Chowan University

Chowan University is a Christian educational institution founded in 1848 by Baptist families and named Chowan – which means “people of the south” – to honor the Native American Algonquin Chowanook tribe. For over 165 years, Chowan has enjoyed a long and distinguished tradition of faith and education in Northeastern NC. Our mission is to provide a caring environment characterized by Christian values and intellectual freedom in which students can gain the knowledge, skills, creativity, and ethical values they need to flourish in a rapidly changing, culturally diverse global society. Chowan University is committed to serving average students. By “average,” we mean students with a GPA from 2.25-3.25 and “average” SAT scores (around 1300 for the three-part SAT). Students below these criteria may be admitted if they show a commitment to the Chowan University experience and academic potential. Many of our students are first-generation college students, which means their parents did not attend college or complete a college degree. Because of Chowan’s commitment to individual attention in a Christian environment, these students thrive at Chowan University. The Chowan University community seeks to believe in and to live out the teachings of Jesus Christ. This goal is accomplished through the mentoring, ministry, and teaching of Christian faculty and staff, and mission and service experiences on campus, in the community, in the United States, and around the world. Our pastoral campus ministry team provides opportunities for students to grow in their faith while also meeting the needs of others. Local, national, and international mission trips, discipleship, residence hall Bible studies, mentoring, and lots of one-on-one attention and prayer give students a transformative education. All students who seek to complete their degree at Chowan University must enroll in an introductory course about the Bible. Students must also attend a handful of Perspectives events that are offered weekly, which involve holistic presentations and lectures, religious celebrations, theatrical performances, and other Chowan community-related events. We are not here to indoctrinate anyone, but to show them the Christian way of life as revealed in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Non-Christian students and students from other religious traditions are respected and welcomed here and thrive in this environment.

Location

Nestled in the small historic town of Murfreesboro in northeastern North Carolina, Chowan University is a short drive to the beaches of both North Carolina and Virginia. Chowan is also within driving distance to many amenities, including shopping, restaurants, amusement parks, and metropolitan areas like Virginia Beach. The town of Murfreesboro is a small community that rallies around the campus. Chowan has the best of both worlds; Murfreesboro is a small, safe community, yet major urban amenities are only a short drive away. Chowan University resides on a 450+ acre campus surrounded by wooded areas and several lakes. We are located in the part of North Carolina designated as the "Inner Banks," and our campus reflects the natural beauty of the Intracoastal Waterway. Murfreesboro experiences all four seasons but is characterized by mild weather. The average high temperature during the school months is 65 degrees (18 Celsius).

The Value of Values Education

Chowan University is known for having “Faith in your future.” Much more than a tagline, our mission is to provide an education that transforms ordinary students into extraordinary graduates. We do this in good faith, trusting God in the person of Jesus Christ, with optimism for each student’s success. Our faculty comes to Chowan to teach, advise, and engage students in the classroom, in the fields and courts of competition, and throughout extra-curricular activities. Faith in action underscores all that we do. It is not enough to teach students how or what to think; we teach students how to live with honor and conscience using their head, heart, and hands. “Jesus grew in wisdom and maturity and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52 Head: We Teach At Chowan, students will take classes in the disciplines of Science, Fine Art, Literature, History, Health, and Religion. But more importantly, they will learn how each discipline relates to the others. Our integrated education produces exceptional thinkers who can make sense of the world in which we live. "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others." - 2 Timothy 2:2 Heart: We Advise The faculty and staff who surround our students walk alongside them and inspire their professional and personal dreams with passion. Faculty advisors mentor students one-on-one and consistently model and encourage right and healthy decision making. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:2 Hands: We Engage Opportunities for service to abound to members of the Chowan community. Students join faculty and staff to translate what is taught and what is learned from what is done. From clothing the needy in our community to loving orphans with HIV/AIDS in South Africa, we take seriously our mission to provide Light and Truth in the name of Christ Jesus. "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." - Matthew 25:40 We provide a liberal arts education that challenges the whole student. The transformed lives of our students give value to what we do at Chowan University.