| Virginia Intermont College | |
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| Motto | Nil sine numine |
| Motto in English | Nothing without Guidance |
| Established | 1884 |
| Type | Private college |
| Religious affiliation | Baptist General Association of Virginia |
| Endowment | $2.8 million [1] |
| President | Dr. Michael Puglisi |
| Vice-president | Col. Patrick Shull |
| Provost | Dr. Mark Roberts |
| Dean | Dr. Gregory Nayor (resigning after Fall Semester, 2009) |
| Faculty | 84[1] |
| Students | 916 |
| Location | Bristol, Virginia, United States |
| Campus | Suburban, 147 acres |
| Colors | Black and Gold |
| Nickname | Cobras |
| Athletics | NAIA Division II |
| Affiliations | Appalachian Athletic Conference |
| Website | www.vic.edu/ |
Virginia Intermont College is a small private Baptist liberal arts college in Bristol, Virginia. It was founded in 1884 by a Baptist minister who wanted to establish educational opportunities for women. The school has been coeducational since 1972.
The college, known primarily for its photography and equestrian programs, is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
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History
Reverend J.R. Harrison, a Baptist minister, envisioned bringing higher education opportunities to women in southwest Virginia and saw it come to fruition when the Southwest Virginia Institute in Glade Spring, Virginia opened on September 17, 1884. Instructing both boarding and day students, the school steadily grew until it outgrew its facilities in less than ten years.
The college began moving to a new site in Bristol, Virginia in 1891, completing its relocation with the beginning of classes on September 14, 1893. Shortly after the move, the name was changed to Virginia Institute. A reorganization of the curriculum in 1910 brought the college in line with the junior college movement and the college became the first two-year institution to be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school's name changed to its present name, Virginia Intermont College, in 1908. "Intermont", meaning "among the mountains", is evocative of the college's location in the mountains.
The 1960s saw construction of five buildings on campus to accommodate the school's growth. In May 1968, the college's Board of Trustees approved a plan for the development of a four-year institution.[2] 1972 ushered in two major changes at Intermont, the awarding of the school's first baccalaureate degrees and the admission of men.
On April 3, 2007, it was announced by the college's administration that the financial situation at the college has declined to critical levels and the college lacked the funds to offer faculty members contracts for the 2007-08 academic year, prompting pleas for donations and talk of merger with another college.[3] On June 18, 2007, the college president announced that enough funding had been secured to extend faculty contracts for the 2007-08 school year. This was done when Bristol business leader Bill Gatton donated a large sum of money and challenged other community business leaders to do the same.[4] During this same period, the college was denied reaffirmation and placed on probation by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. After being on probation for two years, the school's accreditation was reaffirmed in June, 2009.[5]
Campus
The original campus buildings built between 1891 and 1893 consisted of the main hall (which featured a dining hall, room for 200 boarders, a gymnasium, an indoor pool) as well as a fine arts building, and two out buildings which housed classrooms. The original structure, which only consists of the main hall today, was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 4, 1984.[6]
The first major addition to the school was in the early 1920s in which time Hodges Hall and the current president's home were constructed. These were followed by the construction of what is currently known as East Hall in 1922. The current gymnasium was built in 1930 which was followed shortly by the Library and the Humanities building. No further major construction would take place until the early 1960s in which time Intermont Hall, The Science Hall, the student center and the new indoor pool, the Harrison-Jones Auditorium, and the Worrell Fine Arts Center were constructed.
Organization
The school is governed by a president, provost and a Board of Trustees. Some of the trustees are nominated by the Baptist General Assembly of Virginia. The school's programs fall under four divisions: Arts and Sciences, Fine Arts, Professional Studies, and Public Service and Leadership. Four-year programs of study leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree, Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, Bachelor of Science degree, Bachelor of Social Work degree, and two-year programs leading to the Associate in Arts degree are offered.
Sports, clubs, and traditions
Athletics
The Virginia Intermont Cobras compete in Division II of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. Teams include baseball, men and women's basketball, men's golf, softball, men's soccer, cheerleading and volleyball. Virginia Intermont fields equestrian teams in competitions affiliated with the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, the Intercollegiate Dressage Association, and the International Intercollegiate Equestrian Association.
Student clubs
- Admissions Ambassadors
- Alpha Chi National Honors Society
- B.O.S.S. Club
- Cardinal Key
- Christian Student Union
- Class Organizations
- Equestrian Club
- International Club
- Law Club
- Poetry Club
- Psychology Club
- Social Work Club
- Southern Virginia Education Association
- Student Activities Committee
- Student Government Association
- Venturing Club
School traditions
The college's long-held tradition of May Day is now celebrated as May Court, a time to recognize seniors who have been selected by their classmates for an honor court which occurs each year during graduation festivities. Another spring tradition is the Torchlight ceremony, which takes place after baccalaureate. Graduates march around the campus and one by one has a torch lit by the president. The group then forms the college below Harrison-Jones Memorial Hall and sings the college song, "Nil Sine Numine."
The college's official song, "Nil Sine Numine", was written by students in 1952 as part of a tradition for students of writing and competing with a song demonstrating pride in the institution. The music for the song was taken from a song called "The Gaudeamus" which was sung in the musical The Student Prince. The school songwriting tradition ended when the school became coeducational in 1972.
Noted alumni
- Robert Ssejjemba (2004), professional soccer player
- Michael A. Elam (2003), Former Professional Magician and Illusionist, Founder of the Twin City Magic Convention, Founding member and First President of Internation Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 355 - The Tri-Cities Ring
- Preston Gannaway (2000), 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography
References
- ^ a b "Virginia Intermont College - College Overview". Peterson's. 2007-01-18. http://www.petersons.com/ugchannel/code/InstVC.asp?inunid=9541&sponsor=1. Retrieved 2007-07-09.
- ^ Associated Press (1968-05-24). "Va. Intermont Adds 2 Years". The Washington Post.
- ^ "Virginia Intermont almost out of money, can't offer faculty contracts". Kingsport Times-News. 2007-04-03. http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=3747367. Retrieved 2007-07-09.
- ^ Hunter, Amy (2007-06-19). "Puglisi: All full-time faculty contracts extended". Bristol Herald-Courier. http://www.tricities.com/tristate/tri/news.apx.-content-articles-TRI-2007-06-19-0001.html. Retrieved 2007-07-09.
- ^ Commission on College Disclosure Statement Regarding the Status of VIRGINIA INTERMONT COLLEGE Issued December 20, 2007. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Inc.
- ^ NRHP building number #84000032.
External links
- Virginia Intermont College official website
- National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form for Virginia Intermont College
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