University of West Georgia

In 1906 the decision to create the Fourth District Agricultural and Mechanical School occurred in response to a call for a "more realistic educational program for rural youth" aged 13 to 21. [ 9 ] The Bonner plantation was chosen as the location for the school. John H. Melson served as the school's first principal from 1908 to 1920. John Melson and his wife Penelope worked intimately alongside the students who attended the school and further enhanced the institution. [ 10 ] In addition, Penelope Melson was the one responsible for creating the library at the college. In January 1908, she conducted a "book shower" which provided the school with a little over 300 manuscripts. [ 11 ] In 1920 Irvine S. Ingram, whom UWG's library is named after, became Melson's successor and the second principal of the A&M school. He married fellow faculty member Martha Munro in 1921 and they had one daughter, Anne, in 1924. Ingram was instrumental in developing the concept of "extension" education and adult-education offerings along with a summer school program for local teachers to develop their skills. [ 11 ] The school's name ( Fourth District Agricultural and Mechanical School ) was changed to West Georgia College in 1933 and it became a two-year institution . When this occurred, Ingram became the college's first president. He served until 1960 and was succeeded by William H. Row. Shortly after, Row died from a heart attack and Ingram filled in as president for six months in 1961 until James E. Boyd was appointed to the position. [ 11 ] While president, Ingram saw West Georgia become a four-year institution in 1957.

[ 1 ] He can also be credited with obtaining a substantial grant of $250,000 from the Rosenwald Foundation used to expand the college's facilities and programs, including the Sanford building, originally used as a library and creating the College in the Country program, initially an adult or continuing education program that eventually involved student teachers from the college, and foreign exchange programs that brought national recognition to the college. James E. Boyd , became the president of West Georgia College in 1961. [ 12 ] [ 13 ] Boyd is most known for peacefully integrating the campus (without waiting for a court order) in 1963 by inviting a young black woman, Lillian Williams, to attend the college; she would eventually earn two degrees in education and earn the college's highest honor, the Founder's Award, in 1985. [ 12 ] [ 13 ] [ 14 ] In May 1964, Boyd invited Robert F. Kennedy to the dedication of the campus chapel as the Kennedy Chapel, as U.S. president John F. Kennedy 's death had occurred in November 1963. Robert would promote the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which was being debated in the United States Senate . [ 12 ] [ 15 ] Boyd dramatically expanded the college during his tenure in both headcount and academic diversity. In sheer numbers, there were 1089 students upon his arrival and 5503 students upon his departure. [ 14 ] [ 16 ] In 1959, there were two degrees and five programs available; in 1969–70 there were seven degrees and 45 programs. There were 94 graduate students in 1961 and 741 in 1969, due to the first master's programs being offered in 1967. [ 13 ] [ 14 ] In 1969 alone, 80 new faculty members were hired, a number larger than the total number of faculty members a decade prior. [ 14 ] Several new buildings, including but not limited to nine residence halls and five academic buildings, were constructed.

Policy changes occurred as well: in 1966, the curfew for junior and senior women was abolished, and fraternities and sororities were allowed on campus. [ 14 ] In 1970, Boyd was named Georgia's first vice chancellor for academic development, effective once his successor was found, which occurred in 1971; it was Emory University and Duke University graduate Ward Pafford . [ 17 ] Segregation Until 1963, the college did not admit African-American students. In 1955 and 1956 Jeff Long, a teacher at Carver High School , encouraged students to apply for admission to West Georgia. Every senior applied, and every student was denied admission on the basis of their race. President Boyd racially integrated the campus in 1963. The first Black student was Lillian Williams, a mother of 4 and teacher in the non-integrated Carroll County School System . In 2002, President Sethna apologized to the Carver class of 1955. A scholarship fund has been started for descendants of the Carver students who were denied admission. There is also a scholarship in the name of Lillian Williams, for any mothers who want to start or continue their education. [ 18 ] [ 19 ]

The university offers numerous programs of study at the undergraduate , graduate , and doctoral levels through the Richards College of Business, the Tanner Health System School of Nursing, the College of Education, the College of Arts, Culture, and Scientific Inquiry, The School of Communication, Film, and Media, and the Honors College. The university also offers Certificate Programs and Specialist programs for Educators to help undergraduate and graduate students better their profession. In addition, the university was one of few in the United States to hold a residential, early entrance to college opportunity for high school juniors and seniors, the Advanced Academy of Georgia . Advanced Academy students took college courses and resided on campus under the supervision of professional residential staff. More information National ... University rankings National U.S. News & World Report 293-381 Washington Monthly [ 20 ] 200 Close Psychology program The university is one of only two public universities in the United States offering a psychology program with a humanistic and transpersonal focus. In 1967, Mike Arons, a student of Abraham Maslow , Paul Ricoeur , and Jim Klee became chair of the West Georgia psychology department. Jim Thomas, then on the psychology faculty at West Georgia, and others had asked Maslow to recommend someone to them to initiate a humanistic emphasis there, and Arons was Maslow's recommendation. [ 21 ] The department has offered a Ph.D. in psychology since the fall of 2011. In February 2011 The Ph.D., "Psychology: Consciousness and Society," was approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.