Winston-Salem State University Explained

Winston-Salem State University
Motto:"Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve."
Former Name:Slater Industrial Academy (1892-1899)
Slater Industrial and Slater Normal School (1899-1925)
Winston-Salem Teachers College (1925-1963)
Winston-Salem State College (1963-1969)
Type:Public historically black university
Parent:University of North Carolina
Endowment:$49.8 million (2019)[1]
Chancellor:Bonita J. Brown
Provost:Anthony Graham
Faculty:400
Administrative Staff:800
Students:5,190[2]
Undergrad:4,741
Postgrad:449
City:Winston-Salem
State:North Carolina
Country:United States
Campus:Midsize city
Campus Size:117acres
Colors:Scarlet and white
[3]
Sports Nickname:Rams
Sporting Affiliations:NCAA Division II - CIAA
Free Label2:Newspaper
Free2:The News Argus
Accreditation:SACS
Mascot:Amon the Ram
Academic Affiliation:TMCF

Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) is a historically black public university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It is part of the University of North Carolina system.

History

Winston-Salem State University was founded as Slater Industrial Academy on September 28, 1892. It began with 25 pupils and one teacher in a one-room frame structure. By 1895 the school was recognized by the State of North Carolina and in 1899 it was chartered by the state as Slater Industrial and Slater Normal School.[4]

In 1925, the North Carolina General Assembly renamed the school Winston-Salem Teachers College and the North Carolina State Board of Education allowed the college to award elementary teacher education degrees, making it the first black institution to provide this specialized training.[4]

The School of Nursing was established in 1953 offering baccalaureate degrees. In 1963 the North Carolina General Assembly authorized changing the name from Winston-Salem Teachers College to Winston-Salem State College. A statute designating Winston-Salem State College as Winston-Salem State University received legislative approval in 1969. On July 1, 1972, Winston-Salem State University became one of 16 constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina.[4]

In 2020, MacKenzie Scott donated $30 million to Winston-Salem State. Her donation is the largest single gift in the university's history.[5]

Academics

Winston-Salem State offers over 40 academic majors and 10 graduate degrees. The school enrolls approximately 5,200 students and employs 400 faculty and over 550 staff members.[6]

Colleges & Departments

Rankings

Winston-Salem State University was ranked the #7 top college in the United States by the Social Mobility Index college rankings.[7]

Winston-Salem State has been ranked #27 by U.S. News & World Report in the Top Public Comprehensive Baccalaureate Colleges of the South category between 2001 and 2009. By 2016, the university had fallen to a ranking of #84 in the same category.[8]

Library

C. G. O’Kelly Library is the main academic library on the campus of Winston-Salem State University, which was originally the Slater Industrial Academy. The original library was housed in Blair Hall until 1967 when the new library was built and O’Kelly Library has gone through two additions and one renovation within the past forty years.[9]

Campus

The campus has more than 40 buildings covering 117acres.[10] WSSU's Diggs Gallery was recognized as one of the top African-American galleries in its region.[11]

Student activities

Athletics

See also: Winston-Salem State Rams and Winston-Salem State Rams men's basketball. Winston-Salem State University is currently a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) in NCAA Division II. From the 2007–08 season through the 2009–10 season, the Rams competed in the NCAA's Division I Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), despite being a transitional member that was attempting to attain full membership within the MEAC or within NCAA Division I, in which the Rams were also scheduled to begin full membership and gain access to NCAA tournaments in 2011. However, it never occurred due to financial difficulties.[12] [13]

Student Organizations

There are over 100 student organizations at WSSU. Including the Student Government Association, fraternities and sororities, Honor societies, and the Red Sea of Sound marching band.[14]

Notable alumni

External links

Notes and References

  1. As of June 30, 2019. Web site: U.S. and Canadian 2019 NTSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2019 Endowment Market Value, and Percentage Change in Market Value from FY18 to FY19 (Revised) . National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA . September 26, 2020.
  2. Web site: WSSU enrollment is highest since 2014 . Winston-Salem State University . 7 March 2019.
  3. Winston-Salem State University Brand Guide . July 20, 2017 . September 5, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170906091950/https://www.wssu.edu/about/chancellors-office/oimc/university-branding/_files/documents/wssu-brand-style-guide-2017-rev2-sm.pdf . September 6, 2017 .
  4. Web site: University History - Winston-Salem State University.
  5. Web site: Winston-Salem State receives $30 million donation from MacKenzie Scott; largest-ever gift from a single donor. 15 December 2020.
  6. Web site: WSSU Fact Book 2015-16 . 7 March 2019.
  7. Web site: Social Mobility Index 2018 . 7 March 2019.
  8. Web site: Winston-Salem State University | Best College | US News. colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. 2014-01-25. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20090828055120/http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/winston-salem-nc/winston-salem-state-2986. 2009-08-28.
  9. Web site: Okelly Library. wssu.edu. October 20, 2018.
  10. Web site: Historical Sketch - Winston-Salem State University - Acalog ACMS™ . Catalog.wssu.edu . 2016-09-10 . live . http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20160912070621/http://catalog.wssu.edu/content.php?catoid=8&navoid=258 . 2016-09-12 .
  11. Web site: About WSSU - Why WSSU? - Transformation Happens Here . Wssu.edu . 2016-08-05 . 2016-09-10 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160824052842/https://wssu.edu/about/why-wssu/default.aspx . 2016-08-24 .
  12. Web site: Winston-Salem State jumps to Division I, joins MEAC – College Sports – ESPN . 19 July 2006 . ESPN. 2014-01-25.
  13. Web site: Winston-Salem ready to return to D-II, CIAA – NCAA Basketball – Sporting News. aol.sportingnews.com. 2014-01-25. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140202182032/http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2010-03-09/winston-salem-ready-return-d-ii-ciaa. 2014-02-02.
  14. Web site: Student Organizations - Winston-Salem State University .
  15. Web site: Farrakhan Returns To WSSU Campus. Hall. Tony. November 26, 1996. Greensboro News & Record. October 8, 2022.
  16. Web site: Earl Monroe. Pro-Basketball Reference.Com. December 20, 2019.
  17. Web site: Earl "The Pearl" Monroe – Winston Salem State University. wssurams.com. October 8, 2022.
  18. Web site: Ramily, ESPN honor Stephen A. Smith. September 20, 2019. www.wssu.edu. December 20, 2019.
  19. Web site: Winston Salem State Rams Hall of Fame: Stephen A. Smith. Winston Salem State Athletics. December 20, 2019.

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