Written by: Lindsay Beckwith
Faculty, administrators and students gathered together last month to pray and dedicate the plot of land chosen for the construction of Southern Adventist University’s new School of Business building.
According to Ken Shaw, SAU president, the facility is planned for a fall 2025 completion date. At 42,000 square feet, the building will be nearly five times larger than the school’s current location on the third floor of Brock Hall and will be located along University Drive between Harmony Lane and Hickman Drive close to Mable Wood Hall.
The building – the land for which was dedicated on Feb. 24 – will include five study rooms students will be able to use for group projects, study sessions and mentoring. Other planned features include a multi-purpose auditorium that will hold up to 350 students where lectures and community events will be held.
According to Ken Shaw, the university’s president, as of Feb. 24 the school’s fundraising campaign had reached $15 million thanks to Southern’s active friends and donors. As explained on the School of Business Quick Fact Sheet, the money will be used to build the new business building and an endowment program, which will provide funds for travel, conference attendance, activities and speakers.
According to the School of Business Quick fact sheet, the School of Business has seen a 10% increase in student enrollment in the past five years, with 443 students enrolled in the Fall 2022 semester.
“The School of Business is our second largest school, and it is now time that we give them a lot more square footage and give them an opportunity [so] they can expand their mission,” said Shaw during the dedication. “I’m looking forward to seeing this vision become a reality.”
According to Janae Bowman, School of Business office manager, the school is hoping to raise $30,000 on Giving Day, April 12, to purchase stock market displays for the new building.
