Centenary University is a
private liberal arts university
A liberal arts college or liberal arts institution of higher education is a college with an emphasis on undergraduate study in liberal arts and sciences. Such colleges aim to impart a broad general knowledge and develop general intellectual capac ...
in
Hackettstown,
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
. Founded as a
preparatory school by the Newark Conference of the
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a worldwide mainline Protestant denomination based in the United States, and a major part of Methodism. In the 19th century, its main predecessor, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was a leader in evangelic ...
in 1867, Centenary evolved into a
Junior College for women and later a
coeducational
Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to ...
four year
University
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States ...
offering
undergraduate
Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, in the United States, an entry-le ...
and
Master's
A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice. level
graduate programs.
Situated in
suburban Warren County, New Jersey
Warren County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the county's population was 109,632, representing an increase of 940 (0.9%) from the 108,692 residents counted at the 2010 census. The county bord ...
, 52 miles west of
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
, 35 miles southeast of the
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is a national recreation area administered by the National Park Service in northwest New Jersey and northeast Pennsylvania. It is centered around a stretch of the Delaware River designated the Middl ...
, and 26 miles northeast of
Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in, and the county seat of, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city's population was 28,127 as of the 2020 census. Easton is located at the confluence of the Lehigh River, a river that joins the Delaware R ...
in the
Lehigh Valley
The Lehigh Valley (), known colloquially as The Valley, is a geographic region formed by the Lehigh River in Lehigh County and Northampton County in eastern Pennsylvania. It is a component valley of the Great Appalachian Valley bound to the no ...
, the school's main campus is identifiable by the Old Main building, listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
.
History
Centenary was founded as the Centenary Collegiate Institute (CCI) by what was then known as the
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church (MEC) was the oldest and largest Methodist denomination in the United States from its founding in 1784 until 1939. It was also the first religious denomination in the US to organize itself on a national basis. In ...
in 1867. The name was chosen to commemorate the
centennial
{{other uses, Centennial (disambiguation), Centenary (disambiguation)
A centennial, or centenary in British English, is a 100th anniversary or otherwise relates to a century, a period of 100 years.
Notable events
Notable centennial events at ...
of
Methodism
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's br ...
in the United States.
It was built at a cost of $200,000. George H. Whitney, D.D., was president from 1869 to 1895.
Beginning as a
coeducational
Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to ...
preparatory school, CCI became a girls only institution in 1910. In 1940, it became a "
junior college." In 1976, it became a four-year "Centenary College" for girls offering
associate and
bachelor's degrees with men allowed to pursue degrees only at night courses. In 1988, men were allowed to attend full time. In 1995,
master's degree
A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice. programs were introduced.
In 2016, Centenary
College
A college (Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offerin ...
was granted
University
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States ...
status by the New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education.
![She Died in Defence of Her Honor](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/She_Died_in_Defence_of_Her_Honor.jpg)
In 1886, a 19 year old kitchen worker named Tillie Smith was "outraged" and murdered in a field just off campus. A
janitor
A janitor (American English, Scottish English), also known as a custodian, porter, cleanser, cleaner or caretaker, is a person who cleans and maintains buildings. In some cases, they will also carry out maintenance and security duties. A simil ...
at CCI named James Titus was convicted of the crime based on
circumstantial evidence strongly influenced by
yellow journalism
Yellow journalism and yellow press are American terms for journalism and associated newspapers that present little or no legitimate, well-researched news while instead using eye-catching headlines for increased sales. Techniques may include ...
. Authors and historians generally consider this to be a
false conviction
A miscarriage of justice occurs when a grossly unfair outcome occurs in a criminal or civil proceeding, such as the conviction and punishment of a person for a crime they did not commit. Miscarriages are also known as wrongful convictions. Inno ...
but debate over the facts continue perennially through
dark tourism ghost tours, theatrical performances, books and
Weird NJ
''Weird NJ'' (sometimes abbreviated ''WNJ'') is a semi-annual magazine that chronicles local legends, purported hauntings, ghost stories, folklore, unusual places or events, and other peculiarities in New Jersey. The magazine originated in 1989 as ...
magazine articles.
On Halloween night, 1899, the original five-story CCI building burned to the ground in a fire. The Seay Administration Building, also called Old Main, was designed by architect
Oscar Schutte Teale in a
Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history
The history of Europe is traditionally divided into four time periods: prehistoric Europe (prior to about 800 BC), classical antiquity (800 BC to AD ...
Beaux Arts style and built on the ruins of the original structure in 1901.
In 1957, a student run
FM college radio station
WNTI
WNTI (990 AM) is an American radio station, licensed to serve Somerset, Pennsylvania; the seat of news/ talk for Somerset County. The station broadcasts with a maximum output power of 10,000 watts during the day and greatly reduces power to 10 ...
began broadcasting on campus. Eventually becoming an
NPR
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
affiliate serving the regional community with an adult
album rock format, the FM transmitter was sold to
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn or UPenn) is a private research university in Philadelphia. It is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is ranked among the highest-regarded universitie ...
based
WXPN
WXPN (88.5 FM) is a non-commercial, public radio station licensed to The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that broadcasts an adult album alternative (AAA) radio format, along with many other format shows ...
in 2015. As of 2020, a student run
internet radio
Online radio (also web radio, net radio, streaming radio, e-radio, IP radio, Internet radio) is a digital audio service transmitted via the Internet. Broadcasting on the Internet is usually referred to as webcasting since it is not transmitted ...
station continues to operate at WNTI.org.
The Centenary Stage Company, a professional
Equity theater, has been operating on campus since 1985. In 1992, a "Women's Playwright Series" development program offers grants, workshops, prizes and world premieres for the underserved voice of women in theater. Centenary also offers an intensive
musical theater
Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movemen ...
program for intermediate and advanced
young performers.
In 1999, Centenary founded the Center for Adult and Professional Studies program. In 2011, the program was renamed the School of Professional Studies.
Enrollment
In 2019, Centenary reported enrollment of 1,119 students. Centenary was the first college in the State of New Jersey to require service education as a condition of graduation.
Accreditation
Centenary University is accredited by the
Middle States Commission on Higher Education and approved by the University Senate of the United Methodist Church. Some programs at Centenary are accredited by the
International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
The International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE), formerly the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education, is an educational accreditation agency for college and university business programs founded in 1997. It ...
,
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is a professional accreditor focused on accrediting teacher education programs in U.S. colleges and universities. It was founded in 2013 as a result of the merger of two predecesso ...
,
Council on Social Work Education The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is a nonprofit national association in the United States representing more than 2,500 individual members, as well as graduate and undergraduate programs of professional social work education. Founded in 19 ...
, or
International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
The International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE), formerly the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education, is an educational accreditation agency for college and university business programs founded in 1997. It ...
.
Main campus and learning centers
Centenary University Main campus is located in Hackettstown, New Jersey. The Centenary Equestrian Center located in
Long Valley provides riding and education facilities for its
Equine Studies Department. The college also operates two satellite learning centers located in
Parsippany and
Edison, New Jersey
Edison is a township located in Middlesex County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Situated in Central New Jersey within the core of the state's Raritan Valley region, Edison is a commercial hub, home to Menlo Park Mall and Little India. It ...
to service its adult student programs.
Hackettstown Campus
The main campus of Centenary University is home to most of the school's academic, administrative, athletic and collegiate activities, as well as housing for its undergraduate students. It consists of ten main buildings and eight residence buildings. It was added to the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
on June 13, 1997, for its significance in architecture.
[ With ]
Buildings
* Seay Building – Classrooms, Whitney Chapel, Student Activities Center: Career Development Center, #theVibe, Student Life Suite; the LittleTheater,
Main College Offices: Admissions, Alumni Affairs, Bursar, Campus Life, Advancement, Marketing & Communications, Financial Aid, Health Services, Human Resources, Information Technology, President's Office
* Brotherton Hall – Professor offices, Classrooms
*Ferry Building – Classrooms and small music hall
*Harris & Betts Smith Learning Center – Academic Success Center, Student Veterans Organization, Disabilities Services Office, Classrooms
* Littell Technology Center – Classrooms, Graphics Department, ENACTUS office
* Lackland Center – Classrooms, Dance Studio, Dining Center, Sitnik Theatre, Edith Kutz Black Box Theater, TV studio,
WNTI Radio Studio
*
Reeves Gymnasium – Athletics Department, Gym, Pool, Weight Room, Wrestling Center
* Smith Hall – International Studies Department
*
![Taylor Memorial Library - Centenary University](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Taylor_Memorial_Library_-_Centenary_University.jpg)
Taylor Memorial Library – Library, Print Shop
* Trevorrow – Science and Fine Art Building; Classrooms, Labs, Fashion Department, Science Department
Residence halls
* Anderson – Co-ed (Co-ed floors, male only and female only rooms)
* Bennett-Smith – Apartments (Co-ed floors, male or female only suites)
* Founders – Apartments (Co-ed floors, choice of male only, female only, or Co-ed suites)
* Lotte – Co-ed (male only and female only rooms)
* Reeves – Co-ed Freshmen only (1st and 2nd floor male only and female only rooms, 3rd floor female only)
* Smith – Co-ed International & Freshmen only (1st floor international, 2nd and 3rd floor male only and female only rooms)
* Van Winkle – Co-ed (Male only and female only rooms)
* Washabaugh – Co-ed (Male and female only floors: 1st floor: male, 2nd floor: female)
Equestrian Center
The
Equestrian
The word equestrian is a reference to equestrianism, or horseback riding, derived from Latin ' and ', "horse".
Horseback riding (or Riding in British English)
Examples of this are:
* Equestrian sports
*Equestrian order, one of the upper classes i ...
Center is located in Long Valley, New Jersey. It consists of several large paddocks, an outdoor eventing course, two indoor arenas and one outdoor arena. The Equestrian Center sits on of land.
In 2007 and 2012 Centenary Equestrian Center hosted the American National Riding Commission Championships,
Intercollegiate Horse Show Association
The Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) is a nonprofit organization composed of men and women of all riding levels and offers individual and team competition in hunter seat equitation, Western horsemanship and reining at more than 400 m ...
Zone Finals, and the Intercollegiate Dressage Association Championships.
Parsippany Center
The
Parsippany campus is home to Centenary's School of Professional Studies faculty and staff. This location boasts a small cafe, offices for staff, a student computer lab, a student workroom, and 13 classrooms operating with a broadband WiFi network. Classes take place in the evening for the benefit of working professionals.
Edison Center
The
Edison office serves as a satellite location for the Centenary School of Professional Studies. This location consists of six classrooms, two offices, a small conference room, a small dinette, a student work room, and a wireless broadband network. The building complex hosts a cafeteria and ample parking.
Athletics
Centenary University teams participate in eight
NCAA Division III
NCAA Division III (D-III) is a division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States. D-III consists of athletic programs at colleges and universities that choose not to offer athletic scholarships to their st ...
intercollegiate sports. The Cyclones joined the
Colonial States Athletic Conference
The Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) is an NCAA Division III collegiate athletic conference in the Mid-Atlantic United States. There are currently nine full member institutions as of 2018. The conference's membership, as with most Mid ...
for the 2007–08 season, after having been a member of the
Skyline Conference
The Skyline Conference is a college athletic conference based in the New York City area that competes in the NCAA's Division III.
The league was originally chartered on May 16, 1989, as a men's basketball conference and now sponsors 17 sports (ni ...
. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, equestrian, golf, lacrosse, soccer and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, equestrian, lacrosse, soccer, softball and volleyball. Students enrolled in the college's Equine programs may participate in competitions through intercollegiate organizations such as the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, the Intercollegiate Dressage Association, or with the Hunter/Jumper's Club.
Noted athletic achievements
In 2009 Centenary's Intercollegiate Horse Show Association team won the National Championships in
Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Lindsay Clark, a Centenary Student, also won the USEF/Cacchione Cup.
![Debbie Harry, 1977](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Debbie_Harry%2C_1977.jpg)
The 2010 women's soccer team won the CSAC Championship,
earning them an automatic bid to the
NCAA Tournament. The 2013 and 2016 men's soccer teams replicated this feat.
Notable alumni and staff
*
Bette Cooper (1920-2017),
Miss America 1937.
*
Jonathan Townley Crane Jonathan Townley Crane (June 18, 1819 – February 16, 1880) was an American clergyman, author and abolitionist. He was born in Connecticut Farms, in Union Township, New Jersey, and is most widely known as the father of writer Stephen Crane.
E ...
(1819-1880), clergyman, author, abolitionist, co-founder of the school.
*
William Howe Crane
William Howe Crane (1854–1926) was an American lawyer. Born to Reverend Jonathan Townley Crane and Mary Helen Peck Crane, he was the fourth-oldest of nine surviving children—Mary Helen, George Peck, Jonathan Townley, William Howe, Agnes Eli ...
(1854-1926), lawyer.
*
Mike Hall (born 1989),
bassist.
*
Debbie Harry (born 1945), lead singer of
Blondie.
*
Cole Kimball (born 1985), pitcher drafted by the
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
.
*
Carol McCain
Carol Shepp McCain (born 1937 or 1938) is an American former political aide and event planner who served as the director of the White House Visitors Office from 1981 to 1987, during the Reagan administration. She was the first wife of United S ...
(born 1937), former wife of U.S. Senator and former 2008 Republican Presidential Candidate
John McCain.
*
Gail Phoebus (born 1950), politician who has represented the
24th Legislative District in the
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.
Since the election of 1967 (1968 Session), the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts f ...
since 2015.
Assemblyman Gail Phoebus
New Jersey Legislature. Accessed August 19, 2016.
References
External links
*
History & Traditions , Centenary University ™
WNTI.org , The Sound of Centenary
Centenary Stage Company
{{DEFAULTSORT:Centenary College Of New Jersey
Hackettstown, New Jersey
Universities and colleges in Warren County, New Jersey
Educational institutions established in 1867
National Register of Historic Places in Warren County, New Jersey
New Jersey Register of Historic Places
1867 establishments in New Jersey
Private universities and colleges in New Jersey