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West Chester University

Coordinates: 39°57′08″N 75°36′00″W / 39.95219°N 75.60010°W / 39.95219; -75.60010
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West Chester University
Former names
West Chester Normal School (1871–1927)
West Chester State Teachers College (1927–1960)
West Chester State College (1960–1983)
TypePublic research university
EstablishedSeptember 25, 1871; 153 years ago (1871-09-25)
Parent institution
PASSHE
Academic affiliation
Endowment$47.2 million (2019)[1]
Budget$266.2 million (2019)
PresidentChristopher M. Fiorentino
ProvostJeffery L. Osgood, Jr.
Academic staff
695 full-time; 298 part-time
Undergraduates14,712 (Fall 2020)[2]
Postgraduates3,007[2]
Location
West Chester, West Goshen Township, East Bradford Township
,
Pennsylvania
,
19383
,
United States

39°57′08″N 75°36′00″W / 39.95219°N 75.60010°W / 39.95219; -75.60010
CampusCollege town, 388 acres (1.57 km2)
ColorsPurple and Gold
   
NicknameGolden Rams
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division II – PSAC
ECAC
MascotRammy
Websitewww.wcupa.edu
Official nameWest Chester State College Quadrangle Historic District
TypeNRHP Historic district
CriteriaArchitecture
DesignatedOctober 8, 1981[3]
Reference no.81000539
Official nameFrederick Douglass (1818-1895)
TypeRoadside
CriteriaLocation of Frederick Douglass' final public lecture
DesignatedFebruary 1, 2006[4]

West Chester University (also known as West Chester, WCU, or WCUPA, and officially as West Chester University of Pennsylvania) is a public research university in and around West Chester, Pennsylvania.[5] The university is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".[6] With 17,719 undergraduate and graduate students as of 2019, WCU is the largest of the 10 state-owned universities belonging to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) and the sixth largest university in Pennsylvania.[7][8] It also maintains a Center City Philadelphia satellite campus on Market Street.

History

Entry to Old Main Building, reconstructed on High Street opening onto the Quadrangle

The university traces its roots to the West Chester Academy, a private, state-aided school that existed from 1812 to 1869. As the state began to take increasing responsibility for public education, the academy was transformed into West Chester Normal School or West Chester State Normal School, still privately owned and state certified. The normal school admitted its first class, consisting of 160 students, on September 25, 1871. In 1913, West Chester became the first of the normal schools to be owned outright by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

West Chester became West Chester State Teachers College in 1927 when Pennsylvania initiated a four-year program of teacher education. In 1960, as the Commonwealth paved the way for liberal arts programs in its college system, West Chester was renamed West Chester State College, and two years later introduced the liberal arts program that turned the one-time academy into a comprehensive college.[9]

The campus quad located on North Campus appears on the National Register of Historic Places, and is called the West Chester State College Quadrangle Historic District, featuring WCU's historic buildings. The buildings, with the exception of Anderson Hall and Philips Memorial Building (named after long-time principal George Morris Philips), were each built with local Chester County serpentine stone. They include Ruby Jones Hall, Recitation Hall and the Old Library.[9]

With passage of the State System of Higher Education bill, West Chester became one of the 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education on July 1, 1983. Along with its new name—West Chester University of Pennsylvania—the institution acquired a new system of governance and the opportunity to expand its degree programs.

West Chester is recognized for its formal poetry program. Its annual conference on form and narrative in poetry began in 1995 and is devoted to New Formalism. It has established a poetry center that sponsors readings and an annual book competition oriented toward formal poetry. Its Iris N. Spencer Poetry Awards recognize undergraduate achievement in formal poetry.[10]

Nineteen days before his death, Frederick Douglass gave his last public lecture, on February 1, 1895, at West Chester University. The university's Frederick Douglass Institute is named in his honor, and a statue of Douglass appears on its campus.[11][12] It has been named a national historic landmark by the U.S. National Park Service.[13] The Underground Railroad Network to Freedom recognized the Frederick Douglass Institute for its work in understanding the history of the underground railroad.[14][15]

Academics

Academic rankings
Regional
U.S. News & World Report[16]50 in Regional Universities North (tie)

15 in Best Colleges for Veterans (tie) 24 in Best Undergraduate Teaching (tie) 40 in Best Value Schools 20 in Most Innovative Schools (tie) 122 in Top Performers on Social Mobility (tie)

10 in Top Public Schools (tie)
National
Forbes[17]307 overall

182 in research universities

147 in public colleges

114 in Northeast

19 in Pennsylvania

1 in PASSHE

At the undergraduate level, the university offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Bachelor of Music degrees. Paraprofessional studies are available in law, medicine, and theology. In cooperation with the Pennsylvania State University, Columbia University, and Thomas Jefferson University, West Chester University offers a 3–2 dual-degree program combining liberal arts, physics, and engineering. Also available are early admission assurance programs with Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and Temple University School of Medicine. The university provides special admission opportunities and scholarships to the Widener School of Law–Harrisburg Campus. At the graduate level, West Chester University offers master's (M.A., M.B.A., M.Ed., M.M., M.P.A., M.P.H., M.S., M.S.W., M.S.N., M.U.R.P.) and doctoral (DPA, DNP, Ed.D., Psy.D.) degrees.

West Chester was ranked 50th in the "Regional Universities North" category by U.S. News & World Report for 2020.

The university is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".[18]

Off-campus programs

WCU's International Programs office helps send students abroad.[19][20] The university participates in the National Student Exchange Program, in which students spend up to a year at any one of more than 170 member schools across the United States. Transfer of credit is a part of this program.[21]

Campus

The university's North Campus is partially in West Chester borough and partially in West Goshen Township.[22] The South Campus is partially in West Goshen Township and partially in East Bradford Township. The campus is located in a suburban area approximately 20 miles from the city of Philadelphia. West Chester's downtown center is less than half of a mile away from the main campus.[23][24] The university also operates an urban satellite campus in Center City, Philadelphia.[25]

On campus, there is the Recreation Center, the Business and Public Management Center, The Dr. Sandra F. Prichard-Mather Planetarium, The Hollinger Field House, many buildings (built in the 1800s and early 1900s) in the West Chester State College Quadrangle Historic District registered into the National Register of Historic Places, and the Sciences & Engineering Center that has been recently completed.[when?], just to name a few buildings. There are also many outdoor activity areas such as: basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball courts, and the nearly 100 acre Robert B. Gordon Natural Area for Environmental Studies.[26]

West Chester University has the second largest university geothermal system in the United States. The system drastically reduces carbon emissions on the campus.[27]

  • View from outside the quad, looking south
    View from outside the quad, looking south
  • View from inside the quad, looking north
    View from inside the quad, looking north
  • Whispering archway
    Whispering archway
  • Old Library, West Chester
    Old Library, West Chester

Golden Rams Marching Band

Main article: West Chester University Golden Rams Marching Band

Athletics

Main article: West Chester Golden Rams

The athletic teams at West Chester University are named the Golden Rams. Students participate in NCAA Division II athletics in the PSAC and the ECAC. West Chester University has won national championships in women's basketball, women's lacrosse, women's swimming (the team was the DGWS champion in 1972), women's field hockey (including four AIAW titles from 1975 to 1978), and men's soccer. West Chester won the first ever women's basketball national championship in 1969 and was on the losing end in the final game each of the following three years.[28][29]

In 1961, the men's soccer team won the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship.[30] Jerry Yeagley was a player on WCU's championship team before going on to win six NCAA Championships and six National Coach of the Year Awards as the men's soccer coach at Indiana University. In addition, prior to the NCAA instituting a tournament format to decide the champion in 1959, the Golden Rams were voted the National Soccer Champions in 1950 by the Intercollegiate Soccer Football Association.[31]

In 1977, 1979, and 1982 the boxing team won the National Collegiate Boxing Association national championship. In 1976, Edward Skalamera claimed the national title for his 147 lb. weight class while Joe Gery took the top position in the nation for his 180 lb. class.[32]

In 2008, West Chester defeated C.W. Post College 13–12 to win the Division II women's lacrosse title. It was the second national title in the women's program history. WCUPA played in the NCAA tournament in 2010 (2nd place), 2011 (4th place), and 2012 (2nd place). The 2013 team was named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Champions. Ginny Martino's winning percentage is 80% over the last 17 years as head coach (250–60).[33]

In 2012, the Men's Baseball Team claimed West Chester's first NCAA Division II College Baseball National Championship.[34] The Golden Rams shut-out Delta State 9–0 in Cary, North Carolina. West Chester becomes the first team from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) to win the national championship and just the third northern school to walk away with the title.

West Chester's Women's Field Hockey team won the NCAA Division II championship in 2011, 2012, and 2019. The varsity Women's Rugby program also won the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) rugby national championship in 2019.

Campus Recreation: The Women's Ice Hockey Club won the Division II national championship in 2013. The Men's Lacrosse Club won the Division II national championship in 2013 and 2015.

Notable alumni

See also: Category:West Chester University alumni
Jill Biden, current First Lady of the United States and former Second Lady of the United States

Politics and government

Business and industry

  • Michael Dever (b. 1957) — businessman, futures trader, entrepreneur, and author; CEO of Brandywine Asset Management
  • Philip M. Sharples (1857–1944) — inventor and entrepreneur who ran largest industrial enterprise in West Chester history
  • George Wackenhut (1919–2004) — founder of Wackenhut private security corporation

Arts and entertainment

Rodney Anonymous of the Dead Milkmen

Sports

Basketball Hall of Famer Geno Auriemma with Team USA

Others

United States Vice-Admiral Brian Peterman

References

  1. ^ West Chester University of Pennsylvania (Report). U.S. News & World Report. 2019.
  2. ^ a b "West Chester University of Pennsylvania". IES PASSHE. Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Archived from the original on August 4, 2021.
  3. ^ "Asset Detail". focus.nps.gov. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  4. ^ "PHMC Historical Markers Search". Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on March 21, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  5. ^ "Mail service", West Chester University official website, retrieved October 12, 2022
  6. ^ "Carnegie Classifications | Standard Listings". carnegieclassifications.iu.edu. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  7. ^ "Our Universities". PA State System of Higher Education. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  8. ^ "Biggest Colleges in Pennsylvania". collegestats.org. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  9. ^ a b "History of the University – West Chester University". www.wcupa.edu. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  10. ^ Timpane, John (June 6, 2010). "Conference draws poets not for reading, but for crafting". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  11. ^ "Legacy of Famed Abolitionist Frederick Douglass Will Live on at WCU Thanks to Dr. Clifford E. DeBaptiste". www.wcupa.edu. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  12. ^ Cummings, Colleen (October 14, 2013). "WCU erects statue to honor Frederick Douglass". The Quad. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  13. ^ "Frederick Douglass". www.nps.gov. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  14. ^ "Underground Railroad - West Chester University". www.wcupa.edu. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  15. ^ "National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Listing" (PDF). nps.gov. July 5, 2018.
  16. ^ "2024-2025 Best Regional Universities Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. September 23, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  17. ^ "America's Top Colleges 2024". Forbes. September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  18. ^ "Carnegie Classifications | Standard Listings". carnegieclassifications.iu.edu. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  19. ^ "West Chester University of PA". February 6, 2010. Archived from the original on February 6, 2010. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  20. ^ "International Study Abroad - West Chester University". www.wcupa.edu. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  21. ^ National Student Exchange – Office of the Registrar – West Chester University Relations
  22. ^ "North Campus Map." West Chester University. Retrieved on October 9, 2018. See: "West Chester Area Council of Governments Map Archived September 26, 2018, at the Wayback Machine."
  23. ^ South Campus Map." West Chester University. Retrieved on October 9, 2018. See: "West Chester Area Council of Governments Map Archived September 26, 2018, at the Wayback Machine."
  24. ^ "Zoning Map" (PDF). East Bradford Township, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 8, 2018.
  25. ^ "West Chester University". Campus Philly. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  26. ^ "Campus Map - West Chester University". www.wcupa.edu. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  27. ^ "Geothermal Heating - West Chester University". www.wcupa.edu. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  28. ^ West Chester University athletics Retrieved on December 8, 2008
  29. ^ "Pre-NCAA Statistical Leaders and AIAW Results" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  30. ^ Sullivan, Liz (August 29, 2015). "'61 soccer squad still a team". Daily Local News. Daily Local News. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  31. ^ "1950 MEN'S SOCCER NCISC CHAMPIONS". UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO ATHLETICS. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  32. ^ National Collegiate Boxing Association
  33. ^ Women’s Lacrosse, NCAA. "NCAA DII Women's Lacrosse Coaching Records" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  34. ^ West Chester Athletics (June 3, 2012). "West Chester earns first national title". NCAA.com. NCAA. West Chester Athletics. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  35. ^ "Lazer Film Productions | Derek Frey". www.lazerfilm.com. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  36. ^ "Saturday Night Live fires Shane Gillis: Father of central Pa. comedian reacts". pennlive. September 16, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  37. ^ McDonald, Denise (March 27, 1984). "Students protest religious censorship". The Quad - WCU Digital Archive. Archived from the original on January 1, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  38. ^ "Geno Auriemma biography: Geno Auriemma Camp". Archived from the original on April 1, 2009. Retrieved May 13, 2009.
  39. ^ "Ed T. Rush, Sr". Ed Rush & Associates. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  40. ^ "Keynote Speaker Hall of Fame Basketball Coach Cathy Rush". Cathyrush.com. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  41. ^ "Never Forget". Retrieved May 19, 2020.
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