The History of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

The first state-supported school for the higher education of women in North Carolina was chartered in 1891 as the State Normal and Industrial School. It opened on October 5, 1892 to 223 students, a 15-member faculty, and classes in three departments: business, domestic science, and teaching. Charles Duncan McIver, who with other pioneers in public education crusaded for higher education for women, was the first president of the institution, serving from 1892 until his death in 1906.

In 1896 State Normal’s name was changed to the State Normal and Industrial College.

In 1919, the school was renamed North Carolina College for Women, as it continued to educate women in the liberal arts with particular emphasis in the fields of teaching, home economics, music, and physical education.

The first graduate degree, the Master of Arts, was awarded in 1922.

The General Assembly of 1931 combined the North Carolina College for Women, The University of North Carolina (at Chapel Hill) and the North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering (at Raleigh) into a Consolidated University. The campus at Greensboro thus became The Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina.

The first doctoral degree was awarded in June of 1963.

“WC” became coeducational in July of 1963, when laws were amended to authorize admission of both men and women at all levels of instruction on all University campuses. At that time, the Greensboro campus was again renamed as The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

In October 1971 the General Assembly adopted legislation that combined all 16 of the state-supported institutions of higher education into a single University of North Carolina, governed by a board of governors and administered by a president. Each constituent institution has a separate board of trustees and is administered by a chancellor.

In 1995, Patricia A. Sullivan became the ninth chancellor and the first woman chancellor of the University. In December 2007, Chancellor Sullivan announced plans to retire, effective July 31, 2008. Her time at UNCG has been marked by major progress, including the following:

• Enrollment has grown from 12,600 to more than 17,100—an increase of almost 36 percent.
• More than 33,000 students have received undergraduate and graduate degrees from UNCG during her years. More than 3,000 students will graduate from UNCG this academic year.
• Research dollars have grown from $12.7 million in 1994–95 to $36 million last year—an increase of 180 percent.
• Major new initiatives have begun, such as the Gateway University Research Park and the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, cooperative projects with North Carolina A&T State University.
• Approximately $500 million in new construction and renovation has been added, including the newly named Patricia A. Sullivan Science Building, pictured on the cover.

UNCG’s fall 2007 enrollment was 17,157—22% of whom were graduate students—with 1,080 full- and part-time instructional faculty. UNCG offers over 100 undergraduate areas of study, master’s degrees in a wide variety of concentrations, and 23 doctoral programs. The campus on Spring Garden Street, its original location, has grown to 204 acres and 81 buildings.