Weber State University
Weber State University | |
---|---|
Established | 1889 |
Type | Public |
Endowment | US $62.2 million[1] |
President | Charles A. Wight |
Administrative staff
|
820 |
Students | 26,681[2] |
Location | Ogden, UT, USA |
Campus | Urban |
Colors | Purple and White |
Nickname | Wildcats |
Website | www.weber.edu |
Weber State University /ˈwiːbər/ is a public university in Ogden city in Weber County, Utah, USA. It is a coeducational, publicly supported university offering professional, liberal arts and technical certificates, as well as associate, bachelor's and master's degrees. Weber State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Programs throughout the university are accredited as well.[3]
The school was founded in 1889 by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as Weber Stake Academy, later changing names to Weber Academy, Weber Normal College, and Weber College. Weber College became a junior college in 1933, and in 1962 became Weber State College. It gained university status in 1991, when it was renamed to its current name of Weber State University.
Contents
History[edit]
Weber State University was founded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Weber Stake Academy in 1889; like Weber County and the Weber River, the school was named after John Henry Weber, an early fur trader. The university opened for students on 7 January 1889 with ninety-eight students enrolled for classes. The first principal of Weber Stake Academy was Louis F. Moench. He served from 1889–1892 and again from 1894-1902. In the latter year Moench was succeeded as principal by David O. McKay who served in that position until 1908. From 1914-1917 James L. Barker was the principal of the Weber Stake Academy.[5]
In the early 20th century, the school underwent multiple name changes: Weber Stake Academy from its founding in 1889 to 1897, Weber Academy in 1902, Weber Normal College in 1918, and Weber College in 1922. In 1933 the LDS Church transferred the institution to the State of Utah, and it became a junior college.[6][7] In 1951 the college moved from its downtown location in Ogden to a spacious and scenic area in the southeast bench area of the city.[8] The school became Weber State College in 1962 and on January 1, 1991, finally gained university status, obtaining its current name.[6]
Weber State University has developed into a major state undergraduate institution serving northern Utah and areas beyond, including American and international students. Notable alumni and faculty include business magnate J. Willard Marriott, author-historian Fawn Brodie, past LDS Church president David O. McKay, communications expert Mark Evans Austad, inventor of the industrial diamond H. Tracy Hall, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury David M. Kennedy, prominent lawyer and university president Ernest L. Wilkinson, former president and CEO of T-Mobile USA Robert Dotson president of Black & Decker Nolan D. Archibald, professional basketball coaches Dick Motta and Phil Johnson, and band and orchestra composer Clair W. Johnson.[8]
Location[edit]
Weber State University sits along the east bench of the Wasatch Mountains in Ogden, Utah. The Dee Events Center is located about 10 blocks south from campus. There is an additional campus located in Davis County, Utah, and two centers located in Morgan, Utah and Roy, Utah. In addition to its physical locations, Weber State University has been a pioneer in the development of online education for the Utah System of Higher Education.
Athletics[edit]
Weber State University's colors are purple and white and their nickname is the Wildcats. ('Wildcat' is an alternate name for the bobcat, a cat native to the area.)[9] Weber State University sports teams participate in NCAA Division I (Football Championship Subdivision for football) in the Big Sky Conference. The Weber State University football team plays at Stewart Stadium. The men's and women's basketball teams both play at the Dee Events Center. After the University of Idaho and Boise State University joined the Western Athletic Conference, Idaho State University became their main rival in the Big Sky Conference in both football and basketball. Southern Utah University joined the Big Sky Conference in the 2012 academic school year and is WSU's main in-state rival.
Academics[edit]
As of 2007, Weber State University offers 215 certificate and degree programs in the performing arts, visual arts, humanities, science, applied science and technology, business and economics, education, social and behavioral sciences and the health professions.[10] Weber State University also offers an integrated studies degree, allowing students to craft their own degrees by choosing three separate disciplines and integrating them in a single capstone thesis or project.[11] Master's degrees are offered in accounting, business administration (MBA), professional communication, criminal justice, education, English, health administration, nursing and taxation.[12]
Organization[edit]
WSU is divided into the following seven colleges:[13]
In addition to these primary colleges, the University offers several structured interdisciplinary programs. These include:
Unstructured interdisciplinary degrees are overseen by the Bachelor of Integrated Studies department. |
Student media[edit]
Weber State University has an independent, student-run paper, The Signpost, which is published every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, an FM radio station KWCR - 88.1 Weber FM, Ogden's Radio Station, an undergraduate interdisciplinary literary journal, Metaphor, and a television news program, Weber State News, that broadcasts online. The national literature and culture journal, Weber Studies, is based at Weber State.
Notable alumni[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ http://www.nacubo.org/Documents/research/2010NCSE_Public_Tables_Endowment_Market_Values_Final.pdf
- ^ http://www.weber.edu/WSUToday/101212FallEnrollmentSetsMilestone.html
- ^ "NWCCU Institutions of Utah". Nwccu.org. Retrieved 2012-05-01.
- ^ "Weber State University: Bell Tower". Weber.edu. Retrieved 2012-05-01.
- ^ Andrew Jenson. Encyclopedic History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1941) p. 931
- ^ a b Decade by Decade - Weber State University
- ^ "History". Weber State University. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013.
- ^ a b Roberts, Richard C. (1994), "Weber State University", in Powell, Allan Kent, Utah History Encyclopedia, Salt Lake City, Utah: University of Utah Press, ISBN 0874804256, OCLC 30473917
- ^ "Why Wildcats?". weber.edu. Retrieved 2012-07-27.
- ^ "Majors, Minors, Certificates & Degrees". Majors, Minors, Certificates & Degrees. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
- ^ "BIS Home Page". Weber State University. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- ^ "WSU Graduate gives 2 years for school.Programs". WSU Graduate Programs.
- ^ "weber.edu". weber.edu. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Weber State University. |
|
|
|
|
Coordinates: 41°11′35″N 111°56′38″W / 41.19306°N 111.94389°W
- Universities and colleges in Utah
- Weber State University
- Educational institutions established in 1889
- Universities and colleges affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah
- Universities and colleges accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
- Universities and colleges in Weber County, Utah
- Visitor attractions in Ogden, Utah
- Buildings and structures in Ogden, Utah