High Point University

High Point University
Motto Nil Sine Numine (Latin)
Motto in English Nothing Without Divine Guidance
Established 1924
Type Private
Endowment US $30.1 million[1]
Chancellor Jacob Martinson, Jr.
President Nido Qubein
Academic staff 879[2]
Students 4,500
Undergraduates 4,200
Postgraduates 319[3]
Location High Point, North Carolina, USA
Campus Suburban
230 acre
Colors Purple and white            
Athletics NCAA Division I Big South Conference
16 varsity sports
Nickname Panthers
Mascot Prowler the Panther
Website www.highpoint.edu

High Point University is a private liberal arts university in High Point, North Carolina, USA, affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

Contents

History

Beginnings

The school was founded in 1924 as High Point College, a joint venture between the Methodist Protestant Church and the citizens of High Point. When the college opened, the campus consisted of three buildings, attended by nine faculty members, with a student enrollment of 122.

The Methodist Protestant Church, which is now part of the United Methodist Church, first became active in educational pursuits in North Carolina in the middle of the 19th century. Of the various institutions which it sponsored, the most ambitious was Yadkin College, which operated in neighboring Davidson County from 1856 to 1895.

After some years of consideration, the statewide governing body of the Methodist Protestant Church finally voted to proceed with establishing a new college in 1921.[4] Shortly afterwards it accepted an offer from the citizens of High Point to contribute 60 acres (240,000 m2) of land and $100,000 to the project.[5] The campus was designed by R. E. Mitchell of Washington, DC, assisted by Herbert Hunter of High Point, in the English Renaissance style. Though finishing touches were still being added to Roberts Hall, Women's Hall, and McCulloch Hall, classes began in September 1924.

High Point University presidents


The steadfast growth that characterized the birth of the College ended abruptly with the Great Depression. This period was difficult for the College in 1932-33, as faculty salaries were cut and expenses were sometimes bartered. Despite a $50,000 fund raising campaign, the College declared bankruptcy on June 15, 1934 and reorganization in an effort to reduce its indebtedness.[6] Reorganization enabled the College to move forward with business and expansion. By the end of the decade, the M. J. Wrenn library and the H. Albion Millis athletic stadium were constructed.[4] During World War II, the College hosted the 326th College Training Detachment of the U.S. Army Air Force. With the liquidation of debt, financial stability ultimately returned by 1945.[6]

Recent history

A 1990 report from a task force called "The National Commission on the Future of High Point College" outlined the blueprints for growth into the twenty first century. The report called for emphasis on teaching ethics in the curriculum, enhancing international relationships and exchanges, improving academic and dormitory spaces, and reconstituting college as a university.

On October 9, 1991, by the action of the Board of Trustees, the name of High Point College was changed to High Point University to reflect post-graduate degree programs. The campus saw expansion of the Millis Athletic/Convocation Center in late 1992 to provide facilities for convocations, physical education, athletic, and health activities. Other notable additions to the campus include an addition to the Hayworth Hall of Science and the Hayworth Fine Arts Center, a domed structure with a Tuscan portico designed in consultation with London-based architect Christopher Smallwood.[7] By 2004, the University's endowment increased to $40 million.

In 2005, President Nido Qubein, announced a US$60 million building and campus expansion campaign. To date he has raised over $350 million.

A major donation from community activist and philanthropist David Hayworth to High Point University brings total contributions from David Hayworth and his late brother Charles to $25 million.[8] In its increased capacity, High Point University has been instrumental in attracting high-profile speakers to campus, including former President George W. Bush, former President Bill Clinton, former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, televangelist pioneer Rev. Robert Schuller, Queen Noor of Jordan, television legend Bill Cosby, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, astronaut and children's book author Buzz Aldrin, Coca-Cola Company Chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent, and most recently for the 2011 commencement, athlete Lance Armstrong. For the 2012 commencement, the school has scheduled former U.S. First Lady Laura Bush.

Campus

Location

Together, Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem, along with the surrounding suburbs and townships, form the Piedmont Triad region, an area with a population over 1.5 million. Of that number, approximately 100,342 live in High Point. Both Greensboro and Winston-Salem are twenty minutes from campus. East of the University are Raleigh, NC (1½ hours away) and the Atlantic Ocean (3½ hours away); south of the University are Charlotte, NC (1½ hours away) and Atlanta, GA (5 hours away); west of the University are the Appalachian Mountains (2 hours away) and north is Washington, DC (5 hours away).

Notable buildings

At the University's founding, Washington, D.C. architect R. E. Mitchell partnered with local architect Herbert Hunter and adopted a Georgian Revival theme to provide an air of dignity and erudition for an institution in its infancy. Built in this theme, the most impressive building on the campus is Roberts Hall, among the first triad of buildings, which demonstrates the British Renaissance ideals that inspired Georgian architecture in its tall multi-tiered tower and imposing front portico of Corinthian columns. This 1923 building may have been loosely modeled on Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

Women's Hall, also designed by Herbert Hunter in 1923, continues the architectural theme of Roberts Hall. In addition, Women’s Hall sports an elaborate cupola centered over the heart of the building. Wrenn Hall, originally constructed as the M. J. Wrenn Library, was completed in 1937 and progressed the Georgian dialog of early campus buildings with an elaborate elliptical transom window and a broken ogee frontispiece. These buildings constitute the ceremonial core of the campus and provide a backdrop for special events such as graduation.

Breaking free of the Georgian theme, architect Leon Schute contributed a number of modernist designs to the campus. The Horace S. Haworth Hall of Science opened in 1967 and featured a two-story masonry façade that was broken at regular intervals by concrete pilasters to provide the effect of a classical colonnade; this modernist façade was mostly covered by a neoclassical addition in 1999. Schute was also the designer of the Slane University Center (formerly the McPherson Campus Center), in 1972, that continued modernist themes for which he was well known. In 1993, Montlieu Avenue, a thoroughfare that cut through the center of the campus, was closed to traffic and dedicated as the Kester International Promenade (originally known as the "Greensward"), an open commons that unites the campus with green-space.

Recent additions to the campus have revisited historically inspired architecture, including the Hayworth Fine Arts Center, a domed structure with a Tuscan portico designed in consultation with London-based architect Christopher Smallwood. This structure is Smallwood’s only project in the United States outside the northeastern states.

Thanks to a $486 million renovation project of the campus, led by fund raising efforts by President Nido Qubein, several new residential and educational buildings have been added. These additions include notably Norton Hall, the Blessing Residential Hall, The Village Residential Complex, the Slane Student Life and Wellness Center, and the Jerry and Kitty Steele Sports Center. A large number of fountains have also been installed throughout the university commons with plans to add even more.There are also several facilities currently under construction and slated for completion in 2009. These buildings include the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication, the Plato S. Wilson Family School of Commerce, and the crown jewel of student life, the $50 million University Center (formerly called the Multiplex). The University Center, completed in 2009, houses 600 students in 300 upscale apartment-like facilities and includes a fully functional movie theater, a steakhouse, a convenience store, a bakery and a two story gaming-and-restaurant concept.

With the campus renovations at High Point University breaching $486 million in August 2010, President Nido Qubein announced several other additions to the campus. These include a new school of education and a Greek Village. The Greek Village will consist of roughly 14 houses aimed at housing 200 total students. The $10 million Greek Village and the school of education will begin construction in 2010.

In February 2011, the university acquired the Oak Hollow Mall which is located less than a mile from campus. The university then hired the previous owners to manage the property as a retail mall "for now". Long term plans for the property have not been announced.

Academics

High Point University offers day and evening undergraduate degree programs (Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science) and evening graduate degree programs (Master of Education in Elementary Education, Master of Education in Educational Leadership, Master of Public Administration in Nonprofit Organization, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Science in Sports Studies). In addition, several study abroad programs are available to undergraduate students. High Point University in England offers a Junior Year Abroad program in conjunction with the University of Leeds for credit towards their degree.[9]

Colleges and schools

Academic programs[10]

The Student Career Intern Program (SCIP) places students in career-related positions in area businesses before graduation.

Academic rankings

High Point University was named No. 3 among Regional Colleges in the South in "America's Best Colleges" 2011 edition, published by "U.S. News & World Report." HPU has been ranked as one of the top 610 colleges and universities across the country in the list, "America's Best Colleges," created by Forbes.com. Parade Magazine has listed High Point University as one of the top 25 large private schools in the nation in the magazine's annual "College A-List." [11]

Notable alumni

Athletics

The High Point Panthers include HPU's 16 athletic teams that compete at the NCAA Division I level, mostly in the Big South Conference. HPU's 15 current varsity sports include baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's indoor track & field, men's and women's outdoor track & field and women's volleyball. HPU will field a varsity men's lacrosse team beginning in 2012-13[12], which will be coached by Jon Torpey[13].

The 2010-11 season was the most successful since High Point University joined NCAA Div. I in 1999-2000. In the fall, the women's soccer team and women's volleyball team won Big South Tournaments and the men's soccer team won the Big South regular season[14]. In the spring, the women's lacrosse team won the National Lacrosse Conference tournament and set a record for wins by a first-year program, with 15[15].

High Point University also fields the following sports at the club level: men's and women's basketball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's tennis, women's field hockey, softball, ultimate frisbee and equestrian. [16]

Donations to High Point University's Athletic Department have exceeded $30 million. The primary athletics facilities at High Point University are the Millis Center (basketball, volleyball), Williard Stadium (baseball) and Vert Stadium (track, soccer, lacrosse). Vert Stadium was resurfaced with Mondo 3NX turf in 2011[17].

In January 2008, Wake Forest University associate athletic director Craig Keilitz was appointed High Point University's Director of Athletics. In May 2009, former University of North Carolina captain Scott Cherry was named head coach of men's basketball.

Publications and media

Greek life

High Point University is home to 12 Fraternities and Sororities.

The following Greek organizations are present at HPU:

Interfraternity Conference

National Panhellenic Conference

National Pan-Hellenic Council

National Service Fraternity

Sechrest gallery

A permanent collection of original works donated to the University by High Point Alumnus Darrell L. Sechrest. Among others, the permanent collection includes works by Christian Dietrich, Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Allesandro Gherardini, El Greco, Sir George Harvey Emile Louis Picault, Elsie Popkin, and Antonio Zucchi and Angelica Kauffman. The gallery is housed within the Hayworth Fine Arts Center on the campus of High Point University.[18]

References

  1. ^ As of June 30, 2009. "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2009 Endowment Market Value and Percentage Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2008 to FY 2009" (PDF). 2009 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments. National Association of College and University Business Officers. http://www.nacubo.org/Documents/research/2009_NCSE_Public_Tables_Endowment_Market_Values.pdf. Retrieved February 17, 2010. 
  2. ^ High Point University © 2008
  3. ^ High Point University © 2008
  4. ^ a b Sizemore, F. J., ed. The Buildings and the Builders of a City: High Point, North Carolina. High Point: Hall Printing Company, 1947. p. 318-319
  5. ^ Robinson, Blackwell P., and Alexander R. Stoesen. "The History of Guilford County, North Carolina, U.S.A. To 1980, A.D." Greensboro: The Guilford County Bicentennial Commission, 1980. p. 233
  6. ^ a b Robinson, Blackwell P., and Alexander R. Stoesen. "The History of Guilford County, North Carolina, U.S.A. To 1980, A.D." Greensboro: The Guilford County Bicentennial Commission, 1980. p. 235
  7. ^ http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:1WB66guuJOoJ:www.high-point.net/edc/2002annrpt.pdf+%22Christopher+Smallwood%22+%22high+point%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us| High Point Economic Development Corporation Website
  8. ^ "Hayworths donate $25 million to High Point University". April 3, 2007. http://triad.bizjournals.com/triad/stories/2007/04/02/daily12.html. 
  9. ^ High Point University © 2008
  10. ^ http://www.highpoint.edu/documents/2006_CourseCatalog.pdf
  11. ^ USNews.com: America's Best Colleges 2011: Baccalaureate Colleges (South): Top Schools
  12. ^ http://highpointpanthers.com/news/2010/9/16/ATH_0916102840.aspx
  13. ^ http://highpointpanthers.com/news/2010/11/3/M-Lacrosse_1103100441.aspx
  14. ^ http://highpointpanthers.com/news/2010/12/1/ATH_1201103357.aspx?path=general
  15. ^ http://highpointpanthers.com/news/2011/5/6/W-Lacrosse_0506110004.aspx
  16. ^ http://highpointpanthers.com/sports/2009/8/24/GEN_0824093239.aspx
  17. ^ http://highpointpanthers.com/news/2011/4/7/M-Lacrosse_0407112727.aspx
  18. ^ http://www.highpoint.edu/documents/Cultural-Enrichment.pdf

McCaslin, Dr. Richard B., "Remembered Be Thy Blessings: High Point University The College Years, 1924–1991" High Point University, 1995.

High Point University Press Kit

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