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Accreditation
Shepherd University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604, 800-621-7440 www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org. Individual programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, National Association of Schools of Music, West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses (WVBOERN), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education, National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Related Professions, and National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
Mission Statement, Vision, and Statement of Core Values
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Mission Statement
Shepherd University is a premier public university, grounded in the liberal arts and sciences, that prepares students for lifelong learning and success in their chosen pursuits and serves as a hub for academic, cultural, and economic opportunity.
Vision Statement
Shepherd University will be a first-choice academic home with high-quality and innovative programs that position our diverse community of students and alumni for success as global citizens and leaders.
Core Values
Learning
Shepherd University is home to a community of learners who use scholarship, critical thinking, and curiosity to make meaningful contributions to the university and the world. Through rigorous coursework, experiential learning, and mentorship, we teach our students to lead by example. As a university, we serve our community and forge new paths in higher education.
Engagement
Shepherd University encourages students, faculty, staff, and members of the community to engage with diverse people, experiences, beliefs, and ideas, which promote critical analysis, intercultural competence, and self-expression. Exploration of intellectual, creative, service, athletic, and leisure pursuits is encouraged, having a cascading effect on the well-being of the participants, the campus community, the surrounding region, and the world.
Integrity
Shepherd University strives for an environment of honesty and fairness. University officials seek input from students, faculty, and staff in making informed and objective decisions that benefit the campus community. We expect all members of our community to act with integrity, respect, accountability, and honesty.
Accessibility
Shepherd University, in its commitment to respect and inclusion, strives to create a fully accessible campus. University governance and budgeting structures reflect our commitment to providing affordable educational programs and facilities through transparent, equitable processes and public access to information.
Service
Shepherd University sees itself as an integral part of its community, and we prioritize giving our time and talent to a variety of worthy initiatives. Besides providing service opportunities campus wide, we encourage our campus community to volunteer for the causes that are important to them.
Community
Shepherd University fosters a community built on respect, support, and the celebration of our similarities and differences. We embrace diversity of thought and identification and strive to create a safe environment where everyone is welcome. Our commitment to equity and inclusion is reflected in all we do. We treasure our ties to Shepherdstown and our surrounding communities, where we prioritize service, stewardship, and citizenship.
History of the University
Shepherd University began when the county seat of Jefferson County, West Virginia, was moved from Shepherdstown to Charles Town in July 1871. The people of Shepherdstown and vicinity decided to use the vacated courthouse for educational purposes. An article of incorporation for a school to be known as Shepherd College, designed to instruct students “in languages, arts and sciences,” was drawn up and signed by C.W. Andrews, A.R. Boteler, C.T. Butler, G.M. Beltzhoover, David Billmyer, Samuel Knott, and Henry Shepherd. This body of incorporators gave itself power to elect instructors, pay salaries, and prescribe courses of study. Professor Joseph McMurran was appointed first principal of the institution, which opened with 42 students in September 1871, under the authority of the Board of Trustees.
On February 27, 1872, the Legislature of West Virginia passed the following act: “That a branch of the State Normal School be and the same is hereby established at the building known as Shepherd College, in Shepherdstown, in the county of Jefferson.”
Shepherd became a four-year college for the training of teachers on July 1, 1930, at which time the institution began granting the Bachelor of Arts degree. Shepherd was authorized to implement liberal arts programs in 1943, and in 1950 the Bachelor of Science degree was added. Shepherd currently offers the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Arts in elementary education, Bachelor of Arts in secondary education, Bachelor of Arts in early education, Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Music in Performance, Regents Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Business Administration, Master of Education, and Doctor of Nursing Practice.
Also in 1950 Shepherd was accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and in 1951 it became a member of the Association of American Colleges.
In the past two decades, Shepherd has added many new buildings and campus improvements, including the Robert C. Byrd Science and Technology Center; an addition to the Scarborough Library, which also houses the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education; the Erma Ora Byrd Hall which houses School of Nursing; the Center for Contemporary Arts I and II; the Wellness Center; a pedestrian underpass, and Potomac Place residence hall complex, and. new multipurpose dining hall and athletic facility.
Scenic and Historic Location
Shepherd University is situated in the Shenandoah Valley, on the banks of the Potomac River, in historic Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The oldest town in the state, Shepherdstown is a quaint university community, with the town and campus combining to offer a unique learning-living environment.
Located in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, Shepherdstown is within 20 miles of nearby Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. It is only 65 miles from the metropolitan areas of Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland. Within a short hike or drive of the campus are such well-known historic landmarks as Harpers Ferry and the Antietam Battlefield. Across the Potomac River from the campus is the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. The C & O Canal National Historical Park, developed along the towpath of the old canal, is a beautiful recreational sanctuary, extending 184.5 miles from Cumberland, Maryland, to Georgetown, in the nation’s capital. Richmond and Williamsburg, Virginia, as well as New York and Philadelphia, are all within a few hours drive of Shepherdstown. Guest lecturers and performers, field trips, internships, and career opportunities are advantages directly related to the location of Shepherd University.
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