College of William & Mary facts for kids

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The College of William & Mary in Virginia

Latin: Collegium Gulielmi et Mariae
Type	Royal college (1693–1776) Private college (1776–1906) Public research university
Established	February 8, 1693; 332 years ago (1693-02-08)
Accreditation	SACS
Religious affiliation	Nonsectarian, formerly Church of England and Episcopal Church
Academic affiliations	ORAU SCHEV URA Sea-grant Space-grant
Endowment	$1.3 billion (2021)
Chancellor	Robert Gates
President	Katherine Rowe
Rector	Charles Poston
Academic staff	738 full-time, 183 part-time (2020)
Students	9,517 (Fall 2022)
Undergraduates	6,543 (Fall 2022)
Postgraduates	2,974 (Fall 2022)
Location	Williamsburg , Virginia , United States 37°16′15″N 76°42′30″W / 37.27083°N 76.70833°W / 37.27083; -76.70833
Campus	Small suburb, 1,200 acres (4.9 km²)
Other campuses	Gloucester Point Newport News Washington, D.C.
Newspaper	The Flat Hat
Colors	Green and gold
Nickname	Tribe
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FCS – CAA EIGL
Mascot	The Griffin

The College of William & Mary in Virginia (often called W&M) is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. It was started in 1693 by a special paper from King William III and Queen Mary II. This makes it the second-oldest college in the United States. It is also the ninth-oldest college in the world where English is spoken.

Many important people went to William & Mary. Three U.S. Presidents, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and John Tyler, studied here. Other famous people include Peyton Randolph, the first President of the Continental Congress, and John Marshall, a Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Because of its strong ties to America's Founding Fathers, it's known as "the Alma Mater of the Nation." Even George Washington got his surveyor's license from the college in 1749. He later became the college's first American chancellor.

William & Mary is famous for many "firsts" in American higher education. The F.H.C. Society, started in 1750, was the first college club in the U.S. Students also founded Phi Beta Kappa in 1776, which was the first Greek-letter honor society. In 1736, W&M was the first school in the future U.S. to have a student honor code. It's also the only American university with a special coat of arms from the College of Arms in London. The William & Mary Law School is the oldest law school in the U.S. The Wren Building, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, is the oldest college building still standing in the country.

Discovering William & Mary's Past

How the College Began (1693–1776)

King William III and Queen Mary II, who the college is named after.

James Blair, who helped start William & Mary.

Leaders in the Colony of Virginia wanted a college for both Native American young men and the sons of colonists. The college officially opened on February 8, 1693. It was named after the rulers at the time, King William III and Queen Mary II. This made it the second-oldest college in the United States.

Plans for a college actually started much earlier, in 1618, but were stopped by conflicts and changes in government. In 1695, before Williamsburg was even a town, construction began on the College Building. This building is now known as the Sir Christopher Wren Building. It is the oldest college building in America. James Blair became the college's first president. William & Mary was first an Anglican school, meaning students and professors had to be part of the Church of England.

In 1693, the college was given a special place in the government and was supported by taxes on tobacco and furs. The new school opened in temporary buildings in 1694. Williamsburg became the capital of Colonial Virginia in 1699. During this time, the college was a center for law and educated many future leaders.

Changes and Growth (After the Revolution)

U.S. presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe studied at William & Mary.

After the American Revolution, Virginia allowed more freedom of religion. In 1779, the college started graduate programs in law and medicine. This made it one of the first true universities in the United States. Leaders like Thomas Jefferson helped the college change. They ended the Divinity School and the Indian School. They also started the first system where students could choose their own courses and an honor system.

William & Mary is home to the nation's first college secret society, the F.H.C. Society, founded in 1750. Later, in 1776, students started Phi Beta Kappa, the first Greek-letter society. Other secret societies still exist at the college today.

In 1859, a big fire destroyed the College Building. The Alumni House is one of the few original buildings left from before the Civil War. Other old buildings include the Wren Building, the President's House, and the Brafferton.

Civil War and Rebuilding (1861–Early 1900s)

The College Building from 1859–1862, with Italianate towers.

During the American Civil War (1861–1865), many students joined the Confederate States Army. The college closed in 1861. The College Building was used as a barracks and hospital. In 1862, Union soldiers accidentally set fire to the College Building.

After the war, the college struggled financially. It reopened in 1869 but closed again in 1882 due to lack of money. In 1888, Virginia's government helped the college reopen as a teacher-training school. In 1906, the state officially took over the college, and it has been publicly supported ever since. In 1918, William & Mary was one of the first universities in Virginia to allow women to attend.

The Wren Building, around 1902.

A professor named W. A. R. Goodwin helped convince John D. Rockefeller Jr. to fund the restoration of Williamsburg in 1926. This led to the creation of Colonial Williamsburg. The college's historic buildings, like the Wren Building, President's House, and Brafferton, were also restored during this time.

Modern Era (1930–Present)

The Brafferton building, around 1907.

In 1930, William & Mary opened a branch in Norfolk, Virginia, which later became Old Dominion University. The Sunken Garden was built in 1935, inspired by a garden in London.

In 1945, a student newspaper editor, Marilyn Kaemmerle, wrote an article supporting an end to racial segregation. The university tried to remove her, but over a thousand students protested. She was allowed to graduate, and the college later apologized to her.

In 1951, the college admitted its first African-American student, Hulon Willis, for a graduate program. However, all programs were not open to African-American students until around 1970. In 2022, the Hearth: Memorial to the Enslaved was dedicated to remember enslaved people who worked at the college.

William & Mary has kept its ties to the United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother visited in 1954. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visited in 1957 and 2007. Other royal family members have also visited.

Exploring the Campus

The Sir Christopher Wren Building is the oldest college building in the United States.

The college campus covers about 1,200 acres in Williamsburg, Virginia. In 2011, Travel+Leisure magazine called William & Mary one of the most beautiful college campuses in the U.S.

The Sir Christopher Wren Building is the oldest college building in the United States. It's a National Historic Landmark. It was named after the famous English architect Sir Christopher Wren during its renovation in 1931. Two other old buildings, the Brafferton and the President's House, are also part of the "Ancient Campus."

Earl Gregg Swem Library on New Campus.

Beyond the old buildings, there's "Old Campus" with the Sunken Garden. Then there's "New Campus," built mostly between 1950 and 1980. It has academic buildings and dorms. Recent construction has added new buildings and renovated older ones, often using eco-friendly designs. The campus also includes woodlands and Lake Matoaka, a large artificial lake.

In recent years, some buildings have been renamed to honor important figures and reflect the college's values. For example, Morton Hall was renamed John E. Boswell Hall, and Taliaferro Hall became Hulon L. Willis Sr. Hall.

How William & Mary is Run

Katherine Rowe became the twenty-eighth president of William & Mary in 2018.

A group called the Board of Visitors manages the college. They are appointed by the Governor of Virginia. This board chooses the college president and other leaders.

The Chancellor of the College of William & Mary is an honorary role. Historically, it was held by English leaders. After the American Revolution, George Washington became the first American chancellor. More recently, famous people like Margaret Thatcher (a former British Prime Minister) and Robert M. Gates (a former U.S. Secretary of Defense) have been chancellors.

The president of the college is in charge of daily operations. Katherine A. Rowe became the first female president of the college in 2018. The college also has different schools, each led by a dean, like the Business School and the Law School.

Academics and Learning

The Tyler Garden shows the connection between William & Mary and the Tyler family in U.S. politics.

William & Mary is a public research university with a strong focus on its four-year undergraduate program. It also has graduate programs in areas like American history and marine science. The college offers special programs, including a joint engineering degree with Columbia University and a liberal arts program with the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

The college has a low student-to-faculty ratio, meaning there are fewer students for each professor. This helps students get more attention from their teachers. Most classes are taught by professors, not teaching assistants. William & Mary also has exchange programs with many foreign schools.

Student Life and Admissions

William & Mary is a very selective school. For the class entering in Fall 2021, about 30% of applicants were admitted. Students come from all over the U.S. and other countries. The college tries to help students who need financial aid.

College Rankings

William & Mary is often ranked highly. In 2022–23, U.S. News & World Report ranked it as the 13th-best public university in the U.S. It was also ranked 4th for undergraduate teaching. Forbes ranked it as the 9th best public college in the U.S. in 2019.

Publications and Student Journals

The college publishes the William and Mary Quarterly, a scholarly journal about colonial history. Students also publish several journals, like The Monitor for international studies and The James Blair Historical Review for history.

Student publications include The William & Mary Review (literary magazine), The Flat Hat (student newspaper), and The Colonial Echo (yearbook). The college also has its own student-run radio station, WCWM, and a TV station, WMTV.

Meet the Faculty

Chief Justice John Marshall studied at William & Mary with George Wythe.

Many important teachers have worked at William & Mary. George Wythe was the first law professor in the U.S. He taught famous people like Thomas Jefferson and John Marshall. William Small, a beloved mentor to Thomas Jefferson, also taught here.

More recently, the college has had faculty like Lawrence Wilkerson, who was chief of staff for Colin Powell. Susan Wise Bauer, a well-known author, teaches writing. Iyabo Obasanjo, a former senator of Nigeria, teaches Kinesiology.

Student Life and Traditions

The Sunken Garden is a main feature of the Old Campus.

The campus has many facilities for students, including a large gym and outdoor recreation programs. The campus also has its own lake and outdoor theater. The beach is about an hour away, and Washington, D.C. is a few hours north.

Alma Mater Productions (AMP) brings concerts, comedians, and speakers to campus. Students run many clubs and organizations, including cultural groups like the Black Student Organization and Hillel (the Jewish student group).

College Traditions

The Crim Dell bridge, in the middle of campus.

William & Mary has many unique traditions. One is the Yule Log Ceremony, where the president dresses as Santa Claus and reads a story. This tradition started because a German professor at the college, Charles Minnigerode, helped bring the custom of decorating Christmas trees to America in 1842.

New students participate in Opening Convocation, walking through the Wren Building to be welcomed. Graduating seniors do a similar "Senior Walk" and get to ring the bell in the Wren Building's tower.

Charter Day, on February 8, celebrates the college's founding. Past speakers have included famous leaders like Henry Kissinger and Margaret Thatcher.

An unofficial tradition called the "Triathlon" involves three activities: jumping the walls of the Governor's Palace, running through the Sunken Garden, and swimming in the Crim Dell.

Student Government and Honor System

The Student Assembly is the student government. It helps fund student groups and speaks for students to the college and the City of Williamsburg.

William & Mary's honor system was started by Thomas Jefferson in 1779. It is believed to be the first in the nation. New students promise not to lie, cheat, or steal. This system is managed by students through the Honor Council.

Fraternities and Sororities

Sorority Court on "Old Campus."

William & Mary has a long history of fraternities and sororities. The first college fraternity, the F.H.C. Society, was founded here in 1750. Phi Beta Kappa, the first Greek-letter fraternity, was also founded at the college in 1776. Today, about one-third of students are part of these groups.

Secret Societies

The college has several student secret societies, including the F.H.C Society, the Seven Society, and the 13 Club.

The Queen's Guard

The Western Union Building, where the Army ROTC offices are.

The Queen's Guard was started in 1961. It is a special unit that represents the college at events. Their uniforms look similar to the Scots Guards in the United Kingdom.

Music and Comedy

William & Mary has many collegiate a cappella groups, like The Christopher Wren Singers and The Gentlemen of the College. There are also larger music groups, including a symphony orchestra and choirs. The student radio station, WCWM, has been on air since 1959.

For comedy, there are improv groups like I.T. (Improvisational Theatre) and Sandbox Improv. There's also a sketch comedy group called 7th Grade Sketch Comedy.

Athletics and Sports

Tribe football players celebrating a touchdown at Zable Stadium in 2022.

William & Mary's sports teams are called the "Tribe." They compete in NCAA Division I in many sports for men and women, including basketball, soccer, tennis, and track and field. The football team plays in the Division I-AA semifinals. The men's cross country team has also done very well in national championships.

In 2006, the NCAA asked the college to change its athletic logo, which had two feathers, because it could be offensive to Native Americans. The college agreed to stop using the feathers. The "Tribe" nickname itself was allowed to stay.

In 2020, the college announced it would cut some sports due to money concerns. However, after protests and a possible lawsuit, some women's sports were brought back.

Famous Alumni

Many influential people have graduated from William & Mary. This includes four U.S. Presidents, four U.S. Supreme Court justices, and many U.S. senators and government officials.