CATEGORIES

Physical Growth

University Status

Registration

Tuition

Parking

Dress Code

Rules

Physical Growth

The original location of the College was on Market Street at Isaac Bear School across the street from

New Hanover High School.  In 1959 Trustees asked for over a half a million dollars for construction of a new

campus.  The site chosen was 636 acres of well-drained, thickly wooded, easily accessible, relatively inexpensive

land. Most of it was purchased form International Paper Company and from Mr. And Mrs. Raiford Trask. 

The cost was $236 per acre.  In 1961 the college moved to its present location on College Road.

Why is there so much expansion going on right now?

When did the ponds arrive in the center of the campus?

Plan 

University Status

July 1, 1969 Wilmington College became part of the 16-school system in the state of North Carolina. 

Beginning as a community based school supported by the citizens of New Hanover County and administered

by the local school board, Wilmington College provided an opportunity for many returning war veterans to

attend college. In 1952, the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities accredited the school as a junior college. 

It was through leadership foresight that the word ‘junior’ never became part of the school’s title.  However,

many locals still fondly call it “the college.”  By 1958, the college was financially supported by state fund

and led by a Board of Trustees (through Community College Act).  These actions led to the desire for physical

expansion.  In 1960, the first dirt was turned for construction at a location off of Hwy 132, the current site

of the campus today.  Four-year status was granted in 1963 with the awarding of bachelor degrees.

Registration

Class Sign-ups

Early on the registration was handled with face-to-face contact, usually with the instructor.

As the student population increased the necessity for another system became apparent.

Hanover Hall

The 1970s-mid-1980s student would assemble in mass in Hanover Gym and register

for classes by picking up computer punch cards from the department representative.

These were placed in individual sleeves and turned in as registration.

Computerized Pre-registration

1987 beginning with Computer Science students as a class project in Fortran

Current system

Via SeaWeb and now SeaPort.

Tuition

1947- Tuition for a full load of five courses at Wilmington College cost $90/quarter.

          The books for the quarter were estimated to cost $25.

2005 - Tuition and fees for instate and out of state residents.

Parking!

Always an issue at Wilmington College just as it is today at UNCW. 

The old Isaac Bear location off of Market Street had very limited parking. 

When the school moved to the College Road location parking did not appear to be a

problem other than a minimal amount of lots were paved.  Many of the early parking places

were in sandy or grassy spots, which turned to mud and sludge in poor weather.  The evidence

of an old air strip was noted in a Seahawk article (1966) that a student received a ticket

for parking on it. Instead of parking decals license plates were purchased by students and faculty

to allow parking privileges. Senior student could park in lots marked with “S.”

November 1, 1961 marks the date parking violations became effective on the Wilmington College Campus.

Dress Code

From the 1950s Student Handbook

• No Beards
• No Bermuda shorts
• No smoking in classrooms
• Faculty must wear suit and tie

Rules

1947 Wilmington College catalog states:

Hazing is a violation of state laws and not permitted, drinking while at school or during school

activities is forbidden, stealing, lying, cheating or other immoral conduct will be dealt with,

fire arms on campus are prohibited, no smoking in classrooms, only on outside school grounds,

be careful of the buildings and equipment, return your tray to the counter when leaving the cafeteria,

other regulations will be announced from time to time- all carried punitive actions

1949 Statement on Absences from the Seahawk

" watch your cuts" A cut taken on the last meeting of a class immediately preceding or

on the first meeting of a class immediately following a scheduled holiday shall count as a “double cut.”