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West Liberty University (WLU) is a public university in West Liberty, West Virginia, United States. Located in the state's Northern Panhandle, it was established as an academy in 1837 and is the oldest university in West Virginia. It offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and graduate programs and had an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students in 2022.[4]
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Former names | West Liberty Academy (1837–1870) West Liberty State Normal School (1870–1931) West Liberty State Teachers College (1931–1943) West Liberty State College (1943–2009)[1] |
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| Type | Public university |
| Established | March 30, 1837 |
| Accreditation | HLC |
Academic affiliation | WVHEPC |
| Endowment | $20.3 million (2021)[2] |
| President | Dr. Tim Borchers[3] |
Academic staff | 143 |
| Students | 2,505 (fall 2022)[4] |
| Undergraduates | 1,919[4] |
| Postgraduates | 396[4] |
| Location | , , United States |
| Campus | Fringe rural[5], 290 acres (1.2 km2) |
| Other campuses | |
| Newspaper | The Trumpet |
| Colors | Black and gold[6] |
| Nickname | Hilltoppers |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division II - MEC |
| Mascot | Topper the Bear |
| Website | westliberty |
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WLU's athletic teams, known as the West Liberty Hilltoppers, are charter members of the NCAA Division II Mountain East Conference with nearly 400 student-athletes participating in 16 intercollegiate sports, including football, basketball, wrestling, track, acrobatics & tumbling and baseball.
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What is now West Liberty University was established as West Liberty Academy on March 30, 1837, before the state broke away from Virginia during the American Civil War. Under the guidance of Reverend Nathan Shotwell, it was created to respond to the need for higher educational opportunities west of the Appalachian ridge. The institution was originally a normal school and was named after the town in which it is located. West Liberty was so named in the late 18th century as the westernmost point of the new liberty proclaimed by the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
Under the direction of Paul N. Elbin, the youngest president of a four-year college in the U.S. at age 30, the West Liberty Academy transitioned to West Liberty State Teachers College and eventually West Liberty State College. Under Elbin's 35-year leadership, the college developed a full curriculum, faculty, staff, student services, and activities including music and theatre.
West Liberty was approved to become a university by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission in November 2008.[7] The West Liberty Board of Governors voted to change to West Liberty University on May 3, 2009. The bulk of its student body comes from the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, eastern Ohio, and western Pennsylvania.
Dr. Tim Borchers was appointed as the 38th president on May 12, 2023, by the West Liberty University Board of Governors.
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Gary E. West College of Business
In 1938, West Liberty Teacher's College began offering courses in Business and Commerce: a two-year Secretarial Studies program and a four-year Business education degree. By 1963, the college had established a full Department of Business Administration offering curricula in accounting, management and marketing to 338 business students. It is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education IACBE and offers a Bachelor of Science degree and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA).
College of Liberal and Creative Arts and Communication
The college includes the departments of Humanities and Social Sciences, English and Modern
Languages, Media and Visual Arts, Music and Theater, Criminal Justice/Criminology, and Social Work. Academic disciplines in the college include visual communication design, digital media design, communications studies, journalism, public relations, broadcasting, creative arts therapy, music, theater, English, geography, history, political science, sociology, criminal justice, criminology, and social work.
Media Arts Center
The West Liberty University Media Arts Center opened in November 2006. The 5 million dollar facility includes: a recording studio, a television control, engineering core, and studio, where studio newscasts, television shows and special televised events take place. The building is also furnished with an editing classroom, 3D Audio voice-over room, and a multi-purpose classroom.
WLTV-14 (The campus's community television station) airs on Comcast Cable in Brooke, Hancock, Ohio and Marshall Counties in West Virginia. The school's community television station began in August 2007, but the television program has been on-going since 1990.
College of Education and Human Performance
The College of Education and Human Performance is divided into two departments: the Department of Professional Education and the Department of Health and Human Performance.
College of Sciences
The College of Sciences at West Liberty is divided into five departments:[8] Physical Sciences and Mathematics (Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics), Biological Sciences, Health Sciences (Dental Hygiene, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Sciences, and Speech Pathology and Audiology), Psychology, and Physician Assistant Studies.
Dental hygiene
West Liberty University offers one of the few comprehensive dental hygiene programs in the Ohio Valley. It was also one of the first colleges in the nation to offer such a program. The program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission of Dental Accreditation. The program was opened in September 1938, and graduated its first class in 1940. Since then, about 2,345 students have graduated from the program. The dental hygiene students have the opportunity to enroll for a professional program ending with an Associate of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene or a professional program ending with a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. The Dental Hygiene office offers dental cleaning services for any member of the community at affordable rates.
Campbell Hall of Health Sciences
The $20 million, 70,000 sq.ft. Health Sciences Building was dedicated and opened on May 3, 2014.[9] The Dental Hygiene, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nursing, Physician Assistant Studies Master's Program, Speech Pathology and Audiology, and Chemistry programs are located in the new building, along with the Behavioral Health Clinic and the Speech and Hearing Clinic.
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- Academic, Sports and Recreation Complex (ASRC) – Opened in the summer of 2000, the complex features an exercise physiology suite, a conference center, a wellness/fitness center, team rooms and administrative office area. The multi-purpose arena includes a competition basketball-volleyball court and three additional modules for classes, intramurals, athletic team practices/ events and other functions. The entire complex totals more than 145,000 square feet (13,500 m2). The project involved the connection of two buildings, Blatnik and Bartell halls, and the construction of a new 27,000-square-foot (2,500 m2) multi-purpose arena. The Blatnik building is now the Blatnik "Wing" and is named for Dr. Albert Blatnik, long-time coach, director of athletics, and chairperson of the Department of Physical Education. This area consists of a gymnasium, classrooms, offices, a four-lane swimming pool and a wrestling practice room. The Bartell "Wing," named for Dr. Joseph Bartell, former dean, athletic director and multi-sport coach, houses four racquetball courts, classrooms, lockers, a training room, an athletic weight room, a wellness center, offices, and connects with the arena.
- Arnett Hall of Natural Sciences – This building was named for Denver F. Arnett, Academic Dean of West Liberty from 1955 to 1970. The complex includes 12 laboratories, six general-purpose classrooms, faculty offices, and houses the biology and chemistry units. A modern greenhouse is located on the south end of the building.
- College Hall- The Helen Pierce Elbin Auditorium seats 450 and serves as a recital hall and center for lectures and other public programs. It is equipped with a 42-rank, three-manual Moeller pipe organ and two concert grand pianos. The building houses voice studios, a music education classroom, and a recording studio.
- College Union – The College Union is designed to serve the social and extracurricular needs of the students, faculty, staff, administration, and guests, providing lounges, an Aladdin food court, a convenience store, an automated teller machine, and a campus service center (post office, etc.). The college bookstore, the student newspaper, the campus radio station 91.5 WGLZ West Liberty, and guest rooms for parents are also provided in the Union. Limited student employment is provided in the Union.
- Hall of Fine Arts – This is the administrative center of the Department of the Arts and Communications. The Hall of Fine Arts houses Kelly Theatre, art studios, art gallery, music practice rooms, electronic piano labs, Disklavier piano studios, choral room, band rooms, general classrooms, and faculty offices.
- Interfaith Chapel – This worship center seats 175 and is equipped with a 33-rank, three-manual Moeller pipe organ and a grand piano. Other facilities include five offices and the Ellwood Social Room. West Liberty University is one of only a few state institutions to host an interfaith chapel on its campus.
- Main Hall – This four-story structure, located on the circle just beyond the main entrance, houses several academic sections and also serves as the major classroom area. In addition, the administrative offices of information technology services are centralized here. The Gary E. West College of Business and the College of Education and Human Performance are both housed in Main Hall. The building includes the Curtis and McColloch wings, which were the two original academic facilities on campus. These structures were named for pioneer West Liberty families who played important roles in the early development of West Liberty.
- Media Arts Center – This wing of the Hall of Fine Arts opened in Fall 2006, the Media Arts Center is a facility housing a music technology computer lab, digital media design lab, recording studio, television studio, and graphic design lab.
- Paul N. Elbin Library – The three-story building was named in honor of Paul N. Elbin, President of the College from 1935 until 1970. The library collection consists of more than 200,000 print volumes, 800 hard copy periodical and newspaper subscriptions, access to several thousand online periodical subscriptions, electronic databases, and numerous titles in media or microform formats. On the main floor are reference services; reference education classroom; bibliographic instruction; circulation services; and the fiction, videocassette, DVD, music and periodical collections. Photocopy machines for print and microforms are located near the periodical section. Word processing stations and Internet access stations, as well as digital imaging, are located on this floor. The third floor houses most of the open stack circulating collection including the children's literature section. Also found on the third floor are the Special Collections: the Nelle M. Krise Rare Book Room that features a collection of books tracing the history of bookmaking, the college archives, and the college museum. In addition, rooms and areas are available for conferences, seminars, meetings, group and individual study—and most are equipped for the latest technology. The Humanities Department offices, classrooms, computer lab, and major's lounge are located on the lower level of the building.
- West Family Stadium – Named for community leader, businessman and alumnus Gary E. West ('58) and wife Flip West and Family, the West Family Stadium hosts football games and more and includes the Stephen J. Russek Field, a Mondo Echofill Star artificial turf arena with a seating capacity of 4,000. It also includes the Charlie Annett Hospitality Box, named after alumnus and donor Charlie Annett '66. On August 30, 2008, the University held a field dedication prior to the football game to thank Gary ('58) and Flip West for their vision and generosity. WLU vs. Edinboro University marked the first game played on the new turf. The field was officially renamed in the Fall of 2014.
- Shaw Hall – Formerly a women's residence hall named for John Shaw, president from 1908 to 1919. Shaw Hall currently houses the offices of Admissions, Alumni Association, Campus Safety, the president, provost and vice president of academic affairs, registrar, business office, financial aid, human resources, institutional advancement, marketing, public relations, housing administrative offices and student service center. The university's Health Services Center is also located in this building. Shaw Hall has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.[10]
- Shotwell Hall – Formerly a men's residence hall named for the Reverend Nathan Shotwell, D.D., founder of West Liberty Academy, Shotwell Hall currently houses International Student Office and the Office of Graduate Studies. This building has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.[10]
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There are seven residence halls on campus.
West Liberty University offers 9 organizations made up of fraternities and sororities, 18 academic and professional organizations, 10 honoraries, 6 sports and recreational clubs, 6 religiously affiliated groups and 23 special interest groups. There is a physical education club for students majoring in physical education, and an intramural program covering activities such as basketball, volleyball, softball, tennis, swimming, racquetball, ping pong, billiards, flag football, aerobics, euchre, and 3-on-3 basketball. This program is operated by the office of the Vice President of Student Affairs.
West Liberty University has seven Greek organizations on campus. The national fraternities and sororities include Phi Delta Theta, Alpha Xi Delta and Chi Omega. The remaining organizations are local sororities and fraternities, including the sorority Lambda Psi Sigma. Fraternities on campus are Chi Nu and Kappa Delta Kappa. Former fraternities and sororities include Delta Chi, Theta Xi, Kappa Delta Rho, Phi Sigma Kappa, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Phi Sigma, Delta Zeta Pi, Beta Theta Gamma, Delta Theta Kappa, and Delta Tau Chi.
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West Liberty University's Intercollegiate Athletics Program is an integral part of the institution's total educational mission. Sixteen men's and women's sports are offered: football, women's volleyball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, wrestling, women's softball, men's baseball, men's and women's track, men's and women's golf, men and women's soccer and women's acrobatic and tumbling. The men's and women's tennis teams were discontinued in May 2023.[11] There is also a coed cheerleading squad. The college is a member of NCAA Division II and formerly belonged to the 16-member West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC). In June 2012, it was one of nine WVIAC members that announced plans to leave the conference after the 2012–13 school year to start a new Division II league. Two months later, the new league was unveiled as the Mountain East Conference, with West Liberty as one of its 12 charter members.
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Alumni association
The West Liberty University Alumni Association was founded in June 1877 with 103 members. From its beginning, the growth and development of the Alumni Association has been dedicated to promoting the interests of West Liberty University and strengthening the loyalty of and fostering support among its graduates, former students, and friends. The association serves as the liaison between the alumni of West Liberty University and its administration, staff, faculty, students, and friends. Today, the Alumni Association represents nearly 20,000 alumni and continues to foster a spirit of unity and fellowship through communications, development, publicity, special events, recruiting, and career exploration.
Alumni association "Wall of Honor"
The West Liberty University Alumni Association Board of Directors instituted a project in 1990 to demonstrate to current students, visitors, and friends that the college has some very successful graduates. This project, known as the "Alumni Wall of Honor," is a dramatic way to honor some of the college's most distinguished alumni and display pride in the accomplishments of its graduates. The concept was suggested by then Associate Professor of Physics Robert W. Schramm, who is a 1958 graduate of the college and a 2002 Alumni Wall of Honor inductee. The Alumni Wall of Honor was formerly housed in the south end of the Union known now as the Student Leadership Center and is currently located on the second floor of the Elbin Library.
Liberty Oaks Alumni House Bed and Breakfast
First occupied in 1936 and serving as the residence for the Presidents of West Liberty University until 1997, Liberty Oaks Alumni House Bed & Breakfast is a stately mansion located on the West Liberty campus.
Clyde D. Campbell Alumni Park
Alumni Park was home to three black granite pyramids displaying the engraved names of alumni and friends of West Liberty University. Alumni Park was located in the "heart" of the campus – just outside Main Hall and adjacent to the Union, at the edge of the 'quad'. In the summer of 2017, these structures were removed due to deterioration. A replacement wall of alumni and friends is expected to be erected within the breezeway of Main Hall.[12] Currently, a fire globe is situated in Alumni Park.
Notable alumni
- George C. Allen II, Air National Guard Brigadier General
- Chris Booker, radio talk-show host[13]
- Todd H. Bullard (B.A., 1953), founding member of Chi Nu Fraternity and former president of Potomac State College and Bethany College[14]
- Derrick Evans, professional football coach and politician, former West Virginia legislator[15][16]
- Erik Fankhouser, professional bodybuilder, International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness (IFBB)[17]
- Tim Hicks, professional football player[18]
- Chip Ingram, Christian pastor, author, and teacher[19]
- Mickey Marotti, football coach[20]
- Andy McKenzie, former West Virginia Senate and mayor of Wheeling, West Virginia[21]
- Mark Murphy, professional football player[22]
- Joe Niekro, professional baseball player[23]
- Brad Paisley, country music singer and songwriter; attended two years[24]
- Maria Pappas, Cook County, Illinois Treasurer (1998–present)[25]
- Lou Piccone, professional football player[26]
- Rick Schneider-Calabash, animation producer, writer, director for Walt Disney Studios
- Ray Searage, professional baseball player[27]
- Jimmy Willis (politician), member of the West Virginia House of Delegates for district 3[28]
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