Bethune-Cookman University
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Bethune-Cookman University |
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|---|---|
| Motto | Enter to learn,Depart to serve. |
| Established | 1904 |
| Type | Private,Methodist Church |
| President | Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed |
| Faculty | 70 acre |
| Students | 3,060 |
| Location | Daytona Beach, Florida, USA |
| Colors | Maroon and Gold |
| Nickname | Wildcats |
| Mascot | Wil D Cat |
| Website | www.cookman.edu |
Bethune-Cookman University or simply BCC (as it was formerly called) or BCU (as it is call as of Feb. 14, 2007) is a historically black college in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, a graduate of Barber-Scotia College when it was still Scotia Seminary, founded the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls in 1904. In 1923, it merged with the Cookman Institute of Jacksonville, Florida and became a co-ed high school. A year later in 1924, it became affiliated with the Methodist church. By 1931, it had become a junior college, and took on the name of Bethune-Cookman College. As of Feb. 14, 2007 the name was changed to Bethune-Cookman University.
Trudie Kibbe Reed, Ed.D., was appointed to the presidency in August 2004 by the Board of Trustees. Dr. Reed is the first woman to serve in this capacity since Dr. Bethune, the university founder.
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[edit] History
The year was 1904 when a very determined young black woman, Mary McLeod Bethune, opened the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls. It underwent several stages of growth and development through the years. In 1923, it became a co-ed high school as a result of a merger with Cookman Institute of Jacksonville, Florida. A year later, the school became affiliated with the United Methodist Church, evolved into a junior college by 1931 and became known as Bethune-Cookman College. In 1941, the Florida State Department of Education approved a 4-year baccalaureate program offering liberal arts and teacher education. Mrs. Bethune retired in 1942 at which time James E. Colston became president until 1946 when Mrs. Bethune resumed the presidency for a year.
Richard V. Moore, Sr. became president in 1947. Under his tenure the college was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1970, joined the United Negro College Fund and other academic and professional organizations. The curriculum expanded, student enrollment increased and new buildings were constructed for residential housing and classrooms.
Oswald P. Bronson, Sr., Ph.D., an alumnus of the College, served as the 4th president of the college from 1975 to 2004. During his tenure increased student enrollment led to continuous development and expansion of the college. A rapidly increasing student enrollment led to construction of more student housing and classroom buildings. Major fields of study increased from 12 in 1974 to 37 by 2003. In addition, seven continuing education centers for students began operating throughout the state. While maintaining accreditation by SACS, Florida State Board of Education, and the United Methodist Church Board of Higher Education the college added new accreditations in the Nursing and the Teacher Education programs.
On February 14, 2007 Bethune-Cookman College changed its name to Bethune-Cookman University. According to the "new" Bethune-Cookman University officials, a formal announcement and ceremony will take place at the upcoming March 2007 meeting of the school's Board of Trustees.
http://www.bethune.cookman.edu/press.asp?rls_id=29
Since 1943, the college has graduated more than 12,900 students who have provided support to the college. Traditionally, the college has maintained intercollegiate athletics programs, instrumental and choral groups which have achieved national recognition. Many alumni are employed in the fields of education, medicine, business, politics, government, science, religion, athletics and environmental sciences.
The College enrolls promising secondary school graduates and adult learners from diverse social, economic and educational backgrounds. Most of the students come from Florida; however, the College actively recruits students from the national and international communities. To enhance student life, the College provides well-rounded activities for all students in areas, such as, service and social organizations, religious programs, honor societies, major area clubs, intercollegiate athletics, and an intramural athletics program.
Bethune-Cookman University accomplishes its mission by providing excellent facilities, instruction, current technology, and support services for liberal arts, career-oriented and continuing education programs. The College emphasizes teaching by continually adapting teaching techniques to meet student needs and by providing support programs for faculty development. Research is conducted and encouraged in order to enhance knowledge and to meet the challenges of a changing world. The College has deep roots in the social history of America and continues to provide services to the broader community through its on-and-off campus outreach programs.
As of February 14, 2007 Bethune-Cookman College is now Bethune-Cookman University.
[edit] Marching Wildcats
The Marching Wildcats are a 325 member unit which includes instrumentalists, the Sophisticate Flag Corps, and the 14 Karat Gold dancers. Known as "The Pride," the band is under the direction of a former Marching Wildcat, Donovan Wells.
The Pride's directors include: Donovan Wells, Director of College Bands; James Poitier, Associate Director and Arranger; Pedro Orey, Assistant Director and Percussion Instructor; Samuel Hamilton, Auxiliary Instructor; Horatio Walker, Announcer
Performances
The Marching Wildcats perform pre-game and halftime shows at all home games of the Fighting Wildcats football team of Bethune-Cookman College. Any games played in neutral sites where Bethune-Cookman College is deemed the home team, The Pride also performs their traditional pre-game show which includes a drill to the tune "Outstanding," the Star Spangled Banner, and the tune "Let's Go Wildcats" to a tunnel formation for the team's entrance to the field.
The Pride has been featured in numerous events, including televised performances. In January 27, 2007, the band performed in its fourth Honda Battle of the Bands showcase of HBCU bands in Atlanta's Georgia Dome as a representative of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. In December 2005, a small group of The Pride's percussion section filmed a commercial unveiling the new Cadillac DTS. The commercial made its debut in February 2006 and continued air play through out the rest of the year.Cadillac CommercialImmediately following the band's January 2005 performance at the Honda Battle of the Bands, the event's producers nominated The Pride to be featured in the Super Bowl special episode of the Emmy-winning Ellen DeGeneres Show.
History
The 2006-2007 season marked Donovan Wells' 11th year at the helm of the band program. Under his direction, the program experienced tremendous growth between 1997 and 2003. In the 2000 season, The Pride reached the largest membership in the program's history with six company fronts of 32 on the field totalling 192 instrumentalists. In the 2003 season, the band experienced its latest and probably last expansion under Wells when he added one more company front of 32 instrumentalists totalling 224 instrumentalists on the field.
The nationally famous 14 Karat Gold dancers are made up of 14 select young ladies who exemplify exceptional dance skills, poise, and class. The dancers are featured performers in all engagements of the Marching Wildcats and occasionally perform as a solo act. The 14 Karat Gold dancers can be seen frequently in BET video clips promoting Black Colleges.
The Sophisticat Flag Corps has been recognized as one of the most exciting auxiliary units in the South. The Corps is known for its blending of traditional flag techniques with innovative choreography to create highly entertaining presentations. They are also the largest HBCU band in the world.
[edit] Academics
Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, Florida is a small, private, co-educational, and residential institution. The college meets its commitment to excellence through expanding and modifying academic programs and innovative curricular offerings by preparing students to meet the demands of the future.
The academic program of the college is conducted within six Divisions. The non-degree granting General Studies division provides freshman developmental programs, tutorial laboratories, and instruction in general education English, mathematics and reading courses. Retention programs provide students the support and confidence to make the transition to college life. Such programs are the Student Support Services Program, Challenger Institute, Renewing Ethical Values Program, and the Teacher Education Institute.
Degree Offerings
2004 - 2006 College Catalog (15 MB PDF) The academic program of the college is conducted within seven Schools
School of Business
School of Education
School of General Studies
School of Arts & Humanities
School of Nursing
School of Science, Engineering and Mathematics
School of Social Sciences
[edit] Athletics
Bethune-Cookman University is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and participates in NCAA D-1 (1-AA for football). The school sponsors basketball, bowling, baseball, cross country, football, track and field and volleyball. The Wildcats have been in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference since 1979. The Wildcats currently have 25 MEAC titles; 10 in baseball, 1 in bowling, 1 in men's cross country, 2 in women's cross country, 3 in football, 2 in women's indoor track and field, 5 in softball and 2 in women's tennis.
Alvin B. Wyatt, Sr. was named the ninth head football coach at Bethune-Cookman College on November 27, 1996, becoming the sixth alumnus to head the program.
Merging the program’s glorious past with a promising future, Wyatt needed just six years to build a national power as later he guided the Wildcats to a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship and an 11-2 record, the winningest season in B-CC football history.
B-CC has a very intense in-state rivalry with Florida A&M University. Overall, the Rattlers lead the 54-game series, 43-11-1. Bethune-Cookman has made the series more competitive since 1973, winning nine of their 11 series victories during that span.
And with the advent of the firebrand coach Alvin Wyatt, Sr. at Bethune-Cookman, games have been more along the lines of the nail-biting kind, versus the traditional blowout dominance FAMU enjoyed for many years in the series. In that first game in 1978, Florida A&M turned a 17-0 halftime deficit into a scintillating come-from-behind 27-17 win enroute to the inaugural NCAA Division 1-AA title.
The series began in 1925, with Florida A&M winning 25-0. Bethune-Cookman's first win came a year later, 12-0 in 1926. At one stretch, the Rattlers won 19 straight games including a trio of sheer torch jobs in 1959, 1960, and 1961 with scores of 68-6, 97-0, and 76-0.
The Florida Classic is now the largest football game between two historically Black Colleges in America. The game has now drawn in excess of 1 million fans since 1978.
Bethune-Cookman University is also noted for offering a music scholarship to Vince Carter but, he chose the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill instead.
The Wildcat baseball team has won seven conference championships in the last eight years. In 2001, the Wildcats defeated Florida International in an NCAA regional.
In 2004, the softball team made headlines by upsetting Florida -- who they shut out during the regular season -- and South Florida to win an NCAA regional and then played Texas and US National team pitcher Cat Osterman -- tough in a sweet 16 series.
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