state-supported commuter institution covering 45 acres (18 hectares) in Bluefield, W. Va., 120 miles (190 kilometers) southeast of Charleston. The college, founded in 1895, primarily serves state residents and attracts a large number of students who are older than traditional age. Most applicants are accepted. Enrollment totals roughly 2,600 students, about half of whom attend part-time. The college operates on the semester system and awards associate and bachelor's degrees. The numbers of full-time and part-time instructors are relatively equal. Disciplines offered include business, liberal arts and sciences, engineering and related technologies, fine arts, computer science, criminal justice, education, and nursing. Interested students can study off-campus at Concord College in Athens, W. Va. Bluefield State conducts some 35 extracurricular activities, including fraternities and sororities, a student-run newspaper, career-related clubs, and intramural sports. Depending on the sport, varsity teams compete in either the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics or in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. |