Lee University: A Christ-Centered Community in Tennessee

Lee University, a private Christian university located in Cleveland, Tennessee, has a rich history and a vibrant campus life. Rooted in its commitment to academic achievement, personal development, and spiritual growth, Lee University seeks to create a community where students can thrive in all aspects of their lives.

A Historical Overview

Lee University's journey began in 1918 as the Church of God Bible Training School, with a modest start of twelve students and one teacher, Nora I. Chambers. The institution's foundation was laid in 1911 when the Church of God recognized the need for trained Christian workers and appointed a committee to establish a Bible training school.

The first term commenced on January 1, 1918, with Reverend A. J. Tomlinson serving as the Superintendent of Education. Initially, classes were held in the council chamber of the Church of God Publishing House in Cleveland. As the school grew, it expanded to a vacant church building in 1920 and later to a larger facility in 1925.

In 1947, the institution acquired the campus of Bob Jones College, which had relocated to Greenville, South Carolina. This marked a significant turning point as the Bible training school returned to Cleveland under a new name: Lee College, honoring its second president, Rev. F. J. Lee.

Throughout the years, Lee College continued to evolve, adding a high school division in 1930 and a junior college division in 1941. The junior college received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1960. In the mid-1980s, Lee College embraced the broader evangelical Christian community, leading to an influx of new students and faculty.

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In recent years, Lee University has emerged as an institution of national standing. One of the reasons for this emergence is that Lee stands out in a select group of higher education institutions, that of Christ-centered, liberal arts colleges and universities.

Academics and Programs

Lee University offers a diverse range of academic programs across its six schools: the School of Business, the College of Arts & Sciences, the Helen DeVos College of Education, the School of Music, the School of Religion, and the School of Nursing. The university provides 57 undergraduate majors, 159 undergraduate programs, and 56 graduate programs, catering to a wide array of academic interests.

The faculty has grown and diversified to keep pace with the expanding academic offerings. Lee University is committed to providing a balanced education that integrates faith, learning, and living.

Many co-curricular activities, such as chapel attendance, service requirements, and the study abroad program, called Global Perspectives, are required as part of degree programs. Exceptions and special cases are approved by the relevant academic dean or the president of the university.

Liezl Theron, who came to Lee from Pretoria, South Africa, exemplifies the university's commitment to academic excellence. She is double majoring in biological science and chemistry. Liezl is a member of the Women’s Track and Field team, where she has earned many awards, including the 2021-2022 GSC Field Athlete of the Year and 2023 Indoor GSC Most Outstanding Player.

Campus Life and Student Activities

Lee University places a strong emphasis on community living and offers a vibrant campus life with numerous opportunities for students to engage in social, spiritual, and recreational activities.

Residential Life

Research shows that a student who lives on campus is more likely to be satisfied with his/her college experience and will tend to have a higher GPA. Therefore, by design, Lee University is primarily a residential campus. The purpose of Residential Life & Housing is to provide safe and comfortable physical facilities, holistic student development programming, and an atmosphere conducive to unstructured learning. Each residence hall is managed by a Resident Director (RD) who serves as an educator, helping students integrate their classroom learning with their out-of-classroom experiences.

Freshmen and sophomores are required to live in university-owned housing. In addition, all residence halls are single-sex residences. Local freshmen and sophomores who wish to live off campus must live with their parents or legal guardian/immediate relative (not including siblings who are also college students). The demand for on-campus housing continues to be high.

The University is committed to providing reasonable housing accommodations consistent with the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Upon first entry to on-campus housing, students are required to pay a one-time $200 housing reservation deposit.

The University offers Carroll Court, an apartment complex containing one and two bedroom units, for its married and non-traditional students.

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Consistent with its desire to develop the whole person, Lee University offers a balanced program of social opportunities which provide social interaction for the entire student body. A number of events are underwritten by the Campus Events Committee which is funded by student activity fees.

Spiritual Life

Lee University is firmly committed to corporate worship and views chapel as an integral and indispensable part of the learning experience. Chapel services are conducted each Tuesday and Thursday. Alternative Chapel is held each Thursday typically in the Dixon Center. U-Church is held one Sunday night each month. Chapel credit will be given for these services. All full-time students (12 hours or more) are required to attend 70% of chapel services offered (including U-Church) and Convocations. Freshmen are not eligible for exemptions.

Lee University is committed to the development of relationships in the context of community. One avenue through which we encourage students to build vulnerable, authentic, and deeper relationships is through our discipleship program called SmallGroup. The mission of SmallGroup in its simplest form is to love God and love others. Each Residence Hall, staffed with a Resident Director, Resident Assistants, and a Resident Chaplain, coordinates and facilitates a weekly opportunity for students to gather in small groups to discuss and process faith in a safe environment. The seventeen chaplains on campus are responsible for overseeing the small groups in their particular residence hall. The Resident Chaplains are also responsible for a team of volunteer small group leaders, called Floor Leaders, who facilitate small groups on each floor.

Student Organizations and Activities

Lee University offers its students more than 100 student clubs and organizations designed to enhance their spiritual, intellectual and social development. Membership in these groups is voluntary. Some organizations have open membership while others are by invitation only. *Family Life Fellowship exists to minister to the needs of married students as well as single parents. The Vindagua is a student produced university yearbook, expressed as a bi-annual magazine that serves as a permanent record of each semester’s narrative.

Each year the Fine Arts and Campus Events Committees bring to the campus a wide array of programs designed to enrich the student’s cultural life. In addition, student organizations sponsor special cultural events for the enjoyment and enrichment of the Lee University community.

Music is an important part of life at Lee University. All students have the opportunity to become part of a choral or instrumental performing group. Students may also participate in any number of instrumental or vocal chamber ensembles. These groups perform in churches, schools, concert halls and other performing venues around the country and abroad. Music majors and non-music majors are encouraged to audition for the ensemble of their choice at the beginning of each semester - Instrumental: Brass Choir, Chamber Strings, Handbell Choir, Jazz Ensemble, Pep Band, Percussion Ensemble, Small Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble; Vocal: Campus Choir, Choral Union, Chorale, Evangelistic Singers, Ladies of Lee, Lee Singers, Men’s Choir, Opera Theatre, and Voices of Lee. The University Choral Union welcomes the participation of all university students without audition. In order for students to participate in the university’s traveling ensembles, they must be enrolled at Lee in good academic standing as a full-time student.

Lee University Theatre, a part of the Communication Arts Department, offers all students an opportunity to develop artistic excellence through individual attention, a wide variety of technical and performance opportunities, and outstanding facilities.

Athletics and Recreation

Lee University engages in intercollegiate athletic competition as a member of the Gulf South Conference. Lee has recently completed a three-year transition process to gain full membership status in NCAA Division II. Varsity teams compete in men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, golf, indoor and outdoor track and field, soccer and tennis; women’s lacrosse, softball and volleyball; and men’s baseball with several teams qualifying for post-season play each year. The Lee athletic teams are called the Flames. Lee competes in 18 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis & track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball.

The purpose of Campus Recreation is to connect, inspire and educate people toward healthy and active lifestyles in our campus community. We accomplish this by creating environments and opportunities that promote physical fitness, healthy habits and balanced behaviors, improving the overall wellness of participants. We teach participants meaningful life skills, encourage personal achievement and foster a sense of excellence in every aspect of our program. To promote physical well-being, Lee University encourages participation in various forms of athletics, outdoor recreation and other activities. Intramural sports for both men and women attract a large percentage of students who compete individually and as members of class, club, dormitory or independent teams. The DeVos Recreation Center provides a wide range of social and recreational opportunities. These opportunities include a full-size gym, weight and physical fitness equipment, racquetball, cycling in both class and informal formats. This facility is only open to Lee University students, faculty, administration and staff.

Health and Safety

Lee University maintains a Health Clinic which provides a variety of medical services including physical exams, allergy shots, and medications for illness. Students are treated by a registered nurse, campus or local physician, or are referred to the Emergency Room, or to a walk-in clinic. The primary objective of the Health Clinic is to give first aid and medical treatment on a limited basis. No student is refused treatment and all information is confidential. There are no inpatient beds or isolation facilities available on campus.

The Department of Campus Security’s goal is to provide security and promote safety for students, faculty, staff, and property. Campus Security performs a variety of duties, including regulating traffic and parking, filing university incident reports, securing buildings, maintaining order, providing assistance in times of emergency and contacting local law enforcement and emergency response authorities when needed. The university provides parking facilities for students who bring vehicles onto the campus. Each student who parks a vehicle on campus must register it with Campus Security and must carry liability insurance. This includes non-resident students who commute to the campus. Upon receipt of a parking permit, the student is entitled to park in an assigned area. Parking is on a first-come, first-served basis. All students enrolled at Lee University are required to have a current student identification card.

Community Covenant and Expectations

Lee University seeks to maintain an environment in which wholesome attitudes and proper conduct can flourish. Whenever any group is closely associated for the accomplishment of a definite purpose, rules and regulations are necessary. Lee University attempts to maintain equitable rules, developed with the participation of the student body and the university administration. The ideals of Christian character should be foremost in private deportment and all social relationships. Students are subject to all school and residence hall regulations from the time they arrive on campus, whether they have registered or not. A student handbook is distributed at the beginning of each fall semester.

All students are asked to sign a "Community Covenant" which lists several restrictions on behaviors and social interaction according to the school's institutional and religious policy. Most notable are a substance policy barring alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs; and its stance on homosexuality, which is banned in all forms. Men's and women's dormitories are kept separate, and premarital sexual intercourse is prohibited.

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