University of North Carolina Wilmington facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Former names	Wilmington College (1947–1969)
Motto	Discere Aude (Latin)
Motto in English	"Dare to Learn"
Type	Public research university
Established	September 4, 1947; 77 years ago (1947-09-04)
Parent institution	University of North Carolina
Accreditation	SACS
Academic affiliations	CUMU
Endowment	$103.8 million (2020)
Chancellor	Aswani K. Volety
Provost	James J. Winebrake
Academic staff	1,012
Administrative staff	1,397
Students	18,030 (2021)
Undergraduates	14,448 (2021)
Postgraduates	3,265
Location	Wilmington , North Carolina , United States 34°13′33″N 77°52′24″W / 34.22583°N 77.87333°W / 34.22583; -77.87333
Campus	Midsize city, 661 acres (2.67 km2)
Newspaper	The Seahawk
Colors	Teal, navy, and gold
Nickname	Seahawks
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FCS – CAA Sun Belt
Mascot	Sammy C. Hawk

The University of North Carolina Wilmington (often called UNCW or UNC Wilmington) is a public university in Wilmington, North Carolina. It is a place where students can do a lot of research. UNCW is part of the larger University of North Carolina school system. Each year, about 17,500 students attend UNCW to learn and grow.

UNCW first opened its doors on September 4, 1947. Back then, it was called Wilmington College and was a junior college. This meant it offered the first two years of college classes. Many of its first students were World War II veterans. In 1963, it became a four-year college. Then, in 1969, it became a university and got its current name. Today, UNCW has three campuses, including its main one in Wilmington.

History of UNCW

Main entrance on South College Road

UNCW started as Wilmington College on September 4, 1947. It was a junior college, offering classes for first-year students. There were 238 students in the first year. A large number of these students (77%) were veterans from World War II. The college quickly earned approval from different school groups. This showed it was a good place to learn.

Arches next to Morton and Leutze halls

In 1958, the college became a state-supported school. This meant the state of North Carolina helped fund it. This change helped the college grow even more.

On July 1, 1963, Wilmington College became a four-year college. This allowed students to earn a bachelor's degree. Just six years later, on July 1, 1969, the college became a university. It joined the University of North Carolina system. In 1977, UNCW started offering master's degree programs. This meant students could continue their studies even further.

What Students Learn at UNCW

Cameron Hall, the main building of the Cameron School of Business

UNCW has eight main schools or "colleges" where students can study different subjects:

• Cameron School of Business (for business)
• College of Health and Human Services (for health and helping people)
• College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts (for arts, history, and people studies)
• College of Science and Engineering (for science and building things)
• Watson College of Education (for becoming a teacher)
• Graduate School (for advanced degrees)
• Honors College (for high-achieving students)
• University College (for new students exploring options)

The university offers many different study programs. Students can choose from 55 bachelor's degrees. There are also 35 master's degrees and four doctoral degrees.

University Rankings

Many groups rank universities to show how good they are. UNCW is often ranked among the top universities. These rankings look at things like how well students do and how much research the university does.

Randall Library: A Place to Study

Main entrance of Randall Library

The William Madison Randall Library is a big building with two floors. On the first floor, you can find computers and places for group work. There's also a coffee shop for students. The second floor is a quiet area for serious studying.

Construction of the Randall Library annex in July 2023

The library is getting bigger! A new four-story addition is being built. This new part will add a lot more space for students. It is expected to be finished in April 2024. While they wait, the library staff makes sure students have fun activities and clubs.

Life as a UNCW Student

Campus Colors and Student Stats

The official color of UNCW is teal. Other important colors are navy and gold.

In 2018, new students coming to UNCW had an average high school GPA of 4.13. Their average SAT score was 1251. This shows that UNCW students are often very good at school.

Fun Places for Students

Chancellor's Walk, the center of campus, around midafternoon

The Student Recreation Center opened in 2000. It's a great place for students, staff, and teachers to exercise. It has basketball courts, exercise machines, and a climbing wall. There's also a room for group classes like yoga. In 2012, the center got even bigger. It now has a new swimming pool!

Lumina Theater is a movie theater on campus. It's named after an old boardwalk theater. Lumina has comfy stadium seats and a big screen. It shows all kinds of movies, from new blockbusters to student films. You can catch a movie there several days a week.

Where Students Live

UNCW has many places for students to live right on campus. There are 35 different residence halls and apartment buildings. These buildings are grouped into areas. Each area has leaders who help students. The Residence Hall Association (RHA) is a student group that helps manage all the dorms.

A large group of dorms on the south side of campus houses almost 2,400 students. These include Belk, Graham, Hewlett, Loggerhead, Pelican, Sandpiper, and Terrapin Halls. Galloway Hall was the very first dorm built at UNCW. It was special because it was the first dorm in the UNC system with air conditioning! Many dorms are set up as "suites" where a few students share a bathroom. Newer halls like Pelican and Sandpiper have a "pod-style" layout.

Leutze Lake and the campus clock tower at the end of Chancellor's Walk

Schwartz Hall is another dorm for first-year students. Near it are the University Suites and the Fraternity and Sorority Village. This village has special suites for different Greek organizations.

There are also three apartment complexes on campus: Seahawk Village, Seahawk Crossing, and Seahawk Landing. These apartments are usually for older students or graduate students. They offer more space and privacy, often with two, three, or four bedrooms. Some even have pools just for residents!

Greek Life: Fraternities and Sororities

Many students at UNCW join fraternities (for men) and sororities (for women). About 9.8% of students are part of these groups. They are social organizations that often do community service and host events. There are many different groups to choose from on campus.

UNCW Sports Teams

Entrance of Brooks Field

The sports teams at UNCW are called the Seahawks. They compete in NCAA's Division I. This is the highest level of college sports. UNCW has 18 different teams. There are 8 teams for men and 10 for women.

Men's sports include baseball, basketball, soccer, and tennis. Women's sports include basketball, soccer, softball, and volleyball. The Seahawks are part of the Colonial Athletic Association. The basketball teams play at Trask Coliseum, and the baseball team plays at Brooks Field. The team colors are navy blue, teal, and gold, just like the university's colors!

Famous People from UNCW

Alumni (Former Students)

Many people who went to UNCW have gone on to do amazing things.

Faculty (Teachers)

UNCW has many talented teachers. Here are a few:

• Clyde Edgerton, who teaches creative writing.
• Peter Jurasik, who teaches acting for the camera.
• Joseph R. Pawlik, a distinguished professor of marine biology.

See also

In Spanish: Universidad de Carolina del Norte en Wilmington para niños