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Former name | Shepherd College (1871–2004) |
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| Motto | Ne plus ultra (Latin) (inscripted on thePillars of Hercules) |
Motto in English | "Not further beyond" |
| Type | Public university |
| Established | September 2, 1871; 154 years ago (September 2, 1871)[1] |
| Accreditation | HLC |
Academic affiliations | WVHEPC |
| Endowment | $35.759 million (2023)[2] |
| President | Mary J.C. Hendrix |
| Undergraduates | 2,757 (fall 2023)[3] |
| Postgraduates | 512 (fall 2023)[3] |
| Location | , United States |
| Campus | Fringe town[4], 323 acres (1.31 km2) |
| Newspaper | Picket |
| Colors | Blue and gold |
| Nickname | Rams |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division II –PSAC |
| Mascot | JC the Ram |
| Website | shepherd.edu |
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Shepherd University is apublic university inShepherdstown, West Virginia, United States. It isaccredited by theHigher Learning Commission.[5][6] In the fall of 2023, the university enrolled 3,274 students.[7]
Shepherd University began when the county seat ofJefferson County, West Virginia, was moved from its temporary location in Shepherdstown back to Charles Town in July 1871. The people of Shepherdstown and vicinity decided to use the vacated courthouse for educational purposes. An article of incorporation for a school to be known as Shepherd College, designed to instruct students "in languages, arts and sciences," was drawn up and signed by C. W. Andrews,Alexander R. Boteler, C. T. Butler, G. M. Beltzhoover, David Billmyer, Samuel Knott, and Henry Shepherd. This body of incorporators gave itself the power to elect instructors, pay salaries, and prescribe courses of study. Professor Joseph McMurran was appointed the first principal of the institution, which opened with 42 students in September 1871, under the authority of the board of trustees.
On February 27, 1872, the Legislature of West Virginia passed the following act: "That a branch of the StateNormal School be and it is hereby established at the building known as Shepherd College, in Shepherdstown, in Jefferson County."
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Shepherd became a four-year college for the training of teachers on July 1, 1930, at which time the institution began granting the bachelor of arts degree. Shepherd was authorized to implement liberal arts programs in 1943, and in 1950 the Bachelor of Science degree was added. Also in 1950 Shepherd was accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and in 1951 it became a member of the Association of American Colleges. On April 7, 2004, GovernorBob Wise signed legislation allowing Shepherd College to change its name to Shepherd University.
In the past two decades, Shepherd has added 11 new buildings, including the $9 million Robert C. Byrd Science and Technology Center; the $18 million addition to the Scarborough Library, which also houses the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education; and the $10 million nursing classroom building. The $21.6 million Wellness Center opened on June 11, 2009, and includes a 25-yard, eight-lane pool; two basketball courts, and six basketball hoops; two racquetball courts; an indoor elevated 1/10-mile jogging track; two multi-purpose rooms with mirrored walls for group exercise classes; a 7,500+ square foot weight and fitness area; and a dining venue operated by Shepherd's Dining Services.
Potomac Place, a 298-bed dormitory on the West Campus, opened in August 2017.
Mary J. C. Hendrix was inaugurated as the university's sixteenth president of Shepherd University on April 8, 2016.[8]
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 72% | ||
| Black | 8% | ||
| Hispanic | 8% | ||
| Two or more races | 6% | ||
| Asian | 2% | ||
| Unknown | 2% | ||
| International student | 1% | ||
| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income[a] | 33% | ||
| Affluent[b] | 67% | ||
Since 1971, the Ruth Scarborough Library has been a selective repository for federal government publications and regularly receives West Virginia state government publications. The library houses a special collection of printed materials relating to state and regional history. The library's computerized catalog provides Web access to materials in the Scarborough collection, and the library maintains a Web site.
The Scarborough Library, originally built in 1965, was renovated in 2002–03. The library is a place of study and research for individuals and groups. The 46,000-square-foot (4,300 m2) expansion, dedicated in 2002, includes multimedia classrooms, additional reading areas and seating, and the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education whose purpose is to promote an understanding of the United States Congress and the Constitution through public programing, teacher training. The Byrd Center houses an archive containing the political papers of West Virginia's SenatorRobert C. Byrd, CongressmanHarley O. Staggers Sr., and CongressmanHarley O. Staggers Jr., along with other related collections.
TheContemporary American Theater Festival is an annual festival of new plays by American playwrights, most often premieres or second or third productions. CATF focuses on plays that deal with contemporary issues that boldly challenge and entertain audiences.[10]
Since 1991, CATF has produced 127 plays written by 90 playwrights, including 52 world premieres, 11 of which were commissioned. Adventurous audiences from 38 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and Europe have attended the Theater Festival's productions. The plays are professionally produced using Actors' Equity Association's LORT D contract; CATF operates under agreements from AEA, United Scenic Artists, and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.
TheGeorge Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War is home to Shepherd University's academic concentrations related to the Civil War and 19th Century America. The program requires students to complete specialized courses in addition to the courses already required of all history majors. Courses concentrate on various elements of 19th century history such as The American Civil War, 1850–1865; the Reconstruction Era; African American History; Soldiers and Society, 1861–65; and the Old South. Students also conduct primary research within the topic area and must intern at one of various historic sites in the region, such as Harpers Ferry National Historic Site.[11]
The ongoing research mission at the George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War involves the compilation of figures from the soldiers' compiled military service records which will lead to a more definitive number of veterans. Ongoing research includes gleaning data from the service records of soldiers serving in all of West Virginia's Union regiments and (Western) Virginia Confederate regiments was compiled in the center's electronic database. Once completed, a simple query will be able to provide a very accurate total for both sides including data heretofore unavailable to historians.[citation needed]
The center is headed by Civil War historian James J. Broomall.[12]
The Bonnie and Bill Stubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communications is a non-partisan collaboration of political science scholars, students, and activists that hosts lectures, debates, and public forums at Shepherd University. The Stubblefield Institute’s mission is to “promote greater public awareness of how authentic and factual civil discourse across partisan divides leads to more productive debate and understanding.”
Since opening its doors in 2019, the Stubblefield Institute leads a variety of student-focused initiatives on Shepherd University’s campus. The student-run Shepherd University Civility Club hosts events for students to debate current topics in a civil space. “Listen. Learn. Engage.” Is a student programming initiative to assist students in developing the skills and confidence to participate in civil discussion. Additionally, the Stubblefield Institute hosts Community Engage Conversations, public forums focusing on local and West Virginia issues.
The Shepherd athletic teams are called the Rams. The university is a member of theNCAA Division II ranks of theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in thePennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) since the 2019–20 academic year. The Rams previously competed in theMountain East Conference (MEC) from 2013–14 to 2018–19, and before that, the now-defunctWest Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) from 1924–25 to 2012–13.
Shepherd fields 15 intercollegiate teams: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer and tennis; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball.
Located in:Shepherdstown, West Virginia | ||
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39°26′11″N77°48′30″W / 39.43639°N 77.80833°W /39.43639; -77.80833
