Bridgewater College

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Private college in Bridgewater, Virginia, US

title: "Bridgewater College" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["bridgewater-college", "private-universities-and-colleges-in-virginia", "universities-and-colleges-affiliated-with-the-church-of-the-brethren", "universities-and-colleges-established-in-1880", "universities-and-colleges-accredited-by-the-southern-association-of-colleges-and-schools", "education-in-rockingham-county,-virginia", "buildings-and-structures-in-rockingham-county,-virginia", "1880-establishments-in-virginia"] description: "Private college in Bridgewater, Virginia, US" topic_path: "society/education" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgewater_College" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Private college in Bridgewater, Virginia, US ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox university"]

FieldValue
nameBridgewater College
former_nameSpring Creek Normal and Collegiate Institute (1880–1889)
imageBridgewater college seal.png
image_size150
mottoCollege of Character, Community of Excellence
established(predecessor)
(current institution)
typePrivate liberal arts college
religious_affiliationChurch of the Brethren
endowment$102.8 million (2024)
presidentDavid W. Bushman
cityBridgewater
stateVirginia
countryUnited States
pushpin_mapShenandoah Valley#USA Virginia#USA
students1,448 (Fall 2024)
undergrad1,407
postgrad41
faculty94 full-time
sports_nicknameEagles
colorsRed & gold
athletics_affiliationsNCAA Division III, Old Dominion Athletic Conference
website
logoBridgewater college logo.png
logo_size150
::

|name = Bridgewater College |former_name = Spring Creek Normal and Collegiate Institute (1880–1889) |image = Bridgewater college seal.png |image_size = 150 |motto = College of Character, Community of Excellence |established = (predecessor) (current institution) |type = Private liberal arts college |religious_affiliation = Church of the Brethren |endowment = $102.8 million (2024) |president = David W. Bushman |city = Bridgewater |state = Virginia |country = United States |pushpin_map = Shenandoah Valley#USA Virginia#USA |students = 1,448 (Fall 2024) |undergrad = 1,407 |postgrad = 41 |faculty = 94 full-time |sports_nickname = Eagles |colors = Red & gold |athletics_affiliations = NCAA Division III, Old Dominion Athletic Conference |website = |logo = Bridgewater college logo.png | logo_size = 150

Bridgewater College is a private liberal-arts college in Bridgewater, Virginia. Established in 1880, Bridgewater College admitted both men and women from the time of its founding and was the first four-year liberal arts college in Virginia to do so.{{cite web | url = https://www.bridgewater.edu/about-us/bc-history-and-traditions/ | title = Bridgewater College - History of Bridgewater College | access-date = 2017-11-09 | publisher = Bridgewater College | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171110061728/https://www.bridgewater.edu/about-us/bc-history-and-traditions/ | archive-date = 2017-11-10 | url-status = dead | url = http://www.petersons.com/ugchannel/code/InstVC.asp?inunid=5435&sponsor=1 | title = Peterson's Bridgewater College - College overview | access-date = 2008-06-04 | publisher = Peterson's, A Nelnet Company

History

Bridgewater College was established in 1880 as "Spring Creek Normal and Collegiate Institute" by Daniel Christian Flory. Nine years later, the school was named "Bridgewater College" and chartered by the Commonwealth of Virginia to grant undergraduate degrees. Bridgewater conferred its first Bachelor of Arts degree on June 1, 1891. In 1895, the Chairman of the Faculty, Walter B. Yount, a graduate of what would become Juniata College and the University of Virginia was named the college's first President. After his retirement in 1910, John S. Flory (an early Bridgewater graduate who also received degrees from other institution and had served on the faculty and as vice-president) succeeded him as the college's president.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/Bridgewater_College,_Bridgewater,_Va._LCCN2013646978.jpg" caption="The college in 1907"] ::

Bridgewater College became the first senior co-educational liberal arts college in Virginia and one of the few accredited colleges of its type in the South.

The oldest portion of the Bridgewater College campus, consisting of five brick collegiate buildings constructed before 1911, is included in the Bridgewater Historic District. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

2022 shooting

On February 1, 2022, 55-year-old campus police officer John Painter and 48-year-old campus safety officer J.J. Jefferson were shot and killed on campus after being called to investigate a suspicious person on campus. The shooter, a 27-year-old former student named Alexander Wyatt Campbell, was later apprehended after a manhunt and suffered a gunshot injury at some point during the incident. In February 2024, Campbell plead guilty to murdering both officers and was sentenced to life in prison.

Repatriation of Native American items

The college is returning sacred funerary belongings and remains that were donated to the college. These items are protected by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).

Academics

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Bridgewater_College_-panoramio-_Idawriter.jpg" caption="View of the college"] ::

Bridgewater offers more than 60 majors and minors, awarding the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. Bridgewater students have the opportunity to study abroad through the BCA Study Abroad program and May Term Travel Courses.

Bridgewater also offers the Flory Honors Program. Flory Fellows gain access to many opportunities and benefits, including honors sections of general education courses limited to 15 students each, housing within the honors community, and more.

Bridgewater was ranked #229 in national liberal arts colleges based on the U.S. News & World Report.

Student life

Traditions

Annual events at Bridgewater College celebrate tradition, community, alumni, and culture. Founder's Day observance at Bridgewater commemorates the April 3, 1854, birth of Daniel Christian Flory, who began Bridgewater College in 1880, at the age of 26.

Homecoming weekend in October welcomes alumni back to the college with class reunions, outdoor festivities, a home football game and the annual Athletic Hall of Fame banquet.

Athletics

Main article: Bridgewater Eagles

Bridgewater College is a Division III member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Its teams are members of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), which has 14 member institutions.

Notable people

Alumni

Faculty

References

References

  1. (February 12, 2025). "U.S. and Canadian 2024 NCSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2024 Endowment Market Value, Change in Market Value from FY23 to FY24, and FY24 Endowment Market Values Per Full-time Equivalent Student". National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO).
  2. "Common Data Set 2024-25 B. Enrollment and Persistence". Bridgewater College.
  3. "Bridgewater College Presidents - Bridgewater College".
  4. Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff. (1984). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Bridgewater Historic District". Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
  5. {{NRISref
  6. (February 1, 2022). "Two Officers Killed at Bridgewater College in Virginia". [[New York Times]].
  7. Smith, Hannah. (2022-02-01). "2 officers killed in shooting at Bridgewater College, suspect charged with capital murder". NBC12.
  8. Johnson, Colby. (February 26, 2024). "Bridgewater College Shooter pleads guilty, receives two life sentences".
  9. Hull, Lindsey. (2023-05-04). "An archivist has spent 12 years working to return Native American remains and artifacts to their tribes. Success may be close.".
  10. "Study Abroad - Bridgewater College".
  11. "Flory Honors Program - Bridgewater College".
  12. "Areas of Study".
  13. [http://www.bridgewater.edu/alumni "Alumni and Friends"] {{Webarchive. link. (2015-08-09 Retrieved on 2015-07-28.)
  14. [https://www.pgatour.com/players/player.21646.david-branshaw.html David Branshaw] at PGATour.com
  15. "WCPI search results". University of Winnipeg.
  16. "Directory". [[University of Virginia]].

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bridgewater-collegeprivate-universities-and-colleges-in-virginiauniversities-and-colleges-affiliated-with-the-church-of-the-brethrenuniversities-and-colleges-established-in-1880universities-and-colleges-accredited-by-the-southern-association-of-colleges-and-schoolseducation-in-rockingham-county,-virginiabuildings-and-structures-in-rockingham-county,-virginia1880-establishments-in-virginia