University of West Georgia: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:07, 23 June 2024

University of West Georgia

Former names	Fourth District A&M School (1906–1933) West Georgia College (1933–1996) State University of West Georgia (1996–2005)
Motto	Go West, Go Wolves!
Type	Public university
Established	1906 (1906)^[1]
Parent institution	University System of Georgia
Academic affiliations	Space-grant
Endowment	$41.1 million^[2]
President	Brendan Kelly^[3]
Students	13,510^[4]
Location	Carrollton , Georgia , United States 33°34′18″N 85°06′53″W / 33.57167°N 85.11472°W / 33.57167; -85.11472
Campus	College Town 644 acres (2.61 km²)
Colors	Blue and Red^[5]
Nickname	Wolves
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division II - Gulf South (Current) NCAA Division I – ASUN Conference (Starting in 2024)
Mascot	Wolfie
Website	www.westga.edu

The University of West Georgia is a public university^[6]inCarrollton, Georgia. The university offers a satellite campus in Newnan, Georgia, select classes at its Douglasville Center, and off-campus Museum Studies classes at the Atlanta History CenterinAtlanta, Georgia. A total of 12,769 students, including 8,454 undergraduate and 4,315 graduate, were enrolled as of Fall 2023.^[7] The university is also one of four comprehensive universities in the University System of Georgia.^[8]

History

In 1906 the decision to create the Fourth District Agricultural and Mechanical School occurred in response to a call for a "more realistic educational program for rural youth" aged 13 to 21.^[9] The Bonner plantation was chosen as the location for the school.

John H. Melson served as the school's first principal from 1908 to 1920. John Melson and his wife Penelope worked intimately alongside the students who attended the school and further enhanced the institution.^[10] In addition, Penelope Melson was the one responsible for creating the library at the college. In January 1908, she conducted a "book shower" which provided the school with a little over 300 manuscripts.^[11]

In 1920 Irvine S. Ingram, whom UWG's library is named after, became Melson's successor and the second principal of the A&M school. He married fellow faculty member Martha Munro in 1921 and they had one daughter, Anne, in 1924. Ingram was instrumental in developing the concept of "extension" education and adult-education offerings along with a summer school program for local teachers to develop their skills.^[11] The school's name (Fourth District Agricultural and Mechanical School) was changed to West Georgia College in 1933 and it became a two-year institution. When this occurred, Ingram became the college's first president. He served until 1960 and was succeeded by William H. Row. Shortly after, Row died from a heart attack and Ingram filled in as president for six months in 1961 until James E. Boyd was appointed to the position.^[11] While president, Ingram saw West Georgia become a four-year institution in 1957.^[1] He can also be credited with obtaining a substantial grant of $250,000 from the Rosenwald Foundation used to expand the college's facilities and programs, including the Sanford building, originally used as a library and creating the College in the Country program, initially an adult or continuing education program that eventually involved student teachers from the college, and foreign exchange programs that brought national recognition to the college.

James E. Boyd, a graduate of the University of Georgia, Duke University, and Yale University, became the president of West Georgia College in 1961.^[12]^[13] Boyd is most known for peacefully integrating the campus (without waiting for a court order) in 1963 by inviting a young black woman, Lillian Williams, to attend the college; she would eventually earn two degrees in education and earn the college's highest honor, the Founder's Award, in 1985.^[12]^[13]^[14]

Boyd dramatically expanded the college during his tenure in both headcount and academic diversity. In sheer numbers, there were 1089 students upon his arrival and 5503 students upon his departure.^[14]^[16] In 1959, there were two degrees and five programs available; in 1969–70 there were seven degrees and 45 programs. There were 94 graduate students in 1961 and 741 in 1969, due to the first master's programs being offered in 1967.^[13]^[14]

In 1969 alone, 80 new faculty members were hired, a number larger than the total number of faculty members a decade prior.^[14] Several new buildings, including but not limited to nine residence halls and five academic buildings, were constructed. Policy changes occurred as well: in 1966, the curfew for junior and senior women was abolished, and fraternities and sororities were allowed on campus.^[14] In 1970, Boyd was named Georgia's first vice chancellor for academic development, effective once his successor was found, which occurred in 1971; it was Emory University and Duke University graduate Ward Pafford.^[17]

Segregation

Until 1963, the college did not admit African-American students. In 1955 and 1956 Jeff Long, a teacher at Carver High School, encouraged students to apply for admission to West Georgia. Every senior applied, and every student was denied admission on the basis of their race. President Boyd racially integrated the campus in 1963. The first Black student was Lillian Williams, a mother or 4 and teacher in the non-integrated Carroll County School System. In 2002, President Sethna apologized to the Carver class of 1955. A scholarship fund has been started for descendants of the Carver students who were denied admission. There is also a scholarship in the name of Lillian Williams, for any mothers who want to start or continue their education.^[18]^[19]

Academics

The university offers numerous programs of study at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels through the Richards College of Business, the Tanner Health System School of Nursing, the College of Education, the College of Arts, Culture, and Scientific Inquiry, The School of Communication, Film, and Media, and the Honors College. The university also offers Certificate Programs and Specialist programs for Educators to help undergraduate and graduate students better their profession. In addition, the university was one of few in the United States to hold a residential, early entrance to college opportunity for high school juniors and seniors, the Advanced Academy of Georgia. Advanced Academy students took college courses and resided on campus under the supervision of professional residential staff.

University Rankings
National
U.S. News & World Report	293-381
Washington Monthly	226

Psychology program

The university is one of only two public universities in the United States offering a psychology program with a humanistic and transpersonal focus. In 1967, Mike Arons, a student of Abraham Maslow, Paul Ricoeur, and Jim Klee became chair of the West Georgia psychology department. Jim Thomas, then on the psychology faculty at West Georgia, and others had asked Maslow to recommend someone to them to initiate a humanistic emphasis there, and Arons was Maslow's recommendation.^[20]

The department has offered a Ph.D. in psychology since the fall of 2011. In February 2011 The Ph.D., "Psychology: Consciousness and Society," was approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.

The psychology department has the most diverse student base within the University of West Georgia, with many of the doctoral students coming from Ivy League and other first-tier universities. Many of the students are either international or have had experience living abroad.^[21]

2019 faculty lay-offs

In the fall semester of 2019, UWG issued non-renewal letters to numerous tenure-track faculty that informed them they would be let go at the end of the Spring 2020 semester.^[22] Student protests ensued as some students were outraged faculty were let go before considering other options.^[23] The faculty that were non-renewed/laid off remain so and have been informed the decision stands as of January 2020.

Student life

Students have access to 150 student organizations covering academics, cultural/international, departmental/educational, professional and honor groups, politics, science, religion, service, recreation and sports, health center, and social fraternities and sororities. In order to be a part of a fraternity or sorority, one must have a certain GPA, as well as above freshman classification.

Wolves Don't Waste (WDW) is a student organization founded around increasing awareness of food insecurity. Students coordinate with campus dining to decrease the amount of food wasted or thrown away through food recovery, and make food available to faculty, staff, students, and community members in need.

UWG's marching band consists of over 100 members and is known for its high energy and athleticism. Each performance finishes with the band playing and dancing to the hit tune "Long Train Runnin'". The Jazz Percussion Group has also performed throughout Europe and the United States as well as jazz festivals and state conferences. The JPG has brought numerous honors to the university since its beginning in 2003.

In the Fall of 2009, the Mass Communications department soft-launched The WOLF Internet Radio. The station officially debuted in April 2010, after two months of limited programming from its studio in the basement of the Anthropology Building. The station's motto is "For students by students." Two grants from the Technology Fee Committee, totaling about $72,600, kick-started the station.

Greek Village

Acting as a small community within the larger UWG community, the Greek Village features 18 houses ranging in size. These houses are complete with a living and or chapter room, kitchen, laundry facilities, a mix of single and double bedrooms, and semi-private bathrooms. Also included within the village are outdoor green spaces, adequate parking, and a commons building. Greek Village has also recently added a pavilion, a basketball court, a volleyball court, and a fireplace with grills for everyone's use.

The effort to create such a facility allows for the university to not only expand its housing offerings but also attract new students to UWG, making it more of a destination university. Additionally, within the Greek system at UWG, there are three different governing councils: Panhellenic, Interfraternity, and National Pan-Hellenic. In creating the Greek Village, it became possible for these different groups to share a space together for the first time.

Student demographics

The University of West Georgia has published a "Fact Book" containing statistical data, trend analyses, and interpretative highlights on a wide variety of topics concerning the university since 1980–1981. All editions of the UWG Fact Book are housed in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment. Additionally, all Fact Books from 1980–1981 to the present are available online.^[24]^[25]

Contents

University of West Georgia: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:07, 23 June 2024

History

Segregation

Academics

Psychology program

2019 faculty lay-offs

Student life

Greek Village

Student demographics

Athletics

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

References

Further reading

External links

Year	African/Black American	American Indian/Alaskan Native	Asian or Pacific Islander	Asian	Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	Caucasian/White	Hispanic	Multiracial	Other/Undeclared	Female	Male
2017	4,908	16	N/A	187	18	6,926	790	442	233	8,881	4,639
2016	4,898	20	N/A	184	17	6,868	681	419	221	8,733	4,575
2015	4,625	19	N/A	178	17	6,829	586	363	217	8,325	4,509
2014	4,313	17	N/A	199	14	6,637	506	365	155	7,878	4,328
2013	4,002	23	N/A	165	12	6,719	484	347	177	7,675	4,254
2012	3,692	26	N/A	200	10	6,755	470	372	244	7,376	4,393
2011	3,486	27	N/A	179	14	6,904	456	308	272	7,253	4,393
2010	2,959	36	N/A	163	10	6,422	348	152	1,193	7,051	4,232
2009	2,920	44	N/A	181	7	7,059	N/A	84	1,205	7,182	4,318
2008	2,837	32	192	N/A	N/A	7,364	272	259	296	7,075	4,177
2007	2,707	29	188	N/A	N/A	7,142	214	217	180	6,700	3,977
2006	2,461	22	161	N/A	N/A	7,136	199	184	N/A	6,406	3,757
2005	2,342	22	155	N/A	N/A	7,281	171	183	N/A	6,376	3,778
2004	2,367	24	161	N/A	N/A	7,363	151	150	N/A	6,446	3,770
2003	2,314	24	139	N/A	N/A	7,505	127	146	N/A	6,561	3,694
2002	2,132	20	80	N/A	N/A	7,135	93	110	105	6,144	3,531
2001	1,896	23	71	N/A	N/A	6,744	80	94	113	5,757	3,273
2000	1,853	20	70	N/A	N/A	6,758	72	76	117	5,725	3,241
1999	1,802	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	6,613	N/A	N/A	255	5,663	3,007
1998	1,638	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	6,782	N/A	N/A	247	5,629	3,038
1997	1,434	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	6,787	N/A	N/A	210	5,518	2,913
1996	1,380	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	6,964	N/A	N/A	216	5,630	2,930
1995	1,381	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	7,058	N/A	N/A	211	5,619	3,031
1994	1,309	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	6,839	N/A	N/A	162	5,408	2,902
1993	1,256	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	6,550	N/A	N/A	141	5,204	2,743
1992	1,144	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	6,458	N/A	N/A	115	4,945	2,772
1991	1,106	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	6,293	N/A	N/A	122	4,873	2,648
1990	969	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	5,967	N/A	N/A	136	4,498	2,574
1989	1,022	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	6,120	N/A	N/A	110	4,550	2,702
1988	976	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	5,650	N/A	N/A	84	4,192	2,518
1987	852	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	5,463	N/A	N/A	81	3,920	2,476
1986	777	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	5,303	N/A	N/A	61	3,670	2,471
1985	750	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	5,207	N/A	N/A	23	3,488	2,492
1984	804	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	5,403	N/A	N/A	43	3,647	2,603
1983	748	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	5,547	N/A	N/A	56	3,678	2,673
1982	772	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	5,242	N/A	N/A	36	3,432	2,618
1981	811	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	4,819	N/A	N/A	30	3,283	2,377
1980	770	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	4,501	N/A	N/A	30	3,115	2,156
1979	796	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	4,234	N/A	N/A	21	3,001	2,050
1978	782	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	4,323	N/A	N/A	14	2,954	2,165