Campbell University
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Campbell University is a private Christian university in Buies Creek, North Carolina, United States. Campbell's main campus in Buies Creek is home to its College of Arts & Sciences, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Divinity School, School of Education, Lundy-Fetterman School of Business, and the School of Engineering. Nearby is the Health Sciences Campus, home to the Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine and the Catherine W. Wood School of Nursing. Campbell also operates a Raleigh Campus in downtown Raleigh, which is home to the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law as well as other programs. It maintains additional satellite campuses in Fort Bragg/Pope Air Force Base and at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, and provides online classes through adult and online education. The university's athletic teams are named the Fighting Camels; there are 20 NCAA Division I varsity programs.
Key Information
History
[edit]Buies Creek Academy (1887–1926)
[edit]On January 5, 1887, James Archibald Campbell, a 26-year-old Baptist minister, welcomed 16 students to a small church in Buies Creek, North Carolina, for the first day of classes for the school he founded: Buies Creek Academy.[5][6] By the end of the first term, there were 92 students.
In the beginning days, Buies Creek Academy had just three faculty members: J.A. Campbell was principal; A. E. Booth, a graduate of the Nashville Normal College, served as assistant and teacher of the Normal Department and Business College; and Cornelia F. Pearson was an assistant and teacher in the Primary Department.
The 1887 catalog lauded the rural location: "Being in the country, we avoid many of the temptations incident to towns and cities and save our patrons much extravagance in dress." The first commencement took place on May 20, 1887, and every student participated in the program. Josephus Daniels of Raleigh, an editor of the State Chronicle and later owner of The Raleigh News & Observer, delivered the main address.
Upon his return to Raleigh, he described his impressions of the academy: "Among my pleasant memories of a trip to Harnett, none are more cherished by me with more fondness than the enjoyment of the excellent commencement exercise at Buies Creek Academy. It was a rare feast. The scholars are not prodigies; they do not surpass other boys and girls in the state, but they recite with ease, enunciate with distinctiveness, and gave choice sections of music and evidence the good training they had received. There was an absence of straining after effect, which was refreshing. There was simplicity and a regard for the fitness of things that are charming. There was an order and arrangement that showed a thoughtful and sensible management. I congratulate the people of Harnett on the excellent advantages Buies Creek Academy offers for the education of the children of the rising generation."
The beginning of the 20th Century ushered in tremendous hardship for the young school. On the evening of December 20, 1900, a suspicious fire destroyed the academy and all the buildings except for the large wooden tabernacle. Awakened at 3:30 a.m. to witness the destruction, J.A. Campbell recalled: "When I ran up to the fire, the terrible fire, that was burning down chances for poor boys and girls, and I knew that I could not build again ... the flames that destroyed the labor of years [...] the only hope for hundreds of boys and girls was being swept away, I could not bear up longer [...] When they asked me my plans, I said, "Well, there's no chance to go on."
After the fire, Zachary Taylor Kivett came to visit and found Campbell "in bed discouraged to the limit." Kivett said, "Why are you in bed? You're a Campbell. Get a hump on you." Kivett also made a pledge to J.A. Campbell to construct a new stronger, sturdier brick building on the campus. Over the next 478 days, he oversaw and supervised nearly every aspect of the academy's reconstruction, from drawing plans and making brick to sawing the lumber and mixing sand and lime. Within the first few days alone, he had developed the plans to renovate the tabernacle so it could be temporarily used for classroom space; he had arranged for wagons to deliver lumber; and he had brought in carpenters to get to work.[7]
By January 8, 1901, the tabernacle was open to classes. "A steam engine in britches" and "a grand old man," Kivett had been called.
In November 1903, the new brick building had been erected at a cost of $30,000. The completion of the Kivett Building brought new life to the school. The 1909 catalog noted, "It is built of beautiful brick, made on our own grounds, and is an everlasting monument to the love, loyalty, and sacrifices of our friends ... [who] are in itself a constant inspiration to live something high and noble, and to undertake the impossible." The catalog added that Buies Creek Academy and Business College was "a leading preparatory school with military features, business, shorthand, typewriting, telegraphy, art, music and normal departments.
World War I and the "Great Influenza Outbreak" of 1918 had a significant impact on the academy and the Buies Creek community. According to Bruce Blackmon, the influenza outbreak also inflicted a serious toll on some families—"If you saw a house and there was no smoke coming out of its chimney, that was an indication that the person responsible for heating the home was no longer alive."
Electric lights came to the campus in 1918. J.A. Campbell secured a $60,000 donation from Mr. B.N. Duke in 1927 to establish modern water and sewage facilities on the campus.
There were 620 students enrolled in the school in 1923, and the first dormitory for boys was completed that year. It later became known as Layton Dormitory.
According to J. Winston Pearce, "The evening of September 26, 1923, was a significant date for the life of the school." That evening D. Rich – treasurer of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company – spent the night in the Campbell home and that morning they asked how he had slept. He replied, "I slept very little," He continued, "No, I did not sleep well. Jesus and I talked together most of the night, and Jesus told me 'Buies Creek must live.'" Rich died the following year and left one eighth of his estate to the academy. He also provided $60,000 for the construction of Carrie Rich Memorial Library in honor of his first wife, as well as the first brick gymnasium and the D. Rich Memorial Building, completed in 1926. These new facilities, as well as competition from the new high schools that were being completed across the state in the 1920s, provided incentives for the academy to become a junior college.[8]
At the annual Baptist State Convention Meeting in Wilmington in 1925, J.A. Campbell sold his interest in the academy (appraised at $56,000) to the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina for $28,000; the school was then valued at more than $500,000. The Board of Education of the Baptist State Convention recommended unanimously that Buies Creek Academy become a junior college, beginning with the 1927–28 academic session.
At that meeting, the Reverend A. C. Hamby made the motion to change the name from Buies Creek Academy to Campbell College, in honor of its founder. Dean D. B. Bryan of Wake Forest College approved of the name change, and Wake Forest College bestowed on J.A. Campbell the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 1926.
J.A. Campbell died at the age of 72 in 1934. At Campbell's funeral, Charles E. Maddry of the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention proclaimed, "Dr. Campbell was a great servant of God because he early had a divine experience of the saving power of Christ. Because of [Campbell's] great love for others, he literally wore himself out serving them, giving poor boys and girls the chance of an education. ... He always saw a future of service in his boys and girls."
Campbell Junior College (1926–1961)
[edit]
Leslie Hartwell "L.H." Campbell (1892–1970), the oldest son of the founder J.A. Campbell, was the unanimous choice by the board of trustees to succeed his father. Leslie was eight years old when the academy burned in December 1900. He remembered attending classes in the converted tabernacle when the Kivett Building was under construction. He graduated from Buies Creek Academy in 1908 and enrolled in Wake Forest College, along with his younger brother Carlyle.[9]
Upon his father's death in 1934, L. H. Campbell at the age of forty-two became the youngest college president in North Carolina. He served as president for 33-years, through the Great Depression, World War II, and post-war expansion. In the post-war period, Campbell became a fully accredited co-educational Baptist-affiliated liberal arts and vocational college.
The only campus building constructed in the 1930s was the Dining Hall. It was built in 1933 to accommodate four-hundred students, and was later named for the college's longtime business manager, B.P. Marshbanks Sr.
Paul Green, a 1912 Buies Creek Academy alumnus and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, helped establish the Paul Green Theater, located between the D. Rich Administration Building and the Gym in 1934. in 1937, Campbell was the only junior college in North Carolina to offer courses in drama and journalism for college credit.
During World War II, the enrollment on campus declined from 700 students to around 400. Like many other colleges throughout the country, intercollegiate athletic programs such as football, baseball, basketball, track, and tennis were temporarily suspended during the war years. When many male students went off to fight, space for female boarding students was at a premium; and Layton Annex, which had housed males, was turned over to women. The war also affected food supplies on campus.
"I remember the day the war was formally declared. President Leslie Campbell got the entire student body into one of the large rooms at D. Rich, and had a radio in there. He turned it on, and we heard, live, President Roosevelt declare war." — Dorothea Stewart Gilbert ('46)[9]
By 1957, the enrollment on the main campus reached 1,023 students, and more residential facilities were added to the campus. In 1961, the James A. Campbell Administration Building was dedicated and Bryan Hall for women opened "as a cluster of 12 one-story apartment units grouped around an exterior wall" that could house 200 students. Strickland Hall opened in 1962 to accommodate 132 women, and E. P. Sauls Hall opened that same year to house 131 men. A major building completed on the campus was the 44,000-square-foot Leslie Campbell Hall of Science. This three-story structure originally housed the departments of physics, biology, and chemistry, as well as home economics.
It became a senior college in 1961 and a university in 1979.[10]
In 2007, Campbell, along with four other private North Carolina Christian colleges, began a process to change their relationships with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, in order to obtain more academic freedom and select their own trustees. The state convention also agreed to start transferring funds traditionally given directly to the universities into a new scholarship fund for Baptist students.[11]
In 2009, the schools gained autonomy from the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and established a “good faith and cooperative” relationship with it.[12] The four other schools were, Mars Hill University, Gardner-Webb University, Wingate University, and Chowan University.[13]
Campus
[edit]
Located in the Sandhills of southeastern North Carolina, the university is nestled in the small unincorporated village of Buies Creek near the Cape Fear River. The Buies Creek census-designated place population was only 2,215 in the 2000 census and the surrounding area remains rural. However, Buies Creek is approximately 33 miles (53 km) south of Raleigh, the state capital, North Carolina's second-largest city, and approximately 33 miles (53 km) north of Fayetteville, North Carolina's sixth-largest city.
The center of campus is Academic Circle, which fronts Leslie Campbell Avenue to the south. Academic Circle is a grass thoroughfare, laced with sidewalks and magnolia trees that is surrounded on the south by the Oscar N. Harris Student Union (2020) and along the north by the Frederick L. Taylor Hall of Religion (1973) (Campbell University Divinity School), D. Rich Memorial Building (1923), Kivett Hall (1903), Wiggins Hall (1993) (formerly Law School), Butler Chapel (2009) and Britt Hall (1947) (campus bookstore).
North of Academic Circle the buildings flank the newly developed Fellowship Commons, a series of brick sidewalks and gathering places that connect the campus from the west on T.T. Lanier Street to the east on Main Street. In this part of campus are Marshbanks Dining Hall (1934), Leslie H. Campbell Hall of Science (1961), J.P. Riddle Pharmacy Center (1991), Maddox Hall (2007) (Pharmacy School), Pearson Hall (1915), Carrie Rich Memorial Library (1925), Carter Gymnasium (1952) and James A. Campbell Administration Building (1961).
Beyond Fellowship Commons lies the north campus which contains several residence halls along with the Taylor Bott Rogers Fine Arts Center (1984) and the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business (1999). East of Main Street are more of Campbell's athletic facilities including Jim Perry Stadium (baseball), Johnson Memorial Natatorium (swimming), and the John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center as well as the Buies Creek post office.
South of Leslie Campbell Avenue are more residence halls, including the new student apartments in Bob Barker Hall (2005), Luby Wood Hall, Burkot Hall, Small Hall, Sauls Hall, Murray Hall, Stadium Apartments, Faculty Apartments, and Pet Hall. South of U.S. Highway 421 are athletic fields and Barker–Lane Stadium. North campus residence halls include Jones Hall (1954) (for the university's honors college), Powell Hall, Pat Barker Hall, Strickland Hall, and Hedgepeth Hall. The newly constructed 96,000 sq. ft. Leon Levine Hall of Medical Science across Highway 421 hosts the new School of Osteopathic Medicine and the Physician Assistant Program.
Academics
[edit]U.S. News & World Report for 2022 ranked Campbell tied for #277 in National Universities, tied for #58 in Best Undergraduate Teaching, and tied for #153 in Top Performers on Social Mobility, while finding Campbell's 2020 admissions were "selective" with an acceptance rate of 81%, with half the applicants admitted having an SAT score between 1010 and 1210 or an ACT score between 19 and 25.[14]
Campbell offers over 100 tracks and concentrations; master's programs in business, education, pharmaceutical science, clinical research and divinity; and professional programs in law, pharmacy, physician assistant, physical therapy, nursing, and osteopathic medicine.[15] In addition to Campbell's College of Arts & Sciences are the following:
Campbell University School of Pharmacy was established in 1986 and was later renamed the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences.
The Catherine W. Wood School of Nursing provides professional nursing degrees.
The Campbell's Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law is the university's law school.
Campbell's School of Engineering was launched in Fall 2015 and offers an ABET-accredited BS in engineering with concentrations in mechanical engineering, chemical/pharmaceutical engineering, electrical engineering, and electromechanical engineering.
The Campbell University Divinity school offers both undergraduate and graduate level degrees. The Divinity School officially opened on August 19, 1996.
The Campbell University School of Education, founded in 1985, offers undergraduate and graduate programs of study in Education, Psychology, Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, and School Counseling.
The Lundy-Fetterman School of Business offers a joint MBA with Pharm.D., J.D., and M.Div. students.
The university's newest school, the Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine, had its first class in August 2013.
Campbell University also has an adult and online education program with an online campus and campuses at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and Research Triangle Park in Raleigh, North Carolina. Campbell University's Online Education program was established as a pilot program in 1999. The program originated at the Camp Lejeune Campus and became a separate program in 2004, relocating to the Main Campus.
Student activities
[edit]Athletics
[edit]Campbell University fields 20 NCAA Division I sports. As of the 2023–2024 academic year, the Camels are a member of the Coastal Athletic Association; they previously competed in the Big South Conference from 2011–2012 to 2022–2023. The men's wrestling team is an associate member of the Southern Conference.
Men's sports
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross country
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Track
- Wrestling
Women's sports
In 2008, Campbell completed the John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center, an athletic complex for basketball, volleyball and wrestling. The facility houses a game basketball court, practice basketball court, practice wrestling room, varsity weight room, student fitness center, locker rooms, and the Department of Exercise Science. The wrestling team and the volleyball team both host matches on the main basketball court.
Student Government Association
[edit]The SGA serves as the voice of the student body of Campbell University. The organization consists of 45 members: nine from each class and a nine-member Executive Council. The SGA conducts the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting, passes resolutions to voice student concerns, and allows students a forum to share their voice with administration.
Pine Burr
[edit]The Pine Burr is Campbell University's yearbook, published every spring and given out for free to the students before final exams.[16]
The Lyricist
[edit]The Lyricist is Campbell University's literary magazine, featuring poetry and prose from students and statewide contributors.[17]
The Campbell Times
[edit]The Campbell Times is the student newspaper at the university, and is published bi-monthly in a tabloid format during the spring and fall semesters. The newspaper was established in 1925 and was originally known as Creek Pebbles until the current name was adopted in 1983. It had a print circulation of 2,000 as of 2007.[18]
WCCE-FM
[edit]WCCE-FM is an FM radio station broadcasting on frequency 90.1 that was signed on by the university on October 7, 1974. Campbell sold the station in 2007.
Campbell University bands
[edit]
Campbell University Bands features multiple concert and athletic musical ensembles, including the Sound of the Sandhills Marching Band, their featured athletic ensemble. Campbell University Bands regularly involves more than 100 members from across the campus.[19][20] The featured ensemble of the concert bands is the Sandhills Wind Symphony, which performs concerts regularly during the academic year. Past directors of the program include noted composer Jack Stamp, who has been featured recently within performances of the program. Athletic bands performs regularly at university athletic events and annually accompany the men's and women's basketball teams to the Big South conference basketball tournament.
Notable alumni
[edit] | This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. (December 2023) |
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Notable faculty
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Southern Baptist Convention, Colleges and Universities Archived June 6, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, sbc.net, USA, retrieved October 22, 2022
- ^ a b "Campbell University Annual Report 2022 by Campbell University - Issuu". January 23, 2023.
- ^ "IPEDS - Campbell University". Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
- ^ "Color Palette | Campbell University". Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
- ^ Randall Herbert Balmer, Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition, Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, p. 125
- ^ "University History & Milestones | About | Campbell University". University. Archived from the original on November 1, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
- ^ "Founders Week 2017: Honoring Z.T. Kivett | News | Campbell University". News. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
- ^ "Carrie Rich Hall: A History by Campbell University on Exposure". Exposure. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
- ^ a b "Campbell University | 125 Years". Issuu. Archived from the original on August 14, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- ^ Praeger, American Universities and Colleges, 19th Edition [2 Volumes]: Nineteenth Edition, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 948
- ^ "Five schools severing Baptist ties". Hendersonville Times-News. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
- ^ Kwon, Lillian; Reporter, Christian Post (March 23, 2007). "5 N.C. Colleges Seek Independence from Baptist Body". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
- ^ Allen, Bob (March 26, 2007). "North Carolina Colleges Cutting Baptist Ties". Good Faith Media. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
- ^ "Campbell University". usnews.com. U.S. News & World Report. Archived from the original on July 24, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- ^ "Campbell University | US News". Colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
- ^ "Pine Burr Online". Pine Burr Online. Archived from the original on July 22, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
- ^ The Lyricist Magazine https://cas.campbell.edu/academic-programs/english/lyricist-literary-magazine/ Archived January 20, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Park Library 2002 Circulation Statistics for NC Newspapers". parklibrary.jomc.unc.edu. Retrieved March 13, 2007.
- ^ "Campbell University Bands". July 12, 2020. Archived from the original on July 24, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
- ^ "Sound of the Sandhills Marching Band". Archived from the original on July 24, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
- ^ "Obituary, Maj Gen Jeffrey Bannister". Cunningham Turch Funeral Home. Alexandria, VA. June 4, 2018. Archived from the original on January 26, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ url=https://www.nba.com/players/chris/clemons/1629598 Archived August 13, 2019, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ rajes paul (April 13, 2014). "Michelle has high hopes as pro golfer – Golf | The Star Online". The Star. Malaysia. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ Friend, Elizabeth (August 24, 2016). "Campbell University Opens Schools of Nursing And Engineering". WUNC. Archived from the original on March 25, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
- ^ Gailey, Phil; Weaver, Warren Jr. (March 20, 1985). "BRIEFING; Whither Funderburk?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 8, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
- ^ McGrath, Gareth (May 21, 2015). "Goolsby tapped to join UNC Board of Governors". Wilmington Star News. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
- ^ "Paul Newby | North Carolina Judicial Branch". www.nccourts.gov. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
External links
[edit]
- Official website
- Campbell Athletics website
- Campbell University Yearbooks and Catalogs, North Carolina Digital Heritage Center
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Campbell University
View on GrokipediaHistory
Founding and Early Development (1887–1926)
James Archibald Campbell, a Baptist minister and Wake Forest College alumnus, founded Buies Creek Academy on January 5, 1887, in Buies Creek, North Carolina, at the age of 25. The institution began in a local church with 16 students on the first day, growing to 92 by the end of the term, serving as the area's sole educational facility amid rural isolation. Campbell received no fixed salary, relying instead on tuition and boarding fees, embodying a commitment to accessible education under the motto "Ad Astra per Aspera" (to the stars through difficulties). As a private academy owned by Campbell, it emphasized classical and practical studies aligned with Baptist principles.[2] The academy experienced gradual expansion in its initial decades, becoming one of North Carolina's largest private secondary schools by 1900 with over 300 students and regional recognition. By 1898, enrollment exceeded 60, supported by three buildings on campus. A devastating fire on December 20, 1900—suspected arson—destroyed all wooden structures except a tabernacle, forcing a temporary relocation and testing the institution's resilience. Community and alumni support enabled reopening within 20 days in the tabernacle, followed by the construction of Kivett Hall, a brick administration building completed in 1903 and named after donor Z.T. Kivett, marking a shift to more durable infrastructure.[7][8][9] Under Campbell's 38-year leadership, the academy navigated financial precarity through personal investment and local philanthropy, culminating in its transition to junior college status in 1926 as Campbell Junior College. In 1925, Campbell deeded the property—valued at approximately $500,000—to the Baptist State Convention for a nominal $25,000, ensuring institutional continuity while reflecting his sacrificial stewardship. This period laid the foundation for the school's evolution, prioritizing moral and intellectual development in a Baptist framework without state funding reliance.[7][8]Junior College Period (1926–1961)
In 1926, Buies Creek Academy attained junior college status under the auspices of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and was renamed Campbell Junior College in honor of its founder, James Archibald Campbell.[7] This transition reflected the institution's growth from its origins as a one-room schoolhouse, enabling it to offer two-year programs focused on liberal arts, teacher training, and vocational preparation while maintaining its Christian ethos.[10] Leslie Hartwell Campbell, son of the founder and a recent graduate of Wake Forest College, was appointed as the first dean to oversee academic affairs.[11] James A. Campbell continued as president until his death on March 18, 1934, after which Leslie H. Campbell assumed the presidency.[12] The Great Depression posed severe financial challenges; in Leslie Campbell's initial year as president, enrollment stood at 312 students, and his salary was less than $1,000, with the Baptist Convention providing no financial support from 1934 to 1937.[11] Despite these hardships, the college achieved full regional accreditation as a junior institution in 1941, affirming its academic standards and administrative stability.[11] World War II further strained resources, as nearly all male students enlisted, leaving a predominantly female student body during the 1940s.[13] Postwar recovery spurred significant expansion; between 1954 and 1959, enrollment surpassed 900 students, prompting major campus developments including new dormitories and facilities.[11] These efforts under Leslie Campbell's leadership positioned the institution for its evolution into a four-year senior college, culminating in the name change to Campbell College on September 11, 1961.[14]Elevation to University Status and Expansion (1961–2000)
In 1961, Campbell Junior College transitioned to a four-year senior institution, adopting the name Campbell College and beginning to offer bachelor's degrees, with the first such graduating class in 1963.[2][15] This elevation marked the end of its junior college phase and aligned with post-World War II demands for expanded higher education access in rural North Carolina, enabling the institution to attract a broader student base while maintaining its Baptist heritage and commitment to affordability.[10] Under the long-serving presidency of Norman Adrian Wiggins, who assumed office in 1967 and led until 2003, Campbell experienced transformative growth.[16] Wiggins prioritized professional and graduate education, founding the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law in 1976 as North Carolina's first new law school in 35 years, with F. Leary Davis Jr. as its inaugural dean.[17] Graduate programs commenced in 1977 with the Master of Education degree, followed by the Master of Business Administration.[18] These initiatives reflected Wiggins's vision for a comprehensive Christian university emphasizing practical, values-based training amid rising national demand for specialized degrees.[19] The institution officially became Campbell University on June 6, 1979, signifying its diversified academic portfolio and expanded scope beyond undergraduate liberal arts.[2][18] Further professional schools followed, including the School of Pharmacy in 1986—the first new U.S. pharmacy program in over 20 years—and the School of Education in 1985.[20][18] Infrastructure developments supported this expansion, such as Wiggins Hall completed in 1993 for the law school.[21] The Divinity School was established in 1995 to bolster theological education.[18] By the early 2000s, enrollment approached 10,000 students across campuses, a substantial increase from the junior college era, driven by these programmatic additions and regional outreach.[8] This period solidified Campbell's role as a growing Baptist-affiliated university, prioritizing empirical preparation for professions like law, pharmacy, and ministry while navigating financial challenges through private support and state affiliations.[2]Recent Growth and Leadership Transitions (2000–present)
Under the leadership of Jerry M. Wallace, who assumed the presidency in 2003 and served until 2015, Campbell University expanded its professional and graduate programs while growing its satellite campuses to serve adult learners and military personnel.[22] By the early 2000s, total enrollment, including extension sites, approached 10,000 students, reflecting investments in distance education and regional access points such as those in Raleigh and Fort Bragg.[8] This period emphasized infrastructure development and program diversification to align with the university's Baptist mission of accessible higher education grounded in Christian principles. J. Bradley Creed succeeded Wallace as the fifth president on July 1, 2015, following a unanimous trustee vote.[23] Creed's decade-long tenure prioritized academic innovation, including the proliferation of online offerings—reaching 23 bachelor's degree programs by 2019—and enhancements to off-campus delivery for working adults.[24] Amid the COVID-19 pandemic's enrollment disruptions across higher education, Campbell rebounded with consecutive gains: freshman numbers rose 6% in fall 2024 from the prior year and nearly 20% over two years, contributing to a total enrollment of approximately 5,000 students.[25][4] Creed announced his retirement effective June 30, 2025, after steering the institution through recovery and strategic realignments.[26] He was succeeded on July 1, 2025, by William M. Downs, the sixth president, previously head of Gardner-Webb University, selected for his experience in faith-based leadership and institutional advancement.[26][27] Downs assumed office amid ongoing emphases on enrollment stability and mission fidelity, with total student numbers holding at around 5,115 in the 2023–2024 academic year, including 2,813 undergraduates.[28]Campus and Facilities
Main Campus in Buies Creek
The main campus of Campbell University is situated in the rural community of Buies Creek, Harnett County, North Carolina, at 143 Main Street, approximately 30 miles southwest of Raleigh and Durham in the Research Triangle region.[29][30] This central location provides access to urban opportunities for internships and research while maintaining a focused, low-distraction environment conducive to academic and extracurricular pursuits, with mild climate supporting year-round outdoor activities.[30][31] The campus occupies 850 acres in a fringe-town setting, encompassing academic buildings, residence halls, athletic venues, and green spaces.[32] Established in 1887 as Buies Creek Academy by J.A. Campbell in a modest one-room schoolhouse within a local church, the campus began as a small educational outpost serving initial enrollment of 16 students, expanding rapidly to 92 by the end of the first term.[2] A devastating fire on December 20, 1900, destroyed nearly all wooden structures except a large tabernacle, prompting reconstruction that included Kivett Hall, completed around 1902 as the campus's oldest extant building and a symbol of early resilience.[33] Subsequent development reflected the institution's growth from academy to junior college in 1926 and full university status by 1979, with physical expansions integrating historic elements like Kivett Hall alongside modern infrastructure to support an evolving student body.[2] Between 2005 and 2013, over a dozen new academic, athletic, and residential facilities were added, enhancing capacity for undergraduate and professional programs centered in Buies Creek.[34] Key facilities include academic structures such as Levine Hall of Medicine, a 96,500-square-foot building designed for medical training with specialized labs and simulation spaces, and various laboratories in engineering and sciences like the Creek Makerspace and CAMEL Fab.[35][36] Residential options comprise multiple dormitories and apartment-style housing for the approximately 2,700 undergraduates enrolled full-time, while athletic amenities feature fields, courts, and arenas supporting the Campbell Fighting Camels teams.[37] The campus also maintains green initiatives across more than 1,300 owned acres, including preserved and minimally developed lands for sustainability efforts.[38] Accessibility is aided by proximity to major highways, facilitating travel to coastal beaches or Appalachian mountains within a few hours.[30]Satellite and Regional Campuses
Campbell University maintains extended campuses at Camp Lejeune, Fort Bragg/Pope Air Force Base, and in downtown Raleigh to extend access to its programs, particularly for adult learners, military personnel, and professional education. These sites support associate, bachelor's, and select graduate offerings through the Division of Adult and Online Education, emphasizing flexible scheduling for non-traditional students.[39][30] The Raleigh Campus, situated at 225 Hillsborough Street, serves as a hub for professional and graduate programs, including the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law and the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business. Established to capitalize on proximity to legal, governmental, and corporate entities in the state capital, it delivers curricula in business, law, and adult undergraduate degrees, often in evening or hybrid formats. The campus also includes facilities at Raleigh Founded, a downtown co-working and entrepreneurial accelerator, fostering innovation and networking opportunities.[40][41][42] At the Camp Lejeune site, Campbell offers evening classes leading to associate and bachelor's degrees, targeted at active-duty service members, dependents, civilians, and veterans within the Marine Corps community. Programs emphasize practical fields such as business, education, and social sciences, with accommodations for military schedules and deployments.[43] The Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base campus similarly provides tailored adult education for Army personnel and associated populations, delivering comparable degree pathways in a military-focused environment to support career advancement without relocation. These military extensions reflect Campbell's commitment to serving North Carolina's defense communities, dating back to expansions in the late 20th century amid growing regional military presence.[39][30] For the Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine, regional clinical campuses facilitate third- and fourth-year rotations across sites including Lumberton, Fayetteville, Harnett Health in Dunn, Salisbury, Goldsboro, Morehead City, Smithfield, Conway (South Carolina), and Sanford. These affiliations with community hospitals enable hands-on training but operate as rotation sites rather than independent instructional campuses.[44]Infrastructure and Recent Developments
The main campus of Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina, encompasses approximately 490 acres and includes an adjacent 100-acre health sciences campus, supporting a range of academic, residential, administrative, and athletic facilities.[45] Key infrastructure elements comprise the Wiggins Memorial Library for research and study resources, engineering facilities such as the Creek Makerspace, Area 87 makerspace, and CAMEL Fab lab for hands-on prototyping, and health sciences buildings including Levine Hall of Medicine and Smith Hall of Nursing & Health Sciences.[46][36] Residential infrastructure features multiple halls like Burkot, McCall, and Small halls, equipped with on-campus housing for undergraduates, while support services are managed by Facilities Management, which handles over 17,000 annual work orders covering maintenance, housekeeping, landscaping, and energy systems across all buildings.[47][48] Recent developments emphasize modernization and expansion under ongoing master planning efforts. In July 2025, the university installed more than 365 new washer and dryer units across residence halls as part of a comprehensive upgrade to enhance student living conditions.[49] By August 2025, over $2 million had been invested in HVAC and boiler system replacements, including new units outside select residence halls, to improve energy efficiency and reliability.[48] The campus master plan envisions further additions such as new buildings, enhanced landscapes, parking reconfigurations, and circulation improvements to integrate historic and modern elements.[50] A new strategic plan launched on September 26, 2025, prioritizes core mission alignment while deferring projects like housing expansions, athletic facilities, and academic infrastructure to future phases.[51] These initiatives reflect sustained investment in physical assets amid leadership emphasis on infrastructure resilience.[52]Academic Programs
Undergraduate Offerings
Campbell University's undergraduate programs encompass over 150 majors and minors, delivered primarily through its main campus in Buies Creek, North Carolina, with supplementary options available online and at extended campuses.[53] These offerings include bachelor's degrees in fields such as arts, sciences, business, education, engineering, and health sciences, alongside associate degrees tailored for adult learners.[54] The curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, practical skills, and alignment with the university's Christian mission, preparing students for professional careers or advanced study.[55] The College of Arts and Sciences serves as the foundational unit for undergraduate liberal arts education, offering majors in humanities (e.g., English, history), social sciences (e.g., psychology, political science), natural sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, biochemistry), and fine arts, as well as nearly a dozen pre-professional tracks including pre-medicine, pre-law, and pre-pharmacy.[55] These programs require students to declare a major by the junior year and integrate general education requirements focused on critical thinking, communication, and ethical reasoning.[56] In professional and applied fields, the School of Business provides nine bachelor's degrees, including B.B.A. programs in accounting, business administration, international business, finance, and wealth management, with a 4+1 accelerated pathway allowing completion of a master's in business administration in five years.[57] The School of Engineering delivers project-based B.S. degrees in disciplines such as biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering, emphasizing hands-on design and industry collaboration from the outset.[55] The School of Education and Human Sciences offers B.A. and B.S. programs in education (with licensure tracks in elementary, middle, and secondary levels), psychology, and social work, combining pedagogical training with field experiences.[58] Health-related undergraduate offerings, concentrated in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, include B.S. degrees in nursing, exercise science/kinesiology, clinical research, and pharmaceutical sciences, with popular enrollment in exercise science reflecting demand for allied health roles.[59] For non-traditional students, Adult and Online Education administers 20 bachelor's degrees—such as B.B.A. in accounting and business administration, B.A. in communication studies—and eight associate degrees, including A.S. in behavioral sciences and homeland security, delivered in accelerated eight-week terms fully online or at sites like Fort Liberty and Camp Lejeune.[60] Popular majors across all modalities include business administration and management, exercise science, and psychology, accounting for a significant portion of enrollment.[59]Graduate and Professional Schools
Campbell University maintains several specialized schools offering professional doctoral degrees and master's-level graduate programs designed to prepare students for advanced practice in fields such as health care, law, theology, business, and education. These programs emphasize practical training, interprofessional collaboration, and alignment with the university's Christian mission of servant leadership. Over 30 graduate and professional degrees are available, many accredited by relevant bodies including the American Osteopathic Association, the American Bar Association for law, and the Association of Theological Schools for divinity.[61][55] The Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine, established in 2013 in Lillington, North Carolina, awards the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree, focusing on holistic patient care and primary medicine for rural and underserved communities. The four-year curriculum integrates osteopathic principles with clinical rotations, achieving a 100% residency placement rate for graduates as of 2024. Additional graduate offerings include a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences as a pathway to medical school and a Master of Health Professions Education for clinical educators.[62][63] The Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, located in downtown Raleigh since its founding in 1976, confers the Juris Doctor (JD) degree through a three-year full-time program or a flexible part-time option. It features experiential learning via externships, clinics, and dual-degree pathways such as JD/Master of Business Administration or JD/Master of Divinity, completed in four to five years. The curriculum prioritizes practical skills, ethics, and leadership, with bar passage rates tracked annually by the school.[64][65] The College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences delivers the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and programs like the Master of Physician Assistant Practice, alongside graduate degrees in pharmaceutical sciences and clinical research. These emphasize interprofessional education, service learning, and experiential rotations to address health care needs in North Carolina.[66][61] Campbell Divinity School offers the Master of Divinity (MDiv), a 78-90 credit program for pastoral and chaplaincy roles, along with the Master of Arts in Christian Ministry and dual degrees such as MDiv/MBA or MDiv/MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. A Doctor of Ministry is available for advanced ministerial leadership. Curricula integrate theological studies with practical ministry formation, accredited by the Association of Theological Schools.[67][68] Graduate business education through the Lundy-Fetterman School includes the Master of Business Administration (MBA), available on-campus, online, or in Raleigh, with options for accelerated 4+1 tracks from undergraduate programs. Other offerings encompass specialized master's in accounting and analytics.[69] The School of Education & Human Sciences provides master's degrees in educational leadership, school administration, curriculum and instruction, and clinical mental health counseling, aimed at practicing professionals. These programs blend research, theory, and field-based application to enhance servant leadership in educational settings.[70][71]Accreditation, Rankings, and Research Focus
Campbell University holds regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), which authorizes it to award associate, baccalaureate, master's, doctoral, and professional degrees; this accreditation was reaffirmed for a 10-year term in December 2021, placing the institution among five private North Carolina universities with the highest Level VI status.[72] Specific programs receive additional specialized accreditations, including the Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, the School of Osteopathic Medicine from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) with "Accreditation with Exceptional Outcome" status granted in April 2024 (next review in 2034), and various business programs from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).[73][74][75] In U.S. News & World Report's 2025 rankings, Campbell University is classified as a National University at #329 overall out of approximately 440 institutions evaluated, reflecting its position among doctoral/professional universities with moderate research activity.[76] The university's online bachelor's programs ranked #41 overall and #75 (tie) in business administration out of 351 programs in the same report, showing improvement from prior years.[77] The School of Osteopathic Medicine excels in primary care metrics, ranking 11th nationally for percentage of graduates (41.1%) practicing in primary care fields and 19th for those in rural areas as of 2024 data.[78] Campbell's Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law withdrew from U.S. News rankings participation in 2022, citing methodological concerns shared by other institutions.[79] Research at Campbell University emphasizes applied and translational work, particularly in health sciences, pharmacy, and biomedical fields, rather than high-volume basic research typical of R1 institutions; the university supports faculty-student collaborations through sponsored projects, which may include grants for teaching enhancements, professional development, and targeted investigations.[80][81] Key facilities include the Pharmaceutical Education & Research Center (PERC) at the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, which conducts contract research in drug formulation, analysis, and production while providing laboratory training, and the School of Osteopathic Medicine's 7,000-square-foot labs focused on cell biology, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, and clinical trials.[82][83][84] Faculty research spans biomedical, translational, clinical, and educational domains, with programs like the B.S. in Clinical Research preparing students for industry roles in efficacy and safety studies.[85][86]Institutional Mission and Christian Identity
Baptist Heritage and Foundational Principles
Campbell University traces its origins to January 5, 1887, when James Archibald Campbell, a 26-year-old Baptist minister from Harnett County, North Carolina, established Buies Creek Academy in a local Baptist church with an initial enrollment of 16 students.[2][7] Campbell, who had trained at Wake Forest College—a Baptist institution—and served as a pastor, envisioned an educational enterprise that integrated Christian faith with learning, particularly to serve rural families lacking access to higher education.[9] The academy's early curriculum emphasized moral and intellectual development under biblical principles, reflecting the founder's commitment to Baptist values such as the priesthood of all believers and the authority of Scripture.[10] Throughout its development from academy to junior college in 1926 and full university status in 1979, Campbell has maintained affiliation with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, preserving its denominational ties while expanding academically.[2][10] This heritage informs the institution's identity as a private Christian university, where Baptist distinctives like soul competency—the idea that individuals are directly accountable to God—and local church autonomy shape its ethos, though without mandating denominational affiliation for students or faculty.[87] The university's governance and programs continue to draw from these roots, prioritizing education as a divine calling rather than a secular pursuit.[31] At its core, Campbell's foundational principles rest on three theological presuppositions derived from its Baptist heritage: that learning is divinely appointed and enjoined, that the Scriptures offer an inexhaustible source of wisdom, and that the created world serves as a laboratory for testing knowledge from reason and revelation.[87][31] These underpin the mission to present a worldview informed by Christian principles, affirming truth as both revelatory/transcendent and empirical/scientific, with no inherent conflict between faith and reason.[3] The university holds that inquiry should be infused with faith, fostering servant leadership and ethical responsibility grounded in biblical accountability rather than relativistic standards.[3] This framework rejects compartmentalization of belief, insisting instead on holistic integration to equip graduates for purposeful service.[88]Integration of Faith in Education
Campbell University's approach to education emphasizes the integration of a Christian worldview across academic disciplines, viewing faith not as separate from learning but as enhancing intellectual inquiry and personal formation. This stems from the institution's mission to educate students for purposeful lives of service, where faith informs ethical reasoning and professional vocation without coercing specific beliefs.[89] Faculty are encouraged to model this integration in their teaching, drawing on principles that align rigorous academics with character development rooted in Christian theology.[89][90] A key curricular mechanism is the required CUC 200 Connections course, a 0.5-credit seminar for undergraduates that reflects the university's Christian mission by nurturing spiritual life through a Christian worldview while building community. The course merges faith, learning, and service to prepare students for responsible engagement in society, incorporating experiences that challenge students intellectually and spiritually without mandating adherence to particular doctrines.[91] General education requirements further embed this integration, mandating courses such as CHRS 125 Introduction to Christianity, which provides foundational exposure to biblical and theological perspectives applicable across majors.[92] In 2023, Campbell received up to $431,000 through Wake Forest University's Educating Character Initiative, funded by the Lilly Endowment Inc., to embed hallmarks of character, initiative, and calling into the undergraduate curriculum and co-curricular programming. This initiative supports faculty retreats—targeting up to 120 participants—and the development of a digital portfolio capstone, fostering a shared language that aligns with the university's Christian context and promotes transformative growth in students' vocational discernment.[93] Spiritual formation complements academic integration through voluntary programs like weekly worship gatherings and the Connections initiative, which emphasize engaging both heart and mind in faith development. These efforts aim to cultivate servant leadership and ethical decision-making, preparing graduates to apply Christian principles in diverse professions.[94][95] In professional schools, such as the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, this extends to visions of education as inherently theological, training lawyers to pursue justice informed by faith.[96]Servant Leadership Emphasis
Campbell University's commitment to servant leadership stems from its Baptist heritage and integrates the philosophy—characterized by prioritizing the growth and well-being of others through humble service—into its core educational mission. This approach aligns with the university's goal of transforming students into leaders who apply Christian principles in professional and community contexts, as articulated in its hallmarks of character formation.[97] The emphasis manifests in dedicated programs, curricula, and extracurricular initiatives designed to cultivate selflessness, ethical decision-making, and community impact among students and faculty. A flagship initiative is the Wallace Servant Leadership & Character Fellowship, named after former president Dr. Norman Adrian Wallace, which targets graduate students in fields like health sciences and law. Launched to challenge participants to embody servant leadership, the program includes seminars, mentorship, and reflective exercises on character development; in May 2024, fellows from these programs completed the curriculum, gaining insights into leadership as neighborly service.[98] In April 2025, Dr. Wallace, then aged 90, presided over the final honoring ceremony for the 2024-25 cohort, underscoring the program's role in perpetuating his vision of leadership rooted in service.[99] The university's Gore Center for Servant Leadership further institutionalizes this focus by recognizing exemplary students through annual awards; for instance, in February 2010, divinity students Heather Lamb Webb and Robert William Royal Peltz received honors for their demonstrated service-oriented qualities.[100] This emphasis extends to specific schools, such as the College of Education's professional programs, which explicitly train teachers, school leaders, and counselors in servant leadership principles to foster ethical practice in public service roles.[101] Similarly, the Divinity School positions itself as a hub for developing servant leaders for ministry, nonprofits, and beyond, emphasizing practical preparation over mere academic instruction.[102] Campus-wide applications include events like CommUNITY Days, where students engage in service projects to apply servant leadership skills locally, investing time and resources in community betterment.[103] The Lundy-Fetterman School of Business incorporates servant leadership into its speaker series and leadership workshops, as seen in a September 2020 presentation by an alumnus highlighting its relevance to professional success.[104] Overall, these efforts equip students with habits for lifelong impact, as stated in the university's campaign materials, which describe its learning experience as preparation for servant leadership in a transformative capacity.[105]Student Life
Campus Culture and Residential Experience
Campbell University's campus culture is characterized by a strong emphasis on community, belonging, and Christian spiritual formation, reflecting its Baptist affiliation and mission to nurture the whole person. Students engage in over 100 clubs, nine Greek organizations, and numerous events such as homecoming tailgates, concerts, and day trips organized by the Campus Activities Board, which promote social, cultural, and recreational development in a friendly, compact rural setting.[106][107][108] The university fosters a sense of dignity and value for all individuals, grounded in the belief that people are created in the image of God, with spiritual life integrated through ministry groups, service initiatives, and chapel opportunities that encourage faith-informed inquiry without conflict between belief and academics.[109][95] Student conduct policies strictly prohibit alcohol possession or consumption on campus and illegal drug use, with violations addressed through the university's Code of Honor and Student Code of Conduct, supporting a disciplined environment aligned with its Christian principles.[110][111] The residential experience forms a core component of student life, with on-campus housing required for all undergraduate students during their first three years unless exempted by factors such as being over age 21 or commuting from a parental home within a specified distance.[112] Residence Life oversees a range of accommodations, including suite-style halls like the three-story Pat Barker Hall featuring four-person units with shared bathrooms and lounges, and apartment options in Bob Barker Hall with four private bedrooms, one-and-a-half bathrooms, and communal living areas furnished with essentials such as twin extra-long beds and desks.[113][114] Fall and spring housing costs range from $3,680 to $4,635 per academic year, varying by room type, with a $100 deposit required.[115] Residents benefit from structured community building, including guidance from resident staff, mentorship opportunities, and specialized residential learning communities like the First Generation Scholars program for first-year students whose parents did not attend college, which enhances integration into campus culture.[116] On-campus living correlates with improved outcomes such as higher graduation rates, GPAs, self-confidence, and overall college satisfaction compared to off-campus peers, supplemented by events and resources that facilitate friendships and extracurricular involvement.[117][118]Extracurricular Activities and Organizations
Campbell University supports a range of extracurricular activities and organizations designed to promote leadership, service, and community engagement among students, coordinated primarily through the Office of Student Activities and the Inter-Organizational Council (IOC), which facilitates collaboration among groups.[119] The IOC, chaired by the Vice President of the Student Government Association, enables representatives from various clubs to share ideas and coordinate events.[119] The Student Government Association (SGA) functions as the primary voice for students, addressing concerns and representing the student body in university matters; it comprises elected representatives and collaborates on initiatives like leadership socials with other groups.[120] The Campus Activities Board (CAB) organizes major campus events, including homecoming, formals, Founders Week, and off-campus outings, to enhance student life.[108] Fraternity and Sorority Life features six recognized values-based chapters emphasizing scholarship, leadership, service, and friendship, with fraternity and sorority members comprising about 12% of the undergraduate population as of recent data.[121][122] Recognized groups include fraternities such as Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma, and Phi Delta Theta, and sororities like Delta Phi Epsilon, some of which maintain dedicated housing.[123] Student clubs span academic, service, cultural, and recreational categories, with active examples including the Campbell Chemistry Club, Mathematical Sciences Club, Circle K International for service, Rotaract Club, Black Student Association, and Campbell Hispanic Association.[124] These clubs, each advised by faculty, provide opportunities for professional development, cultural exchange, and community involvement, often with associated social media for engagement.[124] The university also maintains chapters of multiple academic honor societies to recognize scholarly achievement and leadership, such as Phi Kappa Phi for top-performing juniors, seniors, and graduates; Psi Chi for psychology students; Omicron Delta Kappa for leaders across scholarship, athletics, and service; and discipline-specific groups like Alpha Phi Sigma in criminal justice and Kappa Delta Pi in education.[125] Membership typically requires minimum GPAs ranging from 3.0 to 3.5 and completion of relevant coursework, with societies promoting ongoing excellence in their fields.[125]Student Media and Publications
Campbell University maintains four student-run media outlets, providing opportunities for undergraduates to engage in journalism, creative writing, yearbook production, and video content creation. These outlets, overseen by faculty advisers and coordinated through relevant academic departments, emphasize practical experience aligned with the university's communication and arts programs.[126] The Campbell Times functions as the primary student newspaper, delivering campus news, events, sports coverage, and opinion pieces. It operates with daily online updates and monthly print editions during the fall and spring semesters, fostering skills in reporting and digital media. The publication earned "Best in Show" recognition from the North Carolina College Media Association Awards in 2013 for universities with enrollments under 6,500 students.[126] The Pine Burr serves as the annual student yearbook, compiling photographs, articles, and records of university activities, student organizations, and academic achievements to preserve campus memories. Produced entirely by students, it received "Best in Show" honors from the North Carolina College Media Association Awards, distinguishing it among peer institutions. Digital access is available through its online platform, with submissions managed via student editors.[126][127] The Lyricist is an annual literary magazine featuring student-submitted poetry, short stories, essays, and artwork, coordinated by the Department of English and supported through the ENGL 412 course focused on editing and desktop publishing. Established in 1965, it promotes creative expression and has been published consistently, with the 2025 edition released in October of that year.[128][126][129] Campbell Now! TV produces short video segments airing several times per week, covering university events, interviews, and features accessible via online platforms. Open to students from all majors through the COMM 257 course or volunteer opportunities, it emphasizes broadcast production techniques under faculty guidance.[126]Athletics
Varsity Teams and Conferences
Campbell University fields 21 varsity intercollegiate athletic teams known as the Fighting Camels, competing at the NCAA Division I level, with 10 men's teams and 11 women's teams.[130] The university joined the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) on July 1, 2023, for all conference-sponsored sports.[131] Football participates in the CAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), while men's wrestling competes in the Southern Conference (SoCon).[131][132] Men's varsity sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, and wrestling. Women's varsity sports include basketball, cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, and volleyball.[133]Athletic Achievements and Facilities
Campbell University's athletic programs, competing as the Fighting Camels in NCAA Division I, have secured 52 Big South Conference titles prior to transitioning to the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) in 2023, including 32 tournament championships and 20 regular-season crowns across multiple sports.[134] The baseball program stands out for its consistent performance, averaging 39 wins per season over the five full years preceding 2023 and earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2021, the first for any Campbell team.[135] [136] In 2023, the team advanced to an NCAA regional while ranking first nationally in scoring offense with over 10 runs in 19 games.[137] The men's basketball team appeared in the 1992 NCAA Tournament, won the Atlantic Sun Conference regular-season title in 2010 and the Big South in 2019, and reached the NAIA national runner-up position in 1976–77.[138] Women's basketball advanced to the 2025 CAA Championship game in their second conference season.[139] Football, revived in 2008, competes in the CAA after stints in the Pioneer Football League and Big South, though it holds an all-time record of 54–96 without conference titles.[140] The Athletics Hall of Fame, established in 1984, honors 96 individuals for contributions to Camel sports, reflecting a tradition of recognizing sustained excellence despite limited national championships.[141] Baseball alumni achievements include six active Major League Baseball players in 2025, surpassing the prior record of five.[142] Key facilities support 21 varsity teams (10 men's, 11 women's). Barker-Lane Stadium, opened in 2008, hosts football with a 5,000-seat capacity.[143] The John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center, also opened in 2008, features Gore Arena for basketball and volleyball, seating 3,000.[144] Jim Perry Stadium accommodates baseball with 1,000 seats.[145] The Eakes Athletics Complex, dedicated in 1986, includes a soccer stadium, 586-seat grandstand, practice fields, and the McLeod training facility for soccer and track & field.[146] Additional venues like Amanda Littlejohn Stadium serve softball, while Carter Gym provides training resources.[147]Governance and Leadership
Presidents and Key Administrators
Campbell University was founded in 1887 by James Archibald Campbell, a Baptist minister who served as its first president until his death in 1934, during which time the institution evolved from Buies Creek Academy into a junior college emphasizing Christian education and service.[18] His son, Leslie Hartwell Campbell, assumed the presidency in 1934 at age 42—the youngest college president in North Carolina at the time—and led for 33 years until 1967, expanding enrollment, facilities, and academic programs while navigating post-World War II growth and the transition to a four-year institution in 1961.[18] Norman Adrian Wiggins followed from 1967 to 2003, the longest-serving president, who guided the school to full university status in 1979, introduced professional schools in pharmacy and law, and increased student numbers to over 3,000.[18] Bruce P. Jenkins served as president from 2003 to 2015, focusing on strategic planning, campus infrastructure improvements, and enhancing the university's national profile through athletics and online education initiatives.[18] J. Bradley Creed held the office from 2015 to 2025, advancing faith-integrated curricula, expanding graduate programs, and strengthening ties with Baptist conventions amid enrollment growth to approximately 6,000 students.[18] [148] The current sixth president, William M. Downs, assumed office on July 1, 2025, bringing over 30 years of higher education experience, including prior roles in academic leadership and political science scholarship; his priorities include reinforcing the university's mission, community engagement, and operational efficiency.[149] [150] Key administrators under Downs include Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael L. Adams, who oversees curriculum development and faculty affairs; Vice President for Student Development and Engagement Eric D. Kidd, managing residential life and support services; and Chief Financial Officer Mark H. Hall, responsible for budgeting and fiscal oversight.[151]| President | Term | Key Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| James Archibald Campbell | 1887–1934 | Founded institution; established foundational Christian ethos and early expansion.[18] |
| Leslie Hartwell Campbell | 1934–1967 | Post-Depression recovery; shift to four-year college status.[18] |
| Norman Adrian Wiggins | 1967–2003 | University designation; professional schools addition.[18] |
| Bruce P. Jenkins | 2003–2015 | Infrastructure and online program growth.[18] |
| J. Bradley Creed | 2015–2025 | Faith integration and graduate expansion.[18] |
| William M. Downs | 2025–present | Mission reinforcement and strategic efficiency.[149] |