Academics
Oakwood University is a private liberal arts college in Huntsville, Alabama, run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA). Firmly grounded in Christian teachings, its mission statement is “to transform students through Biblically-based education for service to God and humanity.” Oakwood students can choose from 58 majors, ranging from traditional courses of study to programs such as Nutrition with Vegetarian Culinary Emphasis, which reflects SDA beliefs about diet. Oakwood offers several graduate degrees as well, including a master’s in Urban Ministries and Community Development, a program that trains clergy or lay ministers to care for the spiritual needs of urban communities. Despite having over a thousand students, Oakwood provides personalized holistic attention to each one, and with a low student-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, professors provide the same focus and care. This extends even to specialized programs, like the popular Adventist Colleges Abroad program (which offers study in countries such as France, Argentina, and Lebanon) and LEAP (Leadership for the Adult Professional), which while flexibly distilling things down to one class per week (in-person or online), still allows the swift completion of a degree within two years.
Career
Of the Oakwood slogan “God First,” students say that “it’s not just our institutional aim . . . it’s a way of life.” Students attend church, and there are rules of decorum: students must dress modestly, abstain from alcohol, and refrain from wearing ornamental jewelry. Because good nutrition and vegetarianism are an integral part of the SDA belief system, meat and junk food are not served on campus. OU has received the Partnership for a Healthier America’s Crystal Apple Award for its dedication to promoting a healthy lifestyle. In commitment to this ideal and in a purposeful return to its agrarian roots, the university opened Oakwood Farms, which grows wholesome food for sale to the local community. More than 1,300 students attend Oakwood, but shared core values unite this group. The Office of Spiritual Life attends to the personal religious needs of the OU community. Uplifting songs of praise often resonate throughout the campus from WJOU 90.1, Oakwood’s own Christian radio station. And every year, students don elegant attire and compete for the coveted titles of “Mr. and Miss Oakwood” in the school pageant extravaganza. Contestants demonstrate their talents, poise, character, and commitment to the Oakwood Christian ideals. Students also connect through the social clubs and groups on campus, including those focused on music and the arts, academics, and social justice. Athletics are popular at OU and the Ambassadors compete in a variety of sports, with basketball generating enthusiasm among the students. And, of course, there are also intramural sports teams to join.
Culture
The Career Connections Center provides comprehensive, personalized services to prepare students for meaningful faith-centered work. Oakwood is the fifth-highest producer of Black applicants to U.S. medical schools, with prospective doctors serving people through healing. Pastoral care and nursing are also common career paths. According to Payscale.com, on average, Oakwood graduates earn a base annual salary of $60,000. Iconic 1950’s rock-and-roll recording artist “Little Richard” studied theology at the college and is buried at Oakwood Memorial Gardens. Other prominent alumni include U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry Black; writer, filmmaker, and LGBT activist Sylvia Rhue; and Linda Ammons, Dean of the Widener University School of Law and the longest-serving African American female dean of any law school in the United States.
Save School
