Western Oregon University

Establishment Western Oregon University was founded in 1856 as Monmouth University . [ 8 ] In 1865, it merged with another private institution, Bethel College , in Bethel and became Christian College . In 1882, the Oregon State Legislature approved the college's bid to become a state-supported teacher training (or " normal ") school, Oregon State Normal School . [ 9 ] In November 1910, an initiative petition ( Measure 10 ) to establish a normal school at Monmouth, passed by 55.6%. The name was changed, for the fourth time, to Oregon Normal School . On the same ballot were two other measures to additionally establish normal schools in Ashland and Weston : both failed. [ 10 ]

A period of growth was experienced in the 1920s during which the school's enrollment more than tripled from 316 in 1920 to peak at the 990 mark in 1927. [ 11 ] With the coming of the Great Depression attendance tailed off slightly, with an average attendance in 1930 of 705 students, [ 12 ] hitting a nadir in the 1933–34 academic year. [ 13 ] Attendance rebounded later in the decade, topping the 1,000 mark for the first time during the 1938–39 academic year, with a total enrollment including summer session of 1,017. [ 13 ] In 1939, the Oregon Legislature changed the name for the fifth time, to Oregon College of Education . The school entered an extended period of growth, except for a period during World War II when college enrollments dropped nationwide. New programs were added in the areas of liberal arts and sciences. [ 8 ]

In 1981, the institution was renamed Western Oregon State College [ 8 ] to reflect the school's growing academic programs in the liberal arts fields. In 1997 the name was updated to Western Oregon University, reflecting the university's broader academic mission and profile.

More information Race and ethnicity, Total ... Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023 [ 14 ] Race and ethnicity Total White 57% Hispanic 25% Two or more races 7% Asian 3% Black 3% Unknown 2% American Indian / Alaska Native 1% International student 1% Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1% Economic diversity Low-income [ a ] 40% Affluent [ b ] 60% Close Western Oregon University offers bachelor's degrees ( BA , BS , BM , BFA ), and AB through its two colleges: the College of Education and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Master's degrees are available in Education (MAT and MSEd), Rehabilitation Counseling (MS), Criminal Justice (MA), Music (MM), and Management and Information Systems (MS). [ 15 ] [ 16 ] In 2015, U.S. News & World Report ranked Western as the 77th best amongst the regional universities in the west. [ 17 ] In January 2024, the university announced it would eliminate its D− and F grades and instead replace these with a grade of "no credit". This was done in attempt to improve retention and graduation rates and focus on student learning outcomes. [ 18 ] Entrance sign Campbell Hall College of Education WOU's College of Education [ 19 ] is divided into: Division of Education and Leadership, Division of Deaf Studies and Professional Studies, and Division of Health and Exercise Science.