Wilkes University

Wilkes University
Former names
Bucknell University Junior College (1933–1947)
Wilkes College (1947–1989)
Motto"Unity Amidst Diversity"
TypePrivate university
Established1933; 91 years ago (1933)
AccreditationMSCHE
Endowment$65.8 million (2021)[1][2]
PresidentAlan Gregory Cant
ProvostDavid M. Ward
Academic staff
157 full time[3]
Undergraduates2,245
Postgraduates2,254
Location
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
,
U.S.

41°14′36″N 75°53′27″W / 41.24333°N 75.89083°W / 41.24333; -75.89083
CampusUrban, Small City, 35 acres (14 ha)
AnnualAmnicola [4]
NewspaperThe Beacon [5]
Colors  Blue
  Gold
NicknameColonels
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division III – Landmark Conference
MascotColonel
Websitewww.wilkes.edu
Wilkes statue in England that depicts Wilkes University namesake. A replica of this statue resides within the center of campus.

Wilkes University is a private university in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It has over 2,200 undergraduates and over 2,200 graduate students (both full and part-time).[3] Wilkes was founded in 1933 as a satellite campus of Bucknell University,[6] and became an independent institution in 1947, naming itself Wilkes College, after English radical politician John Wilkes after whom Wilkes-Barre is named.[7] The school was granted university status in January 1990.[8] It is classified among "Doctoral/Professional Universities" (D/PU)[9] and accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.[10]

The university's mascot is a Colonel and the official colors are blue and yellow.[11] The campus symbol is a letter "W" known as the "flying W" by students and alumni.

Wilkes "Flying W" symbol used primarily for athletics.
  1. ^ "Wilkes University | Data USA".
  2. ^ As of June 30, 2019"U.S. and Canadian 2019 NTSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2019 Endowment Market Value, and Percentage Change in Market Value from FY18 to FY19 (Revised)". National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  3. ^ a b 2010-2011 Fact Book (PDF). Wilkes University. November 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-08-16. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
  4. ^ "Search (608 total) · Wilkes University Institutional Repository".
  5. ^ "The Beacon". Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  6. ^ "From Special Collections/University Archives: Bucknell Junior College « Library and Information Technology". Bucknell Blogs.
  7. ^ Castrignano, Elena (2012). Wilkes-Barre. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 64. ISBN 9780738555300.
  8. ^ "The Patriot". The Patriot. Pennsylvania: Patriot News Company. Associated Press. 25 October 1989.
  9. ^ Bedford, Sarah (17 January 2019). "Wilkes University Granted Doctoral University Designation – Wilkes News".
  10. ^ "Accreditation - Wilkes University". www.wilkes.edu.
  11. ^ "A Legend Among Colonels". Wilkes-Barre Times Leader. Archived from the original on 2014-09-15. Retrieved 2012-11-30.