Samford University celebrates 175 years of education

Samford President Andrew Westmoreland speaks at a prayer breakfast. (Caroline Summers/Samford University)
Samford University is 175 years old this year. And while school officials and supporters will take time to reflect on the institution’s history, the focus in 2016 is on the future.

Samford President Andy Westmoreland. (Caroline Summers/Samford University)
Samford President Andrew Westmoreland, said the new East Campus is expected to open to students in August. The university is gearing up for a major capital campaign, crafting a new campus master plan – it’s been almost 50 years since the last one – and examining academic programs with an eye on long-term growth.
And then there are all the birthday events to organize, many scheduled for fall. The official birthdate is Dec. 29 – 175 years to the day in 1841 when the state of Alabama chartered Howard College, later renamed Samford University.
“We will pause to celebrate,” Westmoreland said, smiling.
In late 2014, Samford bought a 28-acre tract, just east of the current campus in Homewood, from Southern Progress Corp. It was land the university originally owned, but sold to the publishing company in 1987.
The $58 million purchase included nearly 400,000 square feet in three buildings and more than 1,000 parking spaces. Samford plans to use much of the space to house its College of Health Sciences, comprised of the schools of health professions, nursing, pharmacy and public health.
Westmoreland said the university is constructing a road that will link the main campus to the new facilities. The College of Health Sciences will have its own main gate, where the entrance to Southern Progress used to be. “It’s a big task connecting the two campuses.”
As for the capital campaign, Westmoreland said the financial target has not been finalized but is expected to be more than the $200 million raised during the university’s last capital drive. He said the multiyear campaign will likely begin this year with a “quiet” phase, although that’s a bit of a misnomer. “We’re going to be talking a lot about the quiet campaign,” he said.
He said the wider public campaign will include an outreach strategy to touch every Samford graduate, as well as other potential supporters.
University officials said the money raised through the campaign will support academic programs and scholarships, as well as some bricks-and-mortar projects. They include a variety of facility renovations, upgrades to the library, and possibly an expansion of student housing. Since 2009, Samford’s student population has grown from about 4,500 to more than 5,200, with more students expected this fall.
“Our folks have done a good job keeping up with facilities, but it’s time,” Westmoreland said of embarking on building improvements campuswide.
He said the 175th anniversary is a good time to take a close look at the university’s academic offerings and identify how they should evolve. He said the effort will be inclusive, involving faculty, staff, students and the university’s leadership.
Westmoreland was eager to share his “elevator speech” about Samford in this landmark year for the university, saying the institution is “unique in the world of higher education.”
He cited four characteristics that make Samford special: the quality of the education; the size: small enough to allow for personal relationships between students and teachers, but large enough to offer an array of academic programs; and the school’s close ties to the Christian faith.
Another attribute is the community service that Samford students undertake – nearly 717,000 hours last year. “It’s kind of wired in to the students who come here,” he said.
And there’s something else the university family can enjoy this year: a big birthday celebration. “It’s an exciting time for us to be at Samford.” Westmoreland said.
Samford President Andy Westmoreland on the university’s 175th anniversary and expansion plans from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
Samford superlatives
- Top-ranked university in Alabama (Forbes, 2014)
- Fourth in the South among regional universities (S. News & World Report)
- Fifth in the South among regional universities for best undergraduate teaching
(S. News & World Report)- Top 100 universities nationally (The Economist)
- 49 of the top 100 best value private universities (Kiplinger’s Personal Finance)
- Rated one of the top 50 affordable private universities (Princeton Review and USA Today)
- Cumberland School of Law – No. 6 nationally for trial advocacy (S. News & World Report)
- Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing, online masters programs – No. 13 nationally
(S. News & World Report)- Journalism and mass communication – No. 43 nationally (USA Today and College Factual)
- Brock School of Business top emerging entrepreneurship program in the U.S.
(U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship)- 22 in the U.S. for international study abroad (Institute for International Education)
SOURCE: Samford University