UNC Greensboro is honoring its history by renaming a roadway in the heart of campus. Administration Drive has a new name: Woman’s College Way. From 1932 to 1963, UNCG was officially known as the Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina. The university became co-ed in 1964.
“We renamed Administration Drive to Woman’s College Way in recognition of the legacy of the pioneering alumnae who shaped this campus’ early years,” said UNCG Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr.
It was founded in 1891 as the first public educational institution for women in the state – and after more than 130 years, it is still a leader,” said Gilliam. “UNCG is No. 1 for social mobility in North Carolina, providing paths to prosperity to more first-generation and lower-income students than any other public university in the state.”
Alumnae from that period affectionately refer to their University as “WC,” and this newly named road recognizes the valuable contributions that “WCers” have made. Some WC alumnae were “firsts” on campus. For example, Alice Irby, a graduate of the Class of 1954, was the institution’s first director of admissions.
Many familiar parts of campus also have their origins in the WC era. Jackson Library opened in 1950, and the Weatherspoon Art Museum has roots in the period. So does the Alumni House, which opened in 1937 as the Alumnae House, and has welcomed alumni, students, and staff for decades.
Three-time alumna Sarah Shoffner ’62, ’64 MS, ’77 PhD was just one of the many committed graduates who helped establish another memorial to their alma mater on campus: the sculpture called “Astera,” part of the WC Tribute Project near College Avenue and Stone Building. A professor at UNCG for more than 40 years, she has also served on many committees and boards including the Alumni House Committee and the UNC Greensboro Foundation Board.
Said Shoffner at the naming ceremony: “The WC legacy supports the marginalized and encourages free thought. WC Way will be an eternal reminder that for decades, Woman’s College showed women alternatives to the traditional roles expected of them.”
A newly installed road sign shows where WC Way and College Avenue meet.
“The legacy of WC represents our past, present, and future,” said Gilliam. “We are proud to ensure its impact continues to inspire future generations.”