#TBT: From Wilmington College to UNCW

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — We all see UNCW as a staple of the Wilmington community. But the school has changed a lot over the years.

On September 4th 1947, Wilmington College officially opened. The 2 year college was housed at New Hanover High School, and like the high school, had an all-white student body. Many of the students, about 75%, were veterans returning from WWII. When it first opened the school was under the control of the New Hanover County Board of Education. In 1948 the school earned accreditation from the North Carolina College Conference and became a member of the American Association of Junior Colleges.

Approximately 160 students attended in the first year and the college graduated its first 14 students two years later.

In the late 1950’s the school was placed under the Community College Act of North Carolina. This removed the school from the control of the New Hanover County Board of Education and established a board of trustees under the supervision of the North Carolina Board of Higher Education.

Dr. Hubert A. Eaton, integrated the school in 1962. It became a 4-year program on July 1st 1963. UNCW became the 5th campus in the University of North Carolina system.

In 1977, UNCW was authorized to offer graduate programs.

The school offers fifty-two bachelor’s degrees, thirty-six master’s degrees and doctoral degrees in marine biology and educational leadership and administration.