Lynchburg college
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Lynchburg College has earned more than its share of honors and recognition.

Consider that in 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked LC in its top tier of Southern universities and colleges; The Princeton Review recognized it as one of the "Best 371 colleges"; it is included in the list of 100 colleges and universities on the Honor Roll of Character Building Colleges, published in the Templeton Guide.

It is also one of forty colleges featured in Colleges That Change Lives, published by Loren Pope, former editor of New York Times education editor. There are many, many more honors of a similar nature.

Its main campus of 214 acres occupies a beautiful site on Lynchburg's Lakeside Drive where over 2500 students are engaged in building the foundation of their future.

In addition to the main campus, Lynchburg College has 470 acres about 20 miles north and west of Lynchburg that is home to the Claytor Nature Study Center.

The college offers an impressive 38 majors, 46 minors, 13 pre-professional programs as well as three Masters Degrees: M.B.A., M.Ed, and M.A. It has numerous important accreditations including:

Lynchburg College is always pursuing new accreditations to expand its academic offerings.

This is no new-kid on the block. LC's birthdate goes way back to 1903 making it 107 years old as of 2010.

Its birth name was Virginia Christian College, christened by its founder, Dr. Josephus Hopwood. Dr. Hopwood was serving as president of Milligan College in Eastern Tennessee when he was enticed by a group of Disciples of Christ ministers to establish a college in Lynchburg, Virginia, about 240 miles northeast via interstate 81.

As luck or providence would have it, the Westover Hotel, a Lynchburg resort had failed and was on the market. It was purchased for $13,500 and the university commenced operations with eleven faculty members and fifty-five students.

In 1909 the college took a big leap forward with the addition of three new buildings; a new hall now known as Hopwood Hall, a new central heating building and Carnegie Hall, a residence for male students. In 1919, Virginia Christian College became Lynchburg College, a new name intended to reflect its broader focus.

Today the college has over 40 buildings and academic programs at all levels in six schools:

Entering from Lakeside Drive, there are three visitors parking areas adjacent to the Alumni House and close to the Burton Student Center and Hall Campus Center.

Walking to Friendship Circle in the center of the campus, one will see that a dozen major buildings are arrayed around the circle, with walkways extending out from the center like spokes on a wheel.

Unfortunately, the original Westover Hall is no longer present, having been razed in 1970. It used to stand in front of Tate and Montgomery Halls.

Photo: Rendition of original Westover Hall, torn down in 1970

Now all that is left of Westover Hall is the model built by Dr. Edmund Potter and the Westover Room in the Burton Student Center, so named in loving memory of the old edifice.

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Going clockwise from the 6 o'clock position are Tate and Montgomery residence halls. At 9 o'clock is the Snidow Chapel and Hebb Music Center. Next is the very large Schewel Hall for business, economics, communications and the arts. This is the place to go for a bagel and Starbucks.

At 12 o'clock is the Knight-Capron Library and Hobbs Hall for mathmatics and the sciences. At 1 o'clock is the Dillard Fine Arts Center that houses the Daura Art Gallery, Dillard theater and dramatic arts.

At 3 o'clock we come to Hopwood Hall with its auditorium, computer labs, study halls, classrooms and various centers. Continuing back to our 6 o'clock starting position is Carnegie Hall for humanities and social sciences and IT services.

Next is Hundley Hall housing residences and student activities and finally back to the Burton Student Center where we find the bookstore, dining halls, post office and public relations.

Lynchburg College has its share of athletic programs as well. The college is a member of the NCAA Divsion III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. In addition to the usual college intramural and club sports, there are 9 men's and 10 women's varsity sports. Oh yes, there is also 2 co-ed varsity sports.

Under graduate tuition for the 2009-2010 semesters is $13,990 per semester, full time, with room and board rates depending on the plan selected.

A wonderful, pictorial campus tour and a wealth of information for prospective students can be seen on the Lynchburg College website.

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