Founded as a normal school for teacher preparation, Concord has transitioned to a comprehensive university.[6][7][8]
The campus is situated on a knoll overlooking the Appalachian Mountains.[9] It describes itself as "The Campus Beautiful."[10][11] It also operates a teaching center and conducts classes in Beckley, West Virginia.
History
Concord University was established as a Branch of the State Normal School in the community then known as "Concord Church" by the West Virginia State Legislature on February 28, 1872.[12] The residents chose the name "Concord" to symbolize harmony and fellowship, a reflection of the post-Civil War era. A lack of immediate state funding meant that local efforts by five prominent families provided land and constructed a rudimentary building.[13]
Classes commenced on May 10, 1875, with an inaugural class of 70 students. In 1887, West Virginia legislators appropriated state funds to construct a brick building on the site that is now Athens Middle School.[13]
Due to confusion with another post office named Concord, Hampshire County, West Virginia, the town's name was changed to "Athens" in 1896. The town was renamed to the ancient center of learning and culture, but the school retained its original "Concord" description.[14]
A fire in 1910 destroyed the original brick building, and the school was moved to its current site. A new building was built in 1912 and initially named "Old Main," which remains on the campus and is now Marsh Hall.[13] Beginning in 1918, Concord saw the construction of new residence halls and a gymnasium. Its academic programs expanded beyond secondary-level instruction. In 1931, the name was changed to "Concord State Teachers College."
In 1943, the institution's name was shortened to "Concord College," and its facilities were used by the United States Army Air Corps 15th College Training Detachment. This program trained young soldiers as army pilots, integrating military and academic credit. After the war ended, Concord experienced growth in enrollment and its physical plant, including the construction of a new Science Building. Other new buildings over the years included the College Center, student and faculty housing, as well as an expansion of the curriculum and faculty.
In 1973, a proposal emerged from the West Virginia Board of Regents and the State Legislature to merge Concord College with nearby Bluefield State College. However, even an administrative consolidation proved contentious, and the idea was dropped in 1976. Concord's enrollment increased accompanied by the introduction of new academic programs.
In 2004, Concord College officially transitioned to "Concord University." This reflected expanded academic offerings, graduate programs, and the significance of the institution.[15]
Academics
Concord offers undergraduate programs in 11 emphasis areas[16] and six graduate programs: Master of Education, Master of Social Work, Master of Arts in Health Promotion, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Athletic Training, and Master of Business Administration.[17]
The majority of administrative offices, as well as the education, social sciences, languages and literature divisions, are located in Marsh Hall (known as "Admin" on campus). Marsh Hall also features a 48-bell carillon atop the building.
The Science Building, attached to Marsh Hall, houses science laboratories and the natural sciences division. Located on the ground floor of the Science Building is the university's electron microprobe lab. This is West Virginia's only electron microprobe lab.[19]
The Alexander Fine Arts Center, home to the fine arts division, features the Main Auditorium, art galleries, H.C. Paul Theatre, art laboratories, classrooms, and the office of the student newspaper.
The Carter Center houses the university's two gymnasiums, athletic offices, classrooms, racquetball courts, and indoor athletic facilities.
The university has the largest library in southern West Virginia, the J. Frank Marsh Library, which is a depository for federal documents. The library offers computer labs and facilities, microfiche, copying services, a juvenile section, and the university's archives. In the basement of the library, the university has its Center for Academic Technologies, which features a television studio, radio station and studio, a DNA laboratory, as well as distance education and technology classrooms.[20]
Outdoor athletic facilities include Callaghan Stadium featuring an artificial turf field funded by June O. Shott. Callaghan Stadium also features track and field facilities, tennis courts, and a baseball/softball practice field. Anderson Field, located on the outskirts of the campus, features the soccer field and baseball/softball field.
Five main residence halls: The Twin Towers, North (women's) and South (men's), Laura A. Sarvay Hall (closed), Damarius O. Wilson Hall (co-ed), and W.S. "Woody" Wooddell Hall, referred to on-campus as "The Woo" (closed).
The Nick Rahall Technology Center.[21] It is the home of the Division of Business, the Entrepreneurial Studies Program, the Center for Academic Technologies, and the university computer center. This $14 million project is a central location for McDowell, Wyoming, Raleigh, Fayette, Greenbrier, Summers, Mercer and Monroe Counties of West Virginia where existing business may obtain training/orientation in technologies. The center also houses the Concord University Entrepreneurial Studies Program, supported by a grant from the Hugh Ike Shott Foundation. Incubator businesses, gifted Concord students, as well as professional Concord consulting faculty from the School of Business and other disciplines, are brought together in the Rahall Center to use the area's "brain trust" to create entrepreneurial advantages for Southern West Virginia.
The University Point facility, housing the Erickson Alumni Center, as well as the Wilkes Family Interfaith Chapel and Museum.[22]
Other campuses
Concord University offers classes at the Erma Byrd Higher Education Center in Beaver, West Virginia.[23] This facility was established to coordinate the public colleges serving the region.[24] US Senator Robert C. Byrd secured $10 million from the US Department of Health and Human Services to develop the campus and begin building the facility.[24] The center was designed to also serve as a catalyst to attract business and industry to the area.[24]
The Concord University Student Government Association (SGA) is responsible for many changes on campus and is active in every aspect of Concord life. All organizations are required to send a representative to all SGA meetings if they would like to ability to vote in the Student Senate and obtain budgetary privileges to request funds from the Student Government's Discretionary fund. The Student Government at Concord University is especially advanced compared to other SGAs in West Virginia, and is noted for its model judicial system wherein a student court, composed entirely of students, handles the majority of adjudications for most student offenses. The Student Government is also one of few student governments in the state of West Virginia that have a voting member on the university's Board of Governors.
There are five residence halls on campus. North (female) and South (male) Towers house the fraternities and sororities as well as Honors and several sports teams. Each floor has two lounges. There is one co-ed hall, Sarvay, which is also the oldest building on campus still standing. Sarvay is traditionally a female dorm, but, due to a shortage of housing, men lived on the first floor. The other two halls are Wilson for women and Woodell, nicknamed "The Woo," for men. Housing is not divided by year. Several floors are set aside as "substance free," and the rest allow alcohol if both residents are over 21.
The North and South Towers complex underwent a major renovation, which was completed in 2017.
As of the fall semester of 2018, the only residence halls open were North Tower, South Tower, and Wilson Hall, due to lack of enrollment.
Wilson Hall now acts as a co-ed hall, with men and women living on separate floors.[26]
Concord University, known athletically as the Mountain Lions, is home to many intercollegiate and intramural athletics teams. The men's intercollegiate teams include: baseball, basketball, football, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, and track and field. The women's intercollegiate teams include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, and track and field. Concord University is an NCAA Division II school, and a member of the Mountain East Conference. The Office of Student Affairs provides intramurals in many athletic activities, including flag football, volleyball, and basketball.[27]
123"History of the EBHEC". Erma Byrd Higher Education Center. October 8, 2007. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
↑Ingram, Robert J. (1 June 1997). "A Tribute to Alexander M. Harman, Jr". Washington and Lee Law ReviewWashington and Lee Law Review. 54 (3): 865–874. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
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