| Weber State University | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1889 |
| Type | Public |
| Endowment | US $62.2 million[1] |
| President | F. Ann Millner |
| Admin. staff | 820 |
| Students | 25,130 |
| Location | Ogden, UT, USA |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colors | Purple and White |
| Nickname | Wildcats |
| Website | www.weber.edu |
Weber State University ( /ˈwiːbər/) is a public university located in the city of Ogden in Weber County, Utah, USA. It was founded in 1889 and is a coeducational, publicly supported university offering professional, liberal arts and technical certificates, as well as associate, bachelor's and master's degrees. Weber State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Programs throughout the university are accredited as well.[2]
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Weber State University was founded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Weber Stake Academy in 1889; like Weber County and the Weber River, the school was named after John Henry Weber, an early fur trader. The university first opened its doors for students on 7 January 1889 when ninety-eight students enrolled for classes. The first principal of Weber Stake Academy was Louis F. Moench. He served from 1889–1892 and again from 1894-1902. In the latter year Moench was succeeded as principal by David O. McKay who served in that position until 1908. From 1914-1917 James L. Barker was the principal of the Weber Stake Academy.[4]
In the early 20th century, the school underwent multiple name changes: Weber Stake Academy from its founding in 1889 to 1897, Weber Academy in 1902, Weber Normal college in 1918, and Weber College in 1922. In 1933 the LDS Church transferred the institution to the State of Utah.[5] In 1951 the college moved from its downtown location in Ogden to a spacious and scenic area in the southeast bench area of the city.[6] The school became Weber State College in 1962 and on January 1, 1991, finally gained university status, obtaining its current name.[5]
Weber State University has developed into a major state undergraduate institution serving northern Utah and areas beyond, including American and international students. Notable alumni and faculty include business magnate J. Willard Marriott, author-historian Fawn Brodie, past LDS Church president David O. McKay, communications expert Mark Evans Austad, inventor of the industrial diamond H. Tracy Hall, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury David M. Kennedy, prominent lawyer and university president Ernest L. Wilkinson, former president and CEO of T-Mobile USA Robert Dotson president of Black and Decker Nolan Archibald, professional basketball coaches Dick Motta and Phil Johnson, and band and orchestra composer Clair W. Johnson.[6]
Weber State University sits along the east bench of the Wasatch Mountains in Ogden, Utah. The Dee Events Center is located about 10 blocks south from campus. There is an additional building located in Davis County, Utah, and two centers located in Morgan, Utah and Roy, Utah. In addition to its physical locations, Weber State University has been a pioneer in the development of online education for the Utah System of Higher Education.
Weber State University's colors are purple and white and their nickname is the Wildcats. Weber State University sports teams participate in NCAA Division I (Football Championship Subdivision for football) in the Big Sky Conference. The Weber State University football team plays at Stewart Stadium. The men's and women's basketball teams both play at the Dee Events Center. After the University of Idaho and Boise State University joined the Western Athletic Conference, Idaho State University became their main rival in the Big Sky Conference in both football and basketball. Southern Utah University is joining the Big Sky in the 2012 academic school year and are going to be rivals with Weber State as well.
Weber State University athletics is composed of 15 different sporting teams and competes in the Big Sky Conference. Their mascot is Waldo the Wildcat and team colors are purple and white, with black used as a number color. All of the sporting teams compete in the NCAA Division I level. The football team plays in the Division I "Championship Subdivision" formerly known as Division 1-AA. The football team recently changed leadership, with the addition of new head coach Ron McBride, former head coach of the University of Utah, who began coaching the Wildcats in 2005. Coach "Mac" went 6-5 overall and 4-3 in conference play his first year with the ‘Cats. The 2008 season, the 'Cats finished 7-1 in in conference which is the best single season record in school history. Overall they finished 10-4 and lost in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Playoff Quarterfinals.
Weber State's Men's basketball team (852-495), long hailed as a powerhouse in the Big Sky Conference, acquired new head coach Randy Rahe for the 2006-2007 season. WSU Men's basketball team has the 24th highest winning percentage in NCAA Division I history. In 2005, Street and Smith magazine complied a list of the greatest basketball programs in college basketball history, WSU made #51. The Men's basketball team won its 18th overall Big Sky Conference championship in 2009. WSU's Men's basketball is also famous for 1st Rd NCAA Tournament upsets. In 1995 Weber beat #3 seed Michigan State, in '99 WSU beat #3 seed North Carolina.
In addition to the NCAA teams, Weber State University has a number of other sports, including a nationally ranked men's ice hockey team. For the 2005-2006 season, the Division I ice hockey team was ranked 6th nationally in the ACHA (American Collegiate Hockey Association). The Wildcat Spirit Squad has also been a prominent part of the athletics department. For the past two years, they have placed in the top three in national competitions. The Weber State Rodeo Women's team won the 2006 College National Finals Rodeo sponsored by the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. The men's team ranked 49th in the nation. Weber State's Baseball team is also a nationally ranked team, finishing 6th overall in the 2010 NCBA (National Club Baseball Association) World Series, and was ranked in the top 5 teams for the entire year.
As of 2007, Weber State University offers 215 certificate and degree programs in the performing arts, visual arts, humanities, science, applied science and technology, business and economics, education, social and behavioral sciences and the health professions.[7] Master's degrees are offered in accounting, business administration (MBA), criminal justice, education, English, health administration, nursing and taxation.[8]
WSU is divided into the following seven colleges[9] :
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In addition to these primary colleges, the University offers several interdisciplinary programs. These include:
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Weber State University has an independent, student-run paper, The Signpost, which is published every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, an FM radio station KWCR - 88.1 Weber FM, Ogden's Radio Station, an undergraduate interdisciplinary literary journal, Metaphor, and a television news program, Weber State News, that broadcasts online. The national literature and culture journal, Weber Studies, is based at Weber State.
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