Wilmington University history

1979 - The university reorganized into the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business Administration and the School of Education.

1980 - UNCW opened the Graduate School.

1981 – Doctor Hubert A. Eaton becomes the first Black chairman of the UNCW Board of Trustees.

1983 – The Office of Minority Affairs is founded under the leadership of Ralph Parker, its first director.

1992 - UNCW received its first patent, for a streamlined bacterial test developed by biology and marine biology professor Ronald Sizemore and Jerra Caldwell ’86.

1995 - The Upperman African American Cultural Center opened in the Fisher University Union.

The 50-foot clock tower was dedicated and sounded for the first time at the senior celebration on May 12, 2000.

2002 - UNCW established its first doctoral program, marine biology.

The Community Gardens were chronicled in an Associated Press story that ran in 2.4 million media outlets worldwide in November 2010.

Doberstein was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Delaware Women in 2011 in recognition of her contributions to Wilmington University and the community.

In 2013, WC earned its seventh consecutive designation on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

2017-18 - With UNCW enrollment approaching 17,000, the university celebrated its 70th anniversary year.

2018-19 – Work was underway on planned and storm-related construction projects totaling $400 million, including construction on Veterans Hall, extensive renovations to Dobo Hall, four new residence halls with a total of 1,800 beds and planning and design for an expansion of Randall Library.