Meredith College
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| Motto | Lux (Light) |
|---|---|
| Established | 1891 |
| Type | Private |
| President | Dr. Maureen A. Hartford |
| Undergraduates | 1,837 |
| Postgraduates | 153 |
| Location | Raleigh, North Carolina, USA |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colors | Maroon and white |
| Mascot | Angel |
| Website | meredith.edu |
Meredith College is a liberal arts women's college located in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. As of 2006, there are approximately 2,000 students enrolled, including about 150 graduate students, making Meredith the largest women's college in the southeastern United States.[1] 88% of students come from in-state.[2]
Since 2000, Meredith College has hosted Governor's School East each summer.
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[edit] History
Chartered in 1891 and named for Thomas Meredith, founder of the Biblical Recorder, the Baptist Female University opened in 1891 in a facility in downtown Raleigh. In 1904, the name was changed to Baptist University for Women. The name "Meredith College" was chosen in 1909.
The school split from the Southern Baptist convention in the mid-1990s, and in 1997, adopted a less religious mission statement as follows: “Grounded in the liberal arts, the college values freedom and openness in the pursuit of truth and, in keeping with its Christian heritage, seeks to nurture justice and compassion.”
Meredith moved to its current location on Hillsborough Street near North Carolina State University in 1924. The campus covers 225 acres and is located in close proximity to both Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Research Triangle Park.[3]
[edit] Academics
More than 60 majors and minors are offered at Meredith, as well as licensure, graduate, and pre-professional programs. According to the The Princeton Review, the most popular majors are Business Administration/Management, Interior Design, and General Psychology.[4]
Upon completion of a major, students can receive a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, and/or Bachelor of Social Work. Graduate students can receive Master's degrees in business management, education, music, or nutrition.[5] The John E. Weems Graduate School is coeducational.[6]
Undergraduate students who wish to study engineering can participate in a five-year dual-degree program, whereby they can receive degrees from both Meredith and North Carolina State University's College of Engineering. To do this, students must major in either chemistry or mathematics at Meredith. Through this arrangement, students receive a B.A. from Meredith in chemistry or mathematics and a B.S. from NCSU in engineering.[7]
The college's Undergraduate Research Program supports student/faculty partnerships for the purposes of academic research and creative activity in all fields.[8] College funds support these projects and underwrite travel costs for students presenting their work at conferences. The college hosts an annual one-day research conference in April to present work of Meredith students.[9]
In 2001, Meredith became the first women's college to adopt a campus-wide laptop program through the Meredith Technology Initiative.[10] Students receive an IBM ThinkPad loaded with professional and educational software. Internet access is provided through the campus' wireless network.[11]
Although Meredith admits 95% of its applicants, U.S. News & World Report considers it a "selective" institution, based on factors other than the rate of admission.[12][13]
[edit] Rankings and classifications
U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges guide for 2006 ranked Meredith 15/64 among Southern master's universities, tying it with Belmont University.[14] The Princeton Review lists Meredith as a "Best Southeastern College."[15] The college's Carnegie Classification is Master's Colleges and Universities-I.
In fall 2005, Meredith alumnae who had earned their M.B.A. at the college scored better than 80% of other participating colleges in an Educational Testing Service standardized national test designed to determine knowledge of their field. Undergraduate students scored better than 60% of other students across the country in finance; 75% in international business, management, and business law and social environment; and 85% in marketing.[16]
[edit] Athletics
The Meredith Angels compete on six NCAA Division III athletics teams: basketball, soccer, softball, cross country, volleyball, and tennis. There is also a synchronized swimming team, the Aqua Angels, that does not compete at the NCAA level.[17]
