History
The College was founded as Southwest Virginia Institute in Glade Spring, Virginia on September 17, 1884 by Reverend J.R. Harrison, a Baptist minister, as a means to bring higher education opportunities to women in southwest Virginia. Instructing both boarding and day students, the school steadily grew until it outgrew its facilities in less than ten years.
The College began moving to a new site in Bristol, Virginia in 1891, completing its relocation with the beginning of classes on September 14, 1893. Shortly after the move, the name was changed to Virginia Institute. A reorganization of the curriculum in 1910 brought the college into the junior college movement and the college became the first two-year institution to be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school's name changed to Virginia Intermont College in 1908.
During the 1960s five new buildings were constructed to accommodate the school's growth. In the early 1970s, Virginia Intermont became a four-year institution granting baccalaureate degrees. 1972 marked another major milestone as VI admitted men and became a coeducational institution.
In July 2010, the College hired its first female president, Dr. E. Clorisa Phillips, who came to VI following 30 years in administration at the University of Virginia. Phillips has worked on fundraising initiatives for ongoing renovations and upgrades to the historic campus, and has added academic and athletic programs effective 2012-13.
Read more about this topic: Virginia Intermont College
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