63-537: The Millie West Tennis Facility , formerly called the Busch Tennis Courts , are the tennis courts used by the College of William and Mary ’s tennis teams during the outdoor season. The facility is named after Millie West, a contributor of over 50 years to William & Mary Athletics. The original name for the small stadium came from Anheuser-Busch , formerly the largest American brewer. Anheuser-Busch has
126-732: A "small college environment" and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio of 12-to-1 (the second lowest among U.S. public universities), fostering student-professor interaction. A notable 99% of all undergraduate classes, excluding labs, are taught by professors (not teaching assistants), and 86% contain 40 or fewer students. William & Mary offers exchange programs with 15 foreign schools, drawing more than 12% of its undergraduates into these programs. It also receives U.S. State Department grants to expand its foreign exchange programs further. William & Mary enrolled 6,285 undergraduate and 2,455 postgraduate students in Fall 2018. Women made up 57.6% of
189-512: A Nation" because of its close ties to America's founding fathers and figures pivotal to the development and expansion of the United States. George Washington , who received his surveyor's license through the college despite never attending, was the college's first American chancellor. William & Mary is famous for its firsts: the first U.S. institution with a royal charter, the first Greek-letter society ( Phi Beta Kappa , founded in 1776),
252-638: A branch in Norfolk, Virginia called The Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary; it eventually became the independent state-supported institution known as Old Dominion University . President Franklin D. Roosevelt received an honorary degree from the college on October 20, 1934. In 1935, the Sunken Garden was constructed just west of the Wren Building. The sunken design is from
315-786: A large presence in the Williamsburg area, including a brewery and the theme park Busch Gardens Williamsburg . Adjacent to the Busch Tennis Courts is Busch Field, also sponsored by the company. There are eight tennis courts all together, each one of them being a hard court . A unique feature to its design are the “California Corners”, which includes quarter fences that run along the sidelines to allow uninterrupted play. 37°16′25″N 76°43′17″W / 37.273558°N 76.721263°W / 37.273558; -76.721263 College of William and Mary The College of William & Mary (abbreviated as W&M )
378-731: A scholarly journal focusing on colonial history, particularly in North America and the Atlantic World, from the Age of Discovery onward. In addition to the Quarterly , W&M, by its mission to provide undergraduates with a thorough grounding in research, W&M also hosts several student journals. The Monitor , the undergraduate journal of International Studies, is published semi-annually. The Lyon Gardiner Tyler Department of History publishes an annual undergraduate history journal,
441-469: A secret literary and philosophical society. Other secret societies known to exist at the college currently include: The 7 Society , 13 Club, Alpha Club, Bishop James Madison Society , The Society, The Spades, W Society, and Wren Society . Thomas R. Dew , professor of history, metaphysics, and political economy, and then president of William & Mary from 1836 until he died in 1846, was an influential academic defender of slavery. In 1842, alumni of
504-606: A similar landscape feature at Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, designed by Sir Christopher Wren. In 1945, the editor-in-chief of The Flat Hat , Marilyn Kaemmerle, wrote an editorial, "Lincoln's Job Half-Done..." that supported the end of racial segregation , anti-miscegenation laws and white supremacy ; the university administration removed her from the newspaper and nearly expelled her. According to Time magazine, in response, over one-thousand William & Mary students held "a spirited mass meeting protesting infringement of
567-536: A student dormitory, was destroyed by fire on January 20, 1983, without casualties. The building, including the destroyed west wing, was rebuilt and reopened. On July 25, 2012, Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS), in nearby Norfolk, Virginia , made a joint announcement with William & Mary that the two schools were considering merging, with the prospect that EVMS would become the William & Mary School of Medicine. Any such merger would have to be confirmed by
630-509: A teacher-training institution. Lyon Gardiner Tyler (son of US President and alumnus John Tyler ) became the 17th president of the college following Ewell's retirement. Tyler and his successor J. A. C. Chandler expanded the college. In 1896, Minnie Braithwaite Jenkins was the first woman to attempt to take classes at William & Mary, although her petition was denied. In March 1906, the General Assembly passed an act taking over
693-637: Is Alan B. Miller Hall , the headquarters of the college's Mason School of Business . The recent wave of construction at William & Mary has resulted in a new building for the School of Education , not far from Kaplan Hall (formerly William and Mary Hall). The offices and classrooms of the Government, Economics, and Classical Language Departments share John E. Boswell Hall (formerly "Morton Hall") on "New Campus". These departments have been piecemeal separated and relocated to buildings recently renovated within
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#1732780340463756-450: Is 4.4. The interquartile range for total SAT scores was 1365–1510, while the range for ACT scores was 32–34. Undergraduate tuition for 2016–2017 was $ 13,127 for Virginia residents and $ 36,158 for out-of-state students. W&M granted over $ 20.9 million in need-based scholarships in 2014–2015 to 1,734 undergraduates (27.5% of the undergraduate student body); 37% of the student body received loans, and average student indebtedness
819-671: Is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia , United States. Founded in 1693 under a royal charter issued by King William III and Queen Mary II , it is the second-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and the ninth-oldest in the English-speaking world . It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High Research Activity". In his 1985 book Public Ivies: A Guide to America's Best Public Undergraduate Colleges and Universities , Richard Moll included William & Mary as one of
882-663: Is composed of 17 members appointed by the Governor of Virginia , based upon the recommendations made by the Society of the Alumni, to a maximum of two successive four-year terms. The Board elects a Rector, Vice-Rector, and Secretary, and the Board meets four times annually. The Board appoints a president, related administrative officers, and an honorary chancellor, approving degrees, admission policies, departments, and schools and executing
945-541: Is dominated by William and Mary Hall , Earl Gregg Swem Library , and formerly Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall . It also includes the offices and classrooms of the Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, Biology, and Chemistry Departments, the majority of freshman dormitories, the fraternity complex, the majority of the college's athletic fields, and the Muscarelle Museum of Art . The newest addition to "New Campus"
1008-532: Is notable for its many firsts in American higher education. The F.H.C. Society , founded in 1750, was the first collegiate fraternity in the United States, and W&M students founded the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society in 1776, the first Greek-letter fraternity. In 1736, W&M became the first school of higher education in the future United States to install a student honor code of conduct. It
1071-466: Is the first female president to serve the college since its founding. Faculty members are organized into separate faculties of the Faculty of Arts and Science as well as those for the respective schools of Business , Education , Law , and Virginia Institute of Marine Science . Each faculty is presided over by a dean, who reports to the provost, and governs itself through separate by-laws approved by
1134-648: Is the oldest academic building still standing in the United States. A school of higher education for both Native American young men and the sons of the colonists was one of the earliest goals of the leaders of the Colony of Virginia . The college was founded on February 8, 1693, under a royal charter to "make, found and establish a certain Place of Universal Study, a perpetual College of Divinity, Philosophy, Languages, and other good arts and sciences ... to be supported and maintained, in all time coming." Named in honor of
1197-470: Is the only American university issued a coat of arms by the College of Arms in London. The establishment of graduate programs in law and medicine in 1779 makes it one of the first universities in the United States . The William & Mary Law School is the oldest law school in the United States, and the Wren Building , attributed to and named for the famed English architect Sir Christopher Wren ,
1260-507: The James Blair Historical Review . Non-academic publications include The William & Mary Review – the college's official literary magazine – Winged Nation – a student literary arts magazine, Acropolis – the art and art history magazine, The Flat Hat – the student newspaper, The Botetourt Squat – the student satirical newspaper, The Colonial Echo – the college's yearbook, The DoG Street Journal –
1323-599: The Chancellor of the College of William & Mary that same year. In 2007, Elizabeth II and Prince Philip would visit the college for a second time to recognize the 400th anniversary of the landing at Jamestown. In 2022, a beacon was lit in front of the Wren Building to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II . The college is on a 1,200-acre (490 ha) campus in Williamsburg, Virginia . In 2011, Travel+Leisure named William & Mary one of
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#17327803404631386-543: The Confederate States Army depleted the student body. On May 10, 1861, the faculty voted to close the college for the duration of the conflict. General Charles A. Whittier reported that "thirty-two out of thirty-five professors and instructors abandoned the college work and joined the army in the field". The College Building was used as a Confederate barracks and later as a hospital, first by Confederate, and later Union forces. The Battle of Williamsburg
1449-765: The English Civil War , and Bacon's Rebellion . In 1695, before the town of Williamsburg existed, construction began on the College Building, now known as the Sir Christopher Wren Building , in what was then called Middle Plantation . It is the oldest college building in America. The college is one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution . The charter named James Blair as
1512-671: The University of St Andrews in Scotland. The graduate programs are dominant in STEM fields , and the university has a high level of research activity. For the 2016–17 academic year, 1,591 undergraduate, 652 masters, and 293 doctoral degrees were conferred. William & Mary is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools . The college is organized into one faculty and four schools: W&M provides
1575-657: The Virginia Institute of Marine Science campus and Trinkle Hall (named for Governor Elbert Lee Trinkle ) of Campus Center were renamed in September 2020 to York River Hall and Unity Hall respectively. In April 2021, three buildings were renamed at following a vote by the Board of Visitors: Morton Hall (named for professor Richard Lee Morton) to John E. Boswell Hall (for LGBT advocate and alum John Boswell ), Taliaferro Hall (named for Confederate General William Taliaferro ) to Hulon L. Willis Sr. Hall (Hulon Willis Sr.
1638-540: The "Old Campus", such as Chancellors' Hall. The vast majority of William & Mary's 1,200 acres (4.9 km ) consists of woodlands and Lake Matoaka , an artificial lake created by colonists in the early 18th century. Following the George Floyd protests and associated movements, as well as student and faculty pressure in 2020 and 2021, several buildings, halls, and other entities were renamed. Maury Hall (named for Confederate sailor Matthew Fontaine Maury ) on
1701-544: The 1699 design was "first modelled by Sir Christopher Wren" and then was adapted "by the Gentlemen there" in Virginia; little is known about how it looked since it burned within a few years of its completion. Today's Wren Building is based on the design of its 1716 replacement. The college's alum association has suggested Wren's connection to the 1931 building is a viable subject of investigation. Two other buildings around
1764-670: The 200th anniversary of the Battle of Yorktown. In 1988, the United States Congress selected William & Mary to send a delegation to the United Kingdom for the 300th anniversary of the ascension of King William III and Queen Mary II. Prince Charles would return to the college in 1993 for the 300th anniversary of William & Mary. William & Mary sent a delegation to meet with Queen Elizabeth II that same year. Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher would be made
1827-438: The Board of Visitors. The faculty is also represented by a faculty assembly advising the president and provost. The Royal Hospital School , an independent boarding school in the United Kingdom, is a sister institution. The College of William & Mary is a medium-sized, highly residential, public research university. The focal point of the university is its four-year, full-time undergraduate program which constitutes most of
1890-714: The Revolutionary War, General George Washington was appointed as the first American chancellor; later, United States President John Tyler held the post. The college has recently had several distinguished chancellors: former Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger (1986–1993), former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (1993–2000), former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (2000–2005), and former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor (2005–2012). Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates , himself an alumnus of
1953-487: The Sunken Garden. Adjoining "Old Campus" to the north and west is "New Campus". It was constructed primarily between 1950 and 1980, and it consists of academic buildings and dormitories that, while of the same brick construction as "Old Campus", fit into the vernacular of modern architecture. Beginning with the college's tercentenary in 1993, the college has embarked on a building and renovation program that favors
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2016-556: The U.S. In the 2019 "America's Top Colleges" ranking by Forbes , W&M was ranked the 9th best public college and 47th out of the 650 best private and public colleges and universities in the U.S. W&M ranked 3rd for race and class interaction in The Princeton Review ' s 2018 rankings. The college was ranked as the public college with the smartest students in the nation according to Business Insider 's 2014 survey. The undergraduate business program
2079-423: The U.S., and tied for 624th-best university in the world. U.S. News & World Report also rated William & Mary's undergraduate teaching as the 4th best (tied with Princeton University ) among 73 national universities and 13th best for Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects in its 2021 rankings. For 2019 Kiplinger ranked William & Mary 6th out of 174 best-value public colleges and universities in
2142-441: The United States, becoming the first member of the royal family to visit the college. In 1957, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh , visited the college to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the landing at Jamestown. Queen Elizabeth gave a speech from the balcony of the Wren Building that drew over 20,000 people, the largest crowd ever seen in the city. In 1981, Charles, Prince of Wales , visited to commemorate
2205-664: The Wren Building compose an area known as "Ancient" or "Historic Campus": the Brafferton (built within 1723 and originally housing the Indian School, now the President and Provost's offices) and the President's House (built within 1732). In addition to the Ancient Campus, which dates to the 18th century, the college also consists of "Old Campus" and "New Campus". "Old Campus", adjacent to Ancient Campus, surrounds
2268-556: The college did not open all programs to African-American students until around 1970. In 1960, The Colleges of William & Mary , a short-lived five-campus university system, was founded. It included the College of William & Mary, the Richmond Professional Institute , the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary , Christopher Newport College , and Richard Bland College . It
2331-623: The college formed the Society of the Alumni which is now the sixth oldest alum organization in the United States. In 1859, a great fire destroyed the College Building. The Alumni House is one of the few original antebellum structures remaining on campus ; notable others include the Wren Building, the President's House , the Brafferton, and Prince George House. At the outset of the American Civil War (1861–1865), enlistments in
2394-449: The college grounds, and it has remained publicly supported ever since. In 1918, it was one of the first universities in Virginia to admit women. Enrollment increased from 104 in 1889 to 1269 students by 1932. W. A. R. Goodwin , rector at Bruton Parish Church and professor of biblical literature and religious education at the college, pursued benefactors who could support the restoration of Williamsburg. Goodwin considered Williamsburg "as
2457-477: The college in 1749, and later became the college's first American chancellor in 1788. That position was long held by the bishops of London and archbishops of Canterbury , though in modern times has been held by U.S. Supreme Court justices, Cabinet secretaries , and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher . Benjamin Franklin received William & Mary's first honorary degree in 1756. William & Mary
2520-585: The college which included the abolition of the Divinity School and the Indian School and the establishment of the first elective system of study and honor system. The College of William & Mary is home to the nation's first collegiate secret society , the F.H.C. Society , popularly known as the Flat Hat Club , founded on November 11, 1750. On December 5, 1776, students John Heath and William Short (class of 1779) founded Phi Beta Kappa as
2583-637: The college's first president (a lifetime appointment which he held until he died in 1743). William & Mary was founded as an Anglican institution; students were required to be members of the Church of England , and professors were required to declare adherence to the Thirty-Nine Articles . In 1693, the college was given a seat in the House of Burgesses , and it was determined tobacco taxes and export duties on furs and animal skins would support
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2646-551: The college, succeeded O'Connor in February 2012. The Board of Visitors delegates to a president the operating responsibility and accountability for the college's administrative, fiscal, and academic performance, as well as representing the college on public occasions such as conferral of degrees. W. Taylor Reveley III , 27th President of the college, served from 2008 to 2018. In February 2018, The Board of Visitors unanimously elected Katherine A. Rowe as Reveley's successor. Rowe
2709-670: The college. The college acquired a 330 acres (1.3 km ) parcel for the new school, 8 miles (13 km) from Jamestown. In 1694, the new school opened in temporary buildings. Williamsburg was granted a royal charter as a city in 1722 by the Crown and served as the capital of Colonial Virginia from 1699 to 1780. During this time, the college served as a law center, and lawmakers frequently used its buildings. It educated future U.S. Presidents Thomas Jefferson , James Monroe , and John Tyler . The college has been called "the Alma Mater of
2772-535: The fiduciary duties of supervising the college's property and finances. The Chancellor of the College of William & Mary is largely ceremonial. Until 1776, the position was held by an English subject, usually the Archbishop of Canterbury or the Bishop of London , who served as the college's advocate to the Crown, while a colonial President oversaw the day-to-day activities of the Williamsburg campus. Following
2835-635: The first collegiate society in the country ( F.H.C. Society , founded in 1750), the first student honor code and the first collegiate law school in America. During the American Revolution, Virginia established a freedom of religion, notably with the 1786 passage of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom . Future U.S. President James Madison was a key figure in the transition to religious freedom in Virginia, and Right Reverend James Madison , his cousin and Thomas Jefferson, who
2898-750: The fourth U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall , Speaker of the House of Representatives Henry Clay , Commanding General of the U.S. Army Winfield Scott , sixteen members of the Continental Congress , and four signers of the Declaration of Independence . Its connections with many Founding Fathers of the United States earned it the nickname "the Alma Mater of the Nation". George Washington received his surveyor's license from
2961-647: The hall's dedication. While the college's administration was less supportive of the restoration efforts than many others in Williamsburg–before the Colonial Williamsburg project, the William & Mary campus was Williamsburg's primary tourist attraction–the college's cooperation was secured. Restoration paid for by Rockefeller's program extended to the college, with the Wren Building restored in 1928–1931, President's House in 1931, and Brafferton in 1931–1932. In 1930, William & Mary established
3024-410: The institution's enrollment. The college has a strong undergraduate arts & sciences focus, with many graduate programs in diverse fields ranging from American colonial history to marine science. The college offers four academic programs in its District of Columbia office: an undergraduate joint degree program in engineering with Columbia University , as well as a liberal arts joint degree program with
3087-492: The most beautiful college campuses in the United States. The Sir Christopher Wren Building is the oldest college building in the United States and a National Historic Landmark. The building, colloquially referred to as the "Wren Building", was named upon its renovation in 1931 to honor the English architect Sir Christopher Wren . The basis for the 1930s name is a 1724 history in which mathematics professor Hugh Jones stated
3150-505: The original eight " Public Ivies ". The university is among the original nine colonial colleges . The college educated American Presidents Thomas Jefferson , James Monroe , and John Tyler . It also educated other key figures pivotal to the development of the United States, including the first President of the Continental Congress Peyton Randolph , the first U.S. Attorney General Edmund Randolph ,
3213-446: The original training and testing ground" of the United States. Goodwin persuaded John D. Rockefeller Jr. to initiate the restoration of Williamsburg in 1926, leading to the establishment of Colonial Williamsburg . Goodwin had initially only pursued Rockefeller to help fund the construction of Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall , but had convinced Rockefeller to participate in a broader restoration effort when he visited William & Mary for
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#17327803404633276-621: The reigning monarchs King William III and Queen Mary II , the college is the second-oldest in the United States. The original plans for the college date back to 1618 at Henrico but were thwarted by the Indian Massacre of 1622 , a change in government (in 1624, the Virginia Company's charter was revoked by King James I and the Virginia Colony was transferred to royal authority as a crown colony ), events related to
3339-576: The restoration of the Union, Virginia was destitute. The college's 16th president, Benjamin Stoddert Ewell , finally reopened the school in 1869 using his funds, but the college closed again in 1882 due to insufficient funding. In 1888, William & Mary resumed operations under an amended charter when the Commonwealth of Virginia passed an act appropriating $ 10,000 to support the college as
3402-402: The sacred principles of freedom of the press bequeathed by Alumnus Thomas Jefferson." She was allowed to graduate, but future editors had to discuss "controversial writings" with faculty before printing. The college Board of Visitors apologized to her in the 1980s. The college admitted Hulon Willis into a graduate program in 1951 because the program was unavailable at Virginia State . However,
3465-410: The traditional architectural style of "Old Campus", while incorporating energy-efficient technologies. Several buildings constructed since the 1990s have been LEED certified . Additionally, as the buildings of "New Campus" are renovated after decades of use, several have been remodeled to incorporate more traditional architectural elements to unify the appearance of the entire college campus. "New Campus"
3528-570: The two schools and then confirmed by the Virginia General Assembly and Governor. Both universities subsequently agreed upon a pilot relationship, supported by a $ 200,000 grant in the Virginia budget, to examine this possible union in reality. Throughout the second half of the 20th century, William & Mary has retained its historic ties to the United Kingdom and that state's royal family. In 1954, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother visited William & Mary as part of her tour of
3591-414: The undergraduate and 50.7% of the graduate student bodies. Admission to W&M is considered "most selective" according to U.S. News & World Report . For the undergraduate class entering fall 2023, William & Mary received 17,548 applications and accepted 5,741, or 32.7%. Of accepted applications, 1,619 enrolled, a yield rate of 28.2%. Of all matriculating students, the average high school GPA
3654-446: Was $ 26,017. Research of William & Mary students published in 2016 and 2017 showed they hailed from overwhelmingly wealthy student family backgrounds, even as compared to other elite public institutions. The college is need-blind for domestic applicants. In the 2022–23 U.S. News & World Report rankings, W&M ranks as tied for the 13th-best public university in the United States, tied for 41st-best national university in
3717-444: Was dissolved in 1962, with only Richard Bland College remaining officially associated with the College of William & Mary at the present day. In 1974, Jay Winston Johns willed Highland , the 535-acre (2.17 km ) historic Albemarle County, Virginia estate of alumnus and U.S. President James Monroe, to the college. The college restored this historic presidential home near Charlottesville and opened it publicly. Jefferson Hall,
3780-536: Was fought nearby during the Peninsula Campaign on May 5, 1862, and the city was captured by the Union army the next day. The Brafferton building of the college was used for a time as quarters for the commanding officer of the Union garrison occupying the town. On September 9, 1862, drunken soldiers of the 5th Pennsylvania Cavalry set fire to the College Building, purportedly in an attempt to prevent Confederate snipers from using it for cover. Following
3843-460: Was on the Board of Visitors , helped the College of William & Mary to make the transition as well. In 1779, the college established graduate schools in law and medicine, making it one of the institutions that claimed to be the first university in the United States . As its president, Reverend Madison worked with the new leaders of Virginia, most notably Jefferson, on a reorganization and changes for
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#17327803404633906-523: Was ranked 12th among undergraduate programs by the 2016 Bloomberg Businessweek survey. Also in 2020, was W&M ranked 4th for "Colleges with the Happiest Students" by The Princeton Review and 9th in a list of the public universities that "pay off the most", according to CNBC . The Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture publishes the William and Mary Quarterly ,
3969-399: Was the first Black student at the college), and Tyler Hall (named for President John Tyler and his son) to its original name of Chancellors' Hall (the hall had been renamed in 1988). The Board of Visitors is a corporation established by the General Assembly of Virginia to govern and supervise the operation of the College of William & Mary and of Richard Bland College . The corporation
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