Western Oregon University

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Western Oregon University (WOU) is a public university in Monmouth, Oregon, United States. It was originally established in 1856 by Disciples of Christ<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> pioneers as Monmouth University. Subsequent names included Oregon State Normal School, Oregon College of Education, and Western Oregon State College. Western Oregon University incorporates both the College of Education and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Enrollment is approximately 3,850 students.

History

Establishment

Western Oregon University was founded in 1856 as Monmouth University.<ref name="Since 1856">Ellis A. Stebbins and Gary Huxford, Since 1856...Historical Views of the College at Monmouth Western Oregon State College, Monmouth, Ore., 1995. Template:ISBN</ref> In 1865, it merged with another private institution, Bethel College, in Bethel and became Christian College. In 1882, the Oregon State Legislature approved the college's bid to become a state-supported teacher training (or "normal") school, Oregon State Normal School.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In November 1910, an initiative petition (Measure 10) to establish a normal school at Monmouth, passed by 55.6%. The name was changed, for the fourth time, to Oregon Normal School. On the same ballot were two other measures to additionally establish normal schools in Ashland and Weston: both failed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Growth

A period of growth was experienced in the 1920s during which the school's enrollment more than tripled from 316 in 1920 to peak at the 990 mark in 1927.<ref>Sam A. Kozer (ed.), "Oregon Educational Institutions," in The Oregon Blue Book, 1927-1928. Salem: State Printing Department, 1927; pg. 62.</ref> With the coming of the Great Depression attendance tailed off slightly, with an average attendance in 1930 of 705 students,<ref>Hal E. Hoss (ed.), "State Institutions of Higher Learning," in The Oregon Blue Book, 1931-1932. Salem: State Printing Departement, 1931; pg. 33.</ref> hitting a nadir in the 1933–34 academic year.<ref name=Hunter>Frederick M. Hunter, "Oregon State System of Higher Education," in Earl Snell (ed.), The Oregon Blue Book, 1939-1940. Salem: State Printing Department, 1939; pp. 48-49.</ref> Attendance rebounded later in the decade, topping the 1,000 mark for the first time during the 1938–39 academic year, with a total enrollment including summer session of 1,017.<ref name=Hunter />

In 1939, the Oregon Legislature changed the name for the fifth time, to Oregon College of Education. The school entered an extended period of growth, except for a period during World War II when college enrollments dropped nationwide. New programs were added in the areas of liberal arts and sciences.<ref name="Since 1856" />

Name changes

In 1981, the institution was renamed Western Oregon State College<ref name="Since 1856" /> to reflect the school's growing academic programs in the liberal arts fields. In 1997 the name was updated to Western Oregon University, reflecting the university's broader academic mission and profile.

Academics

Western Oregon University offers bachelor's degrees (BA, BS, BM, BFA), and AB through its two colleges: the College of Education and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Master's degrees are available in Education (MAT and MSEd), Rehabilitation Counseling (MS), Criminal Justice (MA), Music (MM), and Management and Information Systems (MS).<ref>WOU: academic programs. Wou.edu. Retrieved on February 13, 2011.</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2015, U.S. News & World Report ranked Western as the 77th best amongst the regional universities in the west.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In January 2024, the university announced it would eliminate its D− and F grades and instead replace these with a grade of "no credit". This was done in attempt to improve retention and graduation rates and focus on student learning outcomes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

File:Wou monmouth sign.jpg

Entrance sign

File:Campbell Hall (Polk County, Oregon scenic images) (polDB4701).jpg

Campbell Hall

College of Education

WOU's College of Education<ref name="autogenerated1">WOU: Teacher Education. Wou.edu. Retrieved on February 13, 2011.</ref> is divided into: Division of Education and Leadership, Division of Deaf Studies and Professional Studies, and Division of Health and Exercise Science.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers 30 bachelor's degrees in seven academic divisions: Behavioral Science, Business and Economics, Computer Science, Creative Arts, Humanities, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and Social Science.

Athletics

The Western Oregon athletic teams are called the Wolves. The university is a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) since the 2001–02 academic year. Western Oregon has competed in the Lone Star Conference (LSC) for football as an affiliate member since the 2022 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Wolves previously competed in the D-II Pacific West Conference (PacWest) from 1998–99 to 2000–01; and in the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1993–94 to 1997–98 (although they remained in the CCC as an affiliate member for some sports from 1998–99 to 1999–2000).

Western Oregon competes in 12 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, soccer and track & field, while women's sports include basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball.

Notable alumni

• Kevin Boss – American football player for the New York Giants, Oakland Raiders, and Kansas City Chiefs<ref name="Fentress">Aaron Fentress, "New Orleans Saints defensive end Jeff Charleston enjoying undefeated season after long trek to the NFL", The Oregonian, December 10, 2009.</ref>
• Tony Burris – American football player, Arena Football League's Detroit Drive and Washington Commandos
• Jeff Charleston – American football player, New Orleans Saints<ref name="Fentress" />
• Brian Greene – American football player
• Marco Hernandez – First Latino to serve as U.S. district court judge in Oregon.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Robert Oberst – Professional strongman who competes yearly in The World's Strongest Man competition
• Bryce Peila – American football player, Arena Football League's Portland Thunder/Steel
• Jason Slowey – American football player for the Oakland Raiders
• Lane Shetterly - Oregon state legislator
• Nathan Soltz - Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon
• Dan Straily (born 1988), starting pitcher in the Philadelphia Phillies organization
• Mark Thorson – American football player
• Tyrell Williams – American football player for the Las Vegas Raiders

Greek life

On May 18, 2012, the school was introduced to its first traditional Greek life with the organization and initiation of Kappa Sigma fraternity, Sigma Tau chapter . The schools Greek system now consists of one traditional fraternity, one traditional sorority, one non-traditional fraternity and one non-traditional sorority. The school welcomed Alpha Chi Omega, its first traditional sorority in the fall of 2015 with the organization founding its chapter in 2016.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On November 29, 2012, the Beta Kappa chapter of Omega Delta Phi fraternity was founded. Kappa Delta Chi is the other non-traditional sorority on campus.

External links

• Template:Oweb
• Athletics website