Fairmont State University

Fairmont State University
Type Public, Coed
Established 1865
Endowment US $20 million
President Dr. Stephen Jones (Interim)
Provost Dr. Christina Lavorata
Academic staff
 597 (200 full time)
Administrative staff
 450
Students 4,200
Undergraduates Approx. 4,100
Postgraduates Approx. 500
Location 1201 Locust Ave.
Fairmont, WV 26554
Campus Urban - 120 Acres
Colors Maroon and White          
Nicknames Fighting Falcons
Lady Falcons
Affiliations NCAA Division II: Mountain East Conference
Website www.fairmontstate.edu

Fairmont State University is a public university located in Fairmont, West Virginia, United States with a regional campuses in nearby Harrison County - the Gaston Caperton Center in Clarksburg and the Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center in Bridgeport.[1] Since 1928, Fairmont State has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) which recently merged with the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

History

Fairmont State was founded as a private institution in 1865 by John N. Boyd, the school’s first principal, in the basement of the Methodist Protestant Church at 418 Quincy Street. It was known as the West Virginia Normal School at Fairmont and was dedicated to educating teachers. On February 27, 1867 it was purchased by the State from the Regency of the West Virginia Normal School and became a branch of the State Normal School at Marshall College.

From 1867 to 1892 the school was known variously as Fairmont Normal School, the Fairmont Branch of the West Virginia Normal School, the Branch of the West Virginia Normal School at Fairmont, a branch of the West Virginia State Normal School at Marshall College, but most commonly as Fairmont State Normal School (FSNS).

By 1892 the designation of "branch" had fallen into disuse by FSNS. In 1893, the school moved into a new building on Second Street and, in 1917, to its current location in the building (now known as Hardway Hall in honor of former president Wendell G. Hardway) which sits on a hill overlooking Locust Avenue. Hardway Hall (originally known as Fairmont Normal School Administration Building) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.[2]

In 1923, Fairmont State Normal School first offered a four-year bachelor's degree program in education, making the school a college. It was renamed Fairmont State Teachers College in 1931 and Fairmont State College in 1943. On April 7, 2004, Governor Bob Wise signed legislation changing its name to Fairmont State University.[3]

Today, FSU offers more than 80 baccalaureate degrees in business, education, engineering and technology, fine arts, liberal arts, and nursing and allied health administration with graduate programs in architecture, education, teaching, business, and criminal justice.

Community and Technical College

In 1974, a community college component was founded. This became independently accredited as the Fairmont State Community and Technical College in 2003. In 2006 Fairmont State was given direction by the state to split with the community and technical college, which then became known as Pierpont Community and Technical College. While both institutions still operate on the Fairmont campus, since 2008, they are recognized as independent institutions and offer completely separate degree programs; Pierpont focuses more on two-year technical associate's programs, while Fairmont State's main focus is on four-year baccalaureate degrees and masters programs.

Athletics

Official athletics logo.

Fairmont State's athletic teams, known as the Falcons (alternately as Fighting Falcons, or Lady Falcons for women's teams), compete in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II and field teams in 16 sports including football, men's and women's basketball, women's soccer, women's volleyball, men's and women's golf, acrobatics and tumbling, baseball, softball, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's tennis, and men's and women's cross country.

In the 2016 football season, The Fairmont State Football team ended their season ranked 23rd in the AFCA Coaches Poll.

In 2017, the men's basketball team was ranked #3 in the final NABC Coaches Poll. In post-season play, the Falcons captured the NCAA Atlantic Region title and earned the top-seed in the NCAA Elite Eight tournament eventually losing to Northwest Missouri State in the tournament final on March 25, 2017 by a score of 71-61.[4]

Traditions

The Victory Bell

In 1940, the Letterman's Association (now the Fairmont State Athletic Association) presented the college with a "Victory Bell" from a Monongahela oil barge. Nicknamed "Old Boaz" (named in honor of Boaz Fleming, the founding father of Fairmont), the bell was rung after athletic team victories.

During World War II, the Victory Bell was declared silent and was not rung again until Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day) on May 8, 1945. It was rung for that victory and for the Americans still fighting in the South Pacific.

The exact date unknown (likely the late 1960s), the tradition shifted from ringing to painting the bell by various fraternities, sororities, and other campus organizations - its clapper and handle removed.

Originally located adjacent to Hardway Hall, the bell now stands in front of the Education Building.

Honor societies

Social organizations

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

See also

References

  1. ↑ Turner, Dr. William P., "A Centennial History of Fairmont State College", Fairmont State College, Fairmont, WV, 1970
  2. ↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  3. ↑ "Marion County Architecture". Marion County Historical Society & Museum. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  4. ↑ http://www.dominionpost.com/Mobile/714716.aspx. Retrieved 27 March 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)

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