The school was founded after the Eastern Seventh Day Baptist Association decided to build an academy in the city of Salem. The state granted a permit in December 1888 to build what was called the Academy of Salem, specifying that the institution was subject to the regulations and decisions of the Society of Seventh Day Baptist Education. The charter required the institution to make a college as soon as possible, which occurred in 1890.[5]
Around 1900, an arson attempt from a riotous mob opposing higher education was de-escalated when the college president brandished firearms.[6]
Through most of the 20th Century, the school continued as a liberal arts, teacher education, and nursing college; Salem maintained affiliation with the Seventh Day Baptists, although remaining non-sectarian in teaching and administration [1]
Salem experience a large expansion during the 1960's coinciding with the Baby Boom generation entering college age. Salem established a campus in Clarksburg centered in the former Waldo Hotel, and began construction of new dormitories and academic buildings in Salem, including the "Valley of Learning."
In 1989, Salem formed an alliance with Teikyo University in Tokyo, Japan, which changed the focus of the school to one of education of international students. "Salem College" was renamed "Salem-Teikyo University".[7] Nearly 200 freshmen from Japan enrolled in the college as part of an experiment by Japanese educators to teach the 145 boys and 45 girls how to speak fluent English, experience American culture firsthand and to acquire a valuable American college degree.[8] The alliance with Teikyo ended in 2000, when the school was purchased by investors from Singapore. At that time, the school changed its name to "Salem International University". Salem International University was acquired by Salem Education LLC in June 2005.[1] The school was renamed "Salem University" in September 2017.[1][4]
At the graduate level, Salem offers a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Education, and a Master of Science in Nursing. Teachers may take courses in the School of Education as non-degree students to renew their licenses. A post-master's certificate in Educational Leadership is offered that leads to advanced licensure and a certificate in Special Education Leadership is also offered.
All programs, including distance education programs, are delivered in a monthly format allowing students to complete their degrees more quickly than their counterparts at other traditional or online universities. This attracts non-traditional students conscious of time and accessibility.
Since classes are four weeks long, the MBA or M.Ed. can be completed in 12 months or fewer, a Bachelor's in 40 months, or an Associate in only 20 months, if a student were to start college studies without any prior college credits.[citation needed]
Salem competes in 14 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, soccer, swimming, tennis, wrestling, water polo; while women's sports basketball, soccer, softball, swimming, volleyball, tennis, and water polo.[13]
Conference membership
Salem competed as original members of the WVIAC beginning in 1924–25, and remained a member through 2009–10 (including through that conference's transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II in 1995-1996). The WVIAC folded shortly thereafter in 2013. The majority of the former WVIAC joined the Mountain East Conference, which had its first season of competition in 2013.
Salem is one of four West Virginia schools that joined the G-MAC in July 2013. The other three schools were former WVIAC colleagues of Salem that had been cast adrift in the breakup of the WVIAC.[14] Salem left the G-MAC at the end of the 2015–16 season. According to an official statement issued by the G-MAC: “Salem International will be conducting a final year of (G-MAC) affiliation in 2015-2016.
The institution has been exploring alternate Division II conference membership options beginning with the 2016–17 season.”[15] As of the 2023–24 school year, Salem remains an independent NCAA Division II institution with no conference affiliation in most sports, with the exception being men's and women's water polo that compete in the Western Water Polo Association.
However, Salem University and the Mountain East Conference reached a non-conference scheduling agreement for men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, volleyball, baseball, and softball beginning in August 2023 in the wake of the sudden closure of then Mountain East member Alderson Broaddus University. The agreement was renewed in the wake of another MEC member closure, Notre Dame College in the spring of 2024. The agreement appears intact for the 2025-2026 year, but the future of the relationship has not been made public.
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