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High Point University

Coordinates: 35°58′27″N 79°59′44″W / 35.9741251°N 79.9954946°W / 35.9741251; -79.9954946
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High Point University
Former names
High Point College (1924–1991)
MottoNil Sine Numine (Latin)
Motto in English
Nothing Without Divine Guidance
TypePrivate university
Established1924; 100 years ago (1924)
Religious affiliation
United Methodist Church
Academic affiliations
IAMSCU
NAICU
Endowment$76.2 million (2020)[1]
PresidentNido Qubein[2]
ProvostDaniel Erb (appointed 2021)
Academic staff
323[3]
Students5,850
Undergraduates4,500
Postgraduates319[4]
Location
High Point, North Carolina
,
U.S.

35°58′27″N 79°59′44″W / 35.9741251°N 79.9954946°W / 35.9741251; -79.9954946
CampusSuburban, 500 acres (200 ha)
Colors    Purple and white
NicknamePanthers
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division I – Big South Conference
MascotProwler the Panther
Websitewww.highpoint.edu

High Point University is a private university in High Point, North Carolina. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded as High Point College in 1924, it became High Point University in October 1991. HPU offers 63 undergraduate majors, 65 undergraduate minors, and 18 graduate majors.

History

Roberts Hall at High Point University
Caine Conservatory
Caine Conservatory
Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center
Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center
Cottrell Hall at High Point University

In the mid-19th century, the Methodist Protestant Church, which is now part of the United Methodist Church, became active in educational pursuits in North Carolina. In 1921, after some years of consideration, the statewide governing body of the Methodist Protestant Church voted to establish a college.[5] Shortly afterward, the church accepted an offer from the citizens of High Point to contribute 60 acres (240,000 m2) of land and $100,000 to the project, placing the new school in the city of High Point.[6] The campus was designed by R. E. Mitchell of Washington, D.C., assisted by Herbert Hunter of High Point, in the English Renaissance style. The school was founded in 1924 as High Point College, a joint venture between the Methodist Protestant Church and the citizens of High Point, and officially opened on September 14, 1924. When the college opened, the campus consisted of three buildings, attended by nine faculty members, with a student enrollment of 122.

The steadfast growth that characterized the birth of the college ended abruptly with the Great Depression. This period was difficult for the college in 1932–33, as faculty salaries were cut and expenses were sometimes bartered. Despite a $50,000 fund-raising campaign, the college declared bankruptcy on June 15, 1934, and reorganized in an effort to reduce its indebtedness.[7] Subsequent reorganization enabled the college to move forward with business and renewed expansion.

On October 9, 1991, under the guidance of President Jacob C. Martinson, Jr. and the board of trustees, High Point College changed its name to High Point University to reflect post-graduate degree programs. Coinciding with the offering of graduate studies, every building on the campus was renovated and new ones were constructed with a campus quadrangle added to replace a former city street that bisected the campus,[8] and by 2004 the university's endowment increased to $40 million. When Martinson stepped down as president in 2005, he was the longest serving United Methodist college president in the country.

In 2005, the university was 92 acres and landlocked with an undergraduate enrollment of 1,450. Its operating budget was $35 million with approximately 100 faculty members.[9] Since Nido R. Qubein became president of High Point University in 2005 the growth of the university has had significant impact on the city, region and the state of North Carolina. Qubein is the fourth highest paid college president, paid $2.9 million a year, in the United States.[10]

Since Quebin took office in 2005, High Point has grown from three academic schools to 10 academic schools - the David Hayworth College of Arts and Sciences; the Phillips School of Business; the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication; the Stout School of Education; the School of Art and Design; the Wanek School of Natural Sciences; the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy; the Congdon School of Health Sciences; and the Webb School of Engineering, School of Dental Medicine and Oral Health.

In early 2012 Businessweek reported that about $700 million in new building and campus upgrades was financed by heavy borrowing and Moody's Investors Service downgraded the school's bonds to junk status in 2009 due to the school's position as one of the most heavily leveraged colleges in the country.[11] The U.S. Department of Education's "financial responsibility" score for the 2012 and 2013 fiscal year has High Point University scoring the highest possible score of 3, putting the university ahead of Elon University, Duke University, and Davidson College.[12] Businessweek responded by inviting the school to make financial documents available to support any challenges to the article's accuracy, but none were offered in response.[11] In addition to questioning debt levels, Businessweek challenged whether the school's relationships with its lenders and vendors were at an appropriate arm's length, citing in particular that the school spends large amounts on marketing with a public relations firm headed by Qubein's daughter. The college's claims to a growing reputation in higher education were challenged as based more on high-end student amenities and marketing strategy than on academics.[11]

The Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac of April 19, 2016, noted that Qubein was the third highest-donor university president in the country from 2006 to 2016. He committed $10 million to High Point University.[13] Donations from alumni, parents and supporters of HPU total about $214 million since 2006. In 2010, the university announced plans to invest about $2.1 billion in overall growth in the next decade. To date, HPU has spent $1.2 billion on four new schools plus facilities, faculty and student services.[14]

Ashley Furniture Industries Chairman Ron Wanek donated $10 million to HPU in 2013 after visiting Qubein. Wanek's gift to the university is the tenth contribution of $10 million or more that Qubein has received during his tenure.[14]

In April 2016, HPU announced plans to invest $160 million in new building projects including a 5,000-seat arena and conference center, undergraduate science center and residence hall.[15] The Caine Conservatory opened in the spring of 2020 to support botanical research and the growth of HPU’s arboretum and gardens. The facility also includes HPU’s newest eatery, the Butterfly Café. The following year, the $170 million Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center, and the adjoining Jana and Ken Kahn Hotel, opened. It is home to HPU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as a venue for major events, speakers, concerts, entertainment, academic symposia and recreational activities.

Location

Together, Greensboro, High Point, and Winston-Salem, along with the surrounding suburbs and townships, form the Piedmont Triad region, an area with a population over 1.5 million. Of that number, approximately 108,285 live in High Point. Both Greensboro and Winston-Salem are 20 minutes from campus. East of the university are Raleigh (1⁠1/2⁠ hours away) and the Atlantic Ocean (3⁠1/2⁠ hours away); south are Charlotte (1⁠1/2⁠ hours away) and Atlanta, Georgia (5 hours away); west are the Appalachian Mountains (2 hours away); and north is Washington, D.C. (5 hours away).

Academics

Main campus at High Point University

High Point University has a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1. The average freshman retention rate is 81%.[16]

HPU offers 61 undergraduate degree programs (Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science), 65 undergraduate minors, and 14 graduate degree programs (Master of Arts, Master of Education, Master of Public Administration, Master of Business Administration, Master of Science, Master of Physician Assistant Studies, Doctor of Pharmacy, and Doctor of Physical Therapy).

HPU offers 4 study abroad options. The Go Global Experience includes studying in a specified course for the Spring semester and then traveling with the class and the professor to a destination related to the course. HPU offers a Maymester, studying abroad for the month of May with a group of students and professors taking an average of 4 credits at a sister university abroad. HPU also offers the normal semester or full year study abroad experience.

Rankings

HPU is ranked #1 by U.S. News & World Report for Best Regional College in the South and #1 for Most Innovative Regional College in the South.[17]

HPU has been named to "The Best 387 Colleges: 2022 Edition" by The Princeton Review and on the Best Southeastern Colleges "2022 Best Colleges: Region by Region" list.[18]

Schools

High Point has ten schools: School of Dental Medicine and Oral Health; Congdon School of Health Sciences; Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy; Webb School of Engineering; Wanek School of Health Sciences; Nido R. Qubein School of Communication; David R. Hayworth School of Arts and Design; Earl N. Phillips School of Business; School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences; School of Education.

Student life

High Point University is a residential campus, with 19 residence halls in total. In 2019, The Princeton Review ranked High Point University #5 in the nation for Best College Dorm Rooms.[19] All High Point University students are required to reside on campus until senior year, unless they commute from their parent's permanent address.

Greek life

There are currently 17 Greek organizations on campus governed by the following councils:

Panhellenic Council (NPC): Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Gamma Delta, Kappa Delta, Phi Mu, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Zeta Tau Alpha.

National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC): Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Lambda Pi Chi, Kappa Alpha Psi, Zeta Phi Beta

Interfraternity Council (IFC): Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Theta Pi, Kappa Alpha Order, Kappa Sigma, Delta Chi, Sigma Nu.[20]

Honor societies

Honor societies at High Point University include the Order of the Lighted Lamp, Alpha Chi (both recognize academic achievement), Alpha Delta Omega (Human Relations), Beta Beta Beta (Biology), Sigma Delta Pi (Spanish), Pi Delta Phi (French), Phi Sigma Iota (Foreign Language), Lambda Pi Eta (Communications), Alpha Sigma Lambda (Adult Learners), Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science), Kappa Delta Pi (Education), Delta Mu Delta (Business), Psi Chi (Psychology), Alpha Phi Sigma (Criminal Justice), Sigma Tau Delta (International English Honors Society), Sigma Pi Sigma[21] (Physics), and Alpha Lambda Delta.

In April 2015, 254 students were inducted into High Point University's newest honor society, Alpha Lambda Delta.[citation needed] Alpha Lambda Delta's mission is to encourage superior academic achievement, promote intelligent living and a high standard of learning, and assist students in recognizing and developing meaningful goals in society.

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

  • Francisco Laguna Correa - writer, ethnographer, cultural critic, teacher
  • Tubby Smith - college basketball coach and assistant coach of the 2000 U.S. Men's Olympic Basketball Team

Athletics

Main article: High Point Panthers

The High Point Panthers include HPU's 16 athletic teams that compete at the NCAA Division I level, mostly in the Big South Conference. HPU's 16 varsity sports are baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's indoor track & field, men's and women's outdoor track & field and women's volleyball.[23] In recent years, HPU has won nine Big South Conference Championships, produced 10 Conference Players of the Year; and more than 130 HPU athletes have received Big South All-Academic Honors.

The 2010–11 season was the most successful since High Point University joined NCAA Division I in 1999–2000. In the fall, the women's soccer team and women's volleyball team won Big South Tournaments and the men's soccer team won the Big South regular season.[24] In the spring, the women's lacrosse team won the National Lacrosse Conference tournament and set a record for wins by a first-year program, with 15.[25]

The 2010-2011 women's lacrosse team success led to other accomplishments in 2013. Women's lacrosse assistant coach Lauren Norris was selected to coach the 2013 Israel National Lacrosse Team in the 2013 FIL Women's World Cup.

In the fourth round of the 2013 Major League Soccer (MLS) Supplemental Draft, the Columbus Crew picked High Point University senior midfielder Shawn Sloan.

In 2016, Christine Rickert of the High Point University women's track and field team qualified to compete in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, Oregon. Rickert placed 12th in the javelin throw, just nine places away from a spot on the Olympic Team. She remains the Big South Conference Record Holder in javelin with a throw of 52.47m (172–2 ft).[26]

High Point University also fields the following sports at the club level: men's and women's basketball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's rowing, running, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's tennis, women's field hockey, softball, ultimate frisbee, equestrian and ice hockey.[27]

In the fall of 2013, the High Point University field hockey team qualified for the national tournament in Virginia Beach with a 6-2-0 season. The club equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).

Donations to High Point University's Athletic Department have exceeded $30 million. The primary athletics facilities at High Point University are the Qubein Center (basketball), Millis Center (volleyball), Williard Stadium (baseball), and the Witcher Athletic Center at Vert Stadium (track, soccer, lacrosse).[28]

In spring 2018, HPU announced the hire of hiring of Hall of Famer and NCAA Championship Winning coach Orlando 'Tubby' Smith as the Panthers' head coach for men's basketball. Smith, who becomes the 12th head men's basketball coach in HPU history, joins the Panthers after serving as the head coach at Memphis for two seasons. An all-conference standout for High Point College from 1969 to 1973, Smith coached Kentucky to the 1998 national championship and is one of two head coaches to guide five different programs to the NCAA Division I Tournament (Tulsa, Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Texas Tech).

At the beginning of 2017, High Point University announced plans for a new basketball arena and conference center to be built on campus. The facility will be named for High Point University president, Dr. Nido R. Qubein, and his wife, Mariana Qubein. Construction on the Qubein Center (full name: Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center) began in 2018; the facility was originally projected to open in 2020,[29] but construction was delayed due to COVID-19 issues.[30] The facility opened in late September 2021,[31] with the first basketball game to be played on November 4.[32]

The Qubein Center includes:

• 4,500 arena seats: Features include suites, locker rooms, staff offices, concession stands, a merchandising area, a media suite, a film room, a press conference room, a weight room, an athletic training room, a hospitality area, high-tech audio and video equipment, ticket office, and practice gym

• 2,500 conference center seats

• A small, executive hotel will be adjacent to the conference center to support a proposed hospitality management program and accommodate a growing number of requests by organizations who specifically want to tour the campus and experience HPU's unique educational environment and culture.

It was also announced in early 2017 that the basketball court in the new arena will be named after High Point men's head coach and High Point University alumnus Tubby Smith. Smith and his wife, Donna, donated $1 million to the construction of the new facility.[33] The Arena, Conference Center and Hotel will become the home of HPU's men's and women's basketball programs, as well as a venue for major events, speakers, concerts, entertainment, academic symposia, and recreational activities. The arena is scheduled for completion in early 2021, ready for the 2020–2021 season. It will seat 4,500 spectators.[34]

Dan Hauser serves as HPU athletic director. He has held the post since 2014.

In July 2016, The Big South announced the 2015-2016 Presidential Honor Roll, where High Point University Athletics had the highest percentage of 3.0 GPAs.[35]

Publications and media

  • High Point University Magazine, for alumni
  • The Apogee, the literary magazine
  • Black Script
  • Hi-Po, a monthly publication by students for fellow students
  • Zenith, yearbook
  • HPU Vision, on-campus broadcast club
  • HPU Sports Link, broadcasts HPU athletics live online

A permanent collection of original works donated to the university by High Point Alumnus Darrell L. Sechrest. Among others, the permanent collection includes works by Christian Dietrich, Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Allesandro Gherardini, El Greco, George Harvey, Emile Louis Picault, Elsie Popkin, and Antonio Zucchi and Angelica Kauffman. The gallery is housed within the Hayworth Fine Arts Center.[36]

References

  1. ^ As of June 30, 2020. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 (Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  2. ^ "Office of the President: High Point University". www.highpoint.edu. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  3. ^ [1], High Point University
  4. ^ "High Point University". Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  5. ^ Sizemore, F. J., ed. The Buildings and the Builders of a City: High Point, North Carolina. High Point: Hall Printing Company, 1947. p. 318-319
  6. ^ Robinson, Blackwell P., and Alexander R. Stoesen. The History of Guilford County, North Carolina, U.S.A. to 1980, A.D. Greensboro: The Guilford County Bicentennial Commission, 1980. p. 233
  7. ^ Robinson, Blackwell P., and Alexander R. Stoesen. "The History of Guilford County, North Carolina, U.S.A. To 1980, A.D." Greensboro: The Guilford County Bicentennial Commission, 1980. p. 235
  8. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20040928204703/http://www.high-point.net/edc/2002annrpt.pdf%7C High Point Economic Development Corporation Website
  9. ^ "Rhino Times - June 19, 2014". Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  10. ^ Jean Stancill, December 8, 2015, News & Observer, The president of High Point University ranked as the third highest-paid university president in the country, according to a Chronicle of Higher Education report on 2013 data, Retrieved December 14, 2015, "....."
  11. ^ a b c "BubbleU: High Point University" , Bloomberg Businessweek, April 19, 2012
  12. ^ "Financial Responsibility Composite Scores". Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  13. ^ Kambhampati, Sandhya. "32 Leaders of Private Colleges Earned More Than $1 Million in 2013". The Chronicle of Higher Education. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  14. ^ a b "Can High Point University fly higher?". Triad Business Journal. May 23, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  15. ^ "High Point University unveils plan to 'lead the way' with $160M in new building projects - Greensboro - Triad Business Journal". Triad Business Journal. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  16. ^ "Rankings". colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  17. ^ "Rankings". colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  18. ^ University, High Point (August 6, 2018). "HPU Selected for Princeton Review's 'Best 384 Colleges'". High Point University. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  19. ^ "Best College Dorms | The Princeton Review". www.princetonreview.com. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  20. ^ High Point University. "Greek Life". Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  21. ^ "Introducing the Newest Sigma Pi Sigma Chapters". October 2018.
  22. ^ "Schultz selects D-1 baseball". troyrecord.com. November 17, 2008. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  23. ^ "High Point Panthers – Official Athletics site". www.highpointpanthers.com. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  24. ^ High Point University Panthers - High Point leads Sasser Cup standings after fall. Highpointpanthers.com (2010-12-01). Retrieved on 2013-08-09.
  25. ^ High Point University Panthers - HPU women's lacrosse finishes season with loss to No. 2 UNC. Highpointpanthers.com (2011-05-06). Retrieved on 2013-08-09.
  26. ^ "Rickert finishes 12th in Olympic Trials final".
  27. ^ High Point University Panthers - Club Sports at HPU. Highpointpanthers.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-09.
  28. ^ "High Point University Panthers - HPU dedicates Witcher Athletic Center". High Point University. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  29. ^ Newsom, John (January 30, 2017). "High Point University details plans for a basketball arena, conference center". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
  30. ^ Newsom, John (August 6, 2020). "High Point University arena project delayed for a year". News & Record. Greensboro, NC. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  31. ^ "FrequentlyAsked Questions". High Point University. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  32. ^ "Coach Tubby Smith Announces 2021-22 HPU Non-Conference Slate" (Press release). High Point Panthers. September 7, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  33. ^ Staff, Web (February 7, 2017). "High Point University to name new basketball court after Tubby Smith". Fox 8. Fox 8. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
  34. ^ "About the Qubein Arena and Conference Center". Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena, Conference Center and Jana and Ken Kahn Hotel. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  35. ^ "Big South Announces 2015-16 Presidential Honor Roll". Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  36. ^ "High Point University" (PDF). Retrieved August 15, 2015.
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