SWU News:

April 15, 2008

Dr. James Bross	Rev. Fred Andrews

SWU to confer more than 350 degrees

Graduates, their families and friends will gather at Southern Wesleyan University’s campus in Central on Saturday, May 10, for commencement exercises.

The speaker will be Dr. James Bross. He first came to Central, S.C., as a high school student at Wesleyan Methodist Academy. He later earned his A.B. degree from Central Wesleyan College and completed studies in mathematics education at Tennessee State. He earned a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Illinois and his PhD. in religion from the University of Iowa.

Dr. Bross returned to the Central campus in 1973 as assistant professor of religion. He was promoted to associate and then professor of religion in 1979 and awarded tenure by the college at that time.

“During his 35 years of service to the university, Dr. Bross has served with distinction as a member of the religion faculty and has also served in a number of leadership positions and responsibilities,” Dr. David Spittal, university president said. In addition to his teaching duties, in 1983 Dr. Bross was appointed as coordinator of planning, and in 1987 was appointed as director of the college’s newly adopted degree program for adult students called LEAP or Leadership Education for Adult Professionals. In 1989, he was appointed as associate dean of planning and special programs and, in 1993, was named as vice president of Adult and Graduate Studies.

In addition to his leadership and service as a faculty member and administrator, he has served in a number of leadership appointments including coordinator of the Master of Ministry program and as chairperson of the Division of Religion.

“Throughout his career, he has been known and deeply appreciated by all who been benefited by his scholarship, commitment to Christ and his commitment to the mission and purposes of Southern Wesleyan University,” Dr. Spittal said. “He has served with devotion to his Lord and a commitment to serve in whatever areas God has led him. He has represented the ideals of Southern Wesleyan with distinction and throughout his career has modeled a life of humility, strong commitment and faithful service.” 

At the end of the spring semester, Dr. Bross will be retiring. He and his wife, Barbara, have four children and eight grandchildren.

The university will have two separate graduation ceremonies at Walden Tysinger Gymnasium on the university’s campus in Central.

The 10 a.m. ceremony is for students earning associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master of education degrees or master of ministry degrees from the university’s Central or Greenville locations.

The 3 p.m. ceremony is for students earning associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees or master of education degrees from the university’s Charleston, Columbia or North Augusta locations, and for students earning master of science degrees and master of business administration degrees from all locations.

The university expects to confer more than 350 degrees, according to Registrar Rock McCaskill.

For details, call Southern Wesleyan University’s Academic Records Department at (864) 644-5530. Tickets, issued through the university, are required for those attending graduation. Overflow seating is available, which will allow guests without tickets to view the ceremony via a closed circuit broadcast. 

Other end-of-semester events include Baccalaureate Chapel on May 8 at 10:50 a.m. in Folger Fine Arts Auditorium on the university’s campus in Central. The baccalaureate sermon will be delivered by Rev. Frederick Andrews.

Rev. Andrews earned a bachelor of arts degree in biblical literature from Southern Pilgrim College in 1966 and enrolled at Appalachian State University, where he completed certification requirements in elementary education and later earned a bachelor of science degree in 1968. He earned a master of divinity degree at Asbury Theological Seminary in 1971.

Rev. Andrews’ full-time ministry began in 1971 as a missionary to Sierra Leone, West Africa, where he served as a teacher in the Bible College near Freetown. In 1972, he became principal of the Bible College until 1974, when he and his family returned to the United States. After a year as assistant pastor for the First Wesleyan Church in Randleman, N.C., he and his family returned to Sierra Leone for a three-year term of service and teaching at the Bible College. Medical issues required their return to the United States and, in 1977, he assumed responsibilities as assistant pastor for First Wesleyan Church in Central, S.C. After six months, he was called to serve as senior pastor for the church, a position he has held since 1978.

“Rev. Andrews’ ministry and service to the local, church, district and denomination has been significant,” Dr. Spittal said.

In 2003, Southern Wesleyan University awarded Rev. Andrews the Virgil A. Mitchell Excellence in Pastoral Ministry Award. He has served as a member of the District Board of Administration and the District Board of Ministerial Development.

He and his wife, Sondra, have two daughters and four grandsons.

The university’s Baccalaureate Chapel includes a “Ceremony of the Servants” and a challenge for graduates of the university to find ways to serve the needs of people throughout the world.

Southern Wesleyan University prepares students for leadership and graduate study in such fields as religion, education, music, business, medicine, law and a variety of civic and social service professions. Southern Wesleyan offers 35 major areas of study for undergraduates and graduate degrees in the areas of business, education and ministry. The university’s main campus is in Central and there are regional learning centers across the state, in locations such as Greenville, Columbia, Charleston and North Augusta. Classes are also offered in Spartanburg and Greenwood.