University of Charleston

Not to be confused with College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina.

University of Charleston
Established	1888
Type	Private
Endowment	$28.1 million[1]
President	Edwin H. Welch
Provost	Charles Stebbins
Students	1,315[2]
Undergraduates	1,090[2]
Postgraduates	225[2]
Location	Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.A.
Campus	Urban
Former names	Barboursville Seminary of the Southern Methodist Church Morris Harvey College
Colors	Maroon and Gold
Nickname	Golden Eagles
Website	www.ucwv.edu

The University of Charleston ("UC") is a private university in Charleston, West Virginia, United States of over 1,300 students.

History

The school was founded in 1888 as the Barboursville Seminary of the Southern Methodist Church. In 1901, it was renamed Morris Harvey College, after a devoted supporter who made his fortune speculating in coal property and other businesses.

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. Seven years later, 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.^[3] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.^[4]

The college fell on hard economic times in the late 1970s and in 1978 changed its name to the University of Charleston to reflect both its addition of post graduate programs and its close ties with the local community. 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.

Athletics

UC's athletic teams, known as the Golden Eagles, compete in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in NCAA Division II. In 2003 the school resumed playing football after abolishing the sport in 1955. In 2005 it 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, baseball, and soccer fields, and competes in 14 Division II sports.

Graduate Schools

In August 2006 UC opened its first doctoral program, the UC School of Pharmacy, now headed by Dr. Michelle Easton. The school emphasizes community outreach and service to the Appalachian region. The university also opened a graduate business school in downtown Charleston in August, 2008, which grants three business masters degrees: Master of Business Administration and Leadership (MBAL), Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) and Executive Master of Forensic Accounting (EMFA).

The school is not associated with the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina, which at one time used the name "University of Charleston" for its graduate programs.

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 16, 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Highest student enrollment in almost 40 years". University of Charleston. http://www.ucwv.edu/about_uc/news_and_highlights/highenrollment9-07.aspx. Retrieved 2008-07-06. 
3. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form". Young-Noyes House. State of West Virginia, West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Historic Preservation. 2009-04-04. http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/nr/pdf/kanawha/91000446.pdf. 
4. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 

External links

• Official site

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