University of Virginia's College at Wise#Convocation Center

The college was first conceived by local residents who petitioned the University of Virginia to establish a college in Wise.{{cite news |title=Our Mission & History |url=https://www.uvawise.edu/about/our-mission-history |access-date=April 25, 2012 |publisher=University of Virginia's College at Wise}} The decline of the Appalachian coal mining industry in the 1950s had led to a need for a higher education institution. As support for a college grew, the Commonwealth of Virginia appropriated $5,000 to open, staff, and operate the college as a two-year junior college on a trial basis for a year; and if successful, another $5,000 would be available for a second year. In the winter of 1954, the local community matched the commonwealth's funds and collected over $6,000 to furnish the classrooms and use for supplies. Wise County donated{{Cn|date=October 2024}} over {{convert|16|acre|ha|1|adj=on}} of property, the former Wise County Poor Farm, that included one sandstone building, Crockett Hall, which was used as an academic building. The campus was surrounded by land that was a former coal mining site.

Clinch Valley College of the University of Virginia opened in September 1954 with an enrollment of 100 freshmen, 2/3 of whom were Korean War veterans. Clinch Valley College became the westernmost state-supported college in Virginia. Prior to its opening, Virginia lacked public colleges west of Radford.

In its early years, the college also acquired the building known now as Bowers-Sturgill Hall for use as faculty housing.

Clinch Valley College operated as a junior college throughout the late 1950s and 1960s. During that time, the college gained more support from graduates who wanted to complete their baccalaureate degrees at the same institution, and the college began the process to become a four-year college. The college granted its first Bachelor of Arts degrees in June 1970 and its first Bachelor of Science degrees in 1973. The college continued to grow and added new programs such as nursing and technology. In 1996, the college granted its first Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees.

By 1959, two new academic buildings, the Science Center and Zehmer Hall, and the new Greear gymnasium were under construction. In the 1960s, Wyllie Library was constructed. During this decade, the college notably elected to transport a series of already-constructed residence buildings to the west side of campus for use as faculty housing, rather than construct new buildings. In the 1970s, the original Gilliam Center for the Arts, an McCraray residence hall, and Smiddy Hall, an additional academic/administrative building, were constructed.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Cantrell Hall, then known as the Cantrell Student Union; the Chapel; a dining facility; a bookstore; and Asbury, Thompson, and Martha Randolph residence halls were all constructed due to a surge in enrollment to 1,000 students. Also during this period, the SEED Center, Resource Center and student apartments across Darden Drive were acquired.

In 1999, the Virginia General Assembly renamed the school "The University of Virginia's College at Wise," following an unsuccessful effort to change the institution's name in 1991.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, UVA Wise expanded its focus on international education and signed three sister agreements with international institutions, along with initiating cooperative and mutual exchange programs for students and faculty at those institutions. In 1998, the college signed a sister institution agreement with Istanbul University. A year later, it signed a second agreement with another Turkish university, Dumlupinar University in Kütahya. In December 2000, the University of Seville in Spain became the college's third sister institution.

Through the early 21st century, UVA Wise underwent rapid growth, with several new buildings and campus beautification projects to accommodate enrollment growth.{{cite web |url=http://www.uvawise.edu/campaign/ |title=Fulfilling the Dream: a campaign |work=University of Virginia College at Wise (home page) |access-date=2008-09-05}} New facilities from the early 2000s include Henson and Culbertson residence halls, the Slemp Student Center, a football field house and stadium seating, the new expanded library, the central lake, the Hunter J. Smith Dining Commons, the new Gilliam Center for the Arts, the $30 million David J. Prior Convocation Center, and Commonwealth (renamed in 2020 to Andrew J. Still and Lois Ann Roark Still{{Cite web |title=Historical Milestones {{!}} UVA Wise |url=https://www.uvawise.edu/about/our-history-mission/historical-milestones |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=www.uvawise.edu |language=en}}) residence hall. The college also renovated and constructed an addition to the Leonard W. Sandridge Science Center; it is now LEED Silver certified.

As of September 2010, the college offered 31 majors, 31 minors and 23 teaching specialties and had an enrollment of about 2,005 students.{{cite web |url=http://www.uvawise.edu/about/Facts |title=Facts – The University of Virginia's College at Wise |work=University of Virginia College at Wise |access-date=2011-05-28}} On February 2, 2012, UVA Wise saw the unexpected death of Chancellor David J. Prior.{{cite news|last=Igo|first=Steve|publisher=Kingsport Times-News|url=http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9041738|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215710/http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9041738|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 3, 2016|title=UVa-Wise mourns death of chancellor|date=February 2, 2012|access-date=April 25, 2012}} During his seven years as chancellor, the college experienced dramatic growth in student enrollment and facilities. During his tenure, the UVA Wise's five-year fund raising campaign, known as the "Fulfilling the Dream" campaign, exceeded its goal to raise $50 million.

In April 2024, the college celebrated the opening of its new Pippin-Wyllie Nursing facility in the former location of the library, which at the time was called Pippin-Wyllie Library.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-12 |title=UVA Wise Honors the Opening of its $16.6 million state-of-the art Nursing Education Facility {{!}} UVA Wise |url=https://www.uvawise.edu/news/2024/04/uva-wise-honors-opening-its-166-million-state-art-nursing-education-facility |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=www.uvawise.edu |language=en}}

State lawmakers and regional leaders joined college officials on July 1, 2009, to break ground for a $30 million Convocation Center, the largest single capital project in the college's history at that time.{{cite news |last=Staff |date=June 21, 2009 |title=UVa-Wise to hold groundbreaking ceremony for Convocation Center |url=http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9014694 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222119/http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9014694 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |access-date=April 25, 2012 |publisher=Kingsport Times-News}} The facility seats 3,000 for sporting events and 3,600 for concerts or convocation activities.{{Cite web |title=David J. Prior Convocation Center {{!}} UVA Wise |url=https://www.uvawise.edu/college-life/campus/campus-facilities/david-j-prior-convocation-center |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=www.uvawise.edu |language=en}} The facility provides the region with its first venue to seat large crowds,{{Vague|date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}}} something economic developers have said is needed to boost growth and development in far Southwest Virginia.{{cite web |title=Building the Dream: a campaign |url=http://www.uvawise.edu/building/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230555/http://www.uvawise.edu/building/ |archive-date=2016-03-03 |access-date=2009-07-01 |work=University of Virginia College at Wise (home page)}} The facility opened in 2011.{{Cite web |title=Historical Milestones {{!}} UVA Wise |url=https://www.uvawise.edu/about/our-history-mission/historical-milestones |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=www.uvawise.edu |language=en}} Shortly after the death of Chancellor David J. Prior in February 2012, the facility was dedicated in his honor and named the David J. Prior Convocation Center.{{cite news |last=Robinson |first=Allie |date=March 24, 2012 |title=David J. Prior Convocation Center named in honor of beloved late chancellor |url=http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/mar/24/david-j-prior-convocation-center-named-honor-belov-ar-1790025/ |access-date=April 25, 2012 |work=TriCities.com |publisher=Bristol Herald Courier}}

File:2017-06-12 11 46 34 View north along Virginia State Route 382 at Coeburn Mountain Road (Virginia State Secondary Route 646) at the University of Virginia's College at Wise in Wise County, Virginia.jpg]]

The University of Virginia's College at Wise comprises {{cvt|396|acre}} just outside of the small town of Wise.{{cite web|url=http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/uva-wise-3747|title=University of Virginia--Wise |publisher=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=December 19, 2016}} It is approximately {{convert|52|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} from Kingsport, Tennessee and {{convert|48.5|mi|abbr=on}} from Pikeville, Kentucky.{{Cn|date=October 2024}}

Crockett and Bowers-Sturgill Halls are two examples of a regionally-distinct architecture: simple buildings of local sandstone with shallow-pitched hip roofs and pronounced overhangs. In 2000, VMDO Architects completed an architectural palette plan that the school has followed since.

The university is its own census-designated place, in unincorporated Wise County, Virginia. The school district serving the CDP is Wise County Public Schools.{{cite web |title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Wise County, VA |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st51_va/schooldistrict_maps/c51195_wise/DC20SD_C51195.pdf |access-date=2024-09-27 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st51_va/schooldistrict_maps/c51195_wise/DC20SD_C51195_SD2MS.txt Text list]

The series of small buildings on Clinch Valley Drive, some of which had been transported to the school in the 1960s, have been slowly supplanted by larger student residence halls.{{cite web|url=https://www.uvawise.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/pages/2020-08/Capital-Operations-UVA-Wise-2025-Campus-Plan.pdf|title=UVA-WISE 2025 CAMPUS PLAN|publisher=University of Virginia's College at Wise|access-date=2024-10-23|page=21 (PDF p. 25/45}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fm.virginia.edu/docs/conditionReport/2021-22FacilitiesConditionReport.pdf|title=REPORT ON THE CONDITION OF UNIVERSITY FACILITIES For the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2022|publisher=University of Virginia's College at Wise|access-date=2024-10-23|page=21/29}} The remaining buildings have now been converted to fulfill other, non-housing, functions.{{Cite web |date=October 23, 2024 |title=UVA Visitor Map |url=https://atlas.fm.virginia.edu/portal/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=c54aefa568904e018601a0447eb722bf |at=Type "UVACW" in the search bar to navigate to the UVA-Wise Campus}}

UVA Wise is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate degrees.{{cite web |url=http://www.sacscoc.org/%5C/pdf/webmemlist.pdf |title=SACSCOC Member and Candidate List |publisher=Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |date=July 2016 |access-date=29 December 2016}} In addition, the college's computer science and software engineering degree programs are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET),{{cite web |url=http://main.abet.org/aps/AccreditedProgramsDetails.aspx?OrganizationID=5786&ProgramIDs=4562 |title=The University of Virginia's College at Wise |publisher=Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. |date=1 October 2016 |access-date=29 December 2016}} the nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE),{{cite web |url=http://directory.ccnecommunity.org/reports/rptAccreditedPrograms_New.asp?state=VA&sFullName=Virginia&sProgramType=1 |title=CCNE-Accredited Baccalaureate Nursing Degree Programs |publisher=American Association of Colleges of Nursing |date=n.d. |access-date=29 December 2016}} the teacher education program is accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC),{{cite web |url=http://caepnet.org/provider-search?tab=provider&state=VA#provresults |title=Accredited Provider & Recognized Program Search |publisher=Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation |date=n.d. |access-date=29 December 2016}} and the chemistry program is accredited by the American Chemical Society (ACS).{{cite web |url=http://www.roanoke.com/news/education/higher_education/uva-wise-garners-american-chemical-society-accreditation/article_7ea16d16-571a-5db4-bc1a-43cbcbbfc615.html |title=UVa-Wise garners American Chemical Society accreditation |last=Irby |first=Zach |publisher=The Roanoke Times |date=18 April 2018 |access-date=1 May 2018}}

File:UVA-Wise 2020 - 50602845736.jpg

UVA Wise has ten departments:

• Department of Business & Economics
• Department of Communications
• Department of Education
• Department of History & Philosophy
• Department of Language and Literature
• Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
• Department of Natural Sciences
• Department of Nursing
• Department of Social Sciences
• Department of Visual and Performing Arts

The college requires all freshmen to enroll in a one-semester seminar that covers adjusting to the demands of college academic work. The seminar used to cover two semesters, until it was modified in the 2012-13 fall semester.{{cite news |url=http://www.highlandcavalier.com/2012/04/27/freshman-seminar-modified-for-fall/ |title=Freshman Seminar Modified for Fall |first=Jessica |last=Shartouny |publisher=The Highland Cavalier |date=27 April 2012 |access-date=2 January 2017 }} Before the modified seminar, the student's seminar instructor became his or her advisor until the student selected a major.{{cite web |url=http://www.uvawise.edu/admissions/expedition/|title=Academics: First-year experience |publisher=College at Wise |access-date=2015-05-25}} Presently, if the student is unsure of the major that he or she wants to be in, the Advising Office becomes the student's adviser.

The college has a 48-49 semester-hour general education requirement.{{Cite web |title=General Education Liberal Arts Core - The University of Virginia at Wise - Modern Campus Catalog™ |url=http://catalog.uvawise.edu/content.php?catoid=2&navoid=102 |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=catalog.uvawise.edu}} The general education curriculum was recently redesigned, which involved a lessening of the hour requirement.{{Cite web |date=April 11, 2024 |title=Committee on Wise Strategic Plan Update |url=https://bov.virginia.edu/sites/g/files/jsddwu1171/files/2024-04/%2724%20APR%2011%20WISE%20PRESENTATION.pdf |website=UVA Board of Visitors Past Meetings}}

Students must attend four cultural activities in each their freshman and junior years.{{cite web|url=http://www.uvawise.edu/academics/academic-advising/general-education-requirements/|title=Academic Advising - General Education Requirements|publisher=College at Wise|access-date=2015-05-25}} The college offers 3 baccalaureate degrees in 34 majors.{{Cite web |title=Majors and Minors - The University of Virginia at Wise - Modern Campus Catalog™ |url=http://catalog.uvawise.edu/content.php?catoid=2&navoid=218 |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=catalog.uvawise.edu}}

In the fall 2023 semester, the college implemented its first graduate program, the M.Ed. under the Department of Education, which is a 30 credit-hour, non-thesis program.{{Cite web |title=M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction {{!}} UVA Wise |url=https://www.uvawise.edu/academics/graduate/education |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=www.uvawise.edu |language=en}} It is also developing an MSN program, and SACSCOC recently visited the campus to complete a change of level of its accreditation.

There are two Greek life organizations on campus. Sigma Alpha Omega is the sorority{{Cite web |title=Sorority Life {{!}} UVA Wise |url=https://www.uvawise.edu/college-life/clubs-organizations/greek-life/sorority-life |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=www.uvawise.edu |language=en}} and Alpha Gamma Omega is the fraternity.{{Cite web |title=Fraternity Life {{!}} UVA Wise |url=https://www.uvawise.edu/college-life/clubs-organizations/greek-life/fraternity-life |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=www.uvawise.edu |language=en}}

The Highland Cavalier is the student-run newspaper.{{cite web|url=http://www.highlandcavalier.com/ |title=The Highland Cavalier - The Official Student newspaper of The University of Virginia's College at Wise |publisher=The Highland Cavalier | date=n.d. |access-date=6 May 2017}}

The college also has a biannual literary journal, Jimson Weed.{{cite web| url=https://www.uvawise.edu/2015/02/11/jimson-weed-accepting-submissions-for-spring-2015-issue/ |title=Jimson Weed accepting submissions for spring 2015 issue |first=Dalena |last=Adams |publisher=The University of Virginia's College at Wise |date=11 February 2015 |access-date=6 May 2017 }}

{{Main|UVA Wise Cavaliers}}

File:UVA-Wise 2020 - 50602137823.jpg

The UVA Wise athletic teams are called the Cavaliers (formerly known as the "Highland Cavaliers" before 2017),{{cite web |title=Highland Cavaliers |url=http://www.uvawise.edu/athletics/index.html |work=University of Virginia College at Wise (home page) |access-date=2008-09-05}} The college is a member of the NCAA Division II ranks, primarily competing in the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) since the 2019–20 academic year.{{cite press release|url=http://www.thesac.com/general/2017-18/releases/20180412oqr6fx |title=The University of Virginia's College at Wise to Join South Atlantic Conference in 2019-20 |publisher=South Atlantic Conference |date=April 13, 2018 |access-date=September 19, 2018}} The Cavaliers previously competed in the D-II Mountain East Conference (MEC) from 2013–14 to 2018–19.

Prior joining the NCAA, UVA Wise previously competed in the Mid-South Conference (MSC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 2010–11 to 2012–13 (with a partial provisional membership as a core member of the D-II Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) during their D-II transition within the 2012–13 school year); in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) from 2001–02 to 2009–10; the Tennessee Valley Athletic Conference from 1994–95 to 2000–01; and in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC; known as the River States Conference (RSC) since the 2016–17 school year) from 1971–72 to 1993–94.

UVA Wise competes in 13 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf and tennis; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, softball, tennis and volleyball.

Since moving to NCAA Division II in 2013, the school has claimed conference titles in softball and men's golf. Most recently, in 2018, their women’s lacrosse program went undefeated in the regular season and finished with a conference championship in their former home of the Mountain East Conference.{{Cn|date=October 2024}}

The college's student newspaper, the Highland Cavalier,{{Cite web |title=Special Collections |url=https://library.uvawise.edu/client/en_US/uvawiselibrary/?rm=SPECIAL+COLLEC0%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=library.uvawise.edu}} published its first edition in 1955, two years after the founding of the college. However, the most recent edition was published in 2014, almost ten years ago.{{Cite web |title=Highland Cavalier Archives |url=https://library.uvawise.edu/client/en_US/uvawiselibrary/?rm=HIGHLAND+CAVAL0%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=library.uvawise.edu}}

{{As of|2012}}, the college broadcasts student news on channel 55, a public access cable station, under the call sign CAV-TV.{{Cite news |last=Galyean |first=Todd |date=December 5, 2012 |title=Professor hosts political TV program |url=https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=HLC20121205.1.2 |archive-url= |archive-date= |volume=64 |issue=6}}

• Hakeem Abdul-Saboor, Olympic bobsledder
• Jerry Kilgore, politician. During 1987 and 1988, Kilgore served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia. He was Secretary of Public Safety under Governor George Allen from 1994 to 1998 and was elected Attorney General of Virginia in 2001 by a wide margin.
• Terry Kilgore, politician, elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1993; graduated from Clinch Valley College (now UVA Wise).
• Randy Hippeard, professional football player.
• Steven Williams, YouTube personality known as Boogie2988, attended the school but did not graduate. {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ1cUup0ATg |title=Draw My Life - Boogie2988 (Aka Francis) |date=April 10, 2013 |last=Williams |first=Steven Jason |type=Video |language=English |time=4:22}}

The University of Virginia's College at Wise was delineated as a census designated place in the 2020 U.S. Census.{{Cite web|title=2020 Geography Changes|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/technical-documentation/table-and-geography-changes/2020/geography-changes.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=}}

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