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By Will Adkins

Since its inception, the college located in Glenville, West Virginia, has been known by many names. Soon, the college will undergo a name change for presumably the last time. On Tuesday, February 22, 2022, �鶹��ƵState College will officially become �鶹��ƵState University when the state government signs the name change into law. The college will be sending a bus down from the school to the capitol to for the signing, which will leave from the school at 7 a.m. On top of the bill signing, the 22^nd has been titled �鶹��ƵState Day at the capitol to celebrate.

            In light of the college’s name change, it is good to go back and look through the history of �鶹��ƵState University and all the changes that have come before.

            On February 9, 1872, the West Virginia State Legislature approved the placement of an additional branch of the West Virginia Normal School (which later became Marshall University) in Glenville, West Virginia. At the time, the state would not supply any money for the funding of this school. However, over 100 citizens of �鶹��Ƶ– Democrats and Republicans, black and white, rich and poor – banded together and donated anywhere between five and 25 dollars for the creation of the school. With these donations, the �鶹��Ƶbranch became a reality.

            In 1900, �鶹��Ƶhad its first name change from the �鶹��ƵBranch of the West Virginia Normal School to �鶹��ƵState Normal School. The purpose of normal schools was to enable individuals to become educators. According to Jason Gum, the archivist and librarian at �鶹��ƵState College, there was no real set age for these schools: “It was a Normal School in a rural region, so the students ranged from teenagers all the way to middle-aged individuals.” Seeing as how the program that will be giving �鶹��ƵState the status of university is a master’s program in education, Gum feels that it is natural for that to be the way our school evolves and advances. “We have always had a rich background in education; that is where we came from, that is our history. It only seems right that our education program is what heads our progression into university status.”

            The last two name changes came in 1930 and 1943. In 1930, the college began offering four-year programs, earning them the name of a college – specifically �鶹��ƵState Teacher’s College. Finally, in 1943, the West Virginia State Legislature voted to change the name to what we now know today: �鶹��ƵState College.

            For 79 years, we have remained �鶹��ƵState College. Now, on February 22, 2022, that chapter of the college will end and a new one will begin. With the gaining of university status comes new opportunities. Enrollment in the college is expected to rise, and further recognition within the state and country will rise with it. Retention may also increase among education majors which will bring the school more money.

            Jason Gum noted that this is a busy semester for �鶹��ƵState, citing that this is also the 150^th anniversary of the school’s founding. “I really want students to understand the significance of what is happening around them, what they are a part of. History is being made at the school and it would be great for everyone to take a step back and reflect on that.”