Methodist University is a private university that is affiliated with the North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and located in Fayetteville, North Carolina. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The university offers more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including doctoral-level options, on campus and online. It offers 24 fully online degrees and certificate programs. Methodist University also features more than 150 student clubs and organizations, along with 20 NCAA intercollegiate sports. It has graduated more than 12,000 students since its first graduating class in 1964. Brief History Originally known as Methodist College, the state of North Carolina chartered the school on November 1, 1956. On its 50th anniversary, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to change the name from Methodist College to Methodist University. The University has had five presidents in its history: L. Stacy Weaver (1957-1973) Dr. Richard Pearce (1973-1983) Dr. M. Elton Hendricks (1983-2010) Dr. Ben E. Hancock, Jr. (2011-2018) Dr. Stanley T. Wearden (2019-Current) Relationship to the United Methodist Church Current President Stanley T. Wearden says, “While Methodist University values its affiliation with The United Methodist Church, the Church does not set the policies of the University.” The University also states it provides access and inclusion to all students regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, origin, ethnicity, or creed. Academics Methodist University’s more than 80 academic programs live under three different colleges: College of Arts, Humanities & Sciences, College of Business, Technology & Professional Studies, and College of Health Sciences & Human Services. College of Arts, Humanities & Sciences The College of Arts, Humanities & Sciences carries six different divisions, each hosting a variety of majors, minors, and certificates: Communication, Composition & Rhetoric Division: Applied Communication, Health Communication, Public Affairs Communication, Organizational Communication & Leadership, Leadership Communication, Mass Communication, Journalism, Radio, TV/Multimedia/Video, and Sports Media Fine & Performing Arts Division: Art, Painting, Art Education, Graphic Design, Music, Arts Management, Music Composition, Music Education, Music Performance, and Theatre Humanities Division: English, Global Studies, History, History with Social Studies Licensure, Spanish, Professional Leadership & Ethics, Religion, Ethics, Global History, Philosophy, Women’s Studies, American Studies, European Studies, and Teaching English as a Second Language Justice & Military Science Division: Clandestine Labs, Criminal Justice, Forensic Science (CSI), Digital Forensics, Legal Studies, Military Science, Air Force ROTC, and Army ROTC Natural Sciences Division: Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology, Health