Located in the North Carolina foothills, Gardner-Webb University is a private, Christian, liberal arts university that prepares students to become critical thinkers, leaders and servants in the global community.
Gardner-Webb University’s purpose is to advance the Kingdom of God through Christian higher education by preparing graduates for professional and personal success, instilling in them a deep commitment to service and leadership, and equipping them for well-rounded lives of lasting impact, Pro Deo et Humanitate (For God and Humanity).
History Highlights
* 1905 – Founded as Boiling Springs High School and would later become Boiling Springs Junior College in 1928
* 1942 – Renamed Gardner-Webb College in honor of North Carolina Governor O. Max Gardner and wife, Faye Webb
* 1971 – Became a senior college, offering four-year degrees
* 1993 – Became Gardner-Webb University
* 2000 – Reclassified to NCAA Division I athletics
* 2013 – Completed largest-ever capital campaign of $46 million
* 2014 – Added nearly 26 acres and the former Crawley Memorial Hospital building to establish the College of Health Sciences
MISSION STATEMENT
Gardner-Webb University fulfills its purpose of advancing the Kingdom of God through Christian higher education by preparing graduates to make meaningful contributions for God and humanity in an ever-changing global community.
STATEMENT OF SUPPORT
In 1903, the Kings Mountain and Sandy Run Baptist Associations conceptualized an institution of learning where students would experience “the best possible educational advantages under distinctive Christian influence.” Thus began Gardner-Webb’s journey from a boarding high school to a thriving regional University. Gardner-Webb University remains committed to the vision of its founders reflected in the motto inscribed on the Gardner-Webb seal: Pro Deo et Humanitate – For God and Humanity.
Gardner-Webb University is a Christ-centered university founded on the belief that God is the source of all truth. We provide challenging undergraduate and graduate education that is strongly grounded in the liberal arts, while offering students the opportunity to prepare for professional fulfillment. The pursuit of wisdom and understanding in our community of faith and learning is guided by historic Baptist values. Gardner-Webb is dedicated to higher education that engages scholarship with Christian life by fostering intellectual development, critical reflection and spiritual formation within a diverse community of learning.
At Gardner-Webb University, love for God is expressed in our community’s love for humanity. We maintain that Christian higher education is a formative process in which students, faculty, and staff work together to become good stewards of all of the gifts that God has given to us. We believe all persons are created in the image of God, and the best human life is one of self-giving service which treats everyone with dignity and respect. Gardner-Webb is committed to demonstrating God’s love for the world both by what we do and by what we say. Because we are concerned about the needs of others, we join our Lord’s global mission through service, leadership, and ministry.
STATEMENT OF VALUES
CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
Acknowledging one God – Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer of life; committing to the lordship of Christ and self-giving service displayed in Christ-like moral action that respects the dignity and value of every person.
BAPTIST HERITAGE
Affirming historic Baptist values such as the authority of Scripture in matters of faith and practice, the freedom of individual conscience and the right of people to worship God as they choose, the priesthood of all believers, the autonomy of the local church, and the separation of church and state.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Encouraging visible enthusiasm for knowledge, intellectual challenge, continuous learning, and scholarly endeavors; inviting pursuit of educational opportunities within and beyond the classroom for the joy of discovery; and inspiring accomplishment within one's field of study.
LIBERAL ARTS
Offering broad-based exposure to the arts, humanities and sciences and to each field's unique challenges, contributions, and life lessons; complementing the acquisition of career-related knowledge and skills with well-rounded knowledge of self, others, and society.
TEAMWORK
Working collaboratively to support and promote shared goals, assuming responsibility willingly, meeting commitments dependably, handling disagreement constructively, and persevering despite distraction and adversity.
STUDENT-CENTERED FOCUS
Providing students an environment that fosters intellectual and spiritual growth; encourages physical fitness, service, social and cultural enrichment; strengthens and develops moral character; and respects the value and individuality of every student.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Assisting campus, local, national, and global communities through education, outreach, and research; fostering dialogue and action in support of human welfare and environmental stewardship.
DIVERSITY
Studying and celebrating our world's rich mix of cultures, ideologies, and ethnicities; respecting and welcoming students without regard to ethnicity, gender, religious commitment, national origin, or disability.
Academic degrees in the following: Associates, Bachelors, Masters and Doctorates
