University of Virginia's College at Wise

The University of Virginia's College at Wise (also known as UVa-Wise, or University of Virginia at Wise) is the liberal arts college of the University of Virginia, and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, located in Wise, Virginia, United States. It is the only branch of the University of Virginia, and the westernmost public college in Virginia.

History
The college was first conceived by local residents who petitioned the University of Virginia to establish a college in Wise. As support for a college grew, the Commonwealth of Virginia appropriated $5,000 to open, staff, and operate the college as a two-year junior college on a trial basis for a year; and if successful, another $5,000 would be available for a second year. In the winter of 1954, the local community matched the commonwealth's funds and collected over $6,000 to furnish the classrooms and use for supplies. Wise County donated over 400 acre of property that included two sandstone buildings, the property had once served as the county's poor farm. Clinch Valley College of the University of Virginia opened in September 1954 with an enrollment of 100 freshmen. Clinch Valley College became the westernmost state-supported college in Virginia and the only branch of the University of Virginia. Prior to its opening, Virginia lacked public colleges west of Radford.

Clinch Valley College operated as a junior college throughout the late 1950s and 1960s. During that time, the college gained more support from graduates who wanted to complete their baccalaureate degrees at the same institution and the college began the process to become a four-year college. In June 1970, Clinch Valley College granted its first Bachelor of Arts degrees; followed by Bachelor of Science degrees, first awarded in 1973. The college continued to grow and added new programs such as nursing and technology and in 1996, the college granted its first Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. In 1999, the Virginia General Assembly renamed the school "The University of Virginia's College at Wise," following an unsuccessful effort to change the institution's name in 1991. UVa-Wise expanded its focus on international education and signed three sister institution agreements along with initiating cooperative and mutual exchange programs for students and faculty with three international institutions in the late 1990s. In 1998, the college signed a sister institution agreement with Istanbul University in 1998. A year later, it signed a second agreement with another Turkish university, Dumlupinar University in Kütahya. In December 2000, the University of Seville in Spain became the college's third sister institution.

Through the early 21st century, UVa-Wise underwent rapid growth, with several new buildings and campus beautification projects to accommodate enrollment growth. As of September 2010, the college offered 31 majors, 31 minors and 23 teaching specialties and had an enrollment is about 2,005 students. On February 2, 2012, UVa-Wise saw the unexpected death of Chancellor David J. Prior. During his seven years as chancellor, the college experienced dramatic growth in student enrollment and facilities. During his tenure, the UVa-Wise's five-year fund raising campaign, known as the “Fulfilling the Dream” campaign, exceeded its goal to raise $50 million. UVa-Wise constructed numerous building during Prior's tenure, including the Hunter J. Smith Dining Commons, the Gilliam Center for the Arts and two residence halls, the $30 million Convocation Center, as well as the renovation of the Leonard W. Sandridge Science Center.

Campus
The University of Virginia has kept U.Va.-Wise's historic buildings alive and vibrant, while moving towards a more 'green' campus with new LEED certified buildings.

Convocation Center
State lawmakers and regional leaders joined The University of Virginia’s College at Wise on July 1, 2009 to break ground for a $30 million Convocation Center, the largest single capital project in the College’s history. The facility seats 3,000 for sporting events and 4,000 for concerts or convocation activities. The facility provides the region with its first venue to seat large crowds, something economic developers have said is needed to boost growth and development in far Southwest Virginia. Shortly after the death of Chancellor David J. Prior in February 2012, the facilities was dedicated in his honor and named the David J. Prior Convocation Center.

Academics
The college requires all freshmen to enroll in a two-semester seminar that covers writing and adjusting to the demands of college academic work. The student's seminar instructor becomes his advisor until the student selects a major. The college also has a 53 semester-hour general education requirement. In addition, students must attend 4 cultural activities in each their freshman and junior years. The college offers baccalaureate degrees in 31 majors, and the College Major for students who wish to pursue interdisciplinary studies.

Athletics
UVa–Wise teams, nicknamed athletically as the Highland Cavaliers, are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Mid-South Conference. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf and tennis; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, softball, tennis and volleyball. Carroll Dale, a former NFL football wide receiver, serves as assistant vice chancellor for athletic development.

On April 23, 2012, the college was accepted as a provisional member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) and announced it would begin competition as the G-MAC's seventh full member in the 2013-2014 academic year. UVa–Wise also announced it planned to submit the NCAA application prior to June 1, 2012. Once accepted by the NCAA, the college will begin the official transition from NAIA to NCAA and if the requirements are met would become an active NCAA Division II member for the 2015-16 academic year. However, UVa–Wise will play in the G-MAC for only one season; it announced on August 20, 2012 that it would become a charter member of the new Mountain East Conference, a conference made up mostly of former members of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference that plans to launch in the 2013–14 academic year.

UVa–Wise has claimed conference titles in football, men's basketball, women's basketball, volleyball, softball, and baseball all within the past decade.

Notable alumni

 * Holly Kiser was a student of UVa-Wise; she became the first winner of Make Me a Supermodel.
 * Terry Kilgore, politician, elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1993; graduated from Clinch Valley College (now UVa-Wise).