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Bluefield University

Coordinates: 37°14′22.1″N 81°15′7.2″W / 37.239472°N 81.252000°W / 37.239472; -81.252000
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(Redirected from Bluefield College)
Not to be confused with Bluefield State University.
Bluefield University
Former names
Bluefield College (1922–2021)
Motto
Deus, Patria, Lux
Motto in English
God, Country, Light
TypePrivate university
Established1922; 103 years ago (1922)
Religious affiliation
Baptist (Baptist General Association of Virginia)
PresidentSteven Peterson
Students912[1]
Undergraduates894[1]
Postgraduates16[1]
Location
Bluefield
,
Virginia
,
United States
Campus82 acres (33 ha)
Colors   
Blue & Red[2]
NicknameRams
Sporting affiliations
NAIA – Appalachian
MascotVictor E. Ram
Websitebluefield.edu

Bluefield University [3] is a private Baptist university in Bluefield, Virginia. It offers 22 majors and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The 82-acre (330,000 m2) campus is about 150 ft (46 m) from the state line between Virginia and West Virginia. It is affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Bluefield University merged with Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine which is on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.[4]

History

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Bluefield University was founded as "Bluefield College" in 1922 by the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV), after residents of Bluefield offered to donate land and start-up funds.[5] R.A. Landsdell became the first president in 1920, and the current administration building is named Landsdell Hall in his honor. At its founding, Bluefield was a two-year junior college. Future Nobel Prize winner John F. Nash took mathematics courses at the relatively new college while in high school. In his autobiography for the Nobel Foundation, he writes

I should mention that during my last year in the Bluefield schools that my parents had arranged for me to take supplementary math courses at Bluefield College, which was then a 2-year institution operated by Southern Baptists. I didn't get official advanced standing at Carnegie because of my extra studies but I had advanced knowledge and ability and didn't need to learn much from the first math courses at Carnegie.[6]

Under Charles L. Harman, president from 1946 to 1971, the college built Easley Library, the dormitory Rish Hall, Harman Chapel, and a geodesic dome as the gymnasium.[5]

In 1975, Bluefield reinvented itself as a four-year college, and during the 1989–1996 presidency of Roy A. Dobyns, student enrollment doubled to more than 800 students. In 1998, under the leadership of President Daniel G. MacMillan, the college cut tuition by over 20% and refocused its student recruitment on the local area.[5]

In 2007 David W. Olive, was inaugurated as president.[7] Shortly thereafter, the college raised tuition by about 20%,[8] and announced a new strategic plan.[9]

During the centennial anniversary of Bluefield College, it achieved university status and became Bluefield University upon announcement from President David Olive at the President's Convocation on August 18, 2021.[10]

On July 19th, 2024, the university announced the appointment of Dr. Steve Peterson as its 10th president.[citation needed]

Presidents

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Presidents of Bluefield University have included:[11]

Bluefield University presidents
R. A. Lansdell 1920–1926
J. Taylor Stinson* 1926–1927
Oscar E. Sams 1927–1930
J. Taylor Stinson 1930–1934
Edwin C. Wade 1934–1946
Charles L. Harman 1946–1971
Charles L. Tyer 1972–1988
Gary N. Garner* 1988–1989
Roy A. Dobyns 1989–1996
T. Keith Edwards* 1996–1997
Daniel G. MacMillan 1997–2006
Charles Warren* 2006–2007
David W. Olive 2007–2023
Michael Salmeier* 2024
Steven Peterson 2024–Present

* – interim presidents

Campus

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Bluefield University's campus is located on 82 acres on the eastern edge of Bluefield, Virginia, facing the northern side of the East River Mountain.

Academic and administrative buildings

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  • Lansdell Hall – Opening in 1922, building holds the college's primary administrative offices and classrooms.
  • Easley Library – The three-story building features the campus library on the upper two floors, while the first floor houses the education department and classrooms.
  • Harman Chapel – The spire of the chapel is featured in the college's logo. The building houses the music and theater departments and serves as a host for events including convocations, graduations, concerts, plays, and services.
  • Science Center – The building holds offices, classrooms, science labs, and technology labs.
  • Cox Visual Arts Center – Located on the southwestern corner of campus, the building holds classrooms, offices, and workspace for the art department.
  • Alumni Advancement Building

Residential buildings

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  • Cruise Hall – Constructed with the opening of the college in 1922, the building now serves as a male dormitory.
  • Rish Hall – The first floor contains classrooms and houses the English department, communication department, and the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE). The upper three floors serve as a male dormitory.
  • East River Hall – Female dormitory
  • Alumni Hall – Male dormitory
  • Bluestone Commons – Constructed in 2014, the buildings hold male and female apartment-style student housing.

Student life facilities

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  • Shott Hall – Holds the Student Activities Center, main dining hall, Quick Shott Cafe, campus bookstore, and student mailboxes.
  • Dan MacMillan Center – Opening in 2007, the building is the focal point for the college's outreach and service projects.

The campus also features access to outdoor activities, including an on-campus nature trail.[12]

Organization

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Bluefield University is organized into the following colleges:

  • College of Arts and Letters
  • College of Professional Programs
  • College of Sciences
  • School of Education
  • School of Nursing

Athletics

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Main article: Bluefield Rams
Bluefield athletics wordmark

The Bluefield athletic teams are called the Rams. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA),[13] primarily competing in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) for most of their sports since the 2014–15 academic year (of which they were a member on a previous stint from 2001–02 to 2011–12);[14] Its football team has competed in the Mid-South Conference (MSC) since the 2014 fall season. They were also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the Mid-East Region of the Division I level until after the 2019–20 school year to fully align with the NAIA.[15] The Rams previously competed in the Mid-South as a full member from 2012–13 to 2013–14. Athletes make up about 60% of the student population at Bluefield.[16] It served as host for the NCCAA Softball National Championship.[17]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Bluefield College celebrates 2nd highest enrollment in school hi – WVVA TV Bluefield Beckley WV News, Weather and Sports". Wvva.com. 2014-10-08. Archived from the original on 2016-01-10. Retrieved 2015-08-16.
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2014-12-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Hello, Bluefield University! Former college makes announcement during centennial celebration". 19 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Bluefield College Joins VCOM family of schools". 20 March 2020.
  5. ^ a b c History Archived June 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "John F. Nash Jr. – Biographical". nobelprize.org. Archived from the original on 2007-06-09. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  7. ^ Campus News-Inauguration Archived June 21, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Traditional Undergraduate Tuition Costs Archived June 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Strategic Plan". Bluefield.edu. Archived from the original on 2015-08-18. Retrieved 2015-08-16.
  10. ^ "Hello, Bluefield University! Former college makes announcement during centennial celebration". 19 August 2021.
  11. ^ "History of Bluefield College". bluefield.edu. Bluefield College. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  12. ^ "The Great Outdoors in Bluefield". Bluefield.edu. 2014-04-23. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-08-16.
  13. ^ "Schools". NAIA.ORG. NAIA. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  14. ^ "Members". Appalachian Athletic Conference. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  15. ^ "Membership Directory" (PDF). National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  16. ^ Athletic Overview Archived March 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ "Softball". Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  18. ^ "Bluefield College | Mixing a Passion for Math and Sports | Christian College Virginia". Bluefield.edu. Retrieved 2015-08-16.
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37°14′22.1″N 81°15′7.2″W / 37.239472°N 81.252000°W / 37.239472; -81.252000

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