Motto	Faith, Knowledge, Service
Established	1896
Type	Private
President	Dr. Jerry E. McGee
Faculty	90% professors with PhD’s
Students	2,159
Location	Wingate, North Carolina, U. S.
Colors	Blue & Gold
Nickname	Bulldogs
Mascot	Bulldogs
Athletics	NCAA Division II
Affiliations	South Atlantic Conference
Website	http://www.wingate.edu/

Wingate University was founded by local Baptists in 1896 as Wingate School, an independent, co-educational institution and became a four-year college in 1977. In 1996, Wingate College became Wingate University.

Today, Wingate University is a private four-year co-educational institution that offers more than 40 undergraduate majors including: athletic training, business management, communication, elementary education, marketing, music education, pre-pharmacy, psychology and sport management. It also offers seven pre-professional programs. Master's degrees are awarded in business, education, physical education and sport administration. In 2008, Wingate University added a master's program in physician assistant studies. The same year, Wingate introduced a doctoral program in education (EdD) in the area of educational leadership.

Wingate University School of Pharmacy opened its doors to applicants in 2002, with the charter class beginning its program of study in August 2003. The charter class graduated from Wingate University on May 12, 2007. The Wingate University School of Pharmacy is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). The charter class had a 100% passing rate on the NAPLEX.

The university is accredited by the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Wingate University, with approximately 2,159 students, is located in Wingate, Union County, North Carolina, U.S. on a 400-acre (1.6 km²) campus 30 miles east of Charlotte, North Carolina. A high percentage of students (85%) live on campus all four years.

On November 15, 2007, Wingate University broke official ties with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina; however, “unofficial” ties still exist between Wingate University and the convention.

In 2006, U.S. News & World Report ranked Wingate #19 out of 53 colleges in the "Southern Comprehensive Colleges-Bachelor's" category.^[1]

[edit] Undergraduate Majors

[edit] Graduate Degrees

[edit] W'International

Wingate University seeks to prepare students for lives of significance in the global community. All undergraduate students can participate in a 10-day travel experience at minimum expense or spend a semester or summer internship abroad. Wingate University has offered a unique international study-tour program called W'International since 1978. After attending a one-hour seminar once a week during the regular semester, students travel to their chosen destination with the faculty member after classes end.

2009-2010 Destinations:

Fall 2009:

Cambodia- Buddhist Iconography at Angkor Wat

Ireland- Irish Traditions and the People and Culture of Appalachia

Tunisia- Arab Culture

Spring 2010:

Chile- Cross-Cultural Psychology

Germany and the Netherlands- Commerce/Culture of the Rhine River

Taiwan- Tradition, Modernity and Identity on “The Beautiful Isle”

[edit] Snapshots of Campus

[edit] Athletics

In addition to academics, Wingate student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate's mascot is the Bulldog. The men's and women's basketball teams have both performed at high levels over the past few years, with each reaching the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division II tournament. The men most recently made the 2007 Elite Eight, held annually in Springfield, MA. They defeated Augusta State University on their home floor in the South Regional Final to advance to their first Elite Eight. They were also the first team from the South Atlantic Conference to ever advance to the final round. They lost in the quarterfinal game to Cal State San Bernardino, who lost in the next round to eventual champion Barton.

In more recent athletic news, the Wingate University men's swimming team placed sixth in the 2009 NCAA Division II national championship meet. The men's program is only beginning its fifth year. Numerous members of the men's team earned All-American recognition.

Wingate University was also recently ranked third among NCAA Division II Academic All-America-producing schools for having 34 Academic All-American athletes since January 2000.

Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Athletic Excellence Award for the past three years. Wingate finished the year with 98 points, the most ever in the Athletic Excellence points race. The 10-point margin of victory is the third-highest in the 20-year history of the award. In second place after the fall and winter sports seasons, the Bulldogs earned conference championships in softball and men’s tennis during the spring. Wingate finished second in both men’s and women’s golf. A third-place finish in women’s tennis and a fourth-place finish in baseball gave Wingate 47 points in the spring. One year after winning the trophy by the slimmest of margins (one-half point), the Bulldogs ran away with the award in 2009. Wingate finished 10 points ahead of the school in second place. In the fall, Wingate won the volleyball championship. The Bulldogs had second-place finishes in both men’s and women’s cross country to go along with a third-place showing in women’s soccer.

The South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award is presented annually to the member athletic department that earns the highest overall finish based on final regular season standings. Points are based on final tournament standings in the sports of men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s golf and women’s golf. The trophy is presented at the SAC Annual Business Meeting at the conclusion of each year.

Wingate's president, Dr. Jerry McGee, was an NCAA football referee for over 20 years and has helped officiate three bowl games that decided the national champion.

[edit] Fight Song

Vic’try Wingate! Vic’try Wingate!

Hear the mighty call.

We will ever join together as bulldogs

one and all (Go Bulldogs!)

Vic’try Wingate! Vic’try Wingate!

Colors gold and blue.

Wingate has vic’try spirit,

brave and true! (Fight!)

[edit] Alma Mater

In the land of Carolina

‘Neath the sky so blue

Stands our noble Alma Mater

Glorious to view.

Lift the chorus, speed it onward,

Loud the praise relate,

Hail to thee our Alma Mater

Hail, all Hail, Wingate.

Far and wide her sons and daughters

Bear the gold and blue,

Proudly rally ‘round her banner,

Hail! Wingate to you.

Lift the chorus, speed it onward,

Loud the praise relate,

Hail to thee our Alma Mater

Hail,all Hail, Wingate.

[edit] References

1. ^ "Best Colleges," U.S. News & World Report.

[edit] External links

• U.S. News & World Report: Southern Comprehensive Colleges-Bachelor's Rankings
• http://www.wingate.edu/