Dear Students,

Welcome to Gardner-Webb University! We are so glad that you have chosen Gardner-Webb University for your online program. Everyone at Gardner-Webb – faculty, success coaches, advisors, staff, administrators – wants you to be successful. GWU has delivered distance education since 1999, and we are always striving to improve.

Eight-week terms proceed at a brisk pace, so we recommend that you pre-order books and update your calendar to include assignment due dates. Plan to engage with your classes every day or every-other day. Everything is compressed in 8-week delivery so it’s important to regularly engage – for example, the drop/add deadline is only three a few days after the term start date.  

All courses run in Blackboard Ultra which now includes Microsoft Teams.

You will gain access to your courses in Blackboard seven days before the start of the term.

You will be assigned a Success Coach or Faculty Advisor at the outset of your program, and they will function as primary support for your continued academic progress. We are dedicated to supporting you.  

The Online Student Handbook was created to provide easy access to success tips, policies, and services for GWU Online students. As a student, you are responsible for your learning and interactions with the university, and this handbook serves as a guide. Please read this information to familiarize yourself with the myriad ways this community supports your progress. God bless your efforts. 

Dr. Athens's signature

Dr. Wendy Athens
Director of Academic Innovation and Digital Learning
[email protected]