May 15, 2000

A tiny college in Virginia is growing in popularity, partially because of its similarities to BYU, and partially because of its differences. News Specialist Carole Mikita has the story of what some are calling "BYU East."

A lot of kids who grow up here on the Wasatch Front dream of going to college at BYU. But now, a lot of them are thinking about another college, that just a few years ago, nobody had ever heard of.

Some have called it the BYU of the East. But to those who pledge allegiance to Southern Virginia College, there's no comparison.

Samuel Fresh/California: "BYU IS SO HUGE, HERE IT'S LIKE A BIG FAMILY. I'M REALLY COMFORTABLE HERE. I REALLY LIKE IT."

And so do a lot of others.

The school opened only four years ago, with an initial enrollment of 80 students. Now, the student body is 400 plus and growing. Many of the enrollees, students like Kimball Chapman, who were once bound for BYU.

Kimball Chapman/Virginia: "I LOVED IT AND I NEVER LEFT."

After his LDS mission, Kimball Chapman thought he belonged at BYU.

Kimball Chapman/Virginia: "I HAD BEEN ACCEPTED THERE. A BUNCH OF FRIENDS OF MINE AND I WERE ALL GOING OUT AND WERE ALL GOING TO BE IN THE SAME FLOOR IN HELAMAN HALLS, AND WE WERE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. I'D ALREADY PICKED OUT MY ROOM, BOUGHT MY PLANE TICKET."

But after a visit to Southern Virginia campus, he changed his mind.

Kimball Chapman/Virginia: "IT JUST FELT LIKE THE RIGHT THING TO DO. IT WAS RISKY. IT WAS HARD TO DO. IT WAS HARD TO TELL ALL MY FRIENDS."

Although it has no official ties to the LDS Church, its does resemble a mini-BYU. Its mostly Mormon student body pledge to follow the teachings of the LDS Church.

The school provides religious education and its private school status allows teachers to incorporate LDS doctrine.

A lot of students are also attracted by the intimate atmosphere.

Cameron Berry/Florida: "THERE'S 12 TO ONE STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIO. SO I KNEW THERE WAS GOING TO BE A LOT OF ONE ON ONE. I LIKED THE FACT YOU WEREN'T GOING TO BE ANOTHER NUMBER."

Where else does the president of the college sit down for lunch with the students?

Samuel Fresh/California: "WASN'T TOO BIG, HAD A REALLY NICE ATMOSPHERE AND ENVIRONMENT, AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT DREW ME HERE."

There was some big news for small SVC today. It was officially accredited as an institution of higher learning by the The American Academy for Liberal Education.

Link:

Southern Virginia College Website