Wilmington College becomes a senior college, July 1, 1963

In 1963, the state legislature passed S.B. 72, Chapter 48, "An Act to Promote and Encourage Education Beyond the High School in North Carolina." This act of law established Asheville-Biltmore College, Charlotte College, and Wilmington College as public senior colleges effective July 1. Wilmington College and the other institutions would no longer be subject to the Community College Act (General Statutes, Chapter 116, Article 3) and instead would be subject to the State Colleges Act (General Statues, Chapter 116, Article 2). The act stipulated requirements concerning the creation of a new Board of Trustees for each institutions and for continual county financial support for the first 2 years through a special county-wide tax.

The first junior class in Wilmington College/UNCW history began in the fall semester of 1963.

Both pictures are from the Fledgling, the 1964 yearbook for Wilmington College