Iowa official register

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EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 

 

improve their professional skills in order to reach career goals.  The programs are offered one 

night per week, in five-week and six-week formats, only focusing on one class at a time.  Students 

can earn their degrees in less time than if they were enrolled in comparable, conventional pro-

grams. 

In addition to classes at its Clinton campus, Ashford offers online courses, another way for 

students to complete their education.   

Ashford is noted for its tradition of excellence, service, openness, and caring. Its small faculty-

to-student ratio enables faculty members to give personalized attention to their students. 

Outside of class, students can choose from a wide range of social and recreational activities. 

The university offers many opportunities for involvement in clubs and organizations on campus. 

Campus organizations include service organizations, special interest groups, special event plan-

ning committees, support groups, honor societies, and recreation clubs. 

The university fields intercollegiate teams, called the Saints, in the following sports:  men’s 

baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, cross country, and track and field; and women’s basketball, 

golf, bowling, soccer, cross country, softball, track and field, and volleyball.  “Champ,” a St. Ber-

nard, is the Saints’ mascot.   

On-campus students live in two residence halls, one of which is attached to the main building. 

The university offers learning opportunities in a high-tech “wireless campus” environment.  

The Durgin Educational Center is a multipurpose facility designed to meet the academic, ath-

letic, recreational, and social needs of students.  Kehl Arena has two regulation-sized basketball 

courts and individual and retractable seats with backs and armrests for 500 people and bleachers 

for 500 guests.  The space can be transformed into a staging area with capacity seating up to 

2,000 persons. 

Regular exhibits created by local, regional, and national artists are featured in the Cortona Art 

Gallery.  The gallery’s free exhibits are open to the public Monday through Friday. 

Ashford offers one of the lowest-cost private educations in the Midwest at its Clinton campus 

and its online programs are an affordable educational alternative for students throughout the 

United States and overseas. 

Because Ashford is committed to the idea that no one should be denied a college education 

because of financial need, it provides financial aid to a large percentage of its students each year.  

In general, financial aid is provided in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and part-time work 

on campus. 

BRIAR CLIFF UNIVERSITY 

Beverly A. Wharton, president; Sioux City 51104; [phone]; [phone]; 

www.briarcliff.edu 

Briar Cliff University, founded in 1930 by the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Family, is a 

fully accredited, Catholic, coeducational, liberal arts college. With an enrollment of approxi-

mately 1,100 students, the college offers over 34 different majors and preprofessional concentra-

tion areas.  Each area offers its own unique experiences, which could include internships any-

where across Iowa or the United States or around the world. 

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and Bachelor of Social 

Work degrees are conferred, as well as two-year Associate of Arts degrees in two areas.   A Mas-

ter of Arts in Education, a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management, and a Master of Sci-

ence in Nursing are also conferred.   

Briar Cliff’s academic program gives broad exposure to the liberal arts. Its size provides stu-

dents the opportunity to explore many different areas of interest before declaring a major. Stu-

dent-faculty ratio is 14:1. 

The academic year consists of three 10-week terms, September through May, two one-week 

intensive summer sessions, and two five-week summer sessions. Briar Cliff also offers a full 

range of continuing education programs during the day, evenings, and weekends. 

 

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438 

IOWA OFFICIAL REGISTER 

 

BUENA VISTA UNIVERSITY 

Frederick V. Moore, president; Storm Lake 50588; [phone]; [phone]; 

www.bvu.edu 

Buena Vista University (BVU) is a regionally acclaimed university that relentlessly focuses on 

learning through innovative and imaginative programs.  The university’s remarkable educational 

community provides a premier education for students interested in outstanding career preparation. 

BVU’s main campus is situated on the north shore of beautiful Storm Lake with 14 Profes-

sional & Online Studies sites located across Iowa, including Council Bluffs, Creston, Denison, 

Emmetsburg, Estherville, Fort Dodge, Iowa Falls, Le Mars, Marshalltown, Mason City, Newton, 

Ottumwa, Spencer, and Spirit Lake. These sites provide educational opportunities for adult learn-

ers interested in continuing their education. 

Founded in 1891, BVU enrolls approximately 1,200 students on the main campus and 1,500 

students through Professional & Online Studies. Buena Vista University offers undergraduate 

students 44 majors and 15 preprofessional programs of study within five schools:  Business; 

Communication and Arts; Education and Exercise Science; Science; and Social Science, Philoso-

phy, and Religion. Academic sessions at BVU are based on a 4-1-4 system, with a fall term, Janu-

ary interim, and a spring term. Graduate students pursue a Master of Science degree in education. 

CENTRAL COLLEGE  

David Roe, Ph.D., president; Pella 50219; [phone]; 

www.central.edu 

Central College is a four-year, coeducational, residential, liberal arts college located in Pella 

since its founding in 1853. About 1,600 students come from 29 states and 11 foreign countries. 

The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Cen-

tral Association, Iowa Department of Education, AACTE, National Association of Schools of 

Music, and the American Chemical Association. It is affiliated with the Reformed Church in 

America. 

The college offers 38 majors, the most popular being business management, exercise science, 

education, biology, and Spanish. Preprofessional programs and advising are available. About 97 

percent of all graduates are employed in career fields of their choice or are enrolled in graduate or 

professional schools within a year of graduation. 

Central was named to U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges issue for best 

liberal arts college in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate education as well as in the Aca-

demic Programs to Look For section for its study abroad program. Nearly half of Central’s stu-

dents study abroad at one of eight sites — Vienna, Austria; Hangzhou, China; London, England; 

Paris, France; Merida, Mexico; Leiden, the Netherlands; Granada, Spain; and Bangor, Wales. In 

addition, students have the option to spend a semester doing internships at various sites, including 

programs in Washington, D.C., Chicago, and overseas. 

For the third consecutive year, Central College was named to the President’s Higher Education 

Community Service Honor Roll for distinguished general community service in recognition of 

extraordinary volunteer efforts by the school and its students to serve area neighborhoods and 

communities. Central College also was listed on the Carnegie Foundation Advancement of Teach-

ing’s 2008 Community Engagement Classification in the Curricular Engagement and Outreach 

and Partnership category. 

Central is committed to sustainability and has several “green” buildings on campus including 

the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-rated building in Iowa, the Vermeer 

Science Center, which received a silver rating. Also, Howard McKee Hall is the state’s first gold-

rated residential building and features 15 apartment-style pods. Central is striving for the top 

LEED rating — platinum — for its new education and psychology building. 

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