Weber State University
Encyclopedia
Weber State University is a public university
located in the city of Ogden
in Weber County
, Utah
, USA
. It was founded in 1889 and is a coeducational, publicly supported university offering professional, liberal arts and technical certificates, as well as associate, bachelor's and master's degrees. Weber State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
. Programs throughout the university are accredited as well.
Weber State University was founded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Weber Stake Academy in 1889; like Weber County
and the Weber River
, the school was named after John Henry Weber
, an early fur trader. The university first opened its doors for students on 7 January 1889 when ninety-eight students enrolled for classes. The first principal of Weber Stake Academy was Louis F. Moench
. He served from 1889–1892 and again from 1894-1902. In the latter year Moench was succeeded as principal by David O. McKay
who served in that position until 1908. From 1914-1917 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 to 1897, Weber Academy in 1902, Weber Normal college in 1918, and Weber College in 1922. In 1933 the LDS Church transferred the institution to the State of Utah. In 1951 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 on January 1, 1991, finally gained university status, obtaining its current name.
Weber State University has developed into a major state undergraduate institution serving northern Utah and areas beyond, including American and international students. Notable alumni and faculty include business magnate J. Willard Marriott
, author-historian Fawn Brodie, past LDS Church president David O. McKay
, communications expert Mark Evans Austad
, inventor of the industrial diamond H. Tracy Hall, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury David M. Kennedy
, prominent lawyer and university president Ernest L. Wilkinson
, former president and CEO of T-Mobile USA Robert Dotson president of Black and Decker Nolan Archibald, professional basketball coaches Dick Motta
and Phil Johnson, and band and orchestra composer Clair W. Johnson.
Weber State University sits along the east bench of the Wasatch Mountains in Ogden, Utah
. The Dee Events Center is located about 10 blocks south from campus. There is an additional building located in Davis County, Utah, and two centers located in Morgan, Utah
and Roy, Utah
. In addition to its physical locations, Weber State University has been a pioneer in the development of online education for the Utah System of Higher Education
.
and white
and their nickname is the Wildcat
s. Weber State University sports teams participate in NCAA
Division I (Football Championship Subdivision for football
) in the Big Sky Conference
. The Weber State University football team plays at Stewart Stadium
. The men's and women's basketball teams both play at the Dee Events Center
. After the University of Idaho and Boise State University joined the Western Athletic Conference, Idaho State University became their main rival in the Big Sky Conference in both football and basketball. Southern Utah University is joining the Big Sky in the 2012 academic school year and are going to be rivals with Weber State as well.
. Their mascot
is Waldo the Wildcat and team colors are purple and white, with black used as a number color. All of the sporting teams compete in the NCAA
Division I level. The football
team plays in the Division I "Championship Subdivision" formerly known as Division 1-AA. The football
team recently changed leadership, with the addition of new head coach
Ron McBride
, former head coach
of the University of Utah
, who began coaching the Wildcats in 2005. Coach "Mac" went 6-5 overall and 4-3 in conference play his first year with the ‘Cats. The 2008 season, the 'Cats finished 7-1 in in conference which is the best single season record in school history. Overall they finished 10-4 and lost in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Playoff Quarterfinals.
Weber State's Men's basketball
team (852-495), long hailed as a powerhouse in the Big Sky Conference
, acquired new head coach
Randy Rahe
for the 2006-2007 season. WSU Men's basketball team has the 24th highest winning percentage in NCAA Division I history. In 2005, Street and Smith magazine complied a list of the greatest basketball programs in college basketball history, WSU made #51. The Men's basketball team won its 18th overall Big Sky Conference championship in 2009. WSU's Men's basketball is also famous for 1st Rd NCAA Tournament upsets. In 1995 Weber beat #3 seed Michigan State, in '99 WSU beat #3 seed North Carolina.
. The men's team ranked 49th in the nation. Weber State's Baseball team is also a nationally ranked team, finishing 6th overall in the 2010 NCBA (National Club Baseball Association) World Series, and was ranked in the top 5 teams for the entire year.
In addition to these primary colleges, the University offers several interdisciplinary programs. These include:
, which is published every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, an FM
radio station
KWCR - 88.1 Weber FM, Ogden's Radio Station, an undergraduate interdisciplinary literary journal, Metaphor, and a television news program, Weber State News, that broadcasts online. The national literature and culture journal, Weber Studies
, is based at Weber State.
Public university
A public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities. A national university may or may not be considered a public university, depending on regions...
located in the city of Ogden
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
in Weber County
Weber County, Utah
Weber County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah, occupying a stretch of the Wasatch Front, part of the eastern shores of Great Salt Lake, and much of the rugged Wasatch Mountains. As of the 2000 census, the population was 196,533, an increase of 24.1% over its population in 1990. By...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was founded in 1889 and is a coeducational, publicly supported university offering professional, liberal arts and technical certificates, as well as associate, bachelor's and master's degrees. Weber State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is an independent, non-profit membership organization recognized by the United States Department of Education since 1952 and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the regional authority on educational quality and institutional...
. Programs throughout the university are accredited as well.
History
Weber County, Utah
Weber County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah, occupying a stretch of the Wasatch Front, part of the eastern shores of Great Salt Lake, and much of the rugged Wasatch Mountains. As of the 2000 census, the population was 196,533, an increase of 24.1% over its population in 1990. By...
and the Weber River
Weber River
The Weber River is a c. long river of northern Utah, USA. It begins in the northwest of the Uinta Mountains and empties into the Great Salt Lake. The Weber River was named for American fur trapper John Henry Weber.-Weber River:...
, the school was named after John Henry Weber
John Henry Weber
John Henry Weber was an American fur trader and explorer. Weber was active in the early years of the fur trade, exploring territory in the Rocky Mountains and areas in the current state of Utah....
, an early fur trader. The university first opened its doors for students on 7 January 1889 when ninety-eight students enrolled for classes. The first principal of Weber Stake Academy was Louis F. Moench
Louis F. Moench
Louis Frederick Moench was the founder of Weber Stake Academy and the father of education in Northern Utah, on the same level of importance as John R. Park and Karl G. Maeser to the development of education in Utah....
. He served from 1889–1892 and again from 1894-1902. In the latter year Moench was succeeded as principal by David O. McKay
David O. McKay
David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church...
who served in that position until 1908. From 1914-1917 James L. Barker
James L. Barker
James Louis Barker was an American historian and a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life:...
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 to 1897, Weber Academy in 1902, Weber Normal college in 1918, and Weber College in 1922. In 1933 the LDS Church transferred the institution to the State of Utah. In 1951 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 on January 1, 1991, finally gained university status, obtaining its current name.
Weber State University has developed into a major state undergraduate institution serving northern Utah and areas beyond, including American and international students. Notable alumni and faculty include business magnate J. Willard Marriott
J. Willard Marriott
John Willard Marriott was an American entrepreneur and businessman. He was the founder of the Marriott Corporation , the parent company of one of the world's largest hospitality, hotel chains, and food services companies. The Marriott company rose from a small root beer stand in Washington D.C...
, author-historian Fawn Brodie, past LDS Church president David O. McKay
David O. McKay
David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church...
, communications expert Mark Evans Austad
Mark Evans Austad
Mark Evans Austad , was an American radio and television commentator in Washington D.C. , and served under the Ford administration as United States Ambassador to Finland in 1975 to 1977 and under the Reagan administration as United States Ambassador to Norway from 1981 to 1984.-Biography:Austad was...
, inventor of the industrial diamond H. Tracy Hall, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury David M. Kennedy
David M. Kennedy
David Matthew Kennedy was an American businessman, economist and Cabinet secretary.Born in Randolph, Utah, he attended public school and graduated from Weber College, then a Mormon college, in 1928. He served a two-year mission, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to England...
, prominent lawyer and university president Ernest L. Wilkinson
Ernest L. Wilkinson
Ernest Leroy Wilkinson was an American academic administrator and prominent figure in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was president of Brigham Young University from 1951 to 1971 and also oversaw the entire LDS Church Educational System. Prior to this, Wilkinson was a lawyer...
, former president and CEO of T-Mobile USA Robert Dotson president of Black and Decker Nolan Archibald, professional basketball coaches Dick Motta
Dick Motta
John Richard "Dick" Motta is a former basketball coach whose career in the National Basketball Association spanned 25 years, and he continues to rank among the NBA's all-time top 10 in coaching victories....
and Phil Johnson, and band and orchestra composer Clair W. Johnson.
Location
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
. The Dee Events Center is located about 10 blocks south from campus. There is an additional building located in Davis County, Utah, and two centers located in Morgan, Utah
Morgan, Utah
Morgan is a city in Morgan County, Utah, in the United States. It is part of the Ogden–Clearfield, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is named after Jedediah Morgan Grant, a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,687....
and Roy, Utah
Roy, Utah
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 36,884 people, 10,689 households, and 8,604 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,853 people per square mile . There were 11,053 housing units at an average density of 1,455.3 per square mile...
. In addition to its physical locations, Weber State University has been a pioneer in the development of online education for the Utah System of Higher Education
Utah System of Higher Education
The Utah State Board of Regents was formed in 1969 as a governing body for the Utah System of Higher Education. It is made up of the College of Eastern Utah, Dixie State College of Utah, Salt Lake Community College, Snow College, Southern Utah University, the University of Utah, Utah College of...
.
Athletics
Weber State University's colors are purplePurple
Purple is a range of hues of color occurring between red and blue, and is classified as a secondary color as the colors are required to create the shade....
and white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
and their nickname is the Wildcat
Wildcat
Wildcat is a small felid native to Europe, the western part of Asia, and Africa.-Animals:Wildcat may also refer to members of the genus Lynx:...
s. Weber State University sports teams participate in NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I (Football Championship Subdivision for football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
) in the Big Sky Conference
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
. The Weber State University football team plays at Stewart Stadium
Stewart Stadium
Elizabeth Dee Shaw Stewart Stadium is a 17,312-seat multi-purpose stadium in Ogden, Utah. It opened in 1966. It is home to the Weber State University Wildcats football team. The stadium is located at 3402 University Circle.-External Links:*...
. The men's and women's basketball teams both play at the Dee Events Center
Dee Events Center
Dee Events Center is a 14,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Ogden, Utah. The circular, domed arena, similar in design to many arenas of the time, opened in 1977 and was named for the Lawrence T. Dee family, for his extensive contributions in building the arena....
. After the University of Idaho and Boise State University joined the Western Athletic Conference, Idaho State University became their main rival in the Big Sky Conference in both football and basketball. Southern Utah University is joining the Big Sky in the 2012 academic school year and are going to be rivals with Weber State as well.
NCAA sports
Weber State University athletics is composed of 15 different sporting teams and competes in the Big Sky ConferenceBig Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
. Their mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
is Waldo the Wildcat and team colors are purple and white, with black used as a number color. All of the sporting teams compete in the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I level. The football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team plays in the Division I "Championship Subdivision" formerly known as Division 1-AA. The football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team recently changed leadership, with the addition of new head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Ron McBride
Ron McBride
Ron McBride is the current head coach of Weber State University's football team. Coach "Mac" has over 40 years of coaching experience, including 13 years as head coach at the University of Utah....
, former head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, who began coaching the Wildcats in 2005. Coach "Mac" went 6-5 overall and 4-3 in conference play his first year with the ‘Cats. The 2008 season, the 'Cats finished 7-1 in in conference which is the best single season record in school history. Overall they finished 10-4 and lost in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Playoff Quarterfinals.
Weber State's Men's basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team (852-495), long hailed as a powerhouse in the Big Sky Conference
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
, acquired new head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Randy Rahe
Randy Rahe
Randy Rahe is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at Weber State University. Randy Rahe was hired on March 23, 2006, as the 9th coach in Weber State's 47-year history. Rahe came to WSU from the University of Utah where he was an assistant under former...
for the 2006-2007 season. WSU Men's basketball team has the 24th highest winning percentage in NCAA Division I history. In 2005, Street and Smith magazine complied a list of the greatest basketball programs in college basketball history, WSU made #51. The Men's basketball team won its 18th overall Big Sky Conference championship in 2009. WSU's Men's basketball is also famous for 1st Rd NCAA Tournament upsets. In 1995 Weber beat #3 seed Michigan State, in '99 WSU beat #3 seed North Carolina.
Other sports
In addition to the NCAA teams, Weber State University has a number of other sports, including a nationally ranked men's ice hockey team. For the 2005-2006 season, the Division I ice hockey team was ranked 6th nationally in the ACHA (American Collegiate Hockey Association). The Wildcat Spirit Squad has also been a prominent part of the athletics department. For the past two years, they have placed in the top three in national competitions. The Weber State Rodeo Women's team won the 2006 College National Finals Rodeo sponsored by the National Intercollegiate Rodeo AssociationNational Intercollegiate Rodeo Association
The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, based in Walla Walla, WA, was established in 1949. NIRA sanctions more than 100 college rodeos every year in the United States, and represents over 3,500 student athletes attending more than 135 member colleges and universities...
. The men's team ranked 49th in the nation. Weber State's Baseball team is also a nationally ranked team, finishing 6th overall in the 2010 NCBA (National Club Baseball Association) World Series, and was ranked in the top 5 teams for the entire year.
Academics
As of 2007, Weber State University offers 215 certificate and degree programs in the performing arts, visual arts, humanities, science, applied science and technology, business and economics, education, social and behavioral sciences and the health professions. Master's degrees are offered in accounting, business administration (MBA), criminal justice, education, English, health administration, nursing and taxation.Organization
WSU is divided into the following seven colleges :
|
In addition to these primary colleges, the University offers several interdisciplinary programs. These include:
|
Student media
Weber State University has an independent, student-run paper, The SignpostThe Signpost (Weber State University)
The Signpost is the student newspaper of Weber State University. It is published three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.It is funded in part by the mandatory student fees each student is required to pay each semester, and by advertisements for local businesses and events.The newspaper...
, which is published every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, an FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
KWCR - 88.1 Weber FM, Ogden's Radio Station, an undergraduate interdisciplinary literary journal, Metaphor, and a television news program, Weber State News, that broadcasts online. The national literature and culture journal, Weber Studies
Weber Studies
Weber Studies is a leading American literary magazine, founded in 1984 and based at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. It focusses on the literature and culture of the American West. Work that has been published in Weber Studies has received commendation by the O. Henry Prize.The journal...
, is based at Weber State.