Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Animum (talk | contribs) at 00:30, 15 November 2013 (Um, no.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Winthrop University, often referred to as Winthrop or WU and formerly known as Winthrop College, is a public, coeducational, liberal arts university located in Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1886 by David Bancroft Johnson, who served as the superintendent of Columbia, South Carolina schools, received a $1,500 grant from Robert Charles Winthrop, a Boston philanthropist and chair of the Peabody Education Board. The school originally opened in Columbia to educate young women to teach in the public schools.

Winthrop offers undergraduate and graduate degrees through five colleges and schools and has current enrollment of about 6,000 students. The 100-acre (40.5 ha) main academic and residential campus is located 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Charlotte, North Carolina and 71 miles (114 km) north of Columbia, South Carolina in Rock Hill. The University has been recognized as South Carolina's top-rated university according to evaluations conducted by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. Winthrop has been rated by the Commission as "substantially exceeding standards" every year since that classification was created in 2003. The university was also named by the John Templeton Foundation as a University that "encourages character development". In addition, Winthrop has received numerous Top-10 Regional Public University (South) rankings by U.S. News & World Report and has been rated among the Princeton Review's "Best Southeastern Colleges."

Fielding athletic teams known as Winthrop Eagles, the university participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level as a member of Big South Conference. The athletic program is known for its success in basketball. The majority of Winthrop's students are from South Carolina, with out-of-state and foreign students accounting for 11% of undergraduate enrollment. The university offers a number of extracurricular activities to its students, including athletics, honor societies, clubs and student organizations, as well as fraternities and sororities. Alumni and former students have gone on to prominent careers in government, business, science, medicine, education, sports, and entertainment.

Campus

The University's campus is located in the city of Rock Hill, South Carolina, in one of that city's five historic districts and many of Winthrop's buildings are on the National Historic Register. The Winthrop University campus also has its own zip code of 29733.

Winthrop's campus is divided into two distinct areas: The main campus which houses the academic buildings, residence halls, library and campus center and the 317-acre (128.3 ha) Recreational and Research Complex located approximately one mile northeast of the main campus.

Winthrop's main campus has seen extensive development during the last decade. A new $12 million Dalton Hall opened in 1999. The Courtyard at Winthrop, which features apartment style residences for students, opened in 2003. The Lois Rhame West Health, Physical Education and Wellness Center was opened in 2007 and serves as the new home of the University's physical education department and intramural sports. The most recent addition, in 2010, is the DiGiorgio Campus Center, which added a 128,000-square-foot (11,900 m) multipurpose campus hub featuring a 225 seat movie theater, food court, campus bookstore, post office, and casual dining. The DiGiorgio Center is connected to the West Center via an open-air plaza.

In addition to hosting the University's intercollegiate athletic facilities, the Recreational and Research Complex also hosts the Piedmont Wetlands Research Project, a golf course (open to faculty, students and alumni), and a world-class disc golf course (which has been the site of the United States Disc Golf Championship since its inception in 1999).

Winthrop's campus has served as the location for numerous movies, television and other video productions, including the films Asylum and The Rage: Carrie 2. Additionally, the Winthrop Coliseum hosted numerous television tapings of various syndicated WCW and NWA television shows in the 1980s and 1990s.

Ninety-one (91%) percent of freshman and forty-five (45%) percent of all undergraduate students live on-campus.

Academics

The University grants undergraduate degrees through four colleges: The College of Arts & Sciences, The College of Business Administration, The Richard W. Riley College of Education and The College of Visual and Performing Arts. In all the University offers 42 undergraduate and 26 graduate degrees.

Winthrop University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master’s, and specialist degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Winthrop University. Currently, the student-faculty ratio is 14:1.

Faculty

The University currently employs 286 full-time and 222 part-time faculty members; 59 of whom are classified as minorities and 290 of whom are women. Of the 286 full-time faculty members, 248 have earned their terminal degree, 34 have a non-terminal Master's degree and 1 has a non-terminal Bachelor's degree.

Cost

Winthrop's tuition for the 2012-13 academic year is $24,476 per year for out-of-state undergraduate students and $13,026 for in-state undergraduate students. Room and board is currently $7,258. Currently, 4,587 undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid.

Rankings

Winthrop has been ranked in numerous college rankings. U.S. News & World Report has chosen Winthrop for inclusion in its listings 21 straight times. It has routinely been ranked by US News, Consumer Reports, Barron's Best Buys and the Princeton Review as one of the best values in higher education.

Student population

The University comprises 6,170 students. Undergraduate students come from 34 states and 37 countries.

Of the student population, 5,029 are undergraduate students while 1,141 are graduate students. The student body is 33 percent male and 67 percent female. The student body is 30 percent African-American students, and 60 percent white, non-Hispanic. There are 174 undergraduate international students enrolled.

The University's average size of undergraduate lecture courses is 22 students. All freshman and second-year students are required to live on campus, unless they live at home with their parents or legal guardians.

Student life

Winthrop's DiGiorgio Student Union Program Board has been ranked the best Program Board in the nation three times for the quality and variety of programming, including both lecturers and entertainers. The trade publication Campus Activities Magazine has named the university as having the "Best Campus Program" in the nation four times: 1995, 2002, 2004 and 2013. Winthrop is the only university in the nation to be on the ballot every year since this award was inaugurated in 1995.

In addition to completing the academic requirements of their chosen degree, full-time Winthrop undergraduates, in order to graduate, are required to attend three cultural events for every 20 semester hours. The university maintains an extensive calendar of events that qualify as being "cultural events".

Cultural events are typically on a wide variety of subjects, and have included in the past:

• Films (both in English and foreign languages)
• Plays
• Concerts (Chamber, orchestral, and on the university's Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ)
• Sculpture and art exhibitions
• Technology Lectures

The university has over 150 student organizations. It has nine campus ministries, 15 club sports teams, six cultural organizations, 15 clubs associated with an academic department, 16 Greek organizations, 10 Honor Societies, 16 special interest clubs and groups, four political groups, 20 professional groups, 11 non-ministry religious groups, 10 university representatives, eight residence hall councils, and 15 service groups.

In addition, the university hosts many events that are available free of charge or at a reduced rate for full-time students. Events typically include concerts, shows, comedy routines and other forms of student-oriented entertainment.

Athletics

The university is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and competes on the Division 1 level.

Winthrop is a charter member of the Big South Conference. Winthrop's teams are known as the Eagles and their colors are garnet and gold.

The university sponsors 18 intercollegiate teams (8 Men's and 10 Women's) in the sports of baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis and track on the Men's side, and basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track and volleyball on the Women's side.

The university has labeled itself, "The Campus of Champions", as its intercollegiate athletic teams have experienced success in recent years. Specifically, the University has won numerous Big South Conference championships in the following sports: Baseball (3 since 1995), Men's Basketball (9 since 1988), Men's Cross Country (2 since 2000), Men's Soccer (6 since 2002), Men's Tennis (4 since 1997), Women's Tennis (10 since 1994), Softball (3 since 1989) and Women's Volleyball (4 since 2002).

Facilities

At the heart of the University's athletic facilities is the Winthrop Coliseum. In addition to serving as the home venue of the Men's and Women's basketball and volleyball teams, the University's athletic department offices are located in the Coliseum. The arena features 6,100 permanent seats and hosts numerous non-University shows and events in addition to Winthrop athletic contests. The Coliseum also served as the temporary practice site of the NFL's Carolina Panthers until completion of the team's facilities in Charlotte.

The Winthrop baseball team plays at Winthrop Ballpark, a multi-million dollar 1,989-seat baseball stadium which opened in 2003.

Opened in 2005, the university's track and field teams compete on the $2.8 million Irwin Belk Track Complex. The facility hosts numerous Division 1 meets.

The university's soccer teams compete at the recently completed Eagle Field. The facility, considered by many to be one of the top intercollegiate facilities in the country, features 1,800 permanent seats, a press box, field house and a Daktronics LCD scoreboard. In addition, the playing field is a Tifway 419 hybrid Bermuda grass with Eagle Blend and Sun Star.

The softball team competes at the Winthrop Softball Complex which opened in 2001. The facility includes four fields, locker rooms and an indoor batting cage.

The tennis teams compete at the Winthrop Tennis Complex which opened in 2003. The complex includes 12 lighted courts, seating for 300 and a club house with public restroom facilities, locker rooms and offices.

Men's basketball

Perhaps the University's most well-known athletic team is the Men's basketball team which has earned a berth in nine NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournaments since 1999. Additionally, they have won the Big South Conference Championship in 1988, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010.

On March 5, 2007 the Winthrop Eagles Men's Basketball team was ranked in the Top 25 of both major college basketball polls for the first time in school history. The Eagles ranked #22 in the USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 poll and #24 on the Associated Press (AP) Top 25 poll. Later that spring on March 16, 2007 the Winthrop Eagles defeated Notre Dame for the first NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament win in school history.

6 of the 8 Men's Basketball team's championships and national rankings came during Gregg Marshall's tenure as head coach. Marshall left Winthrop to become the head coach at Wichita State University. Marshall's assistant at Winthrop, Randy Peele, was named as Marshall's successor, and led the Eagles to their most recent Big South Championship in 2008 and subsequent 13 seed in the NCAA tournament

On March 6, 2010, Winthrop defeated Coastal Carolina University by a score of 64-53 in the Big South Conference championship game, marking the 10th time Winthrop has won the Big South men's basketball tournament - a conference record. By winning the conference tournament, Winthrop secured an automatic bid into the opening round game of the NCAA tournament, their ninth appearance in that tournament and also a conference record. Winthrop also appeared in the first "opening round game" of the NCAA tournament in 2001 (formerly called the "play-in game") wherein two teams with automatic berths compete for one of the #16 seed positions. Only Florida A&M has also made more than one appearance in this game.

In March 2012, Winthrop named Pat Kelsey as the new head coach of the Eagles.

Notable alumni

• Cathy Smith Bowers (BA, 1972; MA, 1976), poet and professor; North Carolina Poet Laureate, 2010–2012
• Anne King Gregorie (1902), historian and first woman to be granted a doctorate in History by the University of South Carolina
• Chip Huggins, (1987), member of South Carolina House of Representatives
• Dr. Mary Gaulden Jagger, (1942), one of the founding members of the National Organization for Women.
• Linda H. Short, (1984), former South Carolina State Senator
• Bob Crawford, (2003), bassist for the folk/rock band The Avett Brothers

Athletic alumni

• Craig Bradshaw, professional basketball player for Australian team, Brisbane Bullets
• John Gilkerson, ( 2007) professional soccer player with MLS's New York Red Bulls
• Otto Loewy (2009), professional soccer player, New England Revolution
• Henry Kalungi (2009), professional soccer player with USL's Richmond Kickers
• David Kenga (2006), professional soccer player with Charleston Battery
• Michael Luk (2009), professional soccer player in China
• Stephen Nsereko (2010) professional soccer player with USL's Richmond Kickers
• Marco Reda (2000), professional soccer player Toronto FC
• Kevin Slowey (2003), professional baseball player with the Minnesota Twins
• Matt Stinson, professional soccer player MLS, Toronto FC
• Patrick Mitrovich (2009), professional soccer player with USL's Charlotte Eagles

References

1. As of 2010."Financials". Winthrop University Foundation. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
2. "Official Fall 2012 Undergraduate Student Profile" (PDF). Winthrop University. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
3. "Official Fall 2012 Graduate Student Profile" (PDF). Winthrop University. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
4. ^ "Institutional Achievements". Winthrop University. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
5. "Welcome to the Winthrop Virtual Tour!". Winthrop University. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
6. "Master of Science in Biology". Winthrop University. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
7. "Courtyard at Winthrop". Winthrop University. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
8. "West Center". Winthrop University. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
9. "Tournament History". United States Disc Golf Championship. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
10. "Common Data Set 2011-112, Part B: STUDENT LIFE" (PDF). Wintrop University. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
11. "Winthrop University Student Handbook" (PDF). Winthrop University. Retrieved 12-11-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
12. http://www.winthrop.edu/sacs/%7C accessdate = 2013-07-11 }
13. "About WU". Winthrop University. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
14. "Common Data Set 20011-12, Part I: INSTRUCTIONAL FACULTY AND CLASS SIZE" (PDF). Wintrop University. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
15. "Schedule of Fees". Winthrop University. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
16. "Room and Board". Winthrop University. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
17. "Winthrop Excellence". Winthrop University. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
18. ^ "Official Fall 2012 Undergraduate Student Profile" (PDF). Winthrop Universtiy. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
19. "Common Data Set 2009-2010" (PDF). Winthrop University. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
20. "The Cultural Events Requirement". Winthrop University. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
21. http://www.winthrop.edu/culturalevents/calendarinfo.htm
22. "Student Organizations". Winthrop University. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
23. "Big South Conference History". Big South Conference. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
24. ^ "Winthrop Athletics". Winthrop University. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
25. "Winthrop Eagles". Winthrop University. Retrieved 2011-09-06.
26. "Winthrop Coliseum". Winthrop University. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
27. "Carolina Panthers History". National Football League. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
28. "Winthrop's New Ballpark Is A 'Jewel'". Winthrop University. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
29. "The Irwin Belk Track". Winthrop University. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
30. "Winthrop University Soccer Complex". Archived from the original on 2007-06-08. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
31. "Winthrop Softball Complex". Winthrop University. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
32. "Winthrop Tennis Complex". Winthrop University. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
33. "Men's Basketball". Winthrop University. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
34. "Winthrop Cracks The Top 25 In Men's Basketball National Rankings". Winthrop University. 2007-03-05. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
35. "Winthrop Upsets No. 6 Seed Notre Dame 74-64 In NCAA First Round". Winthrop University. 2007-03-16. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
36. "Peele Takes Over After Four Years As Assistant Coach". Winthrop University. 2007-03-16. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
37. "Men's Basketball Coaching Staff". Winthrop Eagles. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
38. Chip Huggins SC House bio
39. Linda Short SC Senate bio

External links

• Official website
• Winthrop's Official Facebook Page
• Winthrop University Athletics
• Winthrop Alumni
• Winthrop's Weekly student newspaper, The Johnsonian
• WINR Winthrop University Radio

• Winthrop University
• Buildings and structures in Rock Hill, South Carolina
• Educational institutions established in 1886
• Former women's universities and colleges in the United States
• American Association of State Colleges and Universities
• Universities and colleges in South Carolina
• Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Education in York County, South Carolina