Dakota Wesleyan University: Narrative Description

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DAKOTA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY H-14

1200 West University Ave.
Mitchell, SD 57301-4398
Tel: (605)995-2600
Free: 800-333-8506
Admissions: (605)995-2650
Fax: (605)995-2699
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: http://www.dwu.edu/

Description:

Independent United Methodist, comprehensive, coed. Awards associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees. Founded 1885. Setting: 50-acre small town campus. Endowment: $19.1 million. Educational spending 2003-04: $4124 per student. Total enrollment: 681. Faculty: 78 (45 full-time, 33 part-time). Student-undergrad faculty ratio is 11:1. 423 applied, 79% were admitted. 10% from top 10% of their high school class, 35% from top quarter, 75% from top half. Full-time: 617 students, 58% women, 42% men. Part-time: 37 students, 68% women, 32% men. Students come from 29 states and territories, 4 other countries, 24% from out-of-state, 2% Native American, 2% Hispanic, 4% black, 1% Asian American or Pacific Islander, 1% international, 20% 25 or older, 43% live on campus, 11% transferred in. Retention: 62% of full-time freshmen returned the following year. Academic areas with the most degrees conferred: business/marketing; education; protective services/public administration. Core. Calendar: semesters. Academic remediation for entering students, ESL program, services for LD students, advanced placement, self-designed majors, honors program, independent study, distance learning, double major, summer session for credit, part-time degree program, adult/continuing education programs, internships. Off campus study. Study abroad program.

Entrance Requirements:

Options: Peterson's Universal Application, electronic application. Required: high school transcript, SAT or ACT. Recommended: minimum 2.0 high school GPA. Entrance: moderately difficult. Application deadline: 8/29. Notification: continuous.

Costs Per Year:

Application fee: $25. Comprehensive fee: $20,344 includes full-time tuition ($15,600) and college room and board ($4744). College room only: $2033. Full-time tuition varies according to program. Room and board charges vary according to board plan, housing facility, and student level. Part-time tuition: $328 per credit. Part-time tuition varies according to course load and program.

Collegiate Environment:

Orientation program. Drama-theater group, choral group, student-run newspaper. Social organizations: 30 open to all. Most popular organizations: DWU Future Teachers Organization, Student Nurses Association, Culture Club, Human Services Club, Student Ministry Council. Major annual events: Blue and White Days, Spring Week, Family Life Conference. Student services: health clinic, personal-psychological counseling. Campus security: 24-hour emergency response devices, student patrols, late night transport-escort service, controlled dormitory access, campus patrol from 2am to 6am by special request only. 380 college housing spaces available; 261 were occupied in 2003-04. Freshmen guaranteed college housing. On-campus residence required through sophomore year. Options: coed, men-only, women-only housing available. Layne Library with 63,000 books, 64,670 microform titles, 721 serials, 20,900 audiovisual materials, an OPAC, and a Web page. Operations spending 2003-04: $367,080. 100 computers available on campus for general student use. A campuswide network can be accessed from student residence rooms and from off campus. Staffed computer lab on campus.

Community Environment:

Located in the James River Valley, Mitchell (population 15,000) is one of the most fertile and diversified agricultural areas in the United States. Products are corn, sorghum, small grain, cattle and hogs. Mitchell is the trading center for the surrounding counties. Community facilities include shopping areas, churches, a library, YMCA, 2 hospitals and a number of the customary civic and service organizations. Recreational activities include boating, fishing, swimming and pheasant hunting.

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