The University of Virginia's College at Wise, (also known as UVa-Wise, or UVA-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. It is the only branch of the University of Virginia, and the westernmost public college in Virginia.

History

UVa-Wise was founded by the University of Virginia in 1954 as Clinch Valley College of the University of Virginia, a two-year junior college. In June 1970, the school began to grant four-year baccalaureate degrees. Since that time, UVa-Wise has granted about 6,000 baccalaureate 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.

The College was named the #2 regional liberal arts school in the South by U.S. News and World Report in 1999.

The College offers 29 majors, 29 minors and 23 teaching specialties. As of September 2007, the College's enrollment is about 1,911 students. UVa-Wise is undergoing rapid growth, with several new buildings and campus beautification projects underway.

Today

UVa-Wise is ranked among the nation's top 10 public liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report.

UVa-Wise is a College of Distinction, which constitutes a nationally recognized college by education professionals as an excellent school, strongly focused on teaching undergraduates, home to a wide variety of innovative learning experiences, an active campus with many opportunities for personal development, and highly valued by graduate schools and employers for its outstanding preparation.

UVa-Wise was voted in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 as 'School of the Year' by the Virginia Association of College and University Residence Halls.

Campus

The campus is known among undergraduate students and faculty as a relic. The University has managed to keep 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.

When the Convocation Center is completed in two years, the facility will seat 3,000 for sporting events and 4,000 for concerts or convocation activities. The facility will give the region its first venue to seat large crowds, something economic developers have said is needed to boost growth and development in far Southwest Virginia.

Notable Students

• The first winner of Make Me a Supermodel Holly Kiser was a student of UVa-Wise.

Athletics

The school's athletic teams, known as the Highland Cavaliers, compete on the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) level in the Mid-South Conference during the football season. Its other nine sports programs are members of the Appalachian Athletic Conference.As of 2006, the Highland Cavaliers' football team was ranked in the top 25 schools in the NAIA, and ranked #1 in total offense in all of the NAIA. The football team plays its home games at Carl Smith Stadium. Many students and alumni also follow the Virginia Cavaliers athletic teams.

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