Bennett College

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Bennett College

Official Bennett College seal
Motto "Celebrate. Educate. Oasis."
Established Founded in 1873 and established as an all female institution in 1926
Type Private women's college
Religious affiliation United Methodist Church
UNCF
Endowment $15 million
President Julianne Malveaux
Students 780
Location Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
Campus Urban
Colors Blue and White
         
Nickname The Belles
Website bennett.edu
Bennett College Historic District
Location: Roughy bounded by E. Washington, Bennett and Gorrell Sts., Greensboro, North Carolina
Area: 16 acres (6.5 ha)
Built: 1922
Architectural style: Gothic, Other, Georgian Revival
Governing body: Private
MPS: Greensboro MPS
NRHP Reference#: 92000179[1]
Added to NRHP: April 3, 1992
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2008)
This article is about the historically black women's college in Greensboro, North Carolina. For the women's college in Millbrook, New York which existed from 1890 to 1978, see Bennett College (New York).

Bennett College is a four-year liberal arts women's college in Greensboro, North Carolina. Founded in 1873, this historically black institution began as a normal school to provide education to newly emancipated slaves. It became a women's college in 1926 and currently serves roughly 780 undergraduates. It "has struggled for years with financial (and administrative) difficulties" and is currently on probation with its regional accrediting body for "run[ning] afoul of the accreditor's standard on financial stability."[2]

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Bennett College Traditions

[edit] Bennett today

Bennett College has 780 students, all women and primarily of African American descent, enrolled in one of Bennett's 24 degree programs. Bennett is currently ranked #16 among the top historically black colleges and universities, both for its academic achievements and its relatively reasonable tuition rates. Today Bennett is reorganizing and revitalizing its campus and academic infrastructure. Bennett's brother school is Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. This relationship developed through the close and historic friendship of former Bennett College President Dr. David Dallas Jones and former Morehouse College President Dr. Benjamin E. Mays.

[edit] Institutional Goals

  • To achieve and maintain fiscal stability.
  • To increase and stabilize student enrollment and retention.
  • To improve the academic standards and competitiveness of the College.
  • To upgrade and maintain the College's physical plant facilities to accommodate the academic, cultural, social and residential programs.
  • To enhance and support the social, cultural and spiritual development of the students.
  • To optimize philanthropic support and advance College relations.
  • To maximize the potential and ability of employees to contribute and develop professionally within a supportive College environment.
  • To create a College culture that embraces and commits to continuous improvement.
  • To develop a deepened sense of community at Bennett College.
  • To build stronger relationships with local, regional, national and international communities.
  • To identify Bennett College as a United Methodist Church related college while respecting religious diversity.

[edit] Philosophy

Bennett College's undergirding philosophy is that a high-quality college experience should provide its women students with strong academic and co-curricular programs that encourage their personal development, endorse life-long learning, and prepare them to meet the needs of an ever-changing society. Bennett College values and respects every member of its community. As a United Methodist Church Related institution, the College believes that education should be related to humanitarian ends.

[edit] Presidents of the College

There have been fifteen principals or presidents of Bennett College [3]

  1. W.J. Parker (principal) (1874 - 1877)[3]
  2. Reverend Edward O. Thayer (1877 - 1881)[3]
  3. Reverend Wilbur F. Steele - (1881 - 1889)[3]
  4. Reverend Charles N. Grandison - (1889 - 1892)[3]
  5. Dr. Jordan Chavis - (1892-1905)[3]
  6. Reverend Silas A. Peeler - (1905 - 1913)[3][4]
  7. Professor James E. Wallace - (1913 - 1915)[3]
  8. Reverend Frank Trigg - (1915 - 1926)[3]
  9. David Dallas Jones - (1926 - 1955)[2]
  10. Dr. Willa B. Player - (1956 - 1966)[5]
  11. Dr. Isaac H. Miller, Jr. - (1966 - 1987)
  12. Dr. Gloria Randle Scott - (1987 - 2001)
  13. Dr. Althia F. Collins - (2001 - 2002)[6]
  14. Dr. Charles Fuget - (2002, interim)[6]
  15. Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole - (2002 - 2007)
  16. Dr. Julianne Malveaux (beginning June 1, 2007)

[edit] Academics

Bennett college offers 20 majors and 19 minors under 3 divisions: Division of Natural and Behavioral Sciences and Mathematics, Division of Social Sciences and Education, and Division of Humanities. These disciplines include degrees in bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, bachelor of arts and science in interdisciplinary studies, bachelor of social work, and the bachelor of fine arts. Bennett also offers five dual degree programs including Chemistry/Chemical Engineering with NC A&T, Chemistry/Pharmacy with Howard University, Mathematics/Mechanical Engineering with NC A&T, Mathematics/Electrical Engineering with NC A&T and Mathematics/Industrial Engineering with NC A&T.

Bennett has incorporated three new programs[7] that are aimed at increasing students' awareness of the struggles and accomplishments of all women, especially those of African descent; and staying in-step with the ever-changing climate of today's globally integrated society: Womanist Religious Studies, Global Studies, Africana Women's Studies and The New Academy.

[edit] Center for Global Studies

The Center for Global Studies is located in the campus’ newest building addition, the Global Learning Center. The Global Learning Center oversees international education for students since that is one of Bennett College’s four academic cornerstones and is attempting to internationalize the campus, which will bring greater global awareness to students.

[edit] Residence halls

There are seven residence halls on the campus of Bennett College: four underclassman (Barge, Reynolds, Jones, and Pfieffer), two upperclassman (Player and Cone), and one (honors hall) specifically for the college's honor students. Five out of seven residence halls have two floors with communal bathrooms on each end of the halls, there is a parlor which serves as as living room area, there study rooms; Willa B. Player is the only Hall with a kitchen other than the honors hall. The Honors Hall, one of the most recent additions to the campus, has three floors and suite-style rooms with mini kitchens, living rooms, and personal bathrooms.

Referred to as Living Learning Centers, Bennett College houses its students in:

  • Carrie Barge Hall
  • Laura Cone Hall
  • Robert E. Jones Hall
  • Annie Merner Pfieffer Hall
  • Willa B. Player Hall
  • Jessie Reynolds Hall
  • Honors Hall(2010)


[edit] Student organizations

There are over 30 campus social, service, religious, and the student government association organizations.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Zeta Xi chapter Purpose: to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, to promote unity and friendship among college women, to study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women; to maintain a progressive interest in college life and to be of service to all mankind.

Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society Purpose: to promote high scholarship; to encourage sincere and zealous endeavors in all fields of knowledge and service; to cultivate a high order of personal living and to develop an appreciation for scholarly work.

Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society Purpose: to encourage superior academic achievement among students their first year in institutions of higher learning; to promote intelligent living and a continued high standard of learning and to assist women and men in recognizing and developing meaningful goals for their roles in society.

Barge Hall Council Purpose: to provide quality programming and events for the residents of Barge Hall and to build community, promote a safe, clean and responsible living environment.

Belles of Peace Purpose: Encourage unity among members and the campus community. To encourage personal growth and the upholding of high moral and ethical standards within the college community.

Bennett College Ambassadors Association Purpose: to assist the Office of Admission with recruiting students and recruitment activities in order to increase enrollment.

Bennett College Choir Purpose: to establish a group of students who are disciplined through music who represent the college as ambassadors.

Beta Kappa Chi Honor Society Purpose: to foster academic excellence and research in the sciences; to recognize student achievement in the sciences.

Biology Club Purpose: to join all majors together for a collective and to raise awareness on health issues.



[edit] Notable alumnae

Name Class year Notability References
Dr. Glendora M. Putnam first African-American woman to serve as president of the national YWCA
Faye Robinson opera singer
Dr. Hattie Carwell noted research scientist and expert in the study of radiation
Barbara Hamm the first African-American woman to serve as a television news director in the United States
Patricia Brown Moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
Yvonne J. Johnson first black mayor of Greensboro, North Carolina
Dr. Linda B. Brown author and professor of English at Bennett College
Dr. Allethia Lee Allen professor-emeritus, University of Washington
Dr. Dorothy L. Brown first African American woman general surgeon in the south and to serve on the Tennessee State Legislature
Belinda Foster first African American District Attorney in North Carolina
Dr. Talia McCray noted research scientist
Maidie Norman Actress
Marion L. Bell noted educator
Monica Conyers former Detroit City Council Member
Michelle Huff Founder of Huff Entertainment
Kimberly Morton Cuthrell Author of book series "Splinters of My Soul"
Mary Jacobs Durham City Council at large (1997 - 2001), Durham Board of Commissioners (2002 - 2004)
Sandra Smith Activist

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
  2. ^ a b Doug Lederman (June 24, 2011). "18 Sanctioned by Southern Accreditor". Inside Higher Education. http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/06/24/southern_accreditor_puts_five_colleges_on_probation_13_on_warning_status. Retrieved June 24, 2011. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Bennett College, a haven for Education . . .". The African American Registry. 2005-08-01. Archived from the original on December 1, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071201202500/http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/2752/Bennett_College_a_haven_for_Education____. Retrieved 2007-09-30. 
  4. ^ Arnett, Ethel Stephens (1973). For Whom Our Public Schools Were Named, Greensboro, North Carolina. Piedmont Press. pp. 274. 
  5. ^ "Willa Player encouraged and taught many!". Archived from the original on October 19, 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20061019225711/http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/2314/Willa_Player_encouraged_and_taught_many. Retrieved 2007-11-24. 
  6. ^ a b "Bennett names interim president". 2002-02-01. http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-14570_ITM. Retrieved 2007-11-24. [dead link]
  7. ^ New Programs, Bennett College

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Coordinates: 36°04′03″N 79°46′43″W / 36.0674527°N 79.7785359°W / 36.0674527; -79.7785359

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