GREENVILLE, S.C. — Bob Jones University, the citadel of Christian fundamentalism, is undergoing a generational change in leadership that may make it less controversial, though no less conservative.

For the first time since its founding in 1927, Bob Jones' president is not named Bob Jones (Stephen Jones, 35, son of Bob III, took office in May), and the school has a new vice president for administration, executive vice president, chief academic officer, provost, registrar, and, for the first time, a chief communications officer. For the first time, it has sought, and received, accreditation.

Its ban on interracial dating is no more, a minority scholarship program has been created, minority students have been elected class presidents, and enrollment is up.

But there has been no relaxation of the 1950s-style dress code, evolution is still taught only as a heretical theory, displays of affection such as kissing and hand-holding are banned, there are no intercollegiate sports, and gates still close at 7 p.m.

Other Christian schools may tolerate the influences of modernity, but not Bob Jones. Here, as one dean proudly says, they are unyielding to the secular culture, still "stroking the cat in the wrong direction."

To insulate its students from what Bob Jones sees as the immoral influences of the outside world, the school imposes a strict code of conduct: Students may not go to movie theaters or have TVs or DVD players in their dorms. Students may watch movies as guests in town residents' homes, but nothing above a G rating. Students must be in their dorm rooms and quiet at 11 p.m. All lights must be out by midnight. Students may not have posters of movie stars, rock stars or fashion models, and may not listen to rock music, country music, jazz or contemporary Christian music.

The turnover of university leadership positions, moving much younger people into the top posts, "won't change the way we view the world, but may provide a greater awareness of how others perceive us," said Gary Weier, who replaced Stephen Jones as vice president for administration when Jones became president. "It may help us help others understand why we do things the way we do.

"Just because it's difficult to explain doesn't mean we shouldn't try."

The school attracted national attention in February 2000, when candidate George W. Bush spoke at the campus the day after his defeat in the New Hampshire primary. Bush was widely criticized for speaking at a school that prohibited interracial dating and whose president had described Catholicism as a cult. The next month, Bob Jones III dropped the interracial-dating ban.

"It's going to take time to break away from that perception," Weier said. "We've tried to do more to recruit minority students. We really do want to have more minority students."

As part of an increased effort to improve relations with the surrounding community, the university is going to make part of its famous collection of religious art, featuring 500 years of works by artists such as Rubens, Van Dyck and Reni, more accessible to the public at a new gallery in downtown Greenville.

The campus, a collection of yellow brick buildings screened from the surrounding strip malls by a black wrought-iron fence, attracts fundamentalist Christians from 50 states and 46 countries. It admits most students who apply, and its relatively low cost helps draw applicants: Tuition for the coming school year is $8,580, and room and board is $4,860.