Fairmont State University
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[edit] Background
Fairmont State University is a public university located in Fairmont, West Virginia (population 20,000) in North Central West Virginia about 90 miles south of Pittsburgh. Fairmont State was founded in 1865 as West Virginia Normal School at Fairmont and was dedicated to educating teachers. It was purchased by the state and became Fairmont State Normal School in 1867. It was renamed Fairmont State Teachers College in 1931 and Fairmont State College in 1943.
In 1974, a community college component was founded. This became independently accredited as the Fairmont State Community and Technical College in 2003 and was merged into the university in 2006 and was renamed Pierpont Community & Technical College. On April 7, 2004, Governor Bob Wise signed legislation allowing Fairmont State College to change its name to Fairmont State University.
Enrollment of the university is about 7,700; however, the majority are part time. FSU offers masters degrees in education, teaching, criminal justice and nursing in addition to 90 baccalaureate and 50 associate degrees. FSU has added a major in Intelligence Research & Analysis within the past few years. This major has been gaining recognition for FSU and attracting the attention of the Intelligence Community. The Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center located in nearby Bridgeport, West Virginia, offers multiple programs in aviation.
Fairmont State's athletic teams, known as the Falcons, compete in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in NCAA Division II.
[edit] Notable Alumni
- Wendell R. Beitzel, member Maryland House of Delegates.
- George C. Edwards, member Maryland State Senate.
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
| State universities in West Virginia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluefield State • Concord • Fairmont State • Glenville State Marshall • Shepherd • West Liberty State • WV State WV School of Osteopathic Medicine • WVU • WVU Tech |
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| West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
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| Football: Charleston • Concord • Fairmont State • Glenville State • Shepherd • West Liberty State • West Virginia State • West Virginia Wesleyan Non-football: Alderson–Broaddus • Bluefield State • Davis & Elkins • Ohio Valley • Salem International • Wheeling Jesuit |
