Southwest Baptist University Stories

Missouri

Enrollment gains drive SBU past 3,000 students

Southwest Baptist University will enjoy its largest total enrollment in nearly a decade this fall. Thanks to gains on almost every campus, SBU will welcome more than 3,000 total students across its five campuses for the Fall 2026 semester. 
Missouri

SBU President Rick Melson accepts call to serve as president of Moody Bible Institute

Southwest Baptist University trustees announced that SBU President Rick Melson has accepted the call to become the next president of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Ill. SBU trustees also unanimously selected Jonathon Woodyard to serve as SBU’s interim president beginning the week of Aug. 10.
Missouri

YouthLead Conference scheduled for Sept. 19 at SBU

Designed to help youth ministers and key student leaders reach Generation Z, the 2026 YouthLead conference will be a day of training and fellowship on Southwest Baptist University's Bolivar campus. This conference will help youth ministers learn how to create leaders and will simultaneously equip current student leaders to serve more effectively. Warren Gasaway, the Generations Team Leader for the Arkansas Baptist Convention, will be the keynote speaker. 
Missouri

SBU confers 434 degrees conferred during May 8th commencement

Southwest Baptist University conferred 269 undergraduate and 165 graduate degrees during two ceremonies held at the Bolivar campus on Friday, May 8.
Missouri

Southwest Baptist University launches new doctoral degree in organizational leadership

Southwest Baptist University continues to expand its portfolio of academic programs, with a new Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership launching for the Fall 2026 semester.
Missouri

SBU expands radiography program to meet demand

Southwest Baptist University is proud to announce a significant expansion and curriculum enhancements for its Associate of Science in Radiography (ASR) program. Designed to address the increasing need for skilled medical imaging professionals, the program is increasing its total student capacity and streamlining the path to graduation, all while maintaining its core mission of preparing servant leaders in healthcare.
Missouri

SBU announces first Artificial Intelligence (AI) degree

To better prepare students aspiring to work within the data science field, Southwest Baptist University is excited to announce that its Bachelor of Science in Data Science degree has become the Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Degree. 
Missouri

SBU expanding eSports, adding competitive pickleball

Southwest Baptist University is growing its collection of competitive club sports, offering new opportunities in eSports and pickleball for students to vie for accolades and championships against students from other colleges and universities. 
Missouri

SBU welcomes more than 1,000 new students this fall

For the second consecutive year, SBU has an increase in total fall enrollment, thanks in part to the fourth straight year of growth in the incoming freshman class on the Bolivar campus. The university also saw gains in its Springfield-based Mercy College of Health Professions programs, as well as an increase in the incoming class for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.  
Missouri

Woodyard to lead SBU’s Center for Worldview and Culture

As part of its ongoing efforts to equip students to be Christ-centered servant leaders in a global society, Southwest Baptist University is relaunching its Center for Worldview and Culture under new leadership. 
Missouri

SBU to host higher ed panel at 2025 SBC annual meeting

Southwest Baptist University will be hosting an expert panel of higher education leaders at the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Dallas to discuss the value of and challenges facing Christian colleges and universities.
Missouri

SBU trustees approve new campus master plan

At its spring meeting on April 8, Southwest Baptist University’s Board of Trustees approved a transformative campus master plan to direct the future growth and development of the university.

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