
Sweet Briar College is a private liberal arts college for women in Sweet Briar, Virginia. The college was founded in 1901 and has a student body of around 450. The college is non-denominational and does not have a primary religion or faith. However, it does have a Delight Christian Faith Community on campus, which is part of the Delight Ministries National Organization. The college also has a Muslim(ah) Student Association, and students of all faiths are welcome to practice their religion and traditions while studying at Sweet Briar.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Primary Religion | None |
Religious Organisations | Delight Christian Faith Community, Muslim(ah) Student Association |
Religious Dietary Requirements | Catered for by Meriwether Godsey |
What You'll Learn
- Sweet Briar College is a private liberal arts college for women
- The college has a diverse community and does not discriminate on the basis of religion
- The college has a Christian society called Delight, which is open to all members of the Christian faith
- The college also has a Muslim(ah) Student Association, which is open to people of all faiths
- Students can connect with the Sweet Briar Chaplain and visit local places of worship
Sweet Briar College is a private liberal arts college for women
Sweet Briar College is named after the former plantation of Elijah Fletcher, a 19th-century teacher, businessman, and mayor of Lynchburg, Virginia. Fletcher enslaved over 110 people in his household and on his plantations. After emancipation in 1865, several formerly enslaved people and their descendants continued to work for pay and live at Sweet Briar. Some descendants of the enslaved still work at the college today.
The college offers a broad liberal arts curriculum and is known for its historic campus, with Georgian Revival architecture and 3,250 acres of hills, forests, and fields. The college has a student-faculty ratio of 8:1 and an average class size of 10. Students can choose from over 40 majors, minors, and certificate programs, as well as master's degrees in education and teaching.
Sweet Briar College has a strong focus on horseback riding and offers a 130-acre riding center with miles of scenic trails. The college also has a student-run multicultural community that supports various faith groups, including Christian, Muslim, and Jewish societies. The college does not discriminate on the basis of religion and encourages students to practice their faith and traditions.
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The college has a diverse community and does not discriminate on the basis of religion
Sweet Briar College is a diverse community that does not discriminate on the basis of religion. The college welcomes students from all faiths and backgrounds, fostering an inclusive and accepting environment for all. With a rich history dating back to 1901, Sweet Briar College is a private women's liberal arts college nestled in the heart of Virginia. The college offers a wide range of academic programmes and extracurricular activities, attracting students from 35 states and 14 countries.
The college's Anti-Discrimination Policy ensures that all members of the community are treated equally, regardless of their religious beliefs. Sweet Briar College recognises the importance of spiritual exploration and supports its students in practising their faith and traditions. The college encourages interfaith dialogue and engagement, promoting a culture of open-mindedness and mutual respect.
The college campus is home to various religious organisations, catering to the diverse needs of its student body. The Delight Christian Faith Community, for instance, offers a welcoming and accommodating space for members of the Christian faith, regardless of their previous faith experiences or political beliefs. The group emphasises its commitment to open-mindedness and actively distances itself from Christian Nationalist stereotypes. It embraces individuals of all races, genders, and sexual orientations and actively engages in thoughtful discussions with other faith-based organisations.
The Muslim(ah) Student Association (MSA) is another notable religious group on campus. MSA is a non-profit, religious organisation open to people of all faiths and none. It aims to promote an educational and informative outlook on Islam, addressing and eliminating misconceptions about the religion. MSA also strives to foster a sense of sisterhood among students of all faiths, creating a supportive community for Muslim women on campus.
In addition to these groups, the college also facilitates connections with local places of worship, ensuring that students can easily access religious services and engage with faith communities beyond the campus. The college is mindful of the importance of faith-based diets and offers a variety of dining options to cater to different dietary restrictions, such as Halal food.
Sweet Briar College's commitment to religious diversity and inclusion is further reflected in its curriculum. The college offers a broad liberal arts education, allowing students to explore a range of disciplines and perspectives. This multidisciplinary approach encourages students to question, reflect, and develop their own spiritual and philosophical beliefs. The college's alumnae include prominent religious leaders, such as Fleming Rutledge, an internationally known preacher and teacher and one of the first women to be ordained into the priesthood of the Episcopal Church.
Sweet Briar College's diverse community and non-discriminatory policy create a safe and welcoming environment for students from all religious backgrounds. The college recognises the importance of spiritual exploration and supports its students in their faith journeys, fostering an atmosphere of acceptance, open-mindedness, and mutual respect.
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The college has a Christian society called Delight, which is open to all members of the Christian faith
Sweet Briar College is a private liberal arts college for women in Virginia. It was established in 1901 and currently offers over 40 majors, minors and certificate programs, as well as master's degrees in education and teaching. The college has no primary religion, but it does have a Christian society called Delight, which is open to all members of the Christian faith.
The Delight Christian Faith Community at Sweet Briar College was originally part of the Delight Ministries National Organization. However, the Sweet Briar Delight leadership disagreed with some of the National Organization's positions and decided to separate in December 2021. The current and future board members of Delight at Sweet Briar hope to foster an accepting, welcoming, informed and accommodating environment for members of the Christian faith community, regardless of previous faith experiences or political beliefs. They aim to create a space that is separate from certain Christian Nationalist stereotypes and is open to all races, genders, and sexual orientations. They also acknowledge the significance of religious-based trauma and strive to offer a safe space for members of the Sweet Briar community to navigate past traumatic experiences.
Sweet Briar College has a history of producing female religious leaders. Notable alumnae include Fleming Rutledge '59, an internationally known preacher and teacher and one of the first women to be ordained to the priesthood of the Episcopal Church; Makanah Morriss '66, a minister and educator in the Unitarian Universalist Church; Keenan Kelsey '66, a Presbyterian minister; Beth Preston '78, an Episcopal priest; and Laura Glover '86, who serves small rural community churches in Oklahoma.
Sweet Briar College does not discriminate on the basis of religion, among other factors, and encourages students to practice their faith and traditions while studying at the college. The college also has a Muslim(ah) Student Association (MSA), which is open to people of all faiths and no faith, with the purpose of promoting an educational and informative outlook of Islam.
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The college also has a Muslim(ah) Student Association, which is open to people of all faiths
Sweet Briar College is a private liberal arts college for women, founded in 1901. It is located in Sweet Briar, Virginia, and is named after a type of rose that was grown on the founding family's estate. The college has a strong equestrian tradition, with a 130-acre riding centre and miles of scenic trails on its 2,840-acre campus.
Sweet Briar College does not have a primary religion or faith. The college welcomes students of all faiths and those with no religious beliefs. The college's Anti-Discrimination Policy states that it does not discriminate on the basis of "race, colour, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status".
The college has a Delight Christian Faith Community, which is part of the Delight Ministries National Organization. This group aims to offer an accepting and welcoming environment for members of the Christian faith, regardless of their previous faith experiences or political beliefs.
In addition, the college also has a Muslim(ah) Student Association (MSA), which is open to people of all faiths and none. The MSA is a non-profit, religious organisation that aims to promote an educational and informative outlook of Islam to address and eliminate misconceptions about the religion. The MSA also seeks to create a sense of sisterhood among students of all faiths.
The college provides support for students to practice their faith and traditions. This includes offering Halal food options and providing information on local places of worship, such as the Greater Lynchburg Islamic Association.
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Students can connect with the Sweet Briar Chaplain and visit local places of worship
Sweet Briar College is a private liberal arts college for women in Sweet Briar, Virginia, founded in 1901. The college is named after the Sweet Briar plantation, which was originally known as Locust Ridge but renamed after the roses that grew on the land. The college's campus spans 2,840 acres and includes a 130-acre riding centre, reflecting the important role of horseback riding in student life.
Sweet Briar College does not have a primary religion or faith. The college welcomes students from diverse faith backgrounds and actively encourages the practice of faith and traditions during their time at the college. The college's Anti-Discrimination Policy states that it does not discriminate based on "race, colour, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status".
Students at Sweet Briar College can connect with the college chaplain and visit local places of worship to support their faith journey. The college's Delight Christian Faith Community, which separated from the Delight Ministries National Organization in 2021, offers an accepting and welcoming environment for members of the Christian faith. The community aims to be open-minded and inclusive, welcoming people of all races, genders, and sexual orientations. They also acknowledge the significance of religious-based trauma and strive to provide a safe space for members to navigate past traumatic experiences.
In addition to the Delight Christian Faith Community, Sweet Briar College is home to various faith-based organisations, such as the Muslim(ah) Student Association (MSA). MSA is a non-profit religious organisation open to people of all faiths or no faith. It aims to promote an educational and informative outlook on Islam to address and eliminate misconceptions about the religion.
Students at Sweet Briar College can also connect with the college chaplain by attending "Pause" at Mills Chapel every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. Additionally, the college provides a list of local places of worship that students can visit, catering to a range of religious denominations:
- Agudath Sholom Synagogue
- Amherst Baptist Church
- Amherst Presbyterian Church
- Ascension Episcopal Church
- First Unitarian Church of Lynchburg
- Greater Lynchburg Islamic Association
- Hill City Community Church
- Kingdom Hall-Jehovah’s Witness
- Lynchburg Korean Church
- Midway Baptist Church
- St. Mary’s Catholic Church
Sweet Briar College is committed to accommodating the dietary needs of its students with faith-based diets. The college's dining services provider offers a variety of dishes and ingredients to cater to different eating preferences and restrictions, including Halal food. Students can complete a Dietary Needs Form to communicate their preferences and restrictions to the dining services.
The college also provides a list of recommended local stores and restaurants that cater to diverse dietary needs, such as Halal and Indian cuisine.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Sweet Briar College does not have a primary religion faith. The college is open to people of all faiths and none. It has an Anti-discrimination Policy that ensures no one is discriminated against based on religion.
Yes, there are religious groups on campus. The Delight Christian Faith Community is a faith-based ministry that offers an accepting and welcoming environment for members of the Christian faith. There is also a Muslim(ah) Student Association (MSA) that is open to people of all faiths and none.
Agudath Sholom Synagogue, Amherst Baptist Church, Amherst Presbyterian Church, Ascension Episcopal Church, First Unitarian Church of Lynchburg, Greater Lynchburg Islamic Association, Hill City Community Church, Kingdom Hall-Jehovah’s Witness, Lynchburg Korean Church, Midway Baptist Church, and St. Mary’s Catholic Church are all local places of worship.
Yes, Sweet Briar’s chefs offer dishes that cater to different eating preferences and restrictions such as Halal food. Students can also complete a Dietary Needs Form to share their preferences and restrictions.
Yes, there is a chapel on campus called Mills Chapel.