University of Charleston

University of Charleston
Former names
 Barboursville Seminary of the Southern Methodist Church
Morris Harvey College
Type Private
Established 1888
Endowment $28.1 million[1]
President Edwin H. Welch
Provost Letha Zook
Students 2,111 Fall 2014[2]
Undergraduates 1,562
Postgraduates 226
323
Location Charleston, West Virginia, United States
Campus Urban
Colors Maroon and Gold[3]         
Nickname Golden Eagles
Website www.ucwv.edu

The University of Charleston ("UC"), formerly Morris Harvey College, is a private accredited university based in Charleston, West Virginia, United States. The university also has locations in Beckley, West Virginia and Martinsburg, West Virginia, known as UC-Beckley and UC-Martinsburg, respectively.

The school offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. Several of the university's programs are available online.

History

The school was founded in 1888 as the Barboursville Seminary of the Southern Methodist Church. In 1901, it was renamed Morris Harvey College, in honor of a devoted supporter.[4]

A building behind a wall that reads "University of Charleston" and another building with a glass parapet, with a river running in front
The University of Charleston from across the Kanawha River

In 1935 the school moved to downtown Charleston and affiliated with the Mason College of Fine Arts and Music. In 1940, it became independent of the Methodist Church. In 1947, the school moved to its present campus in the Kanawha City section of Charleston across the river from the State Capitol. In 1951, it purchased the Young-Noyes House as the home of the college president.[5] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.[6]

The college fell on hard times after the end of the military draft and college deferment during the Vietnam War and offered itself to the state in 1975, which refused the gift. In December 1978, the school changed its name to the University of Charleston. Beginning with the inauguration of the current president, Dr. Edwin H. Welch, the school has undergone a physical and academic transformation. Four new residence halls, a parking garage, a fitness center, an academic building housing the library, computer and science labs, and a new school of pharmacy have been built since 1998.

UC established campuses on Mountain State University's former Beckley and Martinsburg, West Virginia locations on January 1, 2013. UC later vacated the former MSU Martinsburg campus (the property was sold to a third-party buyer), and established a new location in Martinsburg, known as UC-Martinsburg.[7] UC vacated the former MSU Beckley campus after the 2014-15 academic year and established a new campus in Beckley.[8]

Academics

The University of Charleston is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association.[9]

The university employs a unique outcomes-based model of education whereby students learn and master six competencies by graduation: Citizenship, Communication, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Ethical Practice, and Science.

There are over twenty undergraduate major programs at UC, with two majors being somewhat unusual to the region, with few other colleges offering similar programs: Interior Design and Radiologic Science. Besides these two programs, other top majors at UC include English, Sports Administration, Education, Communications, Accounting, Nursing, and Athletic Training.

Rankings

In 2012, UC was ranked 14th by U.S. News & World Report for regional colleges in the South.[10] In 2011, UC was the top ranked regional college in West Virginia, according to U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, UC has been recently added to The Princeton Review's best 371 colleges and universities in the country. In 2014, UC was ranked the 19th best Regional College in the South.

Graduate schools

In 2006, UC opened its first doctoral program, the UC School of Pharmacy. In 2008, the university opened a graduate business school which grants four business master's degrees: Master of Business Administration and Leadership (MBAL), Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA), Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) with a concentration in Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Management (EMBA- PHM), and Executive Master of Forensic Accounting (EMFA).[11]

In 2012, the school announced a new Physician Assistant program.[12]

Athletics

UC's athletic teams, known as the Golden Eagles, mostly compete in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) in NCAA Division II. In June 2012, UC was one of nine members of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) that announced their plans to leave to form a new Division II conference. Two months later, the new conference was unveiled as the MEC, with UC as one of 12 charter members. The men's volleyball team, which was elevated from a club team to full varsity status for the 2015 season (2014–15 school year), plays at the National Collegiate (Division I/II) level; after playing in 2015 as an independent, it joined the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association.

In 2005, UC entered into a partnership with the local school board to refurbish the school board–owned Laidley Field, which was renamed University of Charleston Stadium. The campus also boasts new or renovated softball, football, baseball, and soccer fields, and competes in 18 Division II sports.

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. Retrieved February 16, 2010.
  2. ↑ As of September 11, 2014. "University of Charleston has Record Enrollment". (Press Release) University of Charleston. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  3. ↑ UC Branding Manual (PDF). Retrieved 2016-08-04.
  4. ↑ "Our History". Ucwv.edu. Retrieved 2014-08-15.
  5. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form" (PDF). Young-Noyes House. State of West Virginia, West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Historic Preservation. 2009-04-04.
  6. ↑ National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  7. ↑ "Mountain State to sell UC-Beckley campus | News". register-herald.com. 2014-08-13. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
  8. ↑ "Charleston Gazette-Mail | New UC Beckley campus open". Wvgazette.com. 2015-06-30. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
  9. ↑ "The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association". Ncahlc.org. Retrieved 2014-08-15.
  10. ↑ "University of Charleston | Best College | US News". Colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. Retrieved 2014-08-15.
  11. ↑ "Quick Facts". Ucwv.edu. Retrieved 2014-08-15.
  12. ↑ "Physician Assistant Program". Ucwv.edu. Retrieved 2014-08-15.

Coordinates: 38°19′59″N 81°36′59″W / 38.332917°N 81.616524°W / 38.332917; -81.616524

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