University of Charleston
Encyclopedia
The University of Charleston ("UC") is a private university in Charleston, West Virginia
, United States
of over 1,300 students.
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.
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. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1978.
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.
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.
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.
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
of over 1,300 students.
History
The school was founded in 1888 as the BarboursvilleBarboursville, West Virginia
Barboursville is a village in Cabell County, West Virginia, United States. It is located near the second largest city in the state, Huntington. The population was 3,183 at the 2000 census....
Seminary of the Southern Methodist Church
Southern Methodist Church
The Southern Methodist Church is a conservative Protestant Christian denomination with churches located in the southern part of the United States...
. In 1901, it was renamed Morris Harvey College, after a devoted supporter who made his fortune speculating in coal property and other businesses.
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
Young-Noyes House
Young-Noyes House, also known as the University of Charleston President's House, is a historic home located at Charleston, West Virginia. It was built in 1922 and is a white-painted 15-room brick house, featuring a central two-story gabled block and a shallow two-story gabled ell...
as the home of the college president. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1978.
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 ConferenceWest Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
The West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which historically operated exclusively in the state of West Virginia, but has now expanded into Pennsylvania...
in NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division II. In 2003 the school resumed playing football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
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
Laidley Field
The University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field, is an 18,500-capacity stadium located in downtown Charleston, West Virginia, near the state Capitol complex. It features a FieldTurf playing field for football and facilities for track and field competitions.The stadium was finished in 1979,...
, 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
College of Charleston
The College of Charleston is a public, sea-grant and space-grant university located in historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina, United States...
in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, which at one time used the name "University of Charleston" for its graduate programs.