Office of Institutional Research  

1997-98 Fact Book

History of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro was established by legislative enactment on February 18, 1891. The City of Greensboro, situated near the geographical center of the state, was selected for the location of the new institution after its citizens voted bonds to the sum of $30,000 for the erection of the first buildings, and the original ten acre site was given by R. S. Pullen and R. T. Gray. It opened on October 5, 1892 with a student body of 223 and a faculty of 15. Classes were organized in three departments: business, domestic science, and teaching.

The University was known first as the State Normal and Industrial School and later (after 1896) as the State Normal and Industrial College (1896-1919), as the North Carolina College for Women (1919-1931), and as the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina "WC"(1932-1963). It came into being as a direct result of a crusade made by Charles Duncan McIver in behalf of the education of women. Other pioneers in public school education -- notably, Charles B. Aycock, Edwin A. Alderman, and James Y. Joyner -- came to Dr. McIver's assistance; but to him, more than to any other individual, the University owes its foundation.

During the years 1932-1963 the University, known as the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina, was one of the three branches of the Consolidated University of North Carolina which also included The University of North Carolina (at Chapel Hill) and the North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering (at Raleigh). In 1962, the Board of Trustees recommended that the Greensboro campus become coeducational at all levels of instruction in the fall of 1964. Subsequently by act of the General Assembly in the Spring of 1963, the name of the institution was changed to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

In December of 1934, during the years of the Consolidated University, the Woman's College Section of the Alpha of North Carolina Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa was installed. (Alpha Chapter is the one at Chapel Hill.) On February 17, 1956 Epsilon Chapter of North Carolina was installed at this campus.

In October of 1971 the North Carolina General Assembly adopted legislation which 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.

The crusader for founding the institution, Charles Duncan McIver, served the institution as its first chief executive officer with the title of President. In 1906, following the death of Dr. McIver, Dr. Julius I. Foust became President and served until 1934, when he retired from active service. In 1934, Dr. Walter Clinton Jackson, who had served as teacher and Vice-President, was elected head of the institution with the title of Dean of Administration. By act of the Board of Trustees in 1945, the title was changed to Chancellor.

Dr. Jackson, who retired in 1950, was succeeded by Dr. Edward Kidder Graham. After Dr. Graham's resignation in 1956, Dr. W. W. Pierson, Jr. served as Acting Chancellor until July 1, 1957, when Dr. Gordon W. Blackwell became Chancellor. Dr. Pierson returned to serve again as Acting Chancellor in September 1960 after the resignation of Dr. Blackwell. Dr. Otis Singletary became Chancellor July 1, 1961. During the period of November 1964 to February 1966 while Dr. Singletary was on leave of absence, Dr. James S. Ferguson served as Acting Chancellor. Dr. Singletary returned and served as Chancellor until his resignation on November 1, 1966. Dr. Ferguson again served as Acting Chancellor and was appointed Chancellor on January 9, 1967. Dr. Ferguson served until his retirement to return to teaching in the Summer of 1979, when Dr. William E. Moran became Chancellor until summer of 1994. Dr. Debra W. Stewart, Dean of the Graduate School at North Carolina State University was named Interim Chancellor until Dr. Patricia A. Sullivan became UNCG's first woman chancellor in January 1995.

During its first seven decades, the institution's mission was to prepare women, primarily undergraduates for the most effective living of that day. Today that goal -- effective living -- remains the same, but its scope has been greatly expanded.

As UNCG, it now offers men and women over 150 graduate and undergraduate programs and provides opportunities to apply classroom learning to real life situations through internships and practicums. It also offers students the chance to tailor-make their own programs of study based on individual needs and goals.

Although contemporary in its educational program, UNCG is also realistic. In its effort to prepare graduates for effective living, it has built into its program the flexibility needed to meet the rapidly changing needs of society. UNCG, therefore, will remain a university in transition, not satisfied with yesterday or today, but always looking toward tomorrow.

By Sarah Carrigan
Email: Sarah_Carrigan@uncg.edu