North Carolina Wesleyan University

North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) is a private Methodist university in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. It was founded in 1956. North Carolina Wesleyan offers courses at its main Rocky Mount campus, as well as satellite locations in Brunswick, Durham, Goldsboro, Greenville, Manteo, New Bern, Raleigh, Washington, Wilmington and Winston-Salem.

History

File:1960s Aerial shot before Library was built.jpg

Aerial view of campus from the early 1960s

On May 14, 1956, the North Carolina Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church met in Goldsboro and approved a petition from the citizens of the city of Rocky Mount to locate a college in their community. The college was officially chartered by the State of North Carolina on October 25, 1956. Capital investments totaling approximately $2 million made possible the construction of the main buildings on the 200-acre site donated by the M.C. Braswell heirs of Rocky Mount, and four years later 92 students enrolled in the first class at North Carolina Wesleyan College. In 1964, 33 students received their degrees at the college's first Commencement. Nearly 9,000 students have earned bachelor's degrees in the arts and sciences and selected professional disciplines since its founding.

In 2015, Wesleyan added its first two master's programs. Seven years later, the college changed its name to "university" in 2022.

Campus

File:Nc wesleyan univ aerial.jpg

Aerial view of NCWU campus

The Rocky Mount campus includes six residence halls, nine academic and administrative buildings, the Everett Gymnasium, The Dunn Center, and outdoor athletic facilities, including a soccer field, baseball field, tennis courts, Indoor Sports & Education Facility, artificial turf field, intramural fields, and softball field. There is also an on-campus Starbucks attached to the Pearsall Library. In addition to a residential campus, Wesleyan has developed a strong multi-campus Adult & Professional degree program with locations in Brunswick, Durham, Goldsboro, Greenville, Manteo, New Bern, Raleigh, Washington, Wilmington and Winston-Salem in addition to the main campus in Rocky Mount.

Academics

The university offers 32 undergraduate programs, 33 minor programs, 6 graduate degrees and 4 certificate programs. The University is North Carolina Wesleyan University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate and master’s degrees. It is also a member of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of The United Methodist Church.

Executive Residency Graduate Programs

NCWU offers unique Executive Residency Graduate Programs that offer a hybrid/blended format combining online and in-person instruction, tailored for both international graduate students studying in the U.S. and domestic students seeking flexible learning options. These 19-20 month programs are designed for students who like face-to-face instruction alongside the convenience of online coursework. As an F1-Visa Qualified Program, international students can continue their education in the U.S. and pursue a master’s degree with one concentrated residency weekend each semester on campus. Students can maintain employment while attending hybrid classes.

Taylor-Crocker Honors Program

File:Honors Group with New Jackets.jpg

NCWU honors students

North Carolina Wesleyan University offers a select group of students the opportunity to complement their degree program with a series of challenging and rewarding courses. Freshmen take special courses in composition and humanities. Honors Program students then take one honors course each semester during their sophomore and junior years. As seniors, students complete an Honors Project in some area of interest. The Honors Program offers students the opportunity to develop a close community of learning and to take courses from some of the best faculty members at the university. Being in the Honors Program does not add to a student's course load, but it does add variety and depth to her or his higher education experience. Transcripts of Honors graduates include recognition that they completed the Honors Program.

Student life

File:End of the Year Block Party.jpg

Students enjoying the annual end of year block party

As of fall 2024, 1,345 students were enrolled. Wesleyan has a growing international student population from 40+ countries. The university community includes people from diverse religious, cultural, and racial backgrounds. All students receive free parking on campus, admission to regular season athletic games, and access to the student health center. In addition, books are included in tuition and there is no application fee.

Honor societies

• Alpha Phi Alpha - the first Black, Inter-Collegiate Greek-Lettered fraternity.
• Alpha Sigma Phi - the tenth oldest fraternity in the United States.
• Delta Phi Epsilon - a National Panhellenic Conference affiliated social sorority.
• Nu Gamma Phi - a affiliated non social fraternity.
• Omicron Delta Kappa - national honorary leadership fraternity.
• Phi Eta Sigma - National collegiate scholastic honor society for freshman.
• Pi Gamma Mu - International Honor Society for Social Sciences.
• Psi Chi - National Honor Society for Psychology.
• Sigma Tau Delta - International English Honors Society
• Kappa Mu Epsilon - National Mathematics Honor Society

Publications

• The Decree - student-developed newspaper
• WESmagazine - bi-annual magazine

Athletics

File:Nc wesleyan athletics logo whiteblue.png

NCWU athletics logo

North Carolina Wesleyan is a member of NCAA Division III and the USA South Athletic Conference. They are known as the Battling Bishops with 18 Division III sports teams:

Major Highlights

• Baseball Achievements: NC Wesleyan's baseball team has won two college World Series championships, in 1989 and 1999
• Men's Tennis Dominance: The men's tennis team has achieved an impressive streak of 16 consecutive USA South Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships
• Overall Success: The university boasts 81 USA South Regular Season Championships, 74 NCAA Tournament Appearances, and 52 USA South Tournament Championships
• Recent Accomplishments: In the 2023-24 season, NC Wesleyan secured three USA South Conference Championships

As of 2024, the college had won 140+ Total Championships! The support from alumni, fans, and the community plays a crucial role in the success of the Battling Bishops' athletic endeavors.

History of Football Program

The university's football program was established in 2005 with its home stadium at its Rocky Mount campus. The NCWU football team finished the 2007 regular season with an 8–2 mark, its best overall record in the program's short history. The Battling Bishops made it to the NCAA Division III Football tournament as the USA South champion, where they upset top-seed Washington & Jefferson in the first round 35–34. Not only was this Wesleyan's first post-season victory, but the first time the top seed lost to a number 8 seed since 1975. The university built a multiple use stadium on campus in 2022. The Stadium consists of a state of the art turf field, lighting, additional parking, fencing, permanent seating, scoreboards and a press box. A proposed new fieldhouse will contain an Athletic Training Facility, weight room, classrooms, meeting space and offices. This is a multi-purpose field that allows various athletic events including football, soccer and lacrosse.

Notable alumni

• Mamadou Danso, professional soccer player
• Natalie Edwards, former senior official with the U.S. Department of the Treasury and important whistleblower
• Jordan Grantz, college soccer player
• Marc Harris, accountant who was convicted in the United States on charges of money laundering and tax evasion.
• Damariscotta Helm, World Whistling Grand Champion of 2011
• Jaine Lindo, professional soccer player
• Rhonda Vonshay Sharpe, feminist economist, academic, and founder and current president of the Women's Institute for Science, Equity and Race

External links

• Athletics website