Catawba College: A Vibrant Hub in Historic Salisbury, North Carolina
Catawba College, a private institution with a rich history, offers a unique blend of academic rigor, vibrant campus life, and a commitment to sustainability, all within the charming setting of Salisbury, North Carolina. Founded in 1851, Catawba College is affiliated with the United Church of Christ. It adopted its name from Catawba County before moving to its current home of Salisbury in 1925.
Location and Accessibility
Catawba College is located in the temperate, four-season climate of the North Carolina Piedmont in historic Salisbury, a city of approximately 34,000 people. Situated just off Interstate 85, midway between Greensboro and Charlotte, Catawba College is easily accessible. The campus is located just off Interstate 85, midway between Greensboro and Charlotte. To reach the college, take I-85 South and exit on I-85 at exit 76 (Salisbury, Catawba College). At the stop sign, turn right on Innes Street. Alternatively, take I-40 East to I-77 South, then get off I-77 at exit 49A (Garner-Bagnal Boulevard) and turn right at the end of the exit ramp onto Highway 70 East. Continue for approximately 30 miles until you reach Salisbury, where 70 East is renamed Statesville Blvd. Continue straight on Statesville Blvd. to the intersection with Innes St., then turn left onto Innes St. Another option is to take I-85 North to exit 76 (Salisbury, Catawba College), and at the stoplight, turn left on Innes Street.
The college is conveniently located less than three miles from downtown Salisbury, with its great restaurants and entertainment venues. For those traveling from further afield, Charlotte-Douglas Airport is a 45-minute drive from campus. The Amtrak station is only 10 minutes from campus. Several hotels, including the Hampton Inn, Best Western, Marriott Hotel, and Comfort Suites, are located near the college for visiting families and friends.
Campus Environment and Sustainability
"The campus is beautiful with many green spaces to sit outside and enjoy the outdoors…." There is a 189-acre ecological preserve adjacent to the campus, which hosts a diverse group of birds and animals, is a popular retreat for busy students. Environmentalism and sustainability are a big part of the Catawba ethos, as the college is the first institution of higher learning in the southeast to be deemed "fully carbon neutral" by the nonprofit Second Nature. Catawba is continually raising the bar when it comes to sustainability. The college uses geothermal energy to heat and cool the campus and leverage solar energy to power classrooms and EV charging stations. It’s who we are and what we do.
The Center for the Environment at Catawba College was established in 1996 to educate the local and campus community about environmental stewardship and sustainability. The facility that houses the center opened in 2001, hailed by the top state environmental official as "the wave of the future in resource and energy efficiency." Sustainable building materials, green furnishings, geothermal heating and cooling were used when constructing the Center for the Environment building. Adjacent to the center is the 187-acre Fred Stanback Jr.
Read also: Best Hair Salons near Rice University
Academics and Programs
Catawba College offers over 70 fields of study in a variety of disciplines. Catawba students most often describe their professors as the best aspect of their learning experience. "We have some of the most strong-minded, dedicated, and knowledgeable professors who want nothing more than their students to succeed." As another student explains, "Professors are engaging and made textbook material relatable and interesting." Many believe that it is the high quality of teaching coupled with small classes, enabled by a relatively low student to faculty ratio, that makes for a superior academic environment. "Every professor gets to essentially learn about us one on one instead of students just being a name on a paper."
For working adults, Catawba's School of Evening and Graduate Studies offers the Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.). In conjunction with the Department of Teacher Education, the Bachelor of Arts in education (B.A.E.) degree may be earned with a major in Birth-Kindergarten Education; at the graduate level, the Master of Education degree in elementary education is also offered.
The school of business was named after Ralph W. Ketner, who was the co-founder and former CEO of Food Lion. The school of business provides students with a curriculum in many different areas of the business world. These areas are Accounting, Economics and Finance, Entrepreneurship, Integrated Marketing Communication, Communication Arts with concentrations in communications and sports communications, and Business Administration with concentrations in Accounting, Communications, Economics, General Management, Information Systems, International Business, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship. The school also offers the Center for Entrepreneurship and Experimental Development (CEED) and the Institute of Business and Accounting.
Catawba created the West Scholars Program in 2006. The program offers a scholarship for North Carolina residents, in addition to "leadership seminars, community, service, scholarly researched presentations" and various other benefits.
Campus Life and Traditions
Catawba students describe a deep sense of camaraderie with their peers. Students are in favor of Catawba's "close-knit environment," saying that "it's easier to make friends and be part of the community since everyone kind of knows everyone." Consequently, students describe Catawba positively as the sort of place where "when you walk to class you have to stop at least three times to say 'hi' to a friend."
Read also: US Education System Performance
Catawba students have access to many on-campus activities outside of the classroom, including the student-run Campus Activities Board, which hosts events with hypnotists, comedians, laser tag, and cookouts. Catawbapalooza is an annual and much-anticipated tradition on campus. Tailgating at home football games is also a big part of Catawba’s culture and provides a great opportunity for current students, alumni, and Salisbury residents to engage in a fun and relaxing atmosphere. As part of Catawba’s annual graduation activities, the Marshal’s Walk is a symbolic conclusion to their time at College. Following Baccalaureate Service, members of the graduating class carry lit candles out of the Chapel through a gathering of faculty, family, and friends.
Approximately forty percent of Catawba undergraduates play on a varsity sports team, while many others play informally or simply attend games to cheer for their classmates. Accordingly, the student body is invariably seen as "sports-oriented." While many at Catawba are active Christians, diversity of thought and belief are greatly valued among the student body. A strong international presence is felt at Catawba and students welcome this inclusivity. "I've met people from Spain, Poland, China, Brazil, South Africa, [and] England, and the culture among them varies greatly." Approximately twenty percent of undergraduates commute and therefore don't experience dormitory life, but resident students attempt to include them in campus activities as much as possible.
Catawba College Athletics fields 24 NCAA Division II varsity teams and is a member of the South Atlantic Conference (SAC). Many students come to Catawba because of their desire to participate in the sport they played in high school. The College also supports co-ed cheer and dance programs, as well as developmental teams in select sports to provide expanded opportunities for student-athletes. The Catawba Indians recently unveiled the addition of Blue, the Catawba Cat, as its new sideline mascot-an energetic ambassador who will bring pride and spirit to campus and game days.
A Foundation for a Life of Good
Catawba was founded on a generous gift from those who believed in our mission. Everything you’ll do at Catawba will prepare you for a life of good. Catawba students build homes, hold fundraisers for pregnancy support centers, and volunteer in the community. Listeners. Leaders. Discover a career that calls you with help from the Lilly Center. Find purpose outside the classroom in one of 40+ clubs and orgs. Conduct invaluable research on human-wildlife conflicts. Catawba is here for exploring.
Read also: Waterville's Colby College
tags: #catawba #college #location
