Special Programs
- Belk Astronomical Observatory: The Belk Astronomical Observatory is built at one of the highest points on the Claytor Nature Center property (approximately 960 feet above sea level) and benefits from a virtually unobstructed view of the entire night sky along the full horizon. The installation of the 20-inch Truss Ritchey-Chrétien telescope provides University of Lynchburg with one of the best-equipped observatories in the state.
- Contact: Crystal Moorman ’09, PhD
- Claytor Nature Center: The Claytor Nature Center consists of a 470-acre property dedicated to the study and appreciation of our natural environment. The center boasts the 7,700-square-foot A. Boyd Claytor III Education and Research Facility, Belk Astronomical Observatory, an antebellum farmhouse with landscaped gardens, and many natural features. The Ramsey-Freer Herbarium, a facility in the School of Science, is located on the grounds of the Claytor Nature Center. The herbarium is believed to be the longest running research effort on campus, and houses the largest private college plant collection in the Commonwealth. A recently renovated greenhouse is also available for use in research.
- Contact: Jennifer Wills
- Westover Honors College: Undergraduate program for honors students. Interdisciplinary courses. Includes honors colloquia, honors projects, and an annual retreat.
- Contacts: Beth Savage, PhD, Amy Enneking
Liberal Arts Programs Outside the Classroom
European Union Simulation
Contact: David Richards, PhD
4-day simulation in Washington, D.C. Students attend a briefing at a European embassy and meet with specialists engaged in U.S./European relations.
United Nations Simulation
Contact: David Richards, PhD
Annual intercollegiate trip to New York City. Includes opportunities for public speaking, debate, consensus building, and networking.
Ethics Bowl
Contact: TBA
The Ethics Bowl team is a debate team that focuses on ethical issues. The team competes against other regional colleges in two events: the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl in November and the VFIC Ethics Bowl in February.
Student Scholar Showcase
Contact: Student Scholar Showcase organizing committee
The annual Student Scholar Showcase provides students with an opportunity to present projects to the campus community. Work may include scholarly papers, creative writing, scientific or historical research, or performance arts projects. The Showcase is held during the spring semester and features both oral and poster presentations.
Lecture Series in the Arts and Sciences
The lecture series increases the quality of intellectual life at University of Lynchburg and elevates the discussion of liberal arts issues by featuring relevant speakers throughout the academic year.
- John M. Turner Lecture Series: Lecture series in the humanities and social sciences. Past lecturers include: Dr. David Bevington, Phyllis Fay Horton Distinguished Service Professor in the Humanities at the University of Chicago; Richard K. Matthews, National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Distinguished Professor of Social Sciences and chair of the Department of Political Science at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.
- Geraldine Lyon Owen Lecture Series: Humanities lecture series sponsored by the English Department that focuses on writing education. Lecturers have included: Karen Salyer McElmurray, associate professor in creative writing at Georgia College and State University; Katharyn Privett-Duren, Auburn University; Michael White, University of North Carolina Wilmington; Dr. Katherine Turner, assistant professor of English, Mary Baldwin College; Dr. Lesley Wheeler, chair and professor of English, Washington and Lee University.
- John Franklin East and Ida Wise East Lecture Series: Features speakers on topics in the humanities.
- Clifton W. Potter Jr. Lectureship: Focuses on topics in American and European History.
- Science Gang: Lecture series in the sciences sponsored by the School of Sciences. Presented by UL professors, these lectures make science research and topics accessible and interesting to all students, regardless of major.
- Senior Symposium Lectures: The series provides a capstone experience in which seniors confront the great moral issues of history as found in “great books” and as illuminated by guest lecturers.
- ULSR Lecture Series: Interdisciplinary focus. Arts and sciences lecture series sponsored by the University of Lynchburg Seminar Readings.
- Harold Garretson Lectureship: Sponsors guest lecturers who explore specific aspects of chemistry.
- Richard P. Gifford Lecture Series: Provides lectures by outstanding and nationally recognized scholars in economics and related fields.
- Richard H. Thorton Endowment Writer-in-Residence and Reading Series: Brings notable writers to campus several times each year to give readings and teach courses. Writers who have visited campus include Ann Beattie, Denise Levertov, James Baldwin, Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, Ellen Gilchrist, Susan Sheehan, Howard Nemerov, John Barth, Joan Aiken, and Stephen Spender.
- Daura Gallery Art Talks: Special presentations that highlight exhibitions currently showing in the Gallery.
Writing Intensive Courses
Effective writing is crucial to learning and scholarship in the arts and sciences. Writing intensive courses are therefore essential to liberal arts study and to Phi Beta Kappa.
Courses at University of Lynchburg that are currently writing intensive (15 pages or more of student writing required per course) include:
- All composition courses taught through the English Department
- All creative writing courses taught through the English Department
- Psychology courses taught by Dr. Alisha Marciano: PSYC 275 – Research Methods, PSYC 341 – Developmental Psychology, PSYC 392 Psychological Tests and Measurements, PSYC 367 – Child Psychopathology
- All art history courses – Dr. Delane Karalow
- Religion courses (Relig 303, 304 and 410) – Dr. Annette Evans
- Senior honors projects in English
- All Philosophy Department courses
- All General Education Senior Seminar courses
- The Westover Honors Program: most of the courses are writing intensive, except for the Mathematics courses
- Biology 220 – Cellular Diversity
(If your humanities, social science, or science courses are writing intensive, please contact marello@lynchburg.edu so that they can be listed here and in our next PBK chapter application.)
Interdisciplinary Programs
Interdisciplinary programs in the liberal arts are necessary for making connections between fields in the arts and sciences. University of Lynchburg’s interdisciplinary programs include:
Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Contact: Annette Evans (evans.a@lynchburg.edu).
Combines the study of history, literature, art history, politics and religions of these periods.
Gender Studies
Contact: Beth Savage (savage@lynchburg.edu).
Explores gender issues through the study of sociology, psychology, biology, history, international studies, literature and other liberal arts fields of study.
Environmental Studies
Contact: Dave Perault (perault@lynchburg.edu).
Explores environmental studies through courses in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
International Relations
Contact: Marek Payerhin (payerhin@lynchburg.edu).
Studies international relations through the lens of economics, history, political science, modern languages, religion and sociology.
Art History and Museum Studies (upcoming program)
Contact:
University of Lynchburg Seminar Readings
Contact: Dave Freier (freier@lynchburg.edu) and Nina Salmon (salmon@lynchburg.edu)
Community Outreach Programs
Strong liberal arts programs require community outreach opportunities wherein students are allowed to serve both their immediate communities and the larger, global community. Following are some of the outreach programs at University of Lynchburg:
St. Lucia
Contact: Ed Polloway (polloway@lynchburg.edu)
The educational program in St. Lucia started in 2003 with a workshop for 50 special education teachers. As a result, eleven students have come from St. Lucia to complete their bachelor’s or master’s degrees. Another 25 educators earned their MEd in school counseling on St. Lucia. The May-June 2011 service-learning program screened preschoolers for health-related, developmental, and educational needs. UL students mentored and tutored adolescents at risk; international relations students worked to understand governmental and cultural considerations in St. Lucia.
SERVE
Contact: Chris Gibbons (gibbons.c@lynchburg.edu)
SERVE is an acronym for Students Engaged in Responsible Volunteer Experiences. The mission of SERVE is to assist the students, faculty, and staff of University of Lynchburg in connecting with campus, community, and global volunteer experiences that interest and encourage them to engage in lifelong service learning that will affect them and their community.
AmeriCorps Program
Contact: Bev Pfluger (pfluger@lynchburg.edu)
University of Lynchburg’s AmeriCorps program works with nearly 40 students who focus on 900 hours of community service, social justice initiatives, and training on how to be an effective advocate of social change.
Central Virginia Environmental Education Alliance (CVEEA)
Contact: Greg Eaton (eaton@lynchburg.edu)
The CVEEA is a team of educators from community groups, schools, and government working together to deliver high quality environmental education (EE) programs and services in and around Central Virginia. The Greater Lynchburg Environmental Network and the Claytor Nature Center serve as the network’s primary administrators. CVEEA is one of 10 regional networks in the state of Virginia.
Beard Center on Aging
Contact: Beard Center on Aging at the University of Lynchburg Staff
Provides free memory screenings for underserved residents of the greater Lynchburg area, along with workshops for caregivers. The Center participates in the downtown Aging and Caregivers Resource Center.
Center for Water Quality
Contact: Tom Shahady (shahady@lynchburg.edu)
Provides workshops to increase awareness and involvement in water quality issues.
Summer Reading Clinic
Contact: Susan Thompson (thompson.s@lynchburg.edu) and Jeri Watts (watts.jh@lynchburg.edu)
Provides tutoring to K-12 students in reading.
Literacy tutoring
Contact: Bev Pfluger (pfluger@lynchburg.edu)
Provides tutoring in literacy in five community early learning centers.
University of Lynchburg Center for Economic Education
Contact: Joe Turek (turek@lynchburg.edu) and Rebecca Booth (booth.r@lynchburg.edu)
Promotes economic literacy, focusing on K-12 teachers and students.
History Symposium
Contact: Lindsay Eades (eades.l@lynchburg.edu)
The focus is for K-12 history and social studies teachers.
For information about other UL Community Outreach Programs, please contact Anne Gibbons (gibbons@lynchburg.edu), Gabe Santos (santos.g@lynchburg.edu), Ben Mayhew (mayhew@lynchburg.edu), or Ken West (west@lynchburg.edu).
To add or amend information about UL Community Outreach Programs please contact marello@lynchburg.edu.
Liberal Arts Students Achievement After Graduation
- Recent UL graduates of arts and sciences programs are participating in graduate study at the following institutions: Emerson College, Bennington College, UNC-Chapel Hill, the University of Arkansas, Hollins University, Old Dominion University, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
- Liberal arts graduates have also gone on to interesting careers in the fields of writing, editing, and publishing at firms including Rosetta Stone and Time, Inc.
- Stephen Armstrong (2011, Environmental Science)
Environmental research intern with the United Nations Environment Programme at the Regional Office of North America. - Jill Dunnam (2011, Environmental Science)
Air Quality Planner with ECW Environmental Group at Fort Lee, Va. - Molly Galloway (2011, Environmental Science)
Biological Technician for the National Park Service at Prince William Forest Park near Washington, D.C., also pursuing a Master of Natural Resources at the National Capital Region campus of Virginia Tech. - Shana Johnson (2011, Mathematics)
Student, MS in Mathematics at UNC Wilmington in Wilmington, N.C. - Gib Lewis (2011, Environmental Science)
Engineer technician performing stormwater inspections for the Henrico County Department of Public Works, Va. - Casey Sawyer (2011, Chemistry)
Student, Master of Public Health at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.
