Buena Vista University

Infobox University
name = Buena Vista University
motto = Bold vision, bright futures
established = 1891
type = Private coeducational
president = Frederick V. Moore
city = Storm Lake
state = Iowa
country = USA
campus =Rural, 60 acres (0.25 km²)
Student-to-teacher ratio = 13:1
mascot = Beavers
colors = Navy Blue and Gold
website = [http://www.bvu.edu/ www.bvu.edu]

Buena Vista University is a private 4-year college located in Storm Lake, Iowa. Founded in 1891 as Buena Vista College, it is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. The university's 60 acre campus is situated on the shores of Storm Lake, a convert|3200|acre|km2|sing=on natural lake. BVU's academic programs feature a balance between traditional liberal arts courses and hands-on learning opportunities, such as travel and internships. The university awards its faculty with the $30,000 George Wythe Award for Teaching Excellence, one of the largest faculty awards in the nation. The average student-to-professor ratio is 13:1.

At its inception, the college was housed in the Storm Lake Opera House, where it remained for only a year. Old Main, the college's first building, opened in 1892, and was occupied by faculty and students until it burned down in 1956. Major construction projects in the 1950s and 1960s extended the college, which soon included three dormitories, a library, and a number of classroom buildings.

The college gained accreditation in 1952, and began to grant degrees under the authority of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The first graduate degrees were offered in 1995, at which time the college became Buena Vista University.

The main campus of Buena Vista University serves approximately 1,200 students each academic year, and currently offers classes in 42 majors. 14 additional Centers located throughout Iowa serve about 1,400 students. The university was ranked in the top 20 Midwestern Comprehensive Colleges, as reported by U.S.News and World Report's college rankings. In 2007, BVU was ranked 12th for academic quality in the Midwestern Baccalaureate category.

Events and Traditions

Founders’ Day: This day marks the official beginning of the academic year at BVU. A memorial service during the morning is an opportunity for the University community to pay tribute to BVU's founders and to honor members of the BVU family who have passed away during the preceding year. A convocation in the afternoon welcomes new students and their families to BVU.

The processional through the Victory Arch: Students pass through the Victory Arch twice during their University career: on Founder's Day as new students, and again as part of their Commencement ceremony. As freshmen, they proceed through the Arch, toward Schaller Memorial Chapel, indicating their entrance into the BVU community. As seniors, students proceed from Schaller Memorial Chapel through the Victory Arch, signifying the end of one chapter of their lives and the beginning of another.Chapel Services: Every Thursday at 11 a.m. during the academic year, the BVU community comes together for worship. Although attendance at chapel is no longer required of students, many still enjoy and participate in this celebration of faith and community.

The William W. Siebens American Heritage Lecture Series: This prestigious event features internationally-recognized leaders of business, academics, law, press, government, religion and other areas of American life. Each speaker focuses on an area of life where the matters of major rights and responsibilities are a concern. Selected students have the opportunity to interview the speakers during an afternoon session that is attended by the campus community.

Homecoming Week: Homecoming week is one of the major social events of the year for students, faculty, staff and alumni. Throughout the week, students prepare for Homecoming with residence hall/suite competitions and nightly events. The week culminates with the crowning of the King and Queen, a parade and the football game and alumni reunions.

Christmas Dinner: The President hosts a special dinner for all students. It's an evening of Christmas carols and traditional Christmas dinner fare. Faculty and staff help serve the dinner to students.

Buenafication Day: Each spring, faculty, staff and students join forces to paint, plant flowers and "buenafy" the BVU campus. This tradition has also evolved into a day of service during which students do volunteer projects in the community. A morning of work and service is followed by a picnic lunch and an afternoon of games.

Academic Awards Banquet: In the spring, the University recognizes those students who have excelled in their academic pursuits. Parents, faculty and staff are also included in this ceremony. Major awards, such as Senior of the Year, are announced at the event.

Moonlight Breakfast: Each semester during finals week, Student Services and Sodexho Food Service host a late-night breakfast for students. Served by the Student Services staff, this is an excellent study break as students prepare for their final exams.

Scholars Day: In one of the newest traditions held in the spring, students representing a cross-section of academic disciplines have the opportunity to showcase their original scholarly work in an interactive format that is open the public.

Career Symposium: On the day before Homecoming, BVU alumni return to campus to participate in panel sessions to answer students’ questions about careers. In addition to the panel sessions, time is also scheduled for students to meet “one on one” with alumni. The event is sponsored by the BVU National Alumni Association.

Dinner at the President’s Home: Each fall, President and Mrs. Moore invite freshmen (via their Freshman Seminar classes) to their residence, the McCorkle House, for dinner. It’s an opportunity for the students to get to know the president and a time when the president shares some of the historical background on the impact that Life Trustee Dr. Paul McCorkle and his late wife, Vivian, who was also a Trustee, have had on the University.

Senior Send-off: This event started in 1999 as a brunch prior to Commencement to celebrate the time the seniors spent on campus and to wish them well in their future endeavors. The format was changed in 2007 to a picnic in Scout Park on the Friday before Commencement day. The offices of Student Services and Alumni Relations are the sponsors.

Ringing of the Victory Bell: In years gone by, the Victory Bell was occasionally rung by students to celebrate football victories and to commemorate special occasions. The tradition has recently been renewed by the Alumni Association Student Board. Now, freshmen ring the bell on Founders’ Day, sophomores as a call to the Christmas Dinner, juniors as a call to students to gather on Buenafication Day morning, and seniors on their Commencement Day. Originally, the bell was located across from Edson Hall and was later moved to a site between Lage Communications Center and Social Sciences and Art Hall.

Campus Buildings

Ballou BuildingFormerly the main library facility, the Ballou Building houses the Offices of the President and Institutional Advancement, including the National Alumni Association. The lower level still houses the Allee Curriculum Library, containing 7,800 volumes; a student lounge and other library materials.

Bradford FieldBradford Field is the site of football and track activity. It is home to the J. Leslie Rollins Football Stadium. The convert|240|ft|m|sing=on stadium extends between the convert|10|yd|sing=on lines and has a seating capacity of approximately 2,500. An all-weather, eight-lane track was installed in 1986.

Dixon-Eilers HallDixon-Eilers Hall houses BVU's business offices and the Office of the Registrar, in addition to housing classrooms. The building was completed in 1958 and stands on the site of the original "Old Main."

Edson HallOriginally known as Victory Hall, the University gym before Siebens Fieldhouse was constructed in 1969, Edson Hall is now home to the BVU music department. Renovation of the hall was completed in early 1997 with the addition of a choral rehearsal room, nine state-of-the-art practice rooms, a piano/keyboard lab, a student work area, and additional office space.

Estelle Siebens Science CenterCompleted in the summer of 2004, the convert|70000|sqft|m2 facility comfortably houses BVU's five interdisciplinary fields of science (biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics), fostering collaboration among the disciplines, as well as between students and faculty.

The 18 laboratories complement seven classrooms, three research areas, and 24 offices. "Science Avenue," a prominent atrium corridor that puts projects on display, connects the two-story, glass-walled rotunda (nicknamed "The Beaker") to a greenhouse with three environmental growth chambers.

Finkbine NatatoriumNamed in appreciation of Frank Finkbine in memory of his wife Mae Finkbine, Finkbine Natatorium is a six-lane convert|25|yd|sing=on competition pool.

Harold Walter Siebens School of Business/Siebens ForumThe Harold Walter Siebens School of Business/Siebens Forum was completed in the spring of 1985. In addition to the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business and a conference center, it houses the Student and Career Services offices, food service and cafeteria, Anderson Auditorium (a 386-seat auditorium), Siebens Den, the Geisinger Student Leadership Center, the bookstore, post office, games area and snack bar, and other offices and lounges. Included in the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business are tiered seminar rooms, a case-study seminar room, faculty offices, and a special resource room that enables students to receive the latest market information from Wall Street and other sources. The conference center includes a board room, conference rooms, lobbies, and offices. The $10 million building, made possible by an $18 million gift from the late Dr. Harold Walter Siebens, also has telecommunication capabilities.

Information Technology Center/BVU LibraryThe BVU Library is a state-of-the-art facilitiy with a capacity of 300,000 printed volumes, as well as one thousand journals and periodicals. Computerized periodical databases access many sources not available in the library. A coffee shop was added to the library in 2008.

Lage Communication CenterLage Communication Center is the home of telecommunication at BVU. Lage houses the radio, television and print studios for the School of Communication and Arts. It is the control center for the telecommunication system, which extends throughout campus.

Lamberti Recreation CenterConstruction was completed in 2001 on this convert|65000|sqft|m2 addition to the Siebens Fieldhouse. It features a six-lane indoor track, three courts for basketball, volleyball and tennis, an exercise and weight room, coaches offices, and locker/shower facilities. The $9.5 million project, funded entirely by donors, also included an convert|18000|sqft|m2 renovation of the Siebens Fieldhouse.

LighthouseA convert|30|ft|m|sing=on brick lighthouse was built on the shores of Storm Lake near Siebens Fieldhouse in 1992 in memory of Buena Vista University trustee and benefactor Harold Walter Siebens. The lighthouse was a gift from the Siebens family.

McCorkle HallMcCorkle Hall was completed in January 1996 and houses 72 students in six-person suites.

Schaller Memorial ChapelSchaller Memorial Chapel, dedicated in 1963, adjoins Dixon-Eilers Hall. It serves as an auditorium and theater and is used for convocation services. Special events, such as Baccalaureate and Founders Day, are held here. A small meditation chapel is located in the lower level. A special feature of the chapel is the Hansen Organ, a three-manual Reuter pipe organ with 2,048 pipes.

Siebens FieldhouseThe main level of Siebens Fieldhouse houses a gymnasium, which seats 4,000 spectators. On this level are classrooms and coaches' offices. The balcony is used for aerobics, and a large double hitting area for softball and baseball. A shot put area is also available.

On the lower level are varsity locker rooms for men and women, laundry facilities, a wrestling room, a training room, handball and racquetball courts, and one of the most extensive weight lifting areas in the Iowa Conference. East of the Fieldhouse are four outdoor tennis courts for recreational and conference play.

Smith HallBuilt in 1925, Smith Hall was completely renovated in 1970. It houses classrooms and faculty offices.

Social Sciences and Art HallThis building contains art facilities, classrooms and offices for social sciences, as well as an inviting gathering space with a fireplace and television. The building originally housed the science programs, and extensive remodeling was completed in 2008.

Steward D. Siebens Computer CenterThe Stewart D. Siebens Computer Center offers hardware and software technical support via the Help Desk, 2FIX hotline [phone]), and 2FIX e-mail ([e-mail]). The Help Desk also provides checkout services for digital still cameras, digital video cameras, extra batteries, laptop computers, and automobile A/C adapters. The Help Desk is also one of four locations on campus offering battery swap services. The Help Desk hours vary throughout the year and are available on the web at http://2fix.bvu.edu. In the lab area, the Computer Center has a laser printer and several scanners.

The Teaching and Learning with Technology Center, (TLTC) is located in the Computer Center. The TLTC supports faculty in the integration of technology tools into teaching and learning.

Victory ArchThe Victory Arch was constructed from the remains of the Old Main archway. Old Main, constructed in 1893, was the principal building on campus until it was destroyed by fire in 1956. The Victory Arch is a symbol linking the past to the present. The Victory Arch stood on the southeast corner of Chapel lawn for many years before it was rebuilt atop the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business/Siebens Forum in 1984-85.

Residence Life

The university has eight residence halls available for student living. Each residence hall is open during daylight hours, but are only accessible by electronic ID cards after dark.

Swope HallThe first residence hall built on campus, it is an all-female hall and has single and double occupancy rooms available. There are 10 housing communities, each with a resident advisor available for help.

Pierce-White Hall It is a double complex, comprised of two buildings. White hall is a co-ed building, with the basement housing male residents, and the top two floors housing female residents. The first floor fluctuates between having male and female residents to accommodate the make up of the student body. Pierce Hall is an all-male hall. Both Pierce and White have three floors and a basement and have 7 housing communities, each with a resident advisor available for help. The buildings share a common lobby and are connected underground with the Siebens Forum, the main building on campus.

Grand Hall Built in 1997, Grand Hall is a co-ed community with three floors. The building houses 100 students, including six resident advisors. The floors are separated into males and females and are connected by internal doors. Grand Hall was the first residence hall on campus to have an elevator.

Liberty Hall Finished in 2002, Liberty Hall is a voluntary substance-free building, built with similar design to Grand Hall. There is space, however for a faculty member to live in the building, creating a unique sense of community. Residents choosing to live in Liberty Hall sign a pledge form to not partake in drinking alcohol or smoking and chewing tobacco while on building premises.

SuitesThe suites are apartment-style living quarters that group six female or six male residents in a suite in three bedrooms. There are three suite buildings, Constitution, Briscoe (formerly Centennial Hall, named for former college president, Keith Briscoe) and McCorkle (formerly Heritage Hall, named for Trustee Paul McCorkle . Entrance in the suites is reserved for sophomores, juniors and seniors and is based on a point system made up of points assigned for the student's year and grade point average and seniority in the suites.

Notable Alumni

*Carlos Martinez
*Rosemary Sackett, chief judge of the Iowa Court of Appeals
*Benjamin Mordecai, broadway producer
*Alan Semok (actor)
*Joel West (actor)
*Randy Rahe, head men's basketball coach at Weber State University
*Susan Donovan, Dean of students and vice president at Loyola College

eBVyou

The eBVyou project made Buena Vista University the nation's first wireless community in the nation. The initiative, which was started in 2000, placed Gateway laptop computers in every student's hands, allowing them access to the internet from anywhere on campus. The campus is equipped with wireless points in every building, which link students, faculty and staff together at any time.

Every two years, all laptops are upgraded to a newer model. For the first several years of the program, Gateway computers were used, however the university has recently switched to Dell.

External links

* [http://www.bvu.edu/ Official web site]