Weber State University facts for kids
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Former names
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Weber Stake Academy (1889–1902) Weber Academy (1902–1918) Weber Normal College (1918–1922) Weber College (1922–1962) Weber State College (1962–1990) |
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| Type | Public university |
| Established | 1889 1964 (as four-year), 1991 (as university) |
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Parent institution
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Utah System of Higher Education |
| Accreditation | NWCCU |
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Academic affiliations
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CUMU |
| Endowment | $219,555,666 (2022) |
| President | Brad L. Mortensen |
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Academic staff
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1,046 |
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Administrative staff
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820 |
| Students | 29,914 (Fall 2022) |
| Undergraduates | 28,903 (Fall 2022) |
| Postgraduates | 1,011 (Fall 2022) |
| Location |
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United States
41°11′35″N 111°56′38″W / 41.193°N 111.944°W |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colors | Purple and white |
| Nickname | Wildcats |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I FCS Big Sky Conference |
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Weber State University (pronounced /ˈwiːbər/ WEE-bər) is a public university in Ogden, Utah. It was founded in 1889 as Weber Stake Academy and earned its current name in 1991.
As of fall 2023, the student population reached 30,536 students, consisting of 16,020 undergraduate students, 1,002 graduate students and 13,514 concurrent enrollment students, making it the third-largest public university in the state. Weber State University has over 225 degree programs and seven colleges, including the Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions and the College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology. Weber State is regionally accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, and many programs are accredited through national organizations.
As of fall 2023, students who identify as Hispanic or Latino make up 13% of the full-time equivalent undergraduate student body. The university is working to become an emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution, a designation given when 15% of students identify as Hispanic or Latino. The university’s athletic teams, the Wildcats, compete in the Big Sky Conference as a NCAA Division I institution.
Contents
History
Weber State University was founded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Weber Stake Academy in 1889. "Weber" comes from the name of the county where the university is located. Weber County was named after John Henry Weber, an early fur trader. The university opened for students in 1889 with 98 students enrolled for classes on January 7. The first principal of Weber Stake Academy was Louis F. Moench; he served from 1889 to 1892 and again from 1894 to 1902. In the latter year, Moench was succeeded as principal by David O. McKay, who served in that position until 1908. From 1914 to 1917, James L. Barker was the principal of the Weber Stake Academy.
In the early 20th century, the school underwent multiple name changes: Weber Stake Academy from its founding in 1889, Weber Academy in 1902, Weber Normal College in 1918, and Weber College in 1922. By the late 1920s, however, the college was in financial difficulty, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints faced four choices—transfer the college to a partnership of the city of Ogden and Weber County, transfer it to the University of Utah as a branch campus, transfer it to the state of Utah as a junior college, or shut it down. In 1931, the Utah Legislature passed a law providing for the acquisition of Weber College and Snow College from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In 1933, Weber College became a state-supported junior college. In 1954, the college moved from its downtown location in Ogden to a spacious and scenic area in the southeast bench area of the city. The school became Weber State College in 1962, and in 1964 became a four-year college. It was a charter member of the Big Sky Conference in 1963. The first graduate program (accounting), was added in 1984, and it gained university status on January 1, 1991.
Academics
Weber State University offers more than 225 certificate and degree programs provided through seven colleges:
- College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology
- College of Science
- College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
- Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions
- John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics
- Telitha E. Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities
- Jerry & Vickie Moyes College of Education
Locations
Weber State University’s Ogden campus sits along the east bench of the Wasatch Mountains in Ogden, Utah. The Ogden campus covers over 500 acres, houses 63 buildings and features residence halls accommodating more than 1,000 students.
The Dee Events Center is on the south end of the campus and houses most of the university’s indoor athletics, along with large community events and performances.
The Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts is located on Weber State’s Ogden campus. It serves as an event host for over 200 events and welcomes about 70,000 patrons annually. Founded in 1962 as the Fine Arts Center, the facility has undergone many upgrades to accommodate world-class performances.
The Ogden campus is also home to Elizabeth Hall; Hurst Center; Dumke Center; Kimball Visual Arts Center; Lampros Hall; Lindquist Hall; Lind Lecture Hall; Lindquist Alumni Center; Marriott Allied Health; McKay Education Building; Noorda Engineering, Applied Science & Technology Building; Outdoor Adventure & Welcome Center; Shepherd Union; Stewart Library; Wattis Business; Wildcat Center for Health Education and Wellness; and Wildcat Village.
Weber State’s Layton location, known as WSU Davis, is about 20 miles north of Salt Lake City and 15 miles south of Ogden. WSU Davis is a full-service campus offering access to computer labs, testing centers, a fitness center, student services and advisors. WSU Davis houses automotive technology; engineering, applied science and technology; child and family studies; business & economics; health professions; accounting and taxation; and general studies courses.
Other locations
Weber State University also offers courses and services off-campus at the Morgan Center in Morgan, Utah; Center for Continuing Education in Clearfield, Utah; Weber State Downtown in Ogden, Utah; Weber State Farmington Station in Farmington, Utah; and the Community Education Center in Ogden, Utah. Weber State also offers courses and degrees online through the Division of Online & Continuing Education.
Residence halls
Weber State’s Ogden campus offers community-style living at the Wildcat Village for students. Weber State also offers apartment-style living at University Village, located on the south end of the Ogden campus, near Utah Transit Authority’s Dee Events Center bus stop, providing access to campus.
Sustainability
Weber State University is working toward a 5-point strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. The goal includes achieving carbon neutrality for all Weber State emissions, including student and employee commuting, waste and business travel.
Weber State was one of the first universities in the country to create a plan to transition its buildings to all-electric heat pump systems. Since 2007, Weber State has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions footprint by 34%, saved nearly $16 million in utility costs and is a decade ahead of its original goal.
Athletics
The university’s athletic teams, the Wildcats, compete in the Big Sky Conference as a NCAA Division I institution. The university’s colors are purple and white. The football team plays at the Stewart Stadium, located on the Ogden campus. The men’s and women’s basketball teams play at the Dee Events Center. Additional athletic programs include men’s and women’s track and field, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, women’s soccer, cheerleading, dance, volleyball and softball.
Weber State's Spirit Squad has won six national championships. In 2023, the Wildcat team won the Grand National Championship in the Large Co-Ed Division. Weber State had the best score of any school from any division in the competition.
Weber State also has club sports through Campus Recreation, including archery, baseball, climbing, golf, hockey, men’s and women’s lacrosse, pickleball, racquetball, rodeo, roundnet, men’s and women’s rugby, running, snowboard, soccer, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting and disc golf.
Student demographics
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| White | 74% |
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| Hispanic | 12% |
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| Other | 7% |
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| Asian | 2% |
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| Black | 2% |
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| Foreign national | 1% |
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| Native American | 1% |
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| Pacific Islander | 1% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 34% |
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| Affluent | 66% |
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Student media
Weber State has an independent, student-run newspaper, The Signpost, that publishes twice weekly. The Signpost publishes the news and events on campus and around Ogden City through digital and print editions.
The university also has a student and volunteer-run online radio station, KWCR Wildcat Radio. The station teaches students how to operate a radio station and allows them to gain the skills and insight needed to compete in the job market after their studies. Students can also broadcast their own radio shows or playlists.
Metaphor is Weber State’s undergraduate literary journal, entirely run by students. For over 40 years, the magazine has highlighted students’ poetry, fiction, literary nonfiction, interviews and art.
Notable alumni and administrators
- Nolan D. Archibald – President & CEO of Black & Decker 1986 – 2010
- Mark Evans Austad – communications expert
- Davion Berry (born 1991) – basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Joseph Bishop – past president of Weber State
- Fawn Brodie – author and historian
- Paul W Draper – anthropologist, mentalist, and speaker
- H. Tracy Hall – inventor of the industrial diamond
- Ronald L. Holt – professor of anthropology
- Ben Howland – college basketball coach
- Taron Johnson – professional football player
- Phil Johnson – professional basketball coach
- David M. Kennedy – U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
- Damian Lillard – professional basketball player
- J. Willard Marriott – business magnate
- Jamie Martin – professional football player
- Paul McQuistan – professional football player
- David O. McKay – past president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Wataru Misaka – professional basketball player
- Dick Motta – professional basketball coach
- Jerry Moyes - founder of Swift Transportation
- Sean O'Connell (attended) – professional Mixed Martial Artist
- Bob Pollard – professional football player
- Alfred Pupunu – professional football player
- Todd Rose – current President of Populace, former professor and Director of the Mind, Brain, and Education program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
- Roger Ruzek – professional football player
- Sarah Sellers – marathon runner
- Richard H. Stallings – U.S. Representative
- Carla Taylor – women's college basketball coach
- Ernest L. Wilkinson – lawyer and university president
- Terry Lee Williams – first African American to serve in the Utah State Senate
Gallery
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Miller Administration Building
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Student Services Center
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Kimball Visual Arts Center
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Elizabeth Hall
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Stewart Library
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Shepherd Student Union
