A Brief History of High Point University

In 1924 High Point College opened as a cooperative venture between the Methodist Protestant church and the city of High Point. The campus consisted of three partially completed buildings, there were nine faculty members, and student enrollment was 122. Today the University has 122 buildings, is attractively landscaped, the full-time teaching faculty numbers 330, and nearly 5,200 students are enrolled in a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate programs.

The Methodist Protestant Church, which is now part of The United Methodist Church, first became active in educational pursuits in North Carolina in the middle of the 19th century. Of the various institutions which it sponsored, the most ambitious was Yadkin College, which operated in Davidson County from 1856 to 1895 but failed because of its isolated rural location.

At the turn of the century, the vision of a church-related college was revived by the Reverend Joseph F. McCulloch of Greensboro, who labored for nearly a quarter-century to make it a reality. The Annual Conference finally voted to proceed in 1921. Shortly afterwards it accepted an offer from the thriving city of High Point to contribute 60 acres of land and $100,000 to the project. Classes began in September 1924, even as the finishing touches were still being added to the original buildings.

The atmosphere of confidence that attended the birth of the College ended abruptly with the Great Depression. For many years thereafter, the struggle to survive was a severe one. Faculty salaries were eventually in arrears by as much as fifteen years, while students occasionally paid tuition in chickens, pigs, and vegetables. In 1934 the College underwent bankruptcy and reorganization in an effort to reduce its indebtedness. Yet slowly this situation began to improve. By the end of the decade, library and gymnasium facilities had been added, and (with W.P.A. assistance) an athletic stadium was constructed. Financial stability ultimately returned with the liquidation of the debt in 1945.

The postwar decades brought renewed prosperity and rapid growth. Under the influences of the G.I. Bill and the “baby boom” of the 1940s and 1950s, enrollment more than tripled, with a corresponding increase in staff. The College’s programs received full regional accreditation in 1951. Additional facilities were added in response to this growth in size and professionalism: four residence halls between 1953 and 1968, two classroom buildings, a second gymnasium, an auditorium, a chapel, and a campus center. Crowning the physical expansion was Smith Library, completed in the spring of 1984, with a capacity three times the size of the former facility. The original men’s residence hall was replaced in 1987 with a 221-resident facility. The Millis Athletic/Convocation Center was opened in late 1992 and provides facilities for convocations, physical education, athletic, and health activities. On October 9, 1991, by the action of the Board of Trustees, the name of High Point College was changed to High Point University.

In December 2012, High Point University was approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to begin awarding doctoral degrees, and in May, 2016, the university graduated its first cohort of educational leadership doctoral students.

Between 2015 and 2019, High Point University significantly expanded its graduate offerings by establishing Master's programs in physician assistant studies and athletic training, and doctoral programs in physical therapy and pharmacy. In addition, Bachelor's programs in computer engineering and electrical engineering were established in the fall of 2019.

Since 2005, HPU has invested more than $2 billion in academics, facilities, student life, technology, and scholarships. The original 92-acre campus has grown to 470 acres with many new academic, residential, student life, and athletic facilities. The result is an engaging environment that encourages students to excel.

Institutional Profile

Type of University. High Point University is a four-year comprehensive university with outstanding undergraduate and graduate programs and and a wide variety of experiential learning opportunities. Rooted in the liberal arts, the institution was founded in 1924 and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

Location. High Point, North Carolina, famous for the manufacture of furniture and hosiery, and the world’s largest furniture exhibition; part of the Piedmont Triad (with Greensboro and Winston-Salem) and at the industrial center of the state. The city of High Point, with a population of about 112,000, is in the Piedmont, half-way between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west.

Enrollment. The University has nearly 5,400 undergraduate and graduate students from 36 countries and 47 states.

Faculty. 300 full-time faculty members, most of whom hold an earned doctorate or other terminal degree. While the faculty are involved in a variety of professional and civic responsibilities, their primary aim is excellence in teaching and scholarship.

Colleges and Schools. The David R. Hayworth College of Arts and Sciences; the School of Art and Design; the Earl N . Phillips School of Business; the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication; the Stout School of Education; the Webb School of Engineering; the Congdon School of Health Sciences; the Wanek School of Natural Sciences; the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy.

Degrees. Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.), Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.), Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Master of Education (M.Ed.), Master of Physician Assistant Studies (M.P.A.S.), Master of Science in Athletic Training (M.S.A.T.), Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.). Sports. NCAA Division I intercollegiate competition in (men) baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, indoor track, lacrosse, outdoor track, and soccer; (women) basketball, cross country, golf, indoor track, lacrosse, outdoor track, soccer, and volleyball.

Commitment to Diversity. High Point University considers a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as a core component of our mission and an essential ingredient to a holistic education in the liberal arts tradition. A liberal arts education develops critical thinkers, moving students from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. This approach to learning prepares students for reflective action in an interdependent and diverse world. We not only understand and respect the unique talents and perspectives of all individuals but we also embrace and utilize their contributions. Our breadth of inclusiveness creates a path by which all individuals can achieve their highest potential in an increasingly complex and pluralistic society.

We welcome and respect all students, faculty, and staff of all races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, sexual identities and gender expressions, abilities, classes, ages, and political ideas. We recognize that diversity also includes a range of geographic locations, communication styles, family makeup, educational background, military service, and other unique life experiences. To encourage diversity and inclusion, we endorse dynamic curricula and research agendas — through the university’s core education as well as all fields of study, programming and community engagement — that include a multiplicity of views and perspectives.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not merely moral imperatives or societal goals; they can also be a competitive advantage. Our continued success as a university resets in our collective ability to embrace a multitude of opinions, ideas, and beliefs so that we can effectively educate the next generation of leaders who are culturally responsive, knowledgeable, and globally engaged. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion cultivates students’ desire for citizenship in complex global communities.