Concord University


Concord University is a public university in Athens, West Virginia. It was founded on February 28, 1872, when the West Virginia Legislature passed "an Act to locate a Branch State Normal School, in Concord Church, in the County of Mercer". Founded by veterans of both the Union and the Confederacy, Concord is named for the ideal of "harmony and sweet fellowship".
It is known for its picturesque campus which has been dubbed "The Campus Beautiful" and its scenic location on a knoll overlooking the mountains in the area. The university also operates a center and conducts classes in Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia.

History

Academics

Concord offers 12 undergraduate majors and 3 graduate programs.

Colleges and departments

The university is organized into three colleges:
Concord University's campus features numerous buildings and facilities.
Concord University's main campus is located in Athens, West Virginia. However, the University also operates a center in Beckley, Raleigh County. The facility is located in the Erma Byrd Higher Education Center, 300 University Drive in Beaver. The Center was designed to serve as a catalyst to attract business and industry to the area. The Beckley office coordinates classes at the Erma Byrd Center as well as at several other facilities in and surrounding Beckley.

Campus organizations

Concord sponsors nearly 200 on-campus organizations, including fraternities, sororities, religious and political organizations, an Art Society, chapters of Delta Zeta, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Phi Alpha Delta, Alpha Phi Omega, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Phi Sigma Phi, Sigma Tau Gamma, Sigma Tau Delta, Alpha Sigma Tau, Gay-Straight Alliance, College Republicans, Young Democrats, a chapter of Amtgard known as the "Shire of Nowhere Mountains," and a community theatre organization known as the Appalachian Shakespeare Project.
The Concord University Student Government Association is responsible for many changes on campus, and is active in every aspect of Concord life. All organizations are required to send a representative to all SGA meetings. The Student Government at Concord University is especially inadequate compared to other SGAs in West Virginia, and is noted for its model judicial system wherein a student court, composed entirely of students, handles the majority of adjudications for most student offenses.

Residence life

There are five residence halls on campus. North and South Towers house the fraternities and sororities as well as Honors and several sports teams. Each floor has two lounges. There is one co-ed hall, Sarvay, which is also the oldest building on campus still standing. Sarvay is traditionally a female dorm but due to lack of housing, males live on the first floor. The other two halls are Wilson for females and Woodell, nicknamed "The Woo," for males. Housing is not divided by year. Several floors are set aside as "Substance free," and the rest allow alcohol if both residents are over 21.
As of Fall Semester 2018, the only residence halls open were North Tower, South Tower and Wilson Hall, due to lack of enrollment.
Wilson Hall now acts as a co-ed hall, with males living on the first two floors, and females on the upper three floors.
The North and South Towers complex got a major renovation, which was completed in 2017.

Athletics

Concord University, known athletically as the Mountain Lions, is home to many intercollegiate and intramural athletics teams. The men's intercollegiate teams include: baseball, basketball, football, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis and track & field. The women's intercollegiate teams include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis and track & field. Concord University is an NCAA Division II school, and a member of the Mountain East Conference. The Office of Student Affairs provides intramurals in many athletic activities, including flag football, volleyball, and basketball. On November 29, 2014 the football team won its first ever playoff game by beating West Chester University 51-36. This was also its first 12-0 season. The following week they beat Bloomsburg University 32-26 to advance to the semifinals. On December 13, 2014 in the semifinals game in Mankato, Minnesota, Concord lost to Minnesota State University, Mankato 47-13, ending the season with a record of 13-1, their best ever.

Notable alumni