Weber State University

Weber State University (pronounced /ˈwiːbər/ WEE-bər) is a public university in Ogden, Utah. It was founded in 1889 as Weber Stake Academy. It is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.[4]

Weber State University
Former names
Weber Stake Academy (1889–1902)
Weber Academy (1902–1918)
Weber Normal College (1918–1922)
Weber College (1922–1962)
Weber State College (1962–1990)
TypePublic university
Established1889 (1889)
1964 (as four-year), 1991 (as university)
Parent institution
Utah System of Higher Education
AccreditationNWCCU
Academic affiliations
CUMU
Endowment$219,555,666 (2022)[1]
PresidentBrad L. Mortensen
Academic staff
1,046
Administrative staff
820
Students29,914 (Fall 2022)[2]
Undergraduates28,903 (Fall 2022)
Postgraduates1,011 (Fall 2022)
Location
Ogden
,
Utah
,
United States

41.193°N 111.944°W / 41.193; -111.944
CampusUrban
ColorsPurple and white[3]
   
NicknameWildcats
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division I FCS
Big Sky Conference
Websiteweber.edu

History
View of Weber State University campus from Ogden's east bench.

Weber State University was founded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Weber Stake Academy in 1889. "Weber" comes from the name of the county where the university is located. Weber County was named after John Henry Weber, an early fur trader. The university opened for students in 1889 with 98 students enrolled for classes on January 7. The first principal of Weber Stake Academy was Louis F. Moench; he served from 1889 to 1892 and again from 1894 to 1902. In the latter year, Moench was succeeded as principal by David O. McKay, who served in that position until 1908. From 1914 to 1917, James L. Barker was the principal of the Weber Stake Academy.[5]

In the early 20th century, the school underwent multiple name changes: Weber Stake Academy from its founding in 1889, Weber Academy in 1902, Weber Normal College in 1918, and Weber College in 1922. By the late 1920s, however, the college was in financial difficulty, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints faced four choices—transfer the college to a partnership of the city of Ogden and Weber County, transfer it to the University of Utah as a branch campus, transfer it to the state of Utah as a junior college, or shut it down. In 1931, the Utah Legislature passed a law providing for the acquisition of Weber College and Snow College from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In 1933, Weber College became a state-supported junior college.[6][7] In 1954, the college moved from its downtown location in Ogden to a spacious and scenic area in the southeast bench area of the city.[8] The school became Weber State College in 1962, and in 1964 became a four-year college. It was a charter member of the Big Sky Conference in 1963.[9][10] The first graduate program (accounting), was added in 1984,[11] and it gained university status on January 1, 1991.[6][12]

Weber State University has developed into a major state undergraduate institution serving northern Utah and areas beyond, including American and international students.

Academics
The Stewart Bell Tower, the most identifiable landmark of the Weber State campus, built in 1972.[13]

Weber State University offers more than 250 certificate and degree programs.[14] They are offered through the following seven colleges:[15]

In addition to these primary colleges, the university offers several structured interdisciplinary programs. These include:

  • Asian Studies
  • Environmental Science
  • Ethnic Studies
  • European Studies
  • Latin American Studies
  • Legal Studies
  • Neuroscience Program
  • Urban & Regional Planning
  • Women's Studies

Unstructured interdisciplinary degrees are overseen by the Bachelor of Integrated Studies department.

Students pursuing premedical professions are also supported with a structured advising office and other resources.

Locations
WSU Downtown

The university sits along the east bench of the Wasatch Mountains in Ogden; the Dee Events Center for indoor athletics is located about one mile (1.6 km) south of campus. There is an additional campus in Davis County and has a center in Morgan. 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. The Ogden campus covers more than 500 acres (2.0 km2), houses 63 buildings and features residence halls that accommodate more than 1,000 students. The Davis campus has three buildings, which host more than 300 classes per semester.[19]

In 2013, Weber State opened WSU Downtown, an 18,000-square-foot (1,670 m2) building on 2314 Washington Blvd., which houses a WSU Wildcat Store, cafe, the WSU Small Business Development Center, Startup Ogden, and an open co-working space.[20]

Weber State also has centers in Farmington, Kaysville, Clearfield, and Morgan, Utah, in addition to the Community Education Center in Ogden.[21]

Athletics
Main article: Weber State Wildcats
A 2017 Weber State Wildcats football game at Stewart Stadium

Weber State University's colors are purple and white and their nickname is the Wildcats. (Wildcat is an alternate name for the bobcat, a cat native to the area.)[22] The teams participate in NCAA Division I in the Big Sky Conference; the football team (Football Championship Subdivision) plays at Stewart Stadium. The men's and women's basketball teams both play at the Dee Events Center. Additional athletic programs are men's and women's track and field, men's and women's golf, men's and women's tennis, and women's soccer, cheerleading, dance, volleyball, and softball.

When the University of Idaho and Boise State University left the Big Sky in 1996, Idaho State University in nearby Pocatello became Weber State's main rival in both football and basketball. Southern Utah University (in Cedar City) joined the Big Sky in 2012 and is the main in-state rival.

Portland Trail Blazers' legendary guard, Damian Lillard was drafted with the 6th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. After a stellar season with Weber, Dame went on to a superstar career in the league, being the most notable alumni to ever play sports at Weber.

Weber State also has 18 club sports through Campus Recreation, including ice hockey, men and women's rugby, archery, baseball, billiards, bowling, cycling, fencing, martial arts, rodeo, rock climbing, skiing, snowboarding, swimming, weightlifting, wrestling, and lacrosse.[23]

Student media
Student body composition as of May 2, 2022
Race and ethnicity[24] Total
White 74% 74
 
Hispanic 12% 12
 
Other[lower-alpha 1] 7% 7
 
Asian 2% 2
 
Black 2% 2
 
Foreign national 1% 1
 
Native American 1% 1
 
Pacific Islander 1% 1
 
Economic diversity
Low-income[lower-alpha 2] 34% 34
 
Affluent[lower-alpha 3] 66% 66
 

Weber State University has an independent, student-run newspaper, The Signpost, which is published every Monday and Thursday, an online radio station, KWCR, 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.

Notable alumni and administrators
  • Miller Administration Building
    Miller Administration Building
  • Student Services Center
    Student Services Center
  • Kimball Visual Arts Center
    Kimball Visual Arts Center
  • Elizabeth Hall
    Elizabeth Hall
  • Stewart Library
    Stewart Library
  • Shepherd Student Union
    Shepherd Student Union

Notes
  1. Other consists of Multiracial Americans & those who prefer to not say.
  2. The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.
  3. The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.

References
  1. As of June 30, 2022. Annual Financial Report 2022 (Report). Weber State University. June 30, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  2. "Weber State University". Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  3. "Color Palette". Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  4. "NWCCU Institutions of Utah". Nwccu.org. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  5. Andrew Jenson. Encyclopedic History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1941) p. 931
  6. "Timeline". www.weber.edu. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  7. "History". Weber State University. Archived from the original on September 28, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  8. Roberts, Richard C. (1994), "Weber State University", in Powell, Allan Kent (ed.), Utah History Encyclopedia, Salt Lake City, Utah: University of Utah Press, ISBN 0-87480-425-6, OCLC 30473917, archived from the original on October 10, 2013, retrieved November 6, 2013
  9. Missildine, Harry (February 26, 1963). "Six western schools create Big Sky athletic conference". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 12.
  10. "Big Sky is ready for league action". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). February 26, 1963. p. 13.
  11. Varela, Vicki (August 23, 1984). " 'University' not part of WSC's high goals". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. B1.
  12. "Out with the old – New Year's Eve bash will usher in 'new' Weber State University". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). December 25, 1990. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  13. "Weber State University: Bell Tower". Weber.edu. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  14. "Majors, Minors, Certificates & Degrees". Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  15. "weber.edu". Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  16. "The College of Engineering, Applied Science and Technology". Weber.edu. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  17. "College of Education". Weber.edu. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  18. "College of Social & Behavioral Sciences". Weber.edu. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  19. "Fast Facts". Weber.edu. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  20. "WSU Downtown". Weber.edu. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  21. "Campuses & Locations". Weber.edu. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  22. "Why Wildcats?". weber.edu. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
  23. "Lists of Clubs & Organizations". Weber.edu. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  24. "College Scorecard: Weber State University". United States Department of Education. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  25. "Nolan Archibald". Brunswick Company-Board of Directors.
  26. Lee, Mara (March 20, 2012). "Archibald, Stanley Black & Decker's chairman, was paid $64.4 million last year". Baltimore Sun. Tribune Newspapers. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  27. "UFC: For onetime Utah walk-on Sean O'Connell, the hard way has been worth it". Retrieved September 27, 2018.
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