Westminster University’s History

Westminster University Throughout the Years

 

1875 - Founded by the First Presbyterian Church as the Salt Lake Collegiate Institute, 27 students enrolled. Image Description: First Presbyterian Church and Salt Lake Collegiate Institute, 1880.

1885 - John M. Coyner, Salt Lake Collegiate Institute founder and first principal, retires after significant growth, with the institute serving nearly 250 students. Image Description: Salt Lake Collegiate Institute, 1880 or 1881.

1892 - Board of Trustees President Robert Gibson McNeice proposes college creation to the Presbytery of Utah. Image Description: Robert Gibson McNiece.

1895 - Sheldon Jackson College incorporated to include all students “without distinction of race, sex, or religious belief." Dedication of the new Academy building enhances the facilities for students. Image Description: Female dormitory residents at Salt Lake Collegiate Institute, 1892.

1897 - Offered courses as Sheldon Jackson College. Image Description: Pupils of the Salt Lake Collegiate Institute during 1899–1900.

1902 - Adopted the name Westminster College. Image Description: Robert Gibson McNiece with students and faculty, 1904.

1906 - Laying of the cornerstone for Converse Hall, which became a central building for the college. Image Description: Converse Hall, 1912.

1907 - Opening of Ferry Hall, a residential building and classroom for female students. Image Description: Lounge in Ferry Hall.

1911 - Moved to present campus location. Image Description: Ferry Hall and Converse Hall, 1910.

1911–1913 - Did not offer classes for 8 consecutive semesters and no longer on the list of approved colleges. Image Description: Converse Hall, 1916.

1913 - Appointed Herbert Reherd as the first residential president; classes are offered again. Image Description: Girls' Glee Club of 1917–1918.

1919 - Enrolled 123 students. Image Description: Freshman class featuring Sara Ramsay, Raoul Blumberg, Eleanor Steele, Lawrence Lazelle, Orville Tendall, Fernando Ellingford, Harold Reherd, Ethel Bailey, Marguerite Huckvale, Norma Cody, and Florence Crandall, 1919.

1919 - Football program began. Image Description: Westminster football team featuring Jack Comer, Bob Parker, Arthur Marshall, Leonard Clark, Keith Neisley, Mansel Smith, and John Lindsay, 1928.

1920 - Women’s tennis program begins. Image Description: Women's tennis athletes, 1923.

1926 - Foster Hall converted to a dormitory. Image Description: Foster Hall, 1928.

1926 - A fire destroys the inside of Converse Hall. The fire was noticed when a student and a passing milkman saw smoke coming out the east door of the hall. Image Description: Converse Hall fire, 1926.

1929 - Payne Gymnasium dedicated. Image Description: East entrance and north side of Payne Gymnasium.

1935 - Becomes the first four-year junior college in the Intermountain West. Image Description: Student body, 1934.

1939 - President Robert D. Steele takes over, guiding the college through World War II. Image Description: Dr. Robert D Steele.

Near the end of WWII - Sought accreditation as a 4-year baccalaureate institution to meet anticipated peacetime needs for higher education. Image Description: French class students, 1945.

1946 - Laurene Elizabeth Hodges earns the first baccalaureate degree from Westminster. Image Description: Nursing graduating class, 1946.

1949 - Became a 4-year liberal arts institution offering baccalaureate degrees in the arts and sciences. Image Description: Class of graduating nurses, St. Mark's School of Nursing, featuring Marba Laird, Mari Mithunaga, Grace Jackson, Ruby Jean Davis, Miss K. Kato, Shirley Eddington, Beatrice (Sammy) Alexander, and Isabel Allen, 1949.

1949–1967 - Built a science building, and Hogle, Carleson, Nightingale, and Bamberger Halls. Image Description: Hogle Hall, 1969.

1968 - Held first baccalaureate classes in St. Mark’s School of Nursing. Image Description: St. Mark's Hospital.

1969 - Opened Shaw Student Center, named for Manford A. Shaw, university president who served from 1968–1976. Image Description: Manford A. Shaw Student Center.

1973 - Black Bridge is built by the National Guard as a training exercise. Image Description: People lined up on Black Bridge during the dedication of Nunemaker Place, 1977.

1974 - Malouf Hall, named for long-time friends of the university Mrs. Mima A. and Mr. Anees B. Malouf, is dedicated. Image Description: Malouf Hall dedication, 1974.

1974 - Ended denominational relationship with the Presbyterian Church. Image Description: Faculty members standing on the outdoor stage at the graduation ceremony, 1975.

1975 - Celebrated Founder's Day, Westminster's 100th anniversary. Image Description: Students with the Founder's Day cake, 1975.

1977 - Opened Nunemaker Place, an award-winning structure named for benefactor Irene Nunemaker. Image Description: Dr. Manford Shaw and Rev. Walton Roth with a rendering of Nunemaker Place during the groundbreaking in 1976.

1978 - Record high enrollment of 1,600 students. Image Description: Students with President Pete Peterson at graduation, 1979.

1979 - Declared financial exigency. Athletics programs are discontinued. Image Description: Players and coaches posing for a photo of the Parsons men's basketball team, 1976.

1983 - Reorganized college as Westminster College of Salt Lake City; schools of Arts and Sciences, Business, Nursing, and Professional Studies formed. Image Description: Dean of Faculty Allan Kuusisto speaking during the 1983 convocation.

1983 - Ended mutual agreements with the United Church of Christ and United Methodist Church; completely cut ties with religious schools.

1983–1998 - Grew to 2,200 students with 100 full-time faculty and 150 adjunct faculty. Image Description: Faculty member Ray Ownbey and staff member Barbara Czapla, 1995.

1984 - Began men’s varsity soccer program. Image Description: Installation of the new scoreboard featuring varsity soccer head coach Ben Rodriguez and Robert M. Mateus.

1988–1995 - Added MBA, MPC, and MSN graduate programs. Image Description: Barry Quinn holding the Westminster logo flag with librarians Hiltraut Benham, Diane Raines, and Richard Wunder at the Giovale Library Dedication, 1997.

1988–2004 - Built Residential Village, Giovale Library, Gore School of Business, and Jewett Center for the Performing Arts. Image Description: Construction of Giovale Library, 1997.

1989 - Ferry Hall (one of the original buildings) was razed. Image Description: Ferry Hall.

1990s - Intercollegiate athletics programs are gradually restored. Image Description: Westminster Parsons logo.

1991 - Dedicated Jewett Center for the Performing Arts. Image Description: Emma Eccles Jones Conservatory at the Jewett Center for the Performing Arts.

1995 - Dr. Peggy A. Stock becomes Utah's first female college president. Image Description: Peggy A. Stock, 1995.

1996 - Founded School of Education. Image Description: Westminster students and faculty during an outdoor class.

1999 - Reinstated men’s and women’s basketball, Griff becomes Westminster Athletics' official mascot. Image Description: Griffin Mascot holding two signs that read "Let's Go" and "Griffins!" 2006.

2002 - Residence halls are leased to 2002 Olympic security agencies during spring break. Image Description: Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympic pins focused on Westminster.

2004 - New strategic plan developed. Image Description: Converse Hall.

2005 - Launched a capital campaign to fund Meldrum Science Center and other campus buildings. Image Description: ASWC Cabinet members being sworn in, 2006.

2006 - Opened Dolores Doré Eccles Health, Wellness, and Athletic Center. Image Description: Dolores Doré Eccles Health, Wellness, and Athletic Center.

2006–2007 - Begin men's lacrosse team following completion of the new Dumke Field. Image Description: Dumke Field dedication, 2006.

2007 - Creation of the Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling Program (Now the MSCMHC program). Image Description: Manford A. Shaw Student Center, 2008.

2008 - Creation of the Great Salt Lake Institute. Image Description: Students collecting water samples from the Great Salt Lake, 2012.

2011 - Meldrum Science Center opened. Image Description: Construction of the Meldrum Science Center, 2009.

2014 - New strategic plan approved. Image Description: President Morgan speaking with a presenter at the Student Showcase.

2015 - Accepted into NCAA Division II membership process—rejoining former conference home: the RMAC. Image Description: Westminster women's lacrosse game, 2015.

2017 - Founded Honors College. Image Description: Image Description: First lady Sandy Morgan, President Stephen R. Morgan, and Honors College dean, Richard Badenhausen..

2018 - Sheri and Dale Holt donate their French Norman-style home for use as the president’s residence. Image Description: Holt home, 2019.

2019 - Creation of the Westminster @ 150 strategic plan, in preparation of the university's 150th anniversary. Image Description: Bill and Vieve Gore School of Business.

2022 - Opened Florence J. Gillmor Hall. Image Description: Community members gathered to celebrate the opening of the Florence J. Gillmor Hall, 2022.

2023 - Transition to Westminster University. Image Description: Converse Hall, 2023.

2024 - Opened L.S. Skaggs Integrated Wellness Center. Image Description: L.S. Skaggs Integrated Wellness Center Opening, 2024.