Baldwin–Wallace College

Baldwin-Wallace College
Motto	"Creating contributing, compassionate citizens of an increasingly global society."[1]
Established	1845
Type	Private liberal arts college
Religious affiliation	United Methodist Church[2][3]
Endowment	$119.7 million[4]
President	Richard Durst, MFA
Academic staff	167 faculty[5]
Admin. staff	596 staff[5]
Undergraduates	3,588 full time[5]
Postgraduates	713 full time[5]
Location	Berea, Ohio, USA
Campus	Suburban
Colors	Brown and Gold
Athletics	Yellow Jackets
Sports	NCAA Division III
Nickname	Yellow Jackets
Mascot	Stinger[1]
Affiliations	OAC
Website	www.bw.edu

Baldwin–Wallace College is a 4-year private, coeducation, liberal arts college in Berea, Ohio, USA. The school was founded in 1845 as Baldwin Institute by Methodists settlers. Eventually the school merged with nearby German Wallace College in 1913 to become Baldwin–Wallace College. As of July 1, 2012 the school will become Baldwin Wallace University.^[6] The institution offers a number of undergraduate and several graduate programs. Baldwin–Wallace College is many times simply referred to as "BW". BW has two campus sites in Berea, Ohio which serves the main campus and B-W East in Beachwood, OH.^[7] Today BW enrolls around 3,050 full-time undergraduate students, 800 evening and weekend adult learners, and 830 graduate students. BW recruits students throughout Ohio but also students from all over the United States and internationally^[8] Baldwin–Wallace College's motto is "Creating contributing, compassionate citizens of an increasingly global society." Baldwin–Wallace College's athletic teams compete as NCAA Division III athletics in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

BW is known for its education, business, neuroscience, and music programs. BW is home to the Riemenschneider-Bach Institute and the Baldwin–Wallace Conservatory of Music.^[8] The BW Conservatory holds the title for the oldest collegiate Bach Festival in the nation.^[9] Beyond this, the college's radio station is WBWC which is known throughout the Cleveland area.^[10]

History

Marting Hall

Both the college and the town of Berea were founded by Methodist settlers from Connecticut. These settlers moved west after their homes were burned by the British in the Revolutionary War. The region in Northern Ohio became known as the Western Reserve (a part of which was designated the Firelands, as the state of Connecticut gave land grants to these fire victims). Among early settlers of this area was John Baldwin. Baldwin enjoyed early success in the sandstone quarry industry. Baldwin eventually founded Baldwin Institute in 1845. Baldwin Institute became Baldwin University in 1855. Baldwin's sense of equality led to the school accepting any student regardless of race or gender,^[11] and was one of the first in the nation to do so. Moreover, Baldwin University's courses were not segregated. The surge of German workers in Baldwin’s sandstone quarries led to the establishment of a German department in the Institute.

Rothweiler named his project after Wallace, and German Wallace College was founded in 1855. Students at both institutions were free to enroll in courses at Baldwin or German Wallace. Baldwin and Wallace were the primary benefactors to the two Berea colleges. After their deaths, and the decline of the quarry industry in Ohio, both schools came close to financial ruin. Options were thin, and the United Methodist Church considered merging the schools with the more successful Ohio Wesleyan University in 1880, to form the University of Cleveland. The University of Cleveland concept was abandoned for a more elegant solution. Baldwin University and German Wallace College merged in 1913, to form the present Baldwin–Wallace College.

Crossman Chapel

The college's present day campus can be much accredited to the leadership of Alfred Bryan Bonds, through much of the mid-century, Baldwin-Wallace grew to a large and well respected suburban institution. Bonds oversaw the construction of fifteen buildings on campus during his 26 year tenure. Neal Malicky's tenure as college president stabilized the college's finances and endowment, finally placing Baldwin-Wallace in financial security after years of financial struggle. Following Malicky's presidency, Mark Collier served as president for seven years, overseeing a campus master plan that has led to many major renovations on campus. In recent years the college has expanded and renovated residence halls and academic buildings. In addition, the college has purchased existing buildings in the Berea community for academic and student residential use.

In the fall of 2011 a task force was developed by B-W President Dick Durst. On February 11, 2012 it was announced Baldwin–Wallace College will become Baldwin Wallace University after approval by the B-W Board of Trustees. The name would become effective on July 1 of 2012 with complete implementation by the end of 2012. In addition to the new university designation, seal, and logo B-W will drop the hyphen in its name.^[6]

Academics

Academic programs

Wheeler Hall is home to BW's Education program

Baldwin-Wallace offers more than 50 majors, as well as several cooperative and pre-professional programs. Evening and weekend programs include 12 majors and six certificate programs.^[12] Programs lead to Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Education, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music in Education, Master of Arts in Education, and Master of Business Administration degrees. BW does offer programs and some courses online. B-W has 167 full-time faculty, 80% of which have doctorates or other permanent degrees.

The College maintains 27 academic departments leading to a bachelor’s degree. In addition to on-campus study, students also have the opportunity to broaden their horizons through a number of off-campus study programs. Liberal arts remain at the center of the academic program, but they are augmented by opportunities to explore career options and develop professional skills. B-W is well known in northeast Ohio for its education, business, neuroscience, and sustainability programs. As well, BW is nationally recognized for the Conservatory of Music.

Wind turbine on BW's Campus

The Neuroscience program since starting in 1998, 95% of its students who have applied have been accepted into graduate programs or medical school.^[13] Baldwin–Wallace College became the first school in Ohio to offer a bachelor’s degree in sustainability in the fall of 2008.^[14] In the fall of 2009, B-W became the first school in the state to install a Wind turbine on its campus.^[15][16]

Conservatory of Music

The Baldwin–Wallace College Conservatory of Music is part of Baldwin-Wallace College. The main building of the conservatory is Kulas Hall. The Conservatory holds the title for the oldest collegiate Bach Festival in the nation.^[9] The Conservatory of Music covers the discipline of music study, creation, performance and pedagogy.

B-W East

Beyond the main campus in Berea, B-W offers classes at B-W East in Beachwood, OH^[7] B-W East is Baldwin–Wallace College's center for adult learning. The site focuses on the needs of working adults and their employers. The facility is located at Landmark Centre Building in Beachwood.^[17]

International programs

Baldwin-Wallace has several international programs in which eligible upperclassman are able to participate. The college operates several of their own programs and international student exchange programs at Kansai Gaidai University (Japan), Christ University (India) and Ewha University(Korea), University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia), University of Osnabrück (Germany), York St John University (England), University of Hull (England), Webster University Vienna (Austria), Semester at Sea, and many more. B-W has faculty led trips yearly to places such as Europe, Iceland, India, Italy, Ecuador and China. As well, the college offers Domestic US themed trips such as following The Lewis and Clark trail.^[18]

Outreach programs

B-W uses programs such as Upward Bound and B-W Scholars to reach and serve students from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. The B-W Scholars program was formally called "The Barbara Byrd-Bennett Program", named after Barbara Byrd-Bennett who established and funded the program until her departure from the Cleveland Municipal School District. Barbara Byrd-Bennett was formally the first Chief Executive Officer of the Cleveland Municipal School District.^[19] Today the B-W Scholars Program continues under funding by the college. B-W also utilizes opportunities in the Greater Cleveland for Service-learning. Service-learning is method of teaching that provides opportunities for students to learn and develop through thoughtfully-organized service experience.^[20]

Campus

Ritter Library seen from the North Quad

The campus is located in Berea, Ohio a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. The campus is built around land that originally was two separate schools that combined in 1911. The campus itself is located next to Berea High School and is integrated into the neighborhoods of Berea. Majority of the Campus that exists today was expanded in the 1960s and 1970s. B-W prides itself on its many green spaces around campus, such as the North quad where residence halls, Ritter Library, and academic buildings surround a large field with sidewalks. Buildings that surround the quad include Malicky Center, Wheeler Hall, The Life & Earth Science building, the Center for Innovation and Growth, the Observatory, the President's house, several residence halls and the Alumni Wall. During the presidency of Alfred Bryan Bonds, the Alumni Wall (located behind North hall) was created to recognize Alumni who have contributed to the development of the campus. The North Quad is also home to a diverse tree collection, a Greenhouse, a native Ohio plants garden and a commons area (located behind Lang hall). In 2009 B-W opened the Thomas Family Center for Science and Innovation. The project connected the Life & Earth Science building and Wilker hall. On the south end of campus, B-W has several green spaces such as Klein Field and Bonds field. The campus is also situated next to Coe Lake (located behind the Townhouses).^[21]

Part of the BW campus is on the National Registry of Historic Places this area is called Baldwin-Wallace College South Campus Historic District. This are incorporates several buildings in the area of Marting Hall. This area combined the former Lyceum Village Square And German Wallace College.^[22][23]

B-W has a satellite campus located in Beachwood, Ohio. The facility is called B-W's Center for Adult Learning in Beachwood. Many times the site is simply referred to as B-W East.

Student life

Strosacker Student Union

The heart of the Baldwin-Wallace campus could be the considered the Strosacker Student Union. The building is often referred to as "the union". The union houses the campus's largest dining facility, The Student Life Center (campus life offices), various administrative offices, student organization offices, meeting rooms, the Cyber Cafe and the campus bookstore.^[24] The Student Life Center along with campus organizations put on events for the campus.^[25] Near the union is the Student Activity Center. The building is called The SAC for short. The building once was used as a women's gym, today the building is used for concerts and various student events.^[26]

Housing

Bagley Hall, former training facility for the Cleveland Browns

Housing at Baldwin-Wallace can be defined into two areas. The first being north campus which encompass halls north of Bagley Road. North campus includes Bagley Hall, Lang, Findley, North and Hamilton Apartments. Bagley Hall was originally owned by the Cleveland Browns and was used as the teams summer training facility. The College acquired a former practice field and office building when the team was moved to Baltimore. Findley Hall, North Hall, and Lang Hall, all house typically upperclassmen students but occasionally North Hall has house first year students. Lang Hall was the only all-female residence hall until 2008. Lang Hall is also rumored to be haunted by the spirit of Emma Lang, the donator and first house mother of the dormitory.

Lang Hall

South campus typically encompass residence halls that are south of Bagley Road. Klein, Saylor, and 63 Beech make up the freshman complex.^[27] 21 Beech is also home to Honors housing. Ernsthausen, Heritage, and Constitution, which house typically upperclassmen and Greek organizations. Greek organizations are housed in residence halls because there are no fraternity/sorority houses. As well, Kohler Hall, the Carmel Center for Living and Learning (referred to as Carmel Hall) and the Berea Townhouses are located on the southern end of campus. Ernsthausen Hall (called "E-House" for short) is the first campus residence hall in Ohio to utilize geothermal power.^[28]

Kohler Hall

Kohler Hall mostly houses Conservatory students (although it is open to all students) has a reputation for being haunted (along with, to a lesser degree, Lang Hall). It has been featured in the book Haunted Ohio. Before becoming a residence hall, it was a hospital; first for Civil War veterans and later functioning as a mental institution.^[29]

B-W also has several on-campus apartments which include Floreske, Hamilton House, The Berea Townhouses & The East Bridge Street Apartments which all house upperclassmen and international MBA students. Also, Baldwin-Wallace offers on campus houses for student groups & upperclassmen. These houses typically have themes such as the "Arts House", the "Summer Scholars Program" and the "research house". Other housing include the "Single Parents Reaching Out For Unassisted Tomorrows" or "SPROUT" program which is a comprehensive residential program which provides housing, child care, personal development & financial aid for single parents (ages 18–23) and their children.^[27][30]

Student organizations

Baldwin–Wallace College has over 100 clubs and organizations.^[31] Baldwin-Wallace offers organizations for many of the academic majors at the college. Some of the organizations on campus include Student Government (that budgets approximately 80 of the organizations on campus), Midnight Madness, Campus Entertainment Productions, Commuter Activity Board, and Night On The Town.^[32] The campus has diversity groups such as Allies (an LBGT related organization), Middle-Eastern Student Alliance (MESA), Hispanic-American Student Association, Black Student Alliance and Native American Student Association.^[33]

Greek life

Heritage Hall seen with several Greek life crests

The B-W campus has five fraternities, five sororities and numerous honoraries.^[34] B-W fraternities and sororities are all housed in residence halls. Most are housed in Heritage Hall and some in Constitution. In the past Greek organizations have been housed in halls such as North Hall and Ernsthausen. Greek Life organizations do not not have on campus houses due to fraternity and sorority houses being banned by the City of Berea in the 1960s. Beyond fraternities and sororities, the college has over 25 honor societies for academics and areas of involvement.^[35]

Campus Media

Though Baldwin-Wallace does not offer a Journalism major (just classes) the campus does have student media. The longest running and official campus newspaper is The Exponent. Exponent Campus Media oversees two papers "Buzz!" and "The Exponent". The college has two student run magazines, The Maelstrom and The Mill. The Maelstrom is a satirical magazine that has been know to poke fun at campus issues. The Mill is B-W’s annual literary and art magazine, that showcases the creativity of the entire student body.^[32]

The campus offers student opportunities in the area of television and radio. BuzzTV allows student produce short movies and shows which air locally. B-W also has a radio station WBWC 88.3 FM. The radio station has student DJ's who run radio shows. Many of the students are broadcast majors. WBWC first signed on in 1958 as the first totally student funded and operated radio station in the United States.^[36]

Community service

BW offers many service opportunities in Berea

Beyond service-learning and campus community services organizations. B-W offers service opportunities in Berea, the Greater Cleveland area, and internationally. One campus tradition is "Berea Service Day" which happens in the fall semester and is a joint service project between the city of Berea and Baldwin-Wallace. As well, B-W offers service opportunities through the college's Office of Community Outreach. Beyond offering service opportunities in the Cleveland area the Office of Community Outreach at B-W offers service opportunities nationwide and internationally through Alternative break Trips.^[37] Beyond the Office of Community Outreach, the campus has student run organization groups. Groups at B-W include Circle K, Habitat for Humanity and Dance Marathon.

Campus traditions

Two major B-W events are Homecoming and April Reign. Homecoming occurs during the fall semester and is a major event that brings the Berea and B-W community together. Homecoming offers a parade, football event, and a large Alumni gathering. April Reign is a series of contests and athletic events where student organizations compete in the week before finals. During the April Reign weekend, the college has hosted musical groups and singers such as Toby Keith, Maroon 5, Chingy, Josh Gracin, New Found Glory and Matt Nathanson. The event was formally known as May-Day (when the campus was on quarters). Smaller campus traditions include Berea Service day which happens in the fall semester and the White Rose Ceremony that takes place the day of commencement.^[38]

Athletics

George Finnie Stadium home to Tressel Field

BW's mascot "Stinger"

Its school colors are officially brown and gold, though in the past they adopted burgundy and teal as well as maroon and gold for its marketing literature.^[1]

The school's varsity sports teams are the Baldwin–Wallace Yellow Jackets. They participate in the NCAA's Division III and the Ohio Athletic Conference. The college has long rivalries with John Carroll University and Mount Union College.

Lou Higgins Center is home to the physical education department, athletics, and recreational sports and services. The Lou Higgins Center was renovated and expanded in 2005. Beyond Varsity Athletics Baldwin-Wallace offers club sports, Intramurals, Aerobic Classes, a Fitness Center and Weight Room.

Baldwin Wallace's football team was coached by Lee Tressel, who led the team to an undefeated record in 1978, and subsequently the NCAA Division III Championship. In 2008, the athletic turf on George Finnie Stadium was renovated and named "Tressel Field" in honor of the Tressel Family.

Perhaps the most notable B-W athlete from the 20th century was Harrison Dillard, the only male so far to win Olympic titles in both sprinting and hurdling events, in the 1948 Summer Olympics. The teams of the Sidney High School Yellow Jackets were named after Baldwin-Wallace graduate Granville Robinson became Head Coach at Sidney High School.

In 2009 after almost 20 years of use B-W adopted a new logo and modified the college's mascot for the college's athletic teams.^[39]

People

Notable alumni and faculty

Baldwin–Wallace College has over 41,000 alumni living throughout the United States.^[40] B-W has many alumni that still reside throughout Ohio. Some notable Alumni include former OSU Football coach Jim Tressel, former NFL player and first Atlanta Falcons head coach Norb Hecker, Astronaut Robert F. Overmyer, CBS announcer Bud Collins, civil rights leader James Lawson, and Olympian Harrison Dillard. B-W has had many alumni become representatives for the state of Ohio. As well, B-W has a large network of alumni who have gone into Broadway due to its strong performing arts program.

Notes

References

• Sifakis, C. The Mafia Encyclopedia: From Accardo to Zwillman. Facts on File, Incorporated 1999. ISBN 978-0-8160-3857-2.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Baldwin-Wallace College

• Official website
• B-W on Facebook

v t e Baldwin–Wallace College Campus BW History BW Conservatory of Music BW South Campus Historic District Culture BW Greek Life BW Alumni BW Presidents WBWC Richard Durst Athletics Baldwin–Wallace Yellow Jackets Stinger BW Athletic Facilities Lee Tressel Ohio Athletic Conference

Coordinates: 41°22′16″N 81°50′52″W / 41.37111°N 81.84778°W / 41.37111; -81.84778