CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY, founded in 1869 and affiliated with The United Methodist Church, is recognized as one of the premier comprehensive institutions in the southeast. The University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and offers broad based education in liberal arts and sciences combined with internships and other career focused programs. The institution also has nationally accredited programs: the Business program by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP); The teacher Education program by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE); The chemistry program by the American Chemical Society (ACS); and the Music program by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). Claflin offers the undergraduate degree in 33 areas and three graduate programs: the Master of Business Administration, the Master of Science in Biotechnology, and the Master of Educational Studies. The University serves approximately 1800 students from every region of the United States and 15 countries. U.S. News & World Report, in it 2008 Guidebook to America’s Best Colleges and Universities, ranked Claflin tenth among Baccalaureate Colleges in the South and singled out the University for its High Graduation Rate. The latter has also been noted in The Chronicle of Higher Education and the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. Further, Consumers Digest has recently ranked Claflin University number three nationally in its “Top 5 Best Value” category among Private Colleges and Universities. Throughout its 138-year history, Claflin has proudly upheld its charter to never deny any individual employment or admission to the University because of race, gender or religion.