Tennessee Wesleyan University facts for kids
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Former names
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Athens Female College (1857–1866) East Tennessee Wesleyan College (1866–1967) East Tennessee Wesleyan University (1867–1886) Grant Memorial University (1886–1889) U.S. Grant Memorial University (1889–1906) Athens School of the University of Chattanooga (1906–1925) Tennessee Wesleyan College (1925–2016) |
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| Motto | Lux et Veritas |
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Motto in English
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Light and Truth |
| Type | Private university |
| Established | 1857 |
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Religious affiliation
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United Methodist Church |
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Academic affiliations
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NAICU IAMSCU |
| President | Dr. Tyler Forrest |
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Academic staff
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184 |
| Students | 1,052 |
| Location |
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U.S.
35°26′43″N 84°35′40″W / 35.4453°N 84.5944°W |
| Campus | Small city |
| Colors | Blue & White |
| Nickname | Bulldogs |
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Sporting affiliations
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NAIA – Appalachian |
Tennessee Wesleyan University (TWU) is a private university in Athens, Tennessee. It's connected to the United Methodist Church. This university started way back in 1857!
TWU also has a campus in Knoxville. Here, students can take evening classes for business or study nursing.
Contents
University History
Tennessee Wesleyan University has a long and interesting history. It first opened its doors in 1857. Back then, it was called Athens Female College. It only had one building, which is now known as Old College.
Changes Over Time
In 1866, the college changed its name to East Tennessee Wesleyan College. A year later, in 1867, it became East Tennessee Wesleyan University. At that time, it was special because it allowed both boys and girls to study together. This was not common in the southern United States.
Later, in 1886, the college's president tried to get money from people in the northern U.S. So, he changed the name to Grant Memorial University. This name honored Ulysses S. Grant, a famous U.S. president.
In 1889, the university joined with Chattanooga University. It became the Athens branch of the new U.S. Grant Memorial University. Then, in 1906, it was renamed the Athens School of the University of Chattanooga.
Becoming Tennessee Wesleyan
In 1925, the college became separate again and was named Tennessee Wesleyan College. For a while, it was a junior college, which means it offered two-year degrees.
But in 1957, it started offering four-year bachelor's degrees. This made it a full liberal arts college.
Finally, in 2016, the school announced another name change. On July 1, 2016, it officially became Tennessee Wesleyan University. This was the first time its name had changed in 91 years!
What You Can Study
Tennessee Wesleyan University offers many different subjects for students to learn. You can earn a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree.
Degrees Offered
Here are some of the cool subjects you can study at TWU:
- Behavioral Science (understanding how people act)
- Biology (the study of living things)
- Business Administration (how to run a business)
- Chemistry (the study of matter)
- Communication (how people share ideas)
- Criminal Justice (the legal system and law enforcement)
- Education (how to become a teacher)
- English (reading, writing, and literature)
- Exercise Science (how the body works during exercise)
- Fine Art (Visual Art and Theatre)
- History (learning about the past)
- Mathematics (numbers and problem-solving)
- Music (playing instruments, singing, and composing)
- Nursing (how to care for people's health)
- Psychology (the study of the mind)
- Sociology (the study of society and groups)
- Social Work (helping people and communities)
- Special Education (teaching students with special needs)
Sports at TWU
The sports teams at Tennessee Wesleyan are called the Bulldogs. They are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). They mostly compete in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC).
TWU has 21 different sports teams!
- Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.
- Women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.
- There are also co-ed sports like cheerleading and eSports (video game competitions).
Baseball Team Success
The university's baseball team is very successful! They have won the NAIA World Series two times (in 2012 and 2019). They have also won many conference championships.
Famous People Who Went Here
Many interesting people have studied at Tennessee Wesleyan University. Here are a few:
- Carol Aebersold – She helped write the popular book The Elf on the Shelf.
- Tom Browning – A professional baseball pitcher for MLB. He's even in the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.
- Ron Campbell – Another MLB baseball player.
- John T. Raulston – A judge in a very famous trial from 1925 called the Scopes trial.
