Shepherd University

Shepherd University is situated in the Shenandoah Valley, on the banks of the Potomac River, in historic Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

Location

The oldest town in the state, Shepherdstown is a quaint college community, with the town and campus combining to offer a unique learning-living environment. Located in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, Shepherdstown is within 20 miles of nearby Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. It is only 65 miles from the metropolitan areas of Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland. Within a short hike or drive of the campus are such well-known historic landmarks as Harpers Ferry and the Antietam Battlefield. Across the Potomac River from the campus is the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park . The C & O Canal National Historical Park, developed along the towpath of the old canal, is a beautiful recreational sanctuary, extending 184.5 miles from Cumberland, Maryland, to Georgetown, in the nation's capital. Richmond and Williamsburg, Virginia, as well as New York and Philadelphia, are all within a few hours drive of Shepherdstown. Guest lecturers and performers, field trips, internships, and career opportunities are advantages directly related to the location of Shepherd University.

History

Shepherd University began when the county seat of Jefferson County, West Virginia, was moved from Shepherdstown to Charles Town in July 1871. The people of Shepherdstown and vicinity decided to use the vacated courthouse for educational purposes. An article of incorporation for a school to be known as Shepherd College, designed to instruct students "in languages, arts and sciences," was drawn up and signed by C.W. Andrews, A.R. Boteler, C.T. Butler, G.M. Beltzhoover, David Billmyer, Samuel Knott, and Henry Shepherd. This body of incorporators gave itself power to elect instructors, pay salaries, and prescribe courses of study. Professor Joseph McMurran was appointed first principal of the institution, which opened with 42 students in September 1871, under the authority of the Board of Trustees. On February 27, 1872, the Legislature of West Virginia passed the following act: "That a branch of the State Normal School be and the same is hereby established at the building known as Shepherd College, in Shepherdstown, in the county of Jefferson."

Shepherd College became a four-year college for the training of teachers on July 1, 1930, at which time the institution began granting the bachelor of arts degree. Shepherd was authorized to implement liberal arts programs in 1943, and in 1950 the bachelor of science degree was added. Also in 1950 Shepherd was accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and in 1951 it became a member of the Association of American Colleges . In the past two decades, Shepherd has experienced a 200 percent enrollment growth and added 11 new buildings, including the $9 million Robert C. Byrd Science and Technology Center and the $18 million addition to the Scarborough Library, which also houses the Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies. On Wednesday, April 7, 2004, Governor Bob Wise signed legislation which changed Shepherd's name to Shepherd University, effective March 13, 2004.

Accreditation

The University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org. Individual programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education , the National Association of Schools of Music , the West Virginia State Board of Examiners for Registered Nurses , the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission , the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education , and the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education .