Higher education, delivered by Southeastern University, arrived in Georgetown in 2018 and broke historical records for the Lakeland, Florida-based institution. This Fall begins the second year for the extension site located at Celebration Church on Westinghouse Road.
Southeastern University is a Christ-centered institution of higher learning that offers online and traditional classes. Its mission is to equip the next generation to be influential leaders in their careers and communities. Already in 29 states, the university partners with churches and organizations to bring unrestricted, accredited higher education to students from all walks and seasons of life, whether seated in a classroom under the instruction of a professor or settled in a home office with a laptop.
SEU at Celebration also offers student-focused education and mentoring through high-caliber career practitioners who teach what they practice in their respective fields. Students directly benefit from successful career professionals—several of whom hold multiple degrees—sharing the most relevant, hands-on education, experience, and expertise. Not incidentally, the tuition at SEU is also less than Austin Community College.
Georgetown View sat down with Southeastern University at Celebration Church Site Director, Scott Bolin, to find out how SEU fits into the future of students in Georgetown and the surrounding communities.
Discover your Calling
Bolin explained Celebration Church’s founding pastors, Joe and Lori Champion, have always envisioned a school as part of the church and Celebration’s partnership became the largest launch in the university’s history.
Although on the Celebration Church campus, SEU is not just for those seeking a degree in ministry. This affordable, student-focused university offers more than 70 undergraduate and graduate programs and more than 20 graduate and doctoral degrees in business, education, behavioral sciences, arts, healthcare, ministry, and much more.
Bolin’s passion is to help each student find what he or she is passionate about and attend to that calling with a sense of direction. Perhaps as a response to what he calls the “purpose epidemic,” younger generations assert that money alone fails as an appropriate motivator for a career choice. Still, many find themselves choosing education toward a career based on the promise of financial success.
Bolin says, “We don’t select what God puts in us; we identify it and steward it. We’re trying to connect people to what they are called to do so they can go out and do it to the best of their ability.”
One of the ways this plays out at SEU is through practicum credits; i.e., students receive college credit for hands-on experience. “We’re training students to be leaders of self, team leaders, leaders of leaders and, eventually, ministry leaders.” This path is forged via various labs and hands-on opportunities within the program.
Degree programs
Bolin tells prospective students SEU offers an Associate of General Education classes; “Plant yourself here for the first two years,” Many go straight into a four-year degree without really knowing why. “The first two years here, students are going to get some hands-on experiences in different departments around the church, they’re going to get some great mentorship, they are going to expose themselves to some great things that are really going to help them ask the question: What is it that I’m really called to? What is it God has put in me?”
The “Campus”
The atmosphere at the Georgetown extension site of SEU is a blended and diverse culture that fosters genuine friendships and meaningful connection. Smaller classrooms facilitate discussion between classmates and affords greater personal interaction with professors for all students.
“No matter how big we get, we’re never going to lose that relationship aspect,” said Bolin. “Anyone who comes in here, they’re going to have personal relationships, friendships; they’re not going to fall through the cracks. We’re going to [be involved], making sure students are not just taking classes just to get a piece of paper; that they are actually building toward something that’s in their heart. So when they leave here, they’re going to have a community of people championing them on.
SEU and Celebration Church also subscribe to the idea that a person doesn’thaveto have a degree to be successful, but if that is something he or she feels will support the calling, they are ready to help. “We’re here to help in the best way possible and students will leave with the least amount of debt.”
College is expensive, right?
Many approach the idea of college with a dread of the looming debt crisis it represents. National student debt currently sits at a staggering $1.6 trillion, representing close to 45 million borrowers. Unfortunately, loan forgiveness is almost nonexistent. According to Forbes, 99 percent of borrowers were rejected for student loan forgiveness*. However, Bolin was optimistic for the future. “Essentially, we’re in a unique place in education where people ask ‘What is there?’ and I can confidently say, SEU!”
According to its website, SEU ranks in the top five percent of the fastest growing private universities in the nation and the top 25 percent of universities in affordability.
In closing, Bolin ended with this: “We’re building something here. If anyone feels like they have a part to play, please let us know.”
For more information on how to connect with SEU, either as a student starting a degree or transferring to finish a degree; as a volunteer or to offer your expertise for an exciting student opportunity, contact Scott Bolin at 817-201-8947 [email protected] and partners.seu.edu/celebrationtx
*Freidman, Z. (2019, May, 1). “99% of borrowers rejected again for student loan forgiveness.”
What’s New For SEU’s “Sophomore” Year?
While the norm for SEU’s extension launches has been about a dozen online students, the Celebration Church campus registered 28 students in the first semester and 26 deferred for the Spring. In the Spring semester, the student body grew to 68 students accepted and 37 registered for classes, which elevated the church to Regional Campus status faster than other SEU extension sites to date. As they prepare for the Fall 2019 semester, the numbers continue to grow, and Southeastern University at Celebration is adding a degree in Music Ministry.
Meet SEU at Celebration’s New Site Director
Scott Bolin came to the Lone Star State and SEU at Celebration with credentials and experience that impress. After graduating from Hillsong College in Sydney, Australia with an Advanced Diploma in Ministry, Bolin returned to the United States.
He received his bachelor’s degree in Christian studies and business administration and a Master of Business Administration from Dallas Baptist University where he simultaneously served on staff. From there, he worked for the University of New Mexico overseeing admissions while working out of Forth Worth.
When asked how he came to SEU at Celebration, Bolin smiled. “It’s funny, it’s one of those things: I didn’t know why I was in education this whole time. I just thought, ‘God, I wanna work in the church, what are you doing?’ And I just kept staying in education for whatever reason, and then the timing was just incredible—when I started talking with Celebration, there was a transition happening, and it just lined up to fit my experience and mission perfectly.”
Despite Bolin’s new status on staff, the young site director carries his experience and expertise with a quiet, almost disarming confidence. A confidence tempered with humility and a contagious love for his job. “I just love that I get to use education to build the local church,” Bolin explained. “That’s something I’m really excited about. But also, I believe as education is really taking a turn that we haven’t seen before, I think the church has a unique opportunity to really be at the forefront of that and say, ‘Hey, we have an option!’”