The University of North Carolina at Asheville
and its predecessor institutions

A Timeline of Major Events

1927               September 12: First 86 students (men and women) attended Buncombe County Junior College

College was part of the Buncombe County School System and was located in the new Biltmore High School (just south of I-40 in Biltmore)

Tuition was free

1929               Great Depression caused tuition to be charged.  College would accept vegetables, eggs, milk, and general produce to pay tuition.

                        First graduating class (Roy Taylor, valedictorian)

Merges with closed Asheville City College and changes name to Biltmore College

1934               Because of the growing Depression, the Buncombe County School System withdraws financial support for the college and the campus moves to city-operated David Millard Junior High School (present site of Beverly Hanks Realtors on College Street, downtown).  City School System provides financial support for the college

Faculty turns over authority for college’s management to a Board of Trustees

1936               College chartered as Asheville-Biltmore College to recognize new financial/administrative connection with the Asheville City School Board (still known as Biltmore College is popular parlance)

College is first accredited by the US Department of Education

1940               Because of population pressures in the City School System, the college is forced to move to the Asheville Normal and Teacher’s School (present site of Memorial Hospital Campus on Biltmore Avenue, south of downtown)

1942               In pursuit of its “own” campus, the college moves to the former County Home for Children (present site of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church on Merrimon Ave, north of downtown)

1947               First parking lot built (80 cars)

Alumni Association founded under direction of first valedictorian, Roy Taylor ’29

1948               Representative Roy Taylor ’29, introduces first state legislation to charter a state-supported college in Buncombe County

1949               Increased enrollment forces college to move to Seely’s Castle on Sunset Mountain (just north of the expressway cut).  The castle had been a private residence for John and Evelyn Seely, E.W. Grove’s son-in-law and daughter. 

New names were contemplated for the college including Castle College and Overlook College.

As a result of the move to the mountain the Asheville-Biltmore comes to be called the “College in the Sky.”

1957               Becomes first two-year college in North Carolina to receive state funds.  Is the originator of North Carolina’s community college system.

1958               Enrollment increase leads to exploration of new campus location.  Sites considered included the eighth floor of City Hall, the municipal golf course, and the Beaver Lake area.  Decision was made to stay at Seely’s Castle.  Asheville citizens voted solidly in favor of a bond referendum to expand the campus on the mountain.

Under the presidency of Glen Bushy, the Board of Trustees reconsiders relocation and purchases 161 acres from attorney Landon Roberts and others in Woolsey Dip on the site of the Civil War Battle of Asheville.

1959               Groundbreaking for what would later be called Phillips Hall on the new campus.

1961               First classes held at new campus in the Fall.

First African-American student enrolled

                        Humanities Program founded

1963               Asheville-Biltmore College becomes a senior institution authorized to offer baccalaureate degrees. 

1964               Because of the move to a baccalaureate institution, there are no graduates

1965               D. Hiden Ramsey Library dedicated. First building to be named. During dedication speech Governor Dan Moore states that it was his desire for Asheville-Biltmore to become a North Carolina’s public liberal arts college.

                        Only one graduate (Trudy Wong).  She is believed to be the only graduate of the short-lived 3-year baccalaureate degree program

1966               The 66 in ’66 were the first four year graduates from Asheville-Biltmore College

                        First African-American graduate (Francine Delaney)

1967               First residence halls open (later known as the Governor’s Village)

1969               College joins the University of North Carolina System (along with UNCW and UNCC) and is chartered at The University of North Carolina at Asheville. (The other 10 joined in 1972)

1970               First Commencement held at steps of D. H. Ramsey library.  Is the first class to receive UNC Asheville degrees.

                        Enrollment crosses 1000 for first time

1979               Enrollment crosses 2000 for first time

1982               Enrollment crosses 2500 for first time

1984               Women’s basketball wins National NAIA title

                        Honors Program Founded

1985               UNC Asheville joins the NCAA and the Big South Conference

                        First fraternity (Pi Lambda Phi) and sorority (Alpha Xi Delta)
                        chartered

1986               UNC Asheville becomes a NCAA Division I school

First National Conference on Undergraduate Research held at UNC Asheville

1987               North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement founded

1988               Receives first national press attention when named among “the very best” of America’s “high-quality, low-priced” colleges in Changing Times Magazines

1991               First Masters of Liberal Arts graduate (Leah Karpen)

                        Last Rockmont held

1992               Officially recognized as one of the nation’s first public liberal arts
                        colleges

                        First Lawn Party held (at time known as UNCAMont)

1996               Tenth National Conference on Undergraduate Research held at UNC Asheville

1997               First Founders Day held

2001               UNC Asheville’s Alma Mater is dedicated

2004               University welcomes largest freshmen class ever 700+

                        University reaches largest enrollment ever 3450+

2006               Twentieth National Conference on Undergraduate Research held at UNC Asheville