University of West Georgia

{{Short description|Public university in Carrollton, Georgia, US}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = University of West Georgia
 | image_name             = University of West Georgia seal.svg
 | image_size             = 170
 | motto                  = Go West, Go Wolves!
 | established            = {{start date|1906}}<ref name="UWGHistory">{{Cite web| title = UWG: History of UWG| publisher = University of West Georgia| year = 2008| url = http://www.westga.edu/index_146.php| archive-url = https://archive.today/20080803070907/http://www.westga.edu/index_146.php| url-status = dead| archive-date = 3 August 2008| access-date = 11 August 2008 }}</ref>
 | type                   = [[Public university]]
 | academic_affiliations  = [[National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program|Space-grant]]
 | parent                 = [[University System of Georgia]]
 | endowment              = $41.1 million<ref>{{cite web |title=Data USA: University of West Georgia |publisher=Data USA |date=October 1, 2023 |url=https://datausa.io/profile/university/university-of-west-georgia}}</ref>
 | president              = Brendan Kelly<ref>{{cite web |title=Brendan Kelly Named President of the University of West Georgia December 23, 2019 |url=https://www.usg.edu/news/release/brendan_kelly_named_president_of_the_university_of_west_georgia |website=usg.edu |publisher=University System of Georgia |access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref>
 | students               = 13,510<ref name="westga.edu">{{Cite web| title = Just the Facts| publisher = University of West Georgia| access-date=13 June 2019 | url = https://www.westga.edu/about-uwg/index.php}}</ref>
 | city                   = [[Carrollton, Georgia|Carrollton]]
 | state                  = [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
 | country                = United States
 | coor                   = {{Coord|33|34|18|N|85|06|53|W|display=inline|type:edu}}
 | campus                 = [[College Town]] {{convert|644|acre|km2}}
 | former_names           = Fourth District A&M School (1906–1933)<br />West Georgia College (1933–1996)<br />State University of West Georgia (1996–2005)
 | sporting_affiliations  = [[NCAA Division II]] - [[Gulf South Conference|Gulf South]] (Current) <br>
[[NCAA Division I]] – [[ASUN Conference]] (Starting in 2024)
 | colors                 = Blue and Red<ref name="visual identity">{{cite book|title=Visual Brand Identity Guide
|url=https://www.westga.edu/administration/president/ucm/brand-guidelines.php|access-date=13 June 2019}}</ref><br />{{color box|#0033A1}}&nbsp;{{color box|#DB1A21}}
 | nickname               = [[West Georgia Wolves|Wolves]]
 | mascot                 = Wolfie
 | website                = {{url|www.westga.edu}}
 | logo                   = UWG Shield Logo.png
 | logo_size              = 250
}}

The '''University of West Georgia''' is a [[public university]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/lookup/view_institution.php?unit_id=141334&start_page=index.php&clq=%7B%22basic2005_ids%22:%2217%22%7D|title=Carnegie Classifications {{!}} Institution Lookup|website=carnegieclassifications.iu.edu|access-date=2020-02-15}}</ref> in [[Carrollton, Georgia]]. The university offers a satellite campus in [[Newnan, Georgia|Newnan]], Georgia, select classes at its Douglasville Center, and off-campus Museum Studies classes at the [[Atlanta History Center]] in [[Atlanta, Georgia]]. A total of 12,769 students, including 8,454 undergraduate and 4,315 graduate, were enrolled as of Fall 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.westga.edu/about-uwg/index.php|title=UWG {{!}} Just the Facts |last=Georgia |first=University of West|website=www.westga.edu|language=en|access-date=14 June 2019}}</ref> The university is also one of four comprehensive universities in the University System of Georgia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usg.edu/news/usgfacts|title=USG Facts {{!}} Communications {{!}} University System of Georgia|website=www.usg.edu|access-date=2020-02-15}}</ref>

==History==

In 1906 the decision to create the Fourth District Agricultural and Mechanical School occurred in response to a call for a "more realistic educational program for rural youth" aged 13 to 21.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.westga.edu/index_history.php|title=History of UWG {{!}} The University of West Georgia|website=www.westga.edu|access-date=7 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305195646/http://www.westga.edu/index_history.php|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The Bonner plantation was chosen as the location for the school.

John H. Melson served as the school's first principal from 1908 to 1920. John Melson and his wife Penelope worked intimately alongside the students who attended the school and further enhanced the institution.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.westga.edu/specindex_6916.php|title=Special Collections {{!}} University Archives: From A&M to UWG|website=www.westga.edu|access-date=7 March 2016}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In addition, Penelope Melson was the one responsible for creating the library at the college. In January 1908, she conducted a "book shower" which provided the school with a little over 300 manuscripts.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=From A&M to State University|publisher=State University of West Georgia Foundation|year=1998|oclc=40611930|pages=120–123}}</ref>

In 1920 Irvine S. Ingram, whom UWG's library is named after, became Melson's successor and the second principal of the A&M school. He married fellow faculty member Martha Munro in 1921 and they had one daughter, Anne, in 1924. Ingram was instrumental in developing the concept of "extension" education and adult-education offerings along with a summer school program for local teachers to develop their skills.<ref name=":0" /> The school's name ('''Fourth District Agricultural and Mechanical School''') was changed to '''West Georgia College''' in 1933 and it became a [[Community college|two-year institution]].  When this occurred, Ingram became the college's first president. He served until 1960 and was succeeded by William H. Row. Shortly after, Row died from a heart attack and Ingram filled in as president for six months in 1961 until James E. Boyd was appointed to the position.<ref name=":0" /> While president, Ingram saw West Georgia become a four-year institution in 1957.<ref name="UWGHistory" /> He can also be credited with obtaining a substantial grant of $250,000 from the Rosenwald Foundation used to expand the college's facilities and programs, including the Sanford building, originally used as a library and creating the College in the Country program, initially an adult or continuing education program that eventually involved student teachers from the college, and foreign exchange programs that brought national recognition to the college.

[[James E. Boyd (scientist)|James E. Boyd]], a graduate of the [[University of Georgia]], [[Duke University]], and [[Yale University]], became the president of West Georgia College in 1961.<ref name="nge">{{Cite web|url=http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-3028|title=University of West Georgia|publisher=[[New Georgia Encyclopedia]]|access-date=25 March 2010}}</ref><ref name="century">{{Cite web|url=http://100years.westga.edu/senior.html|title=A Century of Success: the Senior College Years (1957–1996)|publisher=University of West Georgia |access-date=25 March 2010}}</ref> Boyd is most known for peacefully [[Racial integration|integrating]] the campus (without waiting for a court order) in 1963 by inviting a young black woman, Lillian Williams, to attend the college; she would eventually earn two degrees in education and earn the college's highest honor, the Founder's Award, in 1985.<ref name="nge"/><ref name="century"/><ref name="walls">{{Cite web|url=http://100years.westga.edu/column01-07.html|title=If these walls could talk|publisher=University of West Georgia|date=January 2007|access-date=25 March 2010}}</ref>

In May 1964, Boyd invited [[Robert F. Kennedy]] to the dedication of the campus chapel as the Kennedy Chapel, as U.S. president [[John F. Kennedy]]'s death had occurred in November 1963. Robert would promote the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]] which was being debated in the [[United States Senate]].<ref name="nge"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/bps/additionalcontent/18/24741749/Georgia-History-in-Pictures|title=Georgia History in Pictures|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=5 April 2010}}</ref>

Boyd dramatically expanded the college during his tenure in both headcount and academic diversity. In sheer numbers, there were 1089 students upon his arrival and 5503 students upon his departure.<ref name="walls"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=348&dat=19620215&id=PecuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aTEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2147,1346676|title=West Georgia Is Saluted By Publication|publisher=[[Rome News-Tribune]]|date=15 February 1962|access-date=25 March 2010}}</ref> In 1959, there were two degrees and five programs available; in 1969–70 there were seven degrees and 45 programs. There were 94 graduate students in 1961 and 741 in 1969, due to the first master's programs being offered in 1967.<ref name="century"/><ref name="walls"/>

In 1969 alone, 80 new faculty members were hired, a number larger than the total number of faculty members a decade prior.<ref name="walls"/> Several new buildings, including but not limited to nine residence halls and five academic buildings, were constructed. Policy changes occurred as well: in 1966, the curfew for junior and senior women was abolished, and fraternities and sororities were allowed on campus.<ref name="walls"/> In 1970, Boyd was named Georgia's first [[Chancellor (education)#United States 3|vice chancellor]] for academic development, effective once his successor was found, which occurred in 1971; it was [[Emory University]] and [[Duke University]] graduate [[Ward Pafford]].<ref name="boyd">{{Cite web |url=http://www.library.gatech.edu/archives/df/pdf/BOYDJAM.ESE.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060912061927/http://www.library.gatech.edu/archives/df/pdf/BOYDJAM.ESE.pdf|archive-date=12 September 2006|title=James E. Boyd|publisher=[[Georgia Institute of Technology]]|access-date=25 March 2010}}</ref>

===Segregation===
Until 1963, the college did not admit African-American students. In 1955 and 1956 Jeff Long, a teacher at [[George Washington Carver High School (Carrollton, Georgia)|Carver High School]], encouraged students to apply for admission to West Georgia. Every senior applied, and every student was denied admission on the basis of their race. President Boyd racially integrated the campus in 1963. The first Black student was Lillian Williams, a mother or 4 and teacher in the non-integrated [[Carroll County School System]]. In 2002, President Sethna apologized to the Carver class of 1955. A scholarship fund has been started for descendants of the Carver students who were denied admission. There is also a scholarship in the name of Lillian Williams, for any mothers who want to start or continue their education.<ref name="Journey">{{cite web |last1=Rouse |first1=Dierdre |last2=Gray |first2=Carolyn |last3=Wyatt |first3=James |title=The Journey |url=https://www.westga.edu/campus-life/diversity/assets/docs/thejourneyspring2009blackhistorymonthedition.pdf |publisher=University of West Georgia's Office of Minority Affairs |access-date=16 December 2018 |date=Spring 2009}}</ref><ref name="Diverse">{{cite web |title=Georgia College Offers Scholarship to Amend Discrimination |url=https://diverseeducation.com/article/1979/ |website=Diverse issues in higher education |date=27 February 2002 |access-date=16 December 2018}}</ref>

==Academics==
The university offers numerous programs of study at the [[undergraduate]], [[Graduate school|graduate]], and [[Graduate school|doctoral]] levels through the Richards College of Business, the Tanner Health System School of Nursing, the College of Education, the College of Arts, Culture, and Scientific Inquiry, The School of Communication, Film, and Media, and the Honors College. The university also offers Certificate Programs and Specialist programs for Educators to help undergraduate and graduate students better their profession.  In addition, the university was one of few in the United States to hold a residential, early entrance to college opportunity for high school juniors and seniors, the [[Advanced Academy of Georgia]]. Advanced Academy students took college courses and resided on campus under the supervision of professional residential staff.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+University Rankings
! colspan="2" |National
|-
|U.S. News & World Report
|293-381
|-
|Washington Monthly
|226
|}

===Psychology program===
The university is one of only two public universities in the United States offering a psychology program with a [[humanistic]] and transpersonal focus. In 1967, Mike Arons, a student of [[Abraham Maslow]], [[Paul Ricoeur]], and Jim Klee became chair of the West Georgia psychology department. Jim Thomas, then on the psychology faculty at West Georgia, and others had asked Maslow to recommend someone to them to initiate a humanistic emphasis there, and Arons was Maslow's recommendation.<ref>{{Cite web| title = History| publisher = UWG Department of Psychology | url = http://www.westga.edu/~psydept/history.htm| access-date = 1 February 2009}}</ref>

The department has offered a Ph.D. in psychology since the fall of 2011.  In February 2011 The Ph.D., "Psychology: Consciousness and Society," was approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.

The psychology department has the most diverse student base within the University of West Georgia, with many of the doctoral students coming from Ivy League and other first-tier universities. Many of the students are either international or have had experience living abroad.<ref>{{Cite web| title = UWG Psychology Student Knowledge Base | publisher = UWG Psychology Students. 16 Dec 2011. | url = http://uwgpsychology.org | access-date = 16 December 2011}}</ref>

===2019 faculty lay-offs===
In the fall semester of 2019, UWG issued non-renewal letters to numerous tenure track faculty that informed them they would be let go at the end of the Spring 2020 semester.<ref>{{Cite news| title = University of West Ga. may cut faculty to fill $3 million revenue gap | newspaper = The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | publisher = AJC. 8 Nov 2019. | url = https://www.ajc.com/news/local-education/university-west-may-cut-faculty-fill-million-revenue-gap/cHrrXOeEoEWNSxRG5KwKnO/ | access-date = 24 Jan 2020| last1 = Stirgus | first1 = Eric }}</ref> Student protests ensued as some students were outraged faculty were let go before considering other options.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Non-renewal letters have UWG students speaking up to defend their Faculty | date = 21 November 2019 | publisher = The Wolf. 21 Nov 2019. | url = https://thewolfuwg.com/non-renewal-letters-have-uwg-students-speaking-up-to-defend-their-faculty/ | access-date = 24 Jan 2020}}</ref> The faculty that were non-renewed/laid off remain so and have been informed the decision stands as of January 2020.

==Student life==
Students have access to 150 [[student organization]]s covering academics, cultural/international, departmental/educational, professional and honor groups, politics, science, religion, service, recreation and sports, health center, and social [[fraternities]] and [[sororities]]. In order to be a part of a fraternity or sorority, one must have a certain GPA, as well as above freshman classification.

Wolves Don't Waste (WDW) is a student organization founded around increasing awareness of food insecurity. Students coordinate with campus dining to decrease the amount of food wasted or thrown away through food recovery, and make food available to faculty, staff, students, and community members in need.

UWG's marching band consists of over 100 members and is known for its high energy and athleticism.  Each performance finishes with the band playing and dancing to the hit tune "Long Train Runnin'".  The Jazz Percussion Group has also performed throughout Europe and the United States as well as jazz festivals and state conferences. The JPG has brought numerous honors to the university since its beginning in 2003.

The [[pedestrian]] [[campus]] also includes a [[library]] with 561,900 volumes, a gym with an eighth-mile indoor running track, [[computer lab]]s, [[tennis court]]s, [[baseball]] fields, [[soccer]] fields, a nature trail, a quarter-mile (400 m) [[running]] track, two climbing walls, and [[basketball]] courts.

The university once operated a [[non-commercial educational|noncommercial]] [[radio station]], [[WUWG (FM)|WUWG]], at 90.7 [[Megahertz|MHz]]. It had been on the air since 1973 as WWGC until 2001, serving all of [[Carrollton, Georgia|Carrollton]] and [[Carroll County, Georgia|Carroll County]], as well as the [[student body]] of the university. Originally a diverse [[college radio]] station, it is now a listener-supported [[public radio]] [[Network affiliate|affiliate]] of [[Georgia Public Broadcasting]], [[simulcast]]ing the GPB [[radio network]] most of the time.

In the Fall of 2009, the Mass Communications department soft-launched The WOLF Internet Radio. The station officially debuted in April 2010, after two months of limited programming from its studio in the basement of the Anthropology Building. The station's motto is "For students by students." Two grants from the Technology Fee Committee, totaling about $72,600, kick-started the station.

===Greek Village===
Acting as a small community within the larger UWG community, the Greek Village features 18 houses ranging in size. These houses are complete with a living and or chapter room, kitchen, laundry facilities, a mix of single and double bedrooms, and semi-private bathrooms. Also included within the village are outdoor green spaces, adequate parking, and a commons building. Greek Village has also recently added a pavilion, a basketball court, a volleyball court, and a fireplace with grills for everyone's use.

The effort to create such a facility allows for the university to not only expand its housing offerings but also attract new students to UWG, making it more of a destination university. Additionally, within the Greek system at UWG, there are three different governing councils: Panhellenic, Interfraternity, and National Pan-Hellenic. In creating the Greek Village, it became possible for these different groups to share a space together for the first time.

==Student demographics==
The University of West Georgia has published a "Fact Book" containing statistical data, trend analyses, and interpretative highlights on a wide variety of topics concerning the university since 1980–1981. All editions of the UWG Fact Book are housed in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment. Additionally, all Fact Books from 1980–1981 to the present are available online.<ref>{{cite web| title = UWG Fact Book, Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment | publisher = UWG | url = https://www.westga.edu/administration/vpaa/iea/fact-book.php | access-date=6 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |year=1982 |title=1981–82 WGC Fact Book |publisher=West Georgia College |page=16}}</ref>

'''Composition of Student Body by Race and Gender'''
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed sortable"
|-
! Year !! African/Black American !! American Indian/Alaskan Native !! Asian or Pacific Islander !! Asian !! Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander !! Caucasian/White !! Hispanic !! Multiracial !! Other/Undeclared !! Female !! Male
|-
| 2017|| 4,908 || 16 || N/A || 187 || 18 || 6,926 || 790 || 442 || 233 || 8,881 || 4,639
|-
| 2016|| 4,898 || 20 || N/A || 184 || 17 || 6,868 || 681 || 419 || 221 || 8,733 || 4,575
|-
| 2015|| 4,625 || 19 || N/A || 178 || 17 || 6,829 || 586 || 363 || 217 || 8,325 || 4,509
|-
| 2014|| 4,313 || 17 || N/A || 199 || 14 || 6,637 || 506 || 365 || 155 || 7,878 || 4,328
|-
| 2013|| 4,002 || 23 || N/A || 165 || 12 || 6,719 || 484 || 347 || 177 || 7,675 || 4,254
|-
| 2012|| 3,692 || 26 || N/A || 200 || 10 || 6,755 || 470 || 372 || 244 || 7,376 || 4,393
|-
| 2011|| 3,486 || 27 || N/A || 179 || 14 || 6,904 || 456 || 308 || 272 || 7,253 || 4,393
|-
| 2010|| 2,959 || 36 || N/A || 163 || 10 || 6,422 || 348 || 152 || 1,193 || 7,051 || 4,232
|-
| 2009|| 2,920 || 44 || N/A || 181 || 7 || 7,059 || N/A || 84 || 1,205 || 7,182 || 4,318
|-
| 2008|| 2,837 || 32 || 192 || N/A || N/A || 7,364 || 272 || 259 || 296 || 7,075 || 4,177
|-
| 2007|| 2,707 || 29 || 188 || N/A || N/A || 7,142 || 214 || 217 || 180 || 6,700 || 3,977
|-
| 2006|| 2,461 || 22 || 161 || N/A || N/A || 7,136 || 199 || 184 || N/A || 6,406 || 3,757
|-
| 2005|| 2,342 || 22 || 155 || N/A || N/A || 7,281 || 171 || 183 || N/A || 6,376 || 3,778
|-
| 2004|| 2,367 || 24 || 161 || N/A || N/A || 7,363 || 151 || 150 || N/A || 6,446 || 3,770
|-
| 2003|| 2,314 || 24 || 139 || N/A || N/A || 7,505 || 127 || 146 || N/A || 6,561 || 3,694
|-
| 2002|| 2,132 || 20 || 80 || N/A || N/A || 7,135 || 93 || 110 || 105 || 6,144 || 3,531
|-
| 2001|| 1,896 || 23 || 71 || N/A || N/A || 6,744 || 80 || 94 || 113 || 5,757 || 3,273
|-
| 2000|| 1,853 || 20 || 70 || N/A || N/A || 6,758 || 72 || 76 || 117 || 5,725 || 3,241
|-
| 1999|| 1,802 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 6,613 || N/A || N/A || 255 || 5,663 || 3,007
|-
| 1998|| 1,638 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 6,782 || N/A || N/A || 247 || 5,629 || 3,038
|-
| 1997|| 1,434 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 6,787 || N/A || N/A || 210 || 5,518 || 2,913
|-
| 1996|| 1,380 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 6,964 || N/A || N/A || 216 || 5,630 || 2,930
|-
| 1995|| 1,381 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 7,058 || N/A || N/A || 211 || 5,619 || 3,031
|-
| 1994|| 1,309 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 6,839 || N/A || N/A || 162 || 5,408 || 2,902
|-
| 1993|| 1,256 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 6,550 || N/A || N/A || 141 || 5,204 || 2,743
|-
| 1992|| 1,144 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 6,458 || N/A || N/A || 115 || 4,945 || 2,772
|-
| 1991|| 1,106 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 6,293 || N/A || N/A || 122 || 4,873 || 2,648
|-
| 1990|| 969 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 5,967 || N/A || N/A || 136 || 4,498 || 2,574
|-
| 1989|| 1,022 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 6,120 || N/A || N/A || 110 || 4,550 || 2,702
|-
| 1988|| 976 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 5,650 || N/A || N/A || 84 || 4,192 || 2,518
|-
| 1987|| 852 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 5,463 || N/A || N/A || 81 || 3,920 || 2,476
|-
| 1986|| 777 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 5,303 || N/A || N/A || 61 || 3,670 || 2,471
|-
| 1985|| 750 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 5,207 || N/A || N/A || 23 || 3,488 || 2,492
|-
| 1984|| 804 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 5,403 || N/A || N/A || 43 || 3,647 || 2,603
|-
| 1983|| 748 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 5,547 || N/A || N/A || 56 || 3,678 || 2,673
|-
| 1982|| 772 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 5,242 || N/A || N/A || 36 || 3,432 || 2,618
|-
| 1981|| 811 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 4,819 || N/A || N/A || 30 || 3,283 || 2,377
|-
| 1980|| 770 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 4,501 || N/A || N/A || 30 || 3,115 || 2,156
|-
| 1979|| 796 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 4,234 || N/A || N/A || 21 || 3,001 || 2,050
|-
| 1978|| 782 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 4,323 || N/A || N/A || 14 || 2,954 || 2,165
|-
| 1977|| 717 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 4,810 || N/A || N/A || 9 || 3,119 || 2,417
|-
| 1976|| 581 || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || 4,767 || N/A || N/A || 18 || 2,881 || 2,485
|}

[[File:West Georgia Wolves logo.svg|thumb|West Georgia Wolves logo.]]

== Athletics ==
{{Main|West Georgia Wolves}}
The athletics program fields men's intercollegiate teams in [[baseball]], [[basketball]], [[cross country running|cross country]], [[american football|football]], and [[golf]] and women's teams in [[basketball]], [[cross country running|cross country]], [[golf]], [[soccer]], [[softball]], [[tennis]], [[Track and field|track]], [[volleyball]], and competition cheerleading.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uwgsports.com/news/2016/1/17/CHR_0117165544.aspx|title=UWG Cheer takes home 19th title|access-date=13 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630143039/http://uwgsports.com/news/2016/1/17/CHR_0117165544.aspx|archive-date=30 June 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> All intercollegiate sports are affiliated with [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] Division I as a member of the [[ASUN Conference]] effective July 1, 2024.  In 2006, amid the [[Native American mascot controversy]], the UWG changed its athletic nickname from the "Braves" to the "Wolves."<ref>{{cite news|last=Dixon|first=Kristal|title=UWG Selects Wolves as New Mascot|url=http://www.thewestgeorgian.com/2.919/uwg-selects-wolves-as-new-mascot-1.42131|access-date=14 September 2011|newspaper=The West Georgian|date=17 January 2006}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Notable alumni==
{{Main|List of University of West Georgia alumni}}

==Notable faculty==

* [[Roger Kaiser]], Former UWG men's basketball coach and athletic director
* [[Newt Gingrich]], History Professor (1970–1978), Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (1995–1999)<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|last1=English|first1=Mildred E.|title=College in the country : a program of education for adults|date=1959|publisher=University of Georgia Press|location=Athens|isbn=9780820300337|url=http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/ugapressbks/do-pdf:ugp9780820335353|access-date=20 February 2018}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.westga.edu/}}
*[http://www.uwgsports.com West Georgia Athletics website]

{{UnivSysGa}}
{{Gulf South Conference navbox}}
{{College sports in Georgia}}
{{University of West Georgia Presidents}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:West Georgia, University Of}}
[[Category:University of West Georgia| ]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1906]]
[[Category:Public universities and colleges in Georgia (U.S. state)|University of West]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]]
[[Category:Education in Carroll County, Georgia]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Carroll County, Georgia]]
[[Category:1906 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]]