campus with multiple dormitories and housing. Many building projects have been undertaken in recent years on the campus including; a new Humanities center, a new Religion building (2008), and a new state of the art Science building (2009). The campus also features several small park areas and articulate landscaping. The sidewalks went through a minor renovation several years ago to make them more handicap accessible as well.

Campus Buildings
Note: Dates of construction given when known

Residence Halls

 * Atkins-Ellis Hall - (1994) Female dormitory built after Ellis Hall fire
 * B.L. Hicks Hall - (1996) Male apartment residence
 * Bowdle-O'Bannon Halls - (2002) Male dormitories connected by an atrium
 * Brinsfield Row East - (2003) Female apartments named after former president J. Stewart Brinsfield. Expanded in 2004 and 2008.
 * Brinsfield Row West - (2003) Male apartments named after former president J. Stewart Brinsfield. Expanded in 2004 and 2008.
 * Carroll Court - (1973) Married apartments named after former president R. Leonard Carroll.
 * Cross Hall - (1969) Female dormitory named after former president James A. Cross
 * Davis-Sharp Halls - (1990) Connected female dormitories
 * Keeble Hall - (1999) Female apartment residence
 * Livingston Hall - (1995) Female apartment residence
 * Medlin Hall - (1930s) Formerly Walker Hall and Memorial Hall. Once home to Billy Graham. Male dormitory.
 * Nora Chambers Hall - (1930s) Female dormitory connected to Simmons and Tharp Halls. Renovated in 1994.
 * Simmons Hall - Female dormitory connected to Nora Chambers Hall. Formerly the post office. Renovated in 1981.
 * Storms Hall - (2000) Female apartment residence
 * Tharp Hall - Female dormitory connected to Nora Chambers Hall. Renovated in 1981.
 * Hughes Hall - (2011) Male Dormitory named in memory of former President Ray H. Hughes. The original Hughes Hall was demolished in 2010 to make way for the Math & Science Complex.

Other Buildings

 * Admissions Center - Located in a historic house on Ocoee Street
 * Centenary Building - Oldest building on campus, now home to administrative offices in conjunction with the Higginbotham Administration Building. Formerly women's dormitory East Wing Hall and Student Center.
 * Counseling Center - Houses Center for Calling and Careers and Academic Support
 * Music Annex - Located in a historic home on Church Street
 * Pressley Maintenance Building - (1987) Physical Plant
 * Chapel - (2011) UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Former Buildings

 * Beach Science Building - (1965) Demolished in 2009 to make way for new science building
 * Ellis Hall - (1941) Burnt down due to arson fire in November 1993
 * Hughes Hall - (1968) Male dormitory named after former president Ray H. Hughes (Demolished in 2010)
 * Old Main - The oldest building on campus before demolition in 1962.

Community covenant
Lee University, like many faith-based colleges and universities, encourages a Christian philosophy of student behavior based on Biblical teachings. All students are asked to sign a "Community Covenant" which lists several restrictions on behaviors and social interaction according to the school's institutional and religious policy. Most notable are a substance policy barring alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs. Men and Women's dormitories are kept separate and premarital sexual intercourse is prohibited regardless of sexual preference, as is homosexual behavior in general. Immodesty and "occult practices" are also forbidden.

Greek organizations
Like many colleges and universities in the United States, Lee University students have the opportunity to participate in Greek organizations for the purpose of building social and professional relationships. Unlike chapters of most "Greek" fraternities and sororities, the primary Greek organizations on Lee University's campus are neither national nor recognized as fraternities or sororities and are instead colloquially referred to as "Greek clubs." The only national Greek fraternities at Lee University are Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Sigma Alpha Iota, but they are officially regarded as academic organizations because of the administration's current policy against admitting national Greek fraternities and sororities onto its campus.

Publications

 * The Vindagua is Lee University's award-winning yearbook.
 * The Torch is Lee University's quarterly magazine highlighting current events at Lee as well as faculty members, students and alumni.
 * The Lee Clarion is the campus newspaper.
 * The Lee Review is the campus literary journal.
 * The Burgundy and Blue is an online news publication for alumni.

Presidents

 * Ambrose Jessup Tomlinson (1918–1922) [Church of God General Overseer (1909–1923)]
 * Flavius Josephus Lee (1922–1923) [Church of God General Overseer (1923–1928)]
 * J.B. Ellis (1923–1924)
 * T.S. Payne (1924–1930)
 * J. Herbert Walker, Sr. (1930–1935) [Church of God General Overseer (1935–1944)]
 * Zeno C. Tharp (1935–1944) [Church of God General Overseer (1952–1956)]
 * J. Herbert Walker, Sr. (1944–1945)
 * E.L. Simmons (1945–1948)
 * J. Stewart Brinsfield (1948–1951)
 * John C. Jernigan (1951–1952)
 * R. Leonard Carroll, Sr. (1952–1957) [Church of God General Overseer (1970–1972)]
 * R. L. Platt (1957–1960)
 * Ray H. Hughes, Sr. (1960–1966) [Church of God General Overseer (1972–1974; 1978–1982; 1996)]
 * James A. Cross (1966–1970) [Church of God General Overseer (1958–1962)]
 * Charles W. Conn (1970–1982) [Church of God General Overseer (1966–1970)]
 * Ray H. Hughes, Sr. (1982–1984)
 * R. Lamar Vest (1984–1986) [Church of God General Overseer (1990–1994; 2000–2004)]
 * Charles Paul Conn (1986–present)

Notable alumni

 * Charles Paul Conn - current president of Lee University credited with being the driving force behind the institution's continuing success over the last two decades as well as a freelance non-fiction writer with four of his works previously on the New York Times bestseller list including the #7 best seller in non-fiction in 1977 with his book The Possible Dream. Dr. Conn is now serving his twenty-third year of Lee presidency.
 * Charles W. Conn - former Lee president and president emeritus as well as the author of Like A Mighty Army|Like a Mighty Army, Moves the Church of God, the official history of the Church of God (Cleveland, TN) denomination. He also served as Editor-in-chief of Pathway Press and General Overseer of the Church of God.
 * Raymond Culpepper (Current General Overseer of the Church of God)
 * Donald Bowdle - distinguished professor of theology, and a master of the Koine Greek text, has published over two hundred articles and essays on religious subjects, a previous fellow at Yale University and University of Edinburgh
 * Kevin Brooks - a current state representative for Tennessee district 24 as of 2007.
 * Nathan Chapman - Grammy award winning record producer
 * Stephanie Culberson - Miss Tennessee 2001, Miss Tennessee USA 2004
 * Jay DeMarcus - a multi-instrumentalist/vocalist in the contemporary country band Rascal Flatts
 * Four Voices - 2002 world champion Barbershop Quartet
 * Melissa Greene - a vocalist in the contemporary Christian music group Avalon (group)
 * Mark Harris - contemporary Christian soloist and member of 4 Him
 * Judy Jacobs - His Song Ministries
 * G. Dennis McGuire (Former General Overseer of the Church of God)
 * Stanley Nyazamba- Former Columbus Crew soccer player
 * Ricardo Pierre-Louis - Former MLS soccer player drafted in the second round (22nd overall) in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft by the Columbus Crew[2] of Major League Soccer
 * Jeremi Richardson - a vocalist in the contemporary Christian music group Avalon (group)
 * Phil Stacey - American Idol finalist during the sixth season—tied for fifth place
 * Dr. Ken Robertson - Head of Pediatrics at Lebonheur
 * Perry Stone - Pentecostal evangelist, Bible teacher, director of Voice of Evangelism, and host of "Manna-Fest"
 * Jimi Westbrook - songwriter, vocalist, musician, and founding member of the contemporary country music band, Little Big Town
 * Lance Zawadzki - San Diego Padres 2007 draft pick, Short Stop

Attended Bob Jones College on what is now the Lee University campus:
 * Billy Graham - World renowned Christian evangelist and adviser to 12 US Presidents
 * Tim LaHaye - Christian writer and minister, best known for co-authoring the Left Behind series