General Information

Accreditation and Program Approvals

Harding University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org; 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL  60604; 800-621-7440). Harding also maintains specialized accreditation for its programs as appropriate to its educational purposes and currently has more than 50 degrees/majors offered by colleges, departments, and programs that have specialized accreditation. These programs all benefit from the rigorous program review requirements in the accreditation process which are based on national standardized outcomes.

Click here for a complete listing of all accreditation and program approvals.

Location

Harding’s home community, Searcy, Arkansas, a city of more than 23,000 people, is the seat of White County. Located in east central Arkansas, about 50 miles northeast of Little Rock and 105 miles west of Memphis, Tenn., Searcy is reached by U.S. Highway 67 from the north and south and by U.S. Highway 64 from the east and west. The nearest commercial passenger plane service is at Little Rock, but Searcy has a small airport.

The nearness of Little Rock and Memphis gives Searcians access to the cultural and entertainment opportunities of metropolitan areas without sacrificing the special charms of small-town living. Searcy itself features recreation facilities of all types, and Greers Ferry Lake to the north of the city is famous for its fishing and water sports.

Harding occupies about 350 acres east of the downtown area of Searcy, but the impact of the University on the town is more far reaching than that caused by geography alone. Interaction and interdependence between the University and the community is great. Many Searcians serve Harding in a variety of ways, and the University contributes significantly to the civic, cultural, economic, educational, recreational and spiritual well-being of the city.

Campus Safety

The safety and security of the Harding community are the primary concern for the Public Safety Department. Information about campus security, safety programs and procedures, fire statistics, and crime statistics is available in compliance with the Jean Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act. You can obtain a copy of the annual security and fire report or contact the Harding University Department of Public Safety online at: https://www.harding.edu/administrative/public-safety/security-report, and select the Security Report option on that page. A copy is also available from the Public Safety Department which is located in Kendall Hall.

Facilities

The main campus buildings are located within a few blocks of downtown Searcy. The 57 buildings on the main campus with their equipment and educational facilities are valued at more than $410 million and provide an efficient and well-furnished educational plant.

Special academic facilities supplement classroom experience with practical opportunities for increased understanding of concepts and students’ own creative development. Libraries, laboratories and studios, for example, provide invaluable training and study opportunities apart from a classroom environment.

Graduate and professional classes are offered on the main Searcy campus as well as in several other locations in Arkansas, including Harding University in Northwest Arkansas, located in Rogers. We also offer graduate classes at the Harding School of Theology.

Brackett Library

Renovated in 1990, Brackett Library was renamed in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Brackett who underwrote much of the renovation cost. Today the physical library remains a central place on campus, and the online resources are a central part of research to all members of the Harding community. Faculty, staff, students, even those participating in International Study programs, have online access to electronic resources 24/7. Though our methods have changed, our mission remains: to serve the Harding family’s research and learning needs. A staff of seven professional librarians, five support staff and around 30 student workers continue to select, acquire, describe, maintain and interpret the collection for library users.

Services include librarians who provide research assistance, teach classes and deliver individualized instruction. Other services offered are electronic and print reserves, photocopiers, and printing. Study carrels are available for quiet study. There are several areas with open seating along with conference rooms available for group study and presentation preparation. Fifty public computer stations provide access to electronic resources and Microsoft applications for papers and presentations.

Our online resources provide more than 180 databases with abstracts and full-text articles, periodical indexes, and government documents. This includes more than 700,000 online, full-text journal titles and e-books. The library’s collection also has over 140,000 print volumes and other media including over 130 print periodicals and newspapers. In addition to the general collection, Brackett Library also has a Best Seller collection including Christian Fiction. Materials not available at Brackett Library are provided through an interlibrary loan service that provides access to items held in libraries worldwide. The music library, housed in the Reynolds Center, contains tapes, records, and CDs. Included in the library catalog is an extensive juvenile and young adult literature collection. These books are located both in the Brackett Library and in the Watson Center, which is in the Thornton Education Building.

Scholar Works at Harding is the online institutional repository where faculty and student research, publications, and archived events can be found. Brackett Library works diligently to preserve Harding’s History through the Ann Cowan Dixon Archives and Special Collections. Harding history digital archives include Petit Jean yearbooks, The Bison, the Harding Remembers project, Spring Sing programs, social club scrapbooks, over 15,000 photographs, alumni magazines, and other Harding memorabilia. Special Collections houses most Harding University professors’ doctoral dissertations, the G.C. Brewer Library, rare books, and church of Christ history. In 1996 the library’s Williams-Miles History of Chemistry Collection was recognized by the American Chemical Society as a National Historic Chemical Landmark. In 2021, Brackett Library began to oversee the Harding History House, located on the northeast corner of campus.

Information Services & Technology (IS&T)

The information services and technology department at Harding provides comprehensive and reliable services that cover a broad range of offerings such as campus wide wired and wireless internet access, learning management systems, computer laboratories (Windows and Apple), help desk services, a portal for online self-service administrative applications and library catalog access. Wireless network access is available across the campus and in the dormitories.

Harding utilizes the fastest and most up-to-date equipment to run its management information systems. Students and employees are allocated space on the central servers to use for the personal storage of their data. This storage is backed up as a part of the University’s backup procedures, thus providing students and employees a safe place to store their data.

Pipeline, Harding’s portal, provides access to course, financial and other information for students as well as access to many self-service applications. A message center called Whiteboard is used for many kinds of communication from campus announcements to classified ads.

Harding uses Canvas as its learning management system. Canvas provides a cloud-based platform to deliver learning material, online and hybrid classrooms.

Multimedia Production

The Multimedia Production Center, located in Brackett Library, contains printing, binding, and other equipment to aid students, faculty, and staff with documents, posters and presentations related to instructional materials. Self-service video editing software, scanning and faxing equipment are also available.

Laboratories

The ART AND DESIGN COMPUTER LABORATORY for students in art, graphic design, interior design and communication is located in the Stevens Art Center.

The BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE COMPUTER LABORATORY is located in the Ezell Building.

The BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, ENGINEERING AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE COMPUTER LABORATORIES are located in the Pryor-England Center for Science and Engineering.

The CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY is located in the Henry and Grace Farrar Center for Health Sciences. It is used for research and contracts related to pharmacogenomics and infectious diseases and contains equipment for incubating and storing cell cultures, handling infectious organisms, and evaluating cell reproduction.

The CENTER FOR WORLD MISSIONS LABORATORY is located in the Jim Bill McInteer Bible and World Missions Center.

The CARR COLLEGE OF NURSING CLINIC is located in the Swaid and Christy Swaid Center for Health Sciences. It contains six examination rooms outfitted with patient assessment equipment, reclining examination chairs, and digital recording equipment for use in offering health assessments to the community as well as review of simulated and actual clinical teaching scenarios.

The CARR COLLEGE OF NURSING LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER, including the Martha Ruth Simmons Memorial Computer Laboratory, and skills laboratories are located in the Swaid and Christy Swaid Center for Health Sciences.

There are two CLINICAL PRACTICE CENTERS. The first is located in the Henry and Grace Farrar Center for Health Sciences. It is utilized by pharmacy and physician assistant students for completion of anatomy dissections, pharmaceutical compounding, and hands-on practice of patient assessment techniques and other clinical procedures and skills.

A second CLINICAL PRACTICE CENTER is located in the Swaid and Christy Swaid Center for Health Sciences. It contains eight hospital beds, low and medium fidelity manikins, a mock nursing station, smart classroom equipment, and digital recording equipment for use in student practice and review of clinical skills.

The COMMUNICATION COMPUTER LABORATORY is located in the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Music and Communication, and contains software for students in communication and interactive media. This lab also is a public lab for students when not in use by department majors or classes.

The COMMUNICATION MEDIA LABORATORY is located in the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Music and Communication.

The COMPETENCY DEVELOPMENT CENTER is located in the Swaid and Christy Swaid Center for Health Sciences. It contains four mock intensive care unit bays equipped with high fidelity manikins and digital recording equipment for use in conducting patient scenario simulations for nursing and other health sciences students.

The COMPUTER ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE LABORATORIES are located in the Pryor-England Center for Science and Engineering.

The COMPUTER ENGINEERING PROJECT LABORATORY is located in the Ulrey Performing Arts Center. The project lab is used by students to develop and construct a wide range of projects. It contains electronic assembly equipment, test equipment and tools for light fabrication.

The DISTANCE LEARNING CLASSROOM is located in the Cannon-Clary College of Education: Thornton Education Center. The Distance Learning Classroom is used to facilitate students from remote campuses in joining classes held on the main Searcy campus.

The EDUCATION COMPUTER LABORATORY is located in the Cannon-Clary College of Education: Thornton Education Center. It features many programs that can benefit students seeking teaching roles.

The FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES LABORATORIES in the Olen Hendrix Building include food science; clothing, textiles and design; and a computer laboratory on the second floor.

The FORMULATION LABORATORY is located in the Henry and Grace Farrar Center for Health Sciences. It is used for research and contracts related to pharmaceutical product formulation and contains equipment for creating novel drug delivery systems.

The HEALTH ASSESSMENT CENTER is located in the Swaid and Christy Swaid Center for Health Sciences. It contains seven examination spaces, examination tables, clinical examination simulators, smart classroom equipment, and digital recording equipment for use in student practice and review of health assessment skills.

The HEALTH SCIENCES CHEMICAL ANALYSIS LABORATORY is located in the Henry and Grace Farrar Center for Health Sciences. It is used for research and contracts related to analytical chemistry analyses and contains equipment for performing LC/MS and HPLC assays.

The HUMAN PERFORMANCE LABORATORY, located in the Ganus Activity Center, is equipped with treadmills, bicycle ergometers, an underwater weighing tank for body composition measurements, electronic equipment for measuring strength, an electrocardiograph, an echo cardiograph, gas analysis equipment, and other biochemical and hematological equipment for evaluation of physical fitness levels and human performance.

The INTERIOR DESIGN LABORATORY is located in the Olen Hendrix building provides a work area for students to work together on their projects and critique them on one of the three large flat panel displays

The KINESIOLOGY and EXERCISE AND SPORT SCIENCES COMPUTER LABORATORY is located in the Ganus Activity Center. This lab also is a public lab for students when not in use by department majors or classes.

The LIBRARY LABORATORY in the Brackett Library provides students with a quiet area in which they may research and receive assistance from Library Reference staff. This lab also is a public lab for students when not in use by classes.

The MATHEMATICS COMPUTER LABORATORY is located in the Pryor-England Science Building.

The MUSIC COMPUTER LABORATORY located in the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Music and Communication provides students with Yamaha electronic keyboards and software for composing and listening practice.

The PATIENT SKILLS CENTER is located in the Henry and Grace Farrar Center for Health Sciences. It contains 10 patient examination rooms outfitted with basic diagnostic equipment, examination tables, laptop computers, and digital recording equipment for use in conducting patient scenario simulations for health sciences and other students. The facility can also serve as a site for primary patient care visits in the provision of health care or clinical research studies.

The PAUL R. CARTER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMPUTER LABORATORY is located in the Mabee Business Building.

The PAUL R. CARTER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEMS LABORATORY is located in the Mabee Business Building.

The PREACHING STUDIO is located in the Jim Bill McInteer Bible and World Missions Center. It provides students a place to practice and record their delivery of sermons.

The PUBLIC STUDENT COMPUTER LABORATORY is located in the Mabee Business Building.

The WRITING LAB/EDUCATION COMPUTER LABORATORY is in the American Studies building and provides tutoring services in writing and computer facilities for students in English and education courses.

The YOUTH AND FAMILY EDUCATION LABORATORY is located in the Jim Bill McInteer Bible and World Missions Center.

Studios

ART STUDIOS AND GALLERY: The Stevens Art Center has studio facilities for many different media. The gallery of the Art Center hosts student and guest exhibits throughout the year.

MUSIC STUDIOS: The Donald W. Reynolds Center for Music and Communication houses a recital hall, choral and instrumental rehearsal halls, and an omni hall for multi-purpose use. The center also contains listening, electronic keyboard, and computer labs, all for music applications. These, as well as the classrooms and practice rooms, are reserved primarily for use by music faculty and students.

THEATRE STUDIOS: The Donald W. Reynolds Center for Music and Communication houses two theatrical design labs, one with a working model theatre, including functioning scale theatrical lighting, and computer workstations. The Reynolds Building also houses The Rehearsal Hall for use by students in the Department of Theatre. It contains a sprung wood floor, full length mirrors on two sides and barres on the other two walls.

The Ulrey Performing Arts Center contains a fully equipped scene shop, costume shop, and studio theatre space where students are given hands-on experience in scenic design and construction, costume design and construction, lighting design and operation, and sound design and operation.

Communication Facilities

More than 40 students each semester serve as announcers for Harding’s two radio stations. A full-power commercial FM station, KVHU 95.3, serves 10 Central Arkansas counties as the “voice of Harding University.” Students have the opportunity to serve as announcers, news anchors, and producers. Scholarships and student work may be available to qualified students. In addition to the FM station, a low-power AM station, AM1660, provides hands-on training for beginning students. Students can use the AM station to experiment with various formats, including talk and sports. Both stations provide live streaming.

Harding University operates HU16, a 24/7 television channel that broadcasts to the Harding and local communities on AppleTV, Roku, and White County Cable. The signal is also streamed live online, and video-on-demand archived programs are available to watch at streaming.harding.edu. HU16 provides students with opportunities to produce news, sports, entertainment, short films, and special-event programming, both live and pre-produced. A staff of students with a range of majors and seniority produces a live weekday newscast, “HU16 Live At Five,” for 12 weeks of each semester. This daily newscast requires student producers, writers, reporters, anchors, directors, and production personnel. Many of the students working on the newscast receive scholarships. Others receive course credit or other compensation. HU16 also produces and broadcasts most intercollegiate athletic events on campus. Students are used to staff these productions as well, and most games are delivered live on multiple outlets. A number of students receive scholarship or hourly pay for working with our single-camera and multi-camera sports productions. HU16 student directors also produce the chapel broadcast every weekday morning live from the Benson Auditorium. Other productions include graduation, concert performances, American Studies Institute speakers, the annual Spring Sing stage show, and other special events.

Recreational Facilities

The Ganus Activities Complex (GAC) is home to the Waller Recreation Center, housing a swimming pool, handball and racquetball courts, an elevated track, aerobics area, weight/aerobic room, indoor cycling, billiards and foosball, ping pong, and courts for recreational basketball, volleyball, futsal (indoor soccer), badminton and pickleball.

Outdoor recreational facilities available for student use include a nine-lane track, a 12-court lighted tennis center, an outdoor jogging trail, and intramural fields for softball, football/soccer, and an 18-hole disc golf course.

Speech Clinic

The Speech Clinic is located in the Swaid Center for Health Sciences. Nationally-certified and state-licensed speech-language pathologists work alongside students pursuing a degree in communication sciences and disorders, providing articulation and language assessment and therapy services, and hearing screenings and referrals.

Theatre Facilities

Four auditoriums (Benson Auditorium, Administration Auditorium, the Ulrey Performing Arts Center and the Reynolds Auditorium) are available for stage productions. Lighting and sound equipment is available for musicals, dramas, comedies, solo performances, children’s shows, student directed productions and other types of presentations.

Legal Statements

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act

The safety and security of the Harding community are a major concern for the Public Safety Department. Information about campus security, safety programs and procedures, fire statistics, and crime statistics is available in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act. You may obtain a copy of the annual security and fire report or contact the Harding University Department of Public Safety online at https://www.harding.edu/administrative/public-safety/security-report. Upon request, the Department of Public Safety will provide you a paper copy of the report.

Catalog Policies and Requirements

Lack of knowledge, incorrect interpretation of University policies and regulations, or advice which differs from the catalog does not remove the student from the obligation to satisfy all requirements for a degree. The student bears the ultimate responsibility for knowing the requirements of and completing a degree program.

Catalog Revision

Harding revises the catalog annually and reserves the right to modify its programs of study accordingly. When such cases occur, the University makes every effort to provide alternative solutions that are fair to both the University and its students. The University reserves the right to start courses or programs during the academic year prior to publication of the next catalog.

Catalog/Student Handbook Relationship

The Harding Catalog sets forth academic policy. The Undergraduate and Graduate and Professional Student Handbooks set forth policies regarding student conduct.

All students are required to read and follow the rules and regulations as presented in the appropriate Student Handbook. Each student is required to follow the rules and regulations and be subject to those rules and regulations as presented in the Student Handbook in effect during the period of his or her attendance. The handbook contains the Student Code of Conduct, penalties for failure to comply, grievance procedures, and a statement on student rights. Failure to follow the Code of Conduct contained in the handbook can result in suspension from the University. The Student Handbook, as amended from time to time, is incorporated in this Catalog by inference for all purposes.

Complaints

Harding University takes seriously complaints and concerns regarding the institution. Most complaints or concerns of a specific nature should be initiated and resolved at the campus level through normal University processes whenever possible. Further information is posted here.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) provides, with exceptions, (1) that students have a right to inspect and review their education records; seek amendment of education records the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise violate the student’s privacy rights; consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information in the student’s education records; and file a complaint with the United States Department of Education alleging failures to comply with FERPA or FERPA regulations; and (2) that education institutions shall not release education records to non-school employees without the consent of the student. “Students” as used in this FERPA notice includes former students.

With exceptions provided by law, students may see their education records upon request. Access will generally be granted immediately upon request to the record custodian, but if delay is necessary, the student may sign a “Request for Access to Student Records” and be allowed access within 45 days of the request. Students are entitled to copies (at the student’s expense) of records to which they have access. Students further have the right, under established procedures, to challenge the accuracy of the records, seek amendments, and enter their viewpoints in the education records. A list of all education records maintained by Harding and a copy of the University FERPA Policy are kept in the Registrar’s Office.

The University may not require students to sign a waiver of their right to access, but students should be aware that recommendations and evaluations may not be very helpful or candid without a signed waiver.

For purposes of a student’s enrollment in or transfer to another educational agency or institution, the University forwards education records to other educational agencies or institutions that have requested the records and in which the student seeks or intends to enroll or is already enrolled.

A student’s home address and phone number will be made available to a roommate assigned to that person.

Nondiscrimination Statement

Harding is committed to the policy of providing equal opportunity for all persons and does not illegally discriminate in admissions, programs, or any other educational functions and services on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, or disability to those who meet its admission criteria and are willing to uphold its values as stated in the Code of Conduct. In the area of employment, Harding does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, or disability. Harding, as reflected in its Articles of Incorporation, may discriminate as to religion and may adhere to religious tenets regarding the limitation of employment of women in certain preaching and minister roles.

Based upon this commitment, Harding follows the principle of nondiscrimination and operates within applicable federal and state laws prohibiting illegal discrimination. As a recipient of federal financial assistance, Harding is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, as amended, not to discriminate on the basis of sex in its admission policies, treatment of students, employment practices, or education program or activity except as application of Title IX would not be consistent with religious tenets of Churches of Christ and as permitted under Title IX exemptions.

Harding has a Title IX nondiscrimination policy available upon request in the offices of Student Life and Human Resources. Inquiries concerning the application of federal and state laws or regulations may be referred to the Office of Human Resources, Box 12257, 915 E. Market Avenue, Searcy, AR 72149-2257; telephone 501-279-4380, to the United States Department of Education’s Assistant Secretary of Civil Rights (as to Title IX), or to both. The Title IX coordinators are:

Student Right-to-Know Act of 1990

Harding complies with the Student Right to Know Act of 1990 which requires the disclosure of graduation and completion rates.

Transferability of Credits

Credits earned at Harding University might not transfer to another educational institution, and credits earned at another educational institution might not be accepted by Harding University. Students should obtain confirmation that Harding University will accept any credits earned at another educational institution before executing an enrollment contract or agreement. Students should also contact any educational institutions to which they may want to transfer credits earned at Harding University to determine if such institutions will accept credits earned at Harding University prior to executing an enrollment contract or agreement. The ability to transfer credits from Harding University to other educational institutions might be limited. Credits might not transfer resulting in the need to repeat courses previously taken at Harding University if a student enrolls in another educational institution. Students should never assume that credits will transfer to or from any educational institution. It is highly recommended and students are advised to make certain they know the transfer-of-credit policy of Harding University and of any other educational institutions to which they may want to transfer, in the future, the credits earned at Harding University before executing an enrollment contract or agreement.

Board of Trustees

Charles A. Ganus, Searcy, Arkansas, Chair
James H. Cone Jr., Little Rock, Arkansas, Vice Chair
John D. Reese, Searcy, Arkansas, Secretary
Joe Wild, Vero Beach, Florida, Treasurer
Tim Bewley, Hendersonville, Tennessee
Craig Cheatham, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Stephanie Cochran, Bentonville, Arkansas
Mark Crews, Searcy, Arkansas
Amy Emerson, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Harrell Freeman, Metairie, Louisiana
James D. Holsombake, Panama City, Florida
Michael Justus, Searcy, Arkansas
Robin Maynard, Afton, Minnesota
Harold R. Redd, Memphis, Tennessee
John O. Simmons, Columbia, Tennessee
Swaid Swaid, Vestavia Hills, Alabama
David V. Waldron, LaVergne, Tennessee
Robert C. Walker, Decatur, Alabama
Rodney Waller, Arlington, Texas
Mark Weeks, Nashville, Tennessee
Michael D. Williams, Searcy, Arkansas, Ex-officio
Howard Wright, Atlanta, Georgia

Officers of Administration

Executive Leadership Team
Mike Williams, Ed.D., President
Jean-Noel Thompson, Ph.D., Executive Vice President
Marty Spears, Ph.D., Provost and Chief Academic Officer
Tammy Hall, M.B.A., Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer

University Cabinet
Monte Cox, Ph.D., Dean of College of Bible & Ministry
Allen Frazier, Ph.D., Dean of College of Business Administration
Julie A. Hixson-Wallace, Pharm.D., BCPS, Dean of College of Pharmacy
Susan Kehl, Ph.D., Dean of College of Nursing
Donny Lee, Ed.D., Dean of College of Education
Michael McGalliard, Sc.D., Dean of Allied Health, Associate Provost of Health Sciences
Mark Powell, Ph.D., Dean of Harding School of Theology
Dana Steil, Ph.D., Dean of College of Arts & Sciences
Mike Chalenburg, B.A., Vice President for Information Systems & Technology and Chief Information Officer
Steve Lake, B.A., Vice President for Enrollment Services
Jim Martin, D.Min., Vice President for Harding School of Theology
Zach Neal, M.A.T., Vice President for Student Life
Jim Gurchiek, M.Ed., Superintendent of Harding Academy
Jeff Morgan, M.Ed., Athletic Director
Andrea Morris, Ph.D., Assistant to the Provost
Candice Moore, B.B.A., Assistant Vice President for University Communication and Marketing
Luke Morris, B.B.A., Assistant Vice President for Finance
David Ross, M.B.A., Assistant Vice President for Human Resources
Amy Cox, M.F.A., Chair of Faculty Leadership Council

Other Officers of Administration
David Hall, M.B.A., Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Services
Tod Martin, M.B.A., Registrar

Faculty

Click here to view Faculty listings.