Centenary University

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Centenary University is a private university in Hackettstown, New Jersey, United States. Founded as a preparatory school by the Newark Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1867,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Centenary evolved into a junior college for women and later a coeducational university.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>

Situated in suburban Warren County, New Jersey, 52 miles west of New York City, 35 miles southeast of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and 26 miles northeast of Easton, Pennsylvania, the school's main campus is identifiable by the Edward W. Seay Administration Building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.<ref name="nrhpdoc" />

The Edward W. Seay Administration Building serves as the university's flagship building with its main offices, classrooms, the Student Activity Center, and a Starbucks cafe.

History

Centenary University was founded as the Centenary Collegiate Institute (CCI) by the Newark Conference of what was then called the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1867.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The name was chosen to commemorate the centennial of Methodism in the United States.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> It was built for $200,000. George H. Whitney, D.D., was president from 1869 to 1895.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The first commencement ceremony was held on June 25, 1875.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Beginning as a coeducational preparatory school, CCI became a girls-only institution in 1910. In 1940, it became a junior college: Centenary Junior College. It would subsequently become Centenary College for Women in 1956 before becoming Centenary College in 1976, a four-year college for women offering associate and bachelor's degrees, with men allowed to pursue degrees only during night courses. In 1988, men were allowed to attend full-time. In 1995, master's degree programs were introduced.<ref name=":1" /> In 2016, Centenary College was granted University status by the New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1886, a 19-year-old kitchen worker at CCI named Tillie Smith was "outraged" and murdered in a field just off campus. A janitor at CCI named James Titus was convicted of the crime based on circumstantial evidence strongly influenced by yellow journalism. Authors and historians generally consider this a false conviction, but the debate over the facts continues perennially through dark tourism ghost tours, theatrical performances, books and Weird NJ magazine articles.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On Halloween night, 1899, the original five-story CCI building burned to the ground in a fire.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The new building termed "Old Main" (now known as the Seay Building), was designed by architect Oscar Schutte Teale in a Renaissance Beaux Arts style<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and built atop the ruins of the original structure in 1901.<ref name="nrhpdoc" /> Only two buildings survived the fire, the men's gymnasium (now the Little Theater of the Seay Building) and the women's gymnasium (now the Ferry Building).

In 1957, a student-run college radio station, WNTI, began broadcasting on campus. Eventually becoming an NPR affiliate serving the regional community with an adult album rock format, the FM transmitter was sold to University of Pennsylvania-based WXPN in 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As of 2020, a student-run internet radio station operates at WNTI.org.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Centenary Stage Company, a professional Equity theater, has been operating on campus since 1985.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1992, a "Women's Playwright Series" development program offered grants, workshops, prizes and world premieres for the underserved voice of women in theater.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Centenary also offers an intensive musical theater program for intermediate and advanced young performers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1999, Centenary founded the Center for Adult and Professional Studies program. In 2011, the program was renamed the School of Professional Studies.<ref name=":2" />

In 2024 Centenary University and the Ideal Institute of Technology joined forces to offer both vocational training and higher education. This collaboration offers work-based college programs to local residents who may be underserved in their community.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Accreditation

Centenary University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and approved by the University Senate of the United Methodist Church. Some programs at Centenary are accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education, Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, Council on Social Work Education, or International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education.<ref name=":2" />

Main campus and learning centers

The Centenary University Main campus is located in Hackettstown, New Jersey. The Centenary Equestrian Center in Washington Township provides riding and education facilities for its Department of Equine Studies and Animal Health.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hackettstown Campus

The William H. and May D. Taylor Memorial Library

The main campus of Centenary University is home to most of the school's academic, administrative, athletic and collegiate activities, as well as housing for its undergraduate students. It consists of ten main buildings and eight residence buildings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Edward W. Seay Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 13, 1997, for its significance in architecture.<ref name="nrhpdoc">Template:Cite web With Template:NRHP url</ref>

The Ferry Music and Arts Building. The old section of the building is one of the two oldest structures on campus, surviving the fire of 1899.

In addition to its own residence halls, Centenary has an agreement with Sussex County Community College, where some Sussex athletes and students have the option to live on Centenary's campus<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>. Sussex students may only live the traditional dormitories and not the apartment-style buildings. Additionally, Centenary has leased out Smith Hall, traditionally for freshmen and transfer students, to be used as housing for local high school programs.

Equestrian Center

The Equestrian Center is located in Washington Township, Morris County. It consists of several large paddocks, an outdoor eventing course, two indoor arenas and an outdoor arena. The United States Equestrian Team (USET) building is the main building of the equestrian center with its main offices, classrooms, a lounge, dining services, and the large indoor arena. The Equestrian Center sits on Template:Convert of land.

In 2007 and 2012, Centenary Equestrian Center hosted the American National Riding Commission Championships, the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Zone Finals, and the Intercollegiate Dressage Association Championships.<ref>[1]Template:Dead link "In 2007 Centenary Equestrian Center hosted the American National Riding Commission Championships, Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Zone Finals, and the Intercollegiate Dressage Association Championships."</ref>

Athletics

Centenary University teams participate in fourteen NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports. The Cyclones compete in the Atlantic East Conference, joining in the 2021-22 season, becoming the first non-Catholic member institution.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Cyclones previously competed in the Colonial States Athletic Conference, joining in the 2007–08 season after being a member of the Skyline Conference. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, equestrian, lacrosse, soccer and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, equestrian, flag football, lacrosse, soccer, softball and volleyball. Women's wrestling is also offered as a club sport. Students enrolled in the college's Equine programs may participate in competitions through intercollegiate organizations such as the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, the Intercollegiate Dressage Association, or with the Hunter/Jumper's Club.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Noted athletic achievements

In 2009 Centenary's Intercollegiate Horse Show Association team won the National Championships in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Lindsay Clark, a Centenary Student, also won the USEF/Cacchione Cup.<ref>misc/ihsa2009results.htmlTemplate:Dead link "In 2009 Centenary's Intercollegiate Horse Show Association team won the National Championships in Murfreesboro, TN. Lindsay Clark, a Centenary Student, also won the USEF/Cacchione Cup.</ref>

The 2010 women's soccer team won the CSAC Championship,<ref name="All-Time Champions">Template:Cite web</ref> earning them an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.Template:Citation needed The 2013 and 2016 men's soccer teams replicated this feat.<ref name="All-Time Champions"/>

Notable alumni and staff

Debbie Harry, class of 1965

References

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