Norwich University (NU) is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont. It is home to both a Corps of Cadets (NUCC)
and a smaller traditional student population. The University was originally founded in 1819 at
Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It
is the oldest private military college in the United States and recognized by the Department of
Defense as the "Birthplace of ROTC." It was the first US military
academy to admit women on equal footing with their male counterparts and adopt a policy of non-discrimination on sexual
orientation.
History
Partridge and his academy
The University was founded in 1819 at Norwich by military educator and former superintendent of
West Point, Captain Alden B. Partridge. Captain Partridge believed in the "American System of Education," a traditional
liberal arts curriculum with instruction in civil engineering and military science. After leaving West
Point because of congressional disapproval of his system, he returned to his native state of Vermont to create the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. Captain Partridge, in founding his
Academy, rebelled against the reforms of Sylvanus Thayer to prevent the rise of what he
saw as the greatest threat to the security of the young republic: a professional officer class. He believed that a well-trained
militia was a dire necessity and developed the American system around that idea. His academy
became the inspiration for a number of military colleges throughout the nation,
including both the Virginia Military Institute and The Citadel, and later the land grant
colleges created through the Morrill Act of 1862.[1]
Partridge founded six other military institutions during his quest to reform the fledgling United States military. They were
the Virginia Literary, Scientific and Military Academy at Portsmouth, Virginia (1839-1846), Pennsylvania Literary, Scientific,
and Military Academy at Bristol, Pennsylvania (1842-1845), Pennsylvania Military Institute at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
(1845-1848), Wilmington Literary, Scientific and Military Academy at Wilmington, Delaware (1846-1848), the Scientific and
Military Collegiate Institute at Reading, Pennsylvania (1850-1854), Gymnasium and Military Institute at Pembroke, New Hampshire
(1850-1853) and the National Scientific and Military Academy at Brandywine Springs, Delaware (1853). [1]
Fire and hardship: Norwich in the 19th century
In 1825 the academy moved to Middletown,
Connecticut to provide better naval training to the school's growing corps of cadets.
However, in 1829, the state of Connecticut declined to grant Captain Partridge a charter and he
moved the school back to Norwich. It wasn't until 1834 that Vermont granted a charter and
recognized the institution as "Norwich University." The University, beginning in 1826, offered the
first program of courses in civil engineering in the US. During the 1856 academic year, the first chapter of the Theta Chi Fraternity was founded by
cadets Frederick Norton Freeman and Arthur
Chase. With the beginning of the Civil War in 1861, Norwich cadets served as instructors of the state militias throughout the Northeast and the entire class of 1862 enlisted upon its
graduation. Norwich turned out hundreds of officers and soldiers who served with the Federal armies in the Civil War, including
four winners of the Congressional Medal of Honor. One graduate led a corps, seven more headed divisions, 21 commanded brigades,
38 led regiments, and various alumni served in 131 different regimental organizations. In addition, these men were eyewitnesses
to some of the war's most dramatic events, including the bloodiest day of the conflict at Antietam, the attack up Marye's Heights
at Fredericksburg, and the repulse of Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg. Seven hundred and fifty Norwich men served in the Civil
War, of whom sixty fought for the Confederacy. [2]. Because of the university's participation in the struggle, the number of students dwindled to 7 in the class of
1864 alone. After a catastrophic fire in 1866 which devastated the
entire campus, the town of Northfield welcomed the struggling school. The Civil War, the fire, and the uncertainty regarding the
continuation of the University seriously lowered the attendance, and the school opened in the fall of 1866 with only nineteen
students. The 1870s and '80s saw many financially turbulent times for the institution and the renaming of the school to Lewis
College in 1880. In 1881 the student body was reduced to only a dozen men. Later, by
1884, the Vermont Legislature had the name of the school changed back to Norwich. In
1898 the University was designated as the Military College of the State of Vermont.
War and expansion: Norwich in the 20th century
As part of the Vermont National Guard, the school's Corps of Cadets was
mobilized as a squadron of cavalry in the First Vermont Regiment to assist in General John J.
Pershing's Mexican Expedition. This greatly disrupted the academic year
and in 1916 the War Department designated
Norwich as the first site for a Senior ROTC cavalry unit; also in 1916, the first African-American, Harold 'Doc'
Martin (NU 1920), matriculated. Classes graduated early for both the First and
Second World Wars and many Norwich-made officers saw service in all theaters of both
conflicts. Professional education offered at Norwich also changed and adapted with the advance of technology. Military flight
training began in 1939 and from 1946 to 1947, horse cavalry was completely phased out in favor of armored cavalry.
Graduates returning from European and Pacific fields of battle found a university very different from the one they had left
behind. From the late 1940s to the 1960s, Norwich was greatly expanded and added a number of new opportunities. In 1947, the
Army Department created a new program uniquely suited to Vermont's
harsh climate: a mountain and cold weather warfare unit. Air Force and
Navy ROTC programs were established in 1972 and
1984 respectively. During the 1974 school year, the University
admitted women into the Corps of Cadets. Although unpopular at the time, Norwich University began a social trend that would move
the country closer in gender equality. The 1972 merger and 1993
integration with Vermont College added two groups to "the Hill,"
civilian students and women. (Norwich later sold its Vermont College campus and non-traditional degree programs to the
Union Institute and University in 2001.[2])
The Bicentennial and beyond: Norwich in the 21st century
The ending of one century and birth of a new finds Norwich with a robust Corps of Cadets and a thriving traditional student
body. Norwich maintains its position as a center of learning for civil service with online graduate programs, the 5 year Master
of Architecture program and since 2001 an National
Security Agency-sponsored Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance.
NU 2019
As the University moves closer to the bicentennial of the school's founding, the NU2019 plan was launched in 2005. Under the guidance of the Alumni Association, the Board of Trustees and the Office of the President, the
University has budgeted millions of dollars to radically change and improve the campus.
Proposed additions are to include:
- Traditional Student housing quad separate from the Corps housing on the Upper Parade Ground
- Harmon Hall dining facility rebuilt into a Campus Service Center
- A refurbishment of Webb and Ainsworth Halls and a new Humanities & Social Science quad
- Improved transportation network and general campus beautification
- Increasing enrollment by five-hundred undergraduate students
Campus
Norwich University in winter as observed from the "Ski Hill".
Academic buildings
Ainsworth Hall
In 1910 Ainsworth Hall was constructed for the United States Weather Bureau as their central
Vermont station. Later returned to the University in 1948, it served as the Administrative
Headquarters of the campus. By 1955, growth of the University forced the relocation of the
Administration back up the hill to Dewey Hall. When also in 1955 construction began on Webb Hall to the immediate west of the
building, the infirmary moved into the now empty structure. Due to expansion of the University in the 1960s and 1970s the building was converted into the home of the Division of Social
Sciences. The building is named for Mrs. Laura Ainsworth, widow of Captain James E. Ainsworth (NU 1853), who in 1915 worked to bring an infirmary to campus.
Chaplin Hall
Chaplin Hall, originally Carnegie Hall, was built in 1907 and is the home of the Division of
Architecture & Art. Paid for by Andrew Carnegie, the building served as the
University's library until 1993 with the construction of Kreitzberg Library. When the library was
renovated in 1952, from the contributions of trustee Henry P. Chaplin it was rededicated as the
Henry Prescott Chaplin Memorial Library. Until 1941 and the addition of Partridge Hall to the
growing campus, Chaplin Hall also provided the classrooms and offices for the Department of Electrical Engineering.
Communications Building
This building, on the site of the first building in Center Northfield, contains the offices and classrooms of the
Communications Department. The offices for the Guidon and the studios for both the University's radio station WNUB-FM are also
located in this building. The building was purchased by the University in 1973 and restored in
1988.
Dewey Hall
Named for Admiral of the Navy George Dewey (NU 1852-1854), and completed in 1902, Dewey Hall is one of the
oldest buildings in the Northfield campus. It was originally two stories high with the lower floor occupied by offices of the
University's administration, the library and museum. Office space for trustees and faculty, a chapel with a seating of five
hundred and the United States Weather Bureau were located on the second floor. With the departure of the Weather Bureau in 1909
and the completion of the then new Carnegie Library in 1907 the Hall was primarily used by the Military Department. In October,
1925 a fire gutted the building which led to its reconstruction as a three story structure. Dewey
Hall currently houses the Division of Business & Management and a computer lab.
Hollis House
Hollis House is today the location of a number of classrooms and offices of the Division of Humanities. Built in
1852, the building was until 1909 the house of a number of prominent
residents of Northfield. When sold that year to the University it became part of the US Weather Bureau's station collocated on campus. The building was later named for David B.
"Dixie" Hollis (NU 1922) who upon his death in 1993 donated what was until that point the largest single in the University's
history, a total of seven million dollars.
Engineering, Math and Science Complex The Engineering, Math and Science Complex houses the David Crawford School of
Engineering as well as the departments of Geology, Chemistry,
Physics, Biology and Mathematics. The complex is composed of five buildings: Juckett, Partridge and Tompkins Halls; the Science
Building and the Cabot Annex. The complex was completed in 1997 and replaced a previous set of
1940s and 1950s era facilities. The Engineering, Math and Science
Complex also contains the University's Computer Services office and the majority of the campus' independent computer labs.
Kreitzberg Library
Kreitzberg Library is
named in recognition of Barbara and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Fred Kreitzberg (NU 1957).
The Library has a catalogue of more than 240,000 books, about 800 archived periodicals, and a collection of Federal government
publications. The Norwich University Archives and Special Collections houses rare books and unique source materials relating to
military history, the history of Vermont, and the history of the University. The 58,000 square foot library was designed by
Perry, Dean, Rogers & Partners and was completed in 1993 at a cost of $8.1 million.
Webb Hall
Webb Hall was completed in 1960 and originally housed the English, Modern Languages, Social
Sciences, Business Administration and the Psychology and Education departments. Currently, the Division of Humanities, Nursing
Department and Education program are located in this building. Twenty one classrooms, three seminar rooms and a computer lab are
available. Dole Auditorium, which can seat over four hundred people, is also located in Webb Hall. The building is named after
J. Watson Webb, a Norwich trustee and world class polo player. Dole Auditorium honors
Charles Dole (NU 1869), who served in his career at the University as an instructor in
Mathematics and Latin, a professor of history and rhetoric, the commandant of cadets and acting president of the University from
1895 to 1896.
Residence halls and cadet barracks
- Hawkins Hall — Named for General Hawkins, a colonel in the Civil War and later New York State Congressman. Built in
1940 and renovated in 1994
- Dodge Hall — Named for Grenville M. Dodge (NU 1851), only all-traditional
residence hall on the Upper Parade Ground. Originally named Cabot Hall, it was built in 1937 and
renovated in 1998
- Patterson Hall — Named for a 1909 graduate in Civil Engineering and a trustee. Built in 1958
- Goodyear Hall — Named for Major General A. Conger Goodyear, a trustee and founder of the
Museum of Modern Art. Built in 1955 and renovated in
1999
- Wilson Hall — Named for a Judge and Governor of Vermont, Stanley Calef Wilson.
- Alumni Hall — First housing-only hall at the Northfield campus, named for the significant alumnus contributions that allowed
for its construction. Built in 1905 and renovated in 2005
- Ransom Hall — Named after Colonel Truman B. Ransom[3] , the second president of
the University who was killed leading the assault on Chapultepec during the
Mexican-American War. Built in 1957
- Gerard Hall — Named after industrialist and philanthropist Jacques A. Gerard who became a
trustee in 1959. Built in 1962
- Crawford Hall — Named after David C. Crawford (NU 1952) and whom the School of Engineering is
also named, it is the only residence hall not on the Upper Parade Ground and is reserved for traditional students. Built in
1988
Athletic buildings
Andrews Hall
Andrews Hall, built in 1980, houses the Departments of the Health, Physical Education and Athletics. In addition, it has
basketball and racquetball courts and the equipment and training rooms for the university's varsity and intramural teams. The
Athletic Hall of Fame is also located in Andrews Hall. The facility honors trustee Paul R.
Andrews (NU 1930).
Kreitzberg Arena
Kreitzberg Arena, also named in for the Kreitzberg family, is the home of Norwich Hockey. Construction on this multi-purpose
arena was completed in the spring of 1998. The 59,000 square ft. arena has a 200 x 90 ice surface
and seating for 1400, with a maximum capacity of 5,000 for special events. The arena also hosts the ECAC Hockey East Regional Finals.
Plumley Armory
The Armory, built in 1928, is named to honor a distinguished 1896 graduate of the University, Charles A. Plumley. Plumley served as the President of the
University from 1930 to 1934 when he was elected to Congress as Vermont's sole representative from 1934 to 1951. The main floor of the building provides seating space for 4,000 in an area as large as three basketball
courts. There is an elevated running track as well as locker rooms, training rooms, and Navy ROTC offices in the basement.
Connected to the Armory is Goodyear Pool. Built in 1962, the Pool is a 25 x 14 yard 5 lane facility
that is open to all University members.
Shapiro Field House
Shapiro Field House, built in 1987 and named for trustee Jacob Shapiro (NU 1936),
houses a multipurpose arena that has a 200-meter indoor running track, four tennis courts, and a climbing wall. It is also used
for morning PT, athletic practices, Commencement, concerts and other university functions.
Other buildings
The Harmon Memorial The Harmon Memorial is a tribute to Major General
Ernest Harmon, who attended Norwich University from 1912 to
1913 and was later president from 1950 to 1979. Recorded on the memorial, by year of death, are the names of alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of Norwich
University that have made a "significant contribution" to the University.
Harmon Hall & Wise Campus Center
Harmon Hall opened in 1955 and later enlarged in 1958. Since then, it has served as the focal point for student life and
activities. The campus mess hall, bookstore, post office, and The Mill (a snack bar open to upperclassmen and civilian freshmen)
are located on the lower two floors. The Foreign Student Office, Student Activities, Yearbook Office, Music Program offices, a
game room, and a lounge were located on the top floor. This floor originally housed the departments of English, History, and
Modern Languages until they were moved to Webb Hall in 1960. Harmon Hall renovated in 2007. The
addition onto Harmon Hall is named the Wise Campus Center and houses new dining and food preparation facilities as well as a new
book store, post office, Partridge's Pub and an outdoor staking rink.
Jackman Hall
Norwich University moved to Northfield from Norwich, Vermont in 1866 when the South Barracks at the older location were
destroyed by fire. Old Jackman Hall was the first building to be constructed at the new central Vermont site. The building was
erected in 1868, and named Jackman Hall in 1907 to honor Brigadier General Alonzo Jackman (NU
1836) a distinguished faculty member, creator of the trans-Atlantic telegraph cable system and commander of the Vermont Brigade
during the Civil War. From its construction till 1905 the building served as housing for cadets. In the mid-1950s Jackman Hall
was extensively remodeled and modernized, however, it became apparent that the almost century-old barracks were too costly to
maintain. It was decided that rather than pay for near continual upkeep to build a new hall on the same site. As many newer
barracks had been built since its original construction it was decided that the new Jackman Hall would serve as the primary
administration building. Currently the Army and Air Force ROTC departments are housed in Jackman, as well.
White Chapel
Constructed by a gift from Eugene L. White (NU 1914), a trustee, the chapel was completed in
1941. Originally designed as a multi-purpose building, then White Hall has served as a mess hall with a dining room, lunch room,
kitchen, a college store and a recreational room. White Hall was converted to the University's first single-purpose chapel after
Harmon Hall was opened in 1955. There are two bronze plaques on the walls that honor the Norwich
war dead. Weekly services include Catholic Mass on Saturday and Sunday, Non-denominational service on Sunday, and Islamic
Prayer on Friday.
Sullivan Museum and History Center
One of the newest buildings on the campus, the Sullivan Museum was opened in January of 2007. The building is named after
General Gordon R. Sullivan (ret.), Norwich class of 1959 and former U. S. Army Chief of Staff. The Sullivan Museum houses state
of the art conservation, storage, and display facilities for the wide variety of Norwich University artifacts and memorabilia.
Items currently displayed cover a wide spectrum of Norwich history, including uniforms worm by Alden Partridge and Alonzo Jackman
to pieces from more recent history.
Athletics
Norwich University Cadets.
The Norwich University Cadets compete at the NCAA Division III level and are affiliated in one of four conferences, mainly the
Great Northeast Athletic Conference. There are 11 varsity sports and
one club sport for men at Norwich University. The Cadets participate in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Soccer,
Lacrosse, and more. In recent years, Norwich men's teams have been regularly found in the national rankings, won conference
titles, and won two national championships in ice hockey.
This is an exciting time for women's athletics at Norwich University. Two sports, lacrosse and volleyball, have recently been
approved to receive varsity status and will compete as such in coming years. All current women's varsity teams compete at the
NCAA Division III level and are members of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. Some of the sports the women compete in are
Basketball, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, and more.
The Norwich Men's Basketball team returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2006 after winning the GNAC post-season title. Head Coach
Paul Booth garnered GNAC Coach of the Year honors for a second straight season, while point guard Geoff Hensley was named to the
All-GNAC 1st Team and forward Rene Cheatham made the All-GNAC 2nd Team.
Students and organization
The University has approx. 2,000 undergraduate students, 112 full-time
faculty (approx. 80% hold a doctorate), and a fluctuating number of adjunct professors. The student/faculty ratio is 14:1 and the
male/female ratio is 2:1. The freshman retention rate is 80%. The student body is comprised of students from over 40 different
states and 20 countries.
Norwich University has two very different on-campus resident programs: the Corps of Cadets and the traditional student
body.
Corps
The Corps side is structured as a regiment commanded by a Cadet Colonel (C/COL) with four
battalions each commanded by a Cadet Lieutenant Colonel (C/LTC). Normally, each battalion
consists of three companies commanded by a Cadet Captain (C/CPT) which are made
of two platoons (1st platoon is the upperclassmen and 2nd platoon the freshmen, or "Rooks").
Traditional
The Resident Life Department oversees the "civilian" side. Floors in the Residence Halls are under the supervision of a
Resident Advisor (RA). The Residence Halls are in turn supervised by Resident
Coordinators (RC) who report to the Area Coordinator (AC) and the Director of Resident Life (DoRL). Norwich is unique in that
students hold positions that at many other colleges and universities are reserved for professional staff.
Notable alumni
Military
- Major General Horatio G. Wright (NU 1834-1836)
- Commander of the VI Corps and Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. Chief of Engineers for the US Army. Chief
Engineer for the completion of the Washington Monument.
- Brigadier General Simon Manly Preston - Commanded the 52nd Miss. Regiment during
the American Civil War. Appointed by President Grant as the United States Internal
Revenue Collector for Mississippi. Later served as the chief engineer for the Nachez, Jackson & Columbia Railroad.
- Major General Ernest N. Harmon — Armored division, corps and later German Constabulary commander. Became the 22nd President of the University
in 1950. Ernest Harmon Air Force Base is named in his honor.
- Captain James M. Burt (NU 1939) — Medal of Honor and
Purple Heart recipient for his actions during the Battle of the Bulge, alumnus of Theta Chi.
- Major General Jonas Mansfield Platt (NU 1940) — Member of the Council on
Foreign Relations, he served on the USS Washington and participated in the
invasions of Peleliu and Okinawa during the
Second World War. Later fought in Korea and commanded Task Force
Delta in the Vietnam War.
- Brigadier General Charles E. Canedy (NU 1953) — Inducted into the Army Aviation Hall of Fame in 1995, he organized one of the
first air cavalry troops in the US Army. While serving at the Pentagon he was responsible for the adoption of the UH-1 and the
AH-1 Cobra.
- General Boonsrang Niumpradit (NU 1966) — Chief of Joint Staff for the Supreme Command Headquarters, Royal Thai Army. [4]
- Brigadier General Jeffrey P. Lyon (NU 1972) — Chief of Staff for the Vermont Air National Guard. [5]
Political
- William Little Lee (NU 1842) — Lawyer and privy
counselor to Kamehameha III of Hawaii, later served as the Kingdom's chief justice
from 1848 to his death in 1857.
- William Pitt Kellogg (NU 1848) — Was appointed Chief Justice of the
Nebraska Territory in 1861 by President Lincoln but soon after resigned to fight in
the Civil War. Elected to the Senate from Louisiana in 1868, he became the governor of that state in 1873 and left office with the end of Reconstruction 1877. Returning to the Senate in 1877, he remained there until 1883 when he sought a term
(1883-1885) in the House instead. Was one of the few carpetbagger politicians to remain in
power in the South post-Reconstruction.
- Dennis B. Underwood (NU 1966) — Commissioner of the United States Bureau of Reclamation 1989-1993 [6]
Business
- Pierson Mapes (NU 1959) — President of NBC from 1982 to 1994
Engineering & Architecture
- Edward D. Adams (NU 1864) — Engineer and builder of the Niagara Falls Power facility
Other notable alumni
- Arthur Chase (NU 1856) — Co-founder of Theta Chi Fraternity.
- Frank Liebel - (NU 1941) - Professional Footbal Player 1942-1948 with the New York Giants and Chicago Bears. [8]
- Emily Caruso (NU 2000) — 2002 National Air Rifle Champion, member of 2004 Olympic Rifle Team. [11] [12]
- Keith Aucoin (NU 2001) — Professional hockey player [13]
References
- ^ Reynolds, Terry. "The Education of Engineers in America Before the Morrill
Act of 1862." History of Education Quarterly, Vol 32, No 4, Winter 1992.
- ^ Nat Frothingham, "Vermont College and Union: One Plus One Equals Three,"
The Montpelier Bridge, May 2001. http://www.mtbytes.com/mpbridge/article.cfm?articleid=264
External links
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