Centenary Collegiate Institute (1867–1940) Centenary Junior College (1940–1956) Centenary College for Women (1956–1976) Centenary College (1976–2016)[1]
Centenary was founded as the Centenary Collegiate Institute (CCI) by what was then known as the
Methodist Episcopal Church in 1867. The name was chosen to commemorate the
centennial of
Methodism in the United States.[9] It was built for $200,000. George H. Whitney, D.D., was president from 1869 to 1895.[10]
Beginning as a
coeducationalpreparatory school, CCI became a girls-only institution in 1910. In 1940, it became a
junior college: Centenary Junior College. It would subsequently become Centenary College for Women in 1956 before becoming Centenary College in 1976, a four-year college for women 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 programs were introduced.[9] In 2016, Centenary
College was granted
University status by the New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education.[11]
In 1886, a 19-year-old kitchen worker at CCI named Tillie Smith was "outraged" and murdered in a field just off campus. A
janitor at CCI named James Titus was convicted of the crime based on
circumstantial evidence strongly influenced by
yellow journalism. Authors and historians generally consider this a
false conviction, but the debate over the facts continues perennially through
dark tourism ghost tours, theatrical performances, books and
Weird NJ magazine articles.[13][14][15][16][17][18]
On Halloween night, 1899, the original five-story CCI building burned to the ground in a fire.[19][20] Old Main (now known as the Seay Building), was designed by architect
Oscar Schutte Teale in a
RenaissanceBeaux Arts style[21] and built on the ruins of the original structure in 1901.[8] Only two buildings survived the fire, the men's gymnasium (Little Theatre) and the women's gymnasium (Ferry Building).
The Centenary Stage Company, a professional
Equity theater, has been operating on campus since 1985.[26][27] In 1992, a "Women's Playwright Series" development program offered grants, workshops, prizes and world premieres for the underserved voice of women in theater.[28][29] Centenary also offers an intensive
musical theater program for intermediate and advanced
young performers.[30][31]
In 1999, Centenary founded the Center for Adult and Professional Studies program. In 2011, the program was renamed the School of Professional Studies.[7]
In 2019, Centenary reported enrollment of 1,119 students.[32]
Centenary University Main campus is located in Hackettstown, New Jersey. The Centenary Equestrian Center in
Long Valley provides riding and education facilities for its
Equine Studies and Animal Health Department .[33]
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.[34] The Seay Building ("Old Main") was added to the
National Register of Historic Places on June 13, 1997, for its significance in architecture.[8]
Harris & Betts Smith Learning Center – Academic Success Center, Student Veterans Organization, Disabilities Services Office, classrooms
Lackland Center – Classrooms, Dance Studio, Dining Center, Sitnik Theatre, Edith Kutz Black Box Theater, TV studio,
WNTI Radio Studio[36]
Littell Technology Center – Classrooms, graphics Department, ENACTUS office
Reeves Gymnasium – Athletics Department, gymnasium, weight room, wrestling center
Seay Building – Classrooms, Whitney Chapel, tutoring center, Student Activities Center: the Cyber Space, Campus Life Suite; the Little Theater,[36] main college offices: Admissions, Alumni Affairs, Bursar, Campus Life, Advancement, Marketing & Communications, Financial Aid, Human Resources, Information Technology, President's Office
Taylor Memorial Library[37] – Library, print Shop, small classroom
Trevorrow Hall – Science and Fine Art Building; classrooms, labs, Fashion Department, Science Department
Wellness Center – Health and counseling center[37]
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 (male only and female only rooms)
Smith – Co-ed Freshmen and 1st year Transfers (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 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 65 acres (260,000 m2) of land.
In 2007 and 2012, Centenary Equestrian Center hosted the American National Riding Commission Championships, the
Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Zone Finals, and the Intercollegiate Dressage Association Championships.[38]
Athletics
Centenary University teams participate in eight
NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports. The Cyclones joined the
Colonial States Athletic Conference for the 2007–08 season after being a member of the
Skyline Conference. 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.[citation needed]
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.[39]
The 2010 women's soccer team won the CSAC Championship,[40] earning them an automatic bid to the
NCAA Tournament.[citation needed] The 2013 and 2016 men's soccer teams replicated this feat.[40]
^
ab"Library". Centenary University ™. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
^[1][permanent dead link] "In 2007 Centenary Equestrian Center hosted the American National Riding Commission Championships, Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Zone Finals, and the Intercollegiate Dressage Association Championships."
^"Centenary’s Kimball Chosen by Nationals in 12th Round."Archived 2012-02-10 at the
Wayback Machine, Centenary College of New Jersey press release dated July 7, 2006. Accessed January 13, 2008. "A graduate of Hackettstown High School, and a resident of Great Meadows NJ, Centenary has been a terrific fit for Cole’s most recent two seasons."