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The Citadel (Military College)

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The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, is a state-supported, comprehensive college with 14 academic departments divided into five schools offering 20 majors and 23 minors. The Citadel is best known for its undergraduate Corps of Cadets military program for men and women, which combines academics, physical challenges and military discipline.[Quick Facts from the Citadel web site] In addition to the cadet program, civilian classes are offered through the Citadel's College of Graduate and Professional Studies with its evening undergraduate and graduate progams. The Citadel enrolls almost 2,000 undergraduate cadets in its residential military program and 1,200 civilian students in the evening programs. While both programs make use of the Citadel campus, cadets and civilian students do not share classes and only cadets live on campus.[CPGS Overview from the Citadel web site]

The Citadel was named a "Best Value in the South" and was ranked second out of 24 top public universities in the Southern region of the United States that offer up to a master’s degree by U.S. News & World Report.[America's Best Colleges 2006, U.S. News & World Report web site]

Newsweek magazine also included The Citadel in its 2006 list of “America's 25 Hot Schools” as the “Hottest Military School”.[America's 25 Hot Schools, Newsweek, 2006]

Contents

History

On December 20, 1842, the South Carolina Legislature passed an act establishing the South Carolina Military Academy. The first twenty cadets reported to The Citadel, then located at Marion Square in downtown Charleston, on March 20, 1843. When South Carolina seceded from the Union in December 1860, Major Robert Anderson moved his garrison of U.S. troops to Fort Sumter and requested reinforcements from the federal government. On January 9, 1861, Citadel cadets stationed on Morris Island fired on the U.S. steamer, the Star of the West, preventing it from reaching Fort Sumter with troops and supplies. This was the first overt hostile act of the American Civil War.

On January 28, 1861, the Corps of Cadets of The Citadel Academy was part made of the military organization of the state, known as the Battalion of State Cadets. The Citadel continued to operate as a military academy, however classes were often disrupted when the governor called the cadets into military service. Mounting and manning heavy guns, guard duty and escorting prisoners were among the services performed by the cadets.

In December 1864, Governor Bonham ordered the Battalion of State Cadets to Tulifinny Creek to join a small Confederate force defending the Charleston and Savannah Railroad. On December 7 and 9, 1864, the cadets fought against Union forces, successfully defending the railroad line and forcing Union forces to withdraw. The cadets suffered eight casualties at Tulifinny Creek. The battalion was commended for its display of discipline and gallantry under fire and won the admiration of the troops who fought with them. On February 18, 1865, The Citadel ceased operation as a college when Union troops entered Charleston and occupied the site.

The flag of the Corps of Cadets includes eight battle streamers, representing these engagements, and one streamer representing the Confederate States Army.

Following the War, the Board of Visitors eventually regained possession of The Citadel and the South Carolina Legislature passed an act to reopen the college. The 1882 session began with an enrollment of 185 cadets.

The name of the college was officially changed in 1910 to "The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina". The word "Academy" had become synonymous with secondary schools and the public had the misconception that the South Carolina Military Academy was a preparatory school.

In the war with Spain in 1898, more Citadel alumni volunteered for service than were needed. In World War I, Citadel graduates were among the first contingents of American troops to fight with the English and French divisions. By that time, The Citadel had outgrown its campus on Marion Square, despite numerous building additions. In 1918, the City of Charleston gave the State of South Carolina one hundred seventy six acres on the banks of the Ashley River for a new campus. In 1922 the college moved to its current location.

Since that time, Citadel graduates have performed military service for their country in all major conflicts. These include World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Rankings

The Citadel remains a "Best Value in the South" and held steady in the second place among top public universities in the South offering up to master’s degrees by U.S. News & World Report.[America's Best Colleges 2006, U.S. News & World Report web site]

Civil and electrical engineering students are among the most highly-recruited students from The Citadel and its School of Engineering is ranked 32nd among top 50 undergraduate engineering programs in the United States.[Citadel Press Release]

Kiplinger's magazine, in its ranking of the "Best Values in Public Colleges" for 2006, made mention of The Citadel as a "great value" although the military nature of its program excludes it from consideration as a "traditional" four-year college in its rankings.Lankford, Kimberly (2006). [Best Values in Public Colleges]. Kiplinger's.

The Citadel ranks first nationally among its peers for the percentage of students who graduate on time and Citadel cadets are twice as likely as their peers in other colleges to graduate in four years, ranking first nationally among its peers in the percentage of students who graduate on time. The Citadel's top ranking comes from a comparison of all public colleges whose entering students have average SAT scores between 1000 and 1200. The Citadel's four-year graduation rate is 59.7 percent and its six-year rate is 71.9 percent.[Citadel Press Release]

Student life

Cadets at The Citadel are members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets, which numbers almost 2,000. While approximately 40 percent of the graduates become officers in the U.S. military after graduation, all cadets must participate in an ROTC program. As at the federal military academies, cadets must meet strict physical fitness standards for acceptance into the Corps of Cadets. On most days, cadets have physical fitness training and military instruction in addition to their regular college classes. Weekdays end with a formation and required evening study period. Because The Citadel emphasizes corps unity, cadets cannot be married and all must live on campus in the barracks with their assigned company. The Citadel emphasizes a strict indoctrination for first-year cadets who are called knobs. Despite the challenges, cadets value their first year for the lessons in teamwork, self-discipline and time management. The disciplined lifestyle that begins in the knob year binds cadets into a lifelong, close-knit camaraderie that is one of the strongest forces in their lives after graduation.

Included in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies student body are a number of active duty[link] Marine and Navy enlisted personnel attending The Citadel under the Seaman To Admiral program (STA-21)[link] and the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP.[link]

Athletics

CitadelBulldogs.jpg A member of the Southern Conference, The Citadel is a NCAA Division I school. The college's mascot is the Bulldog. Those cadets who participate in NCAA fall athletics (football, cross country, womens soccer and volleyball) are required to report a month earlier prior to their freshman year for "athletic cadre," so that they can participate in their sport practices when normal cadre starts. During the athletic cadre, the military athletes are initiated into the Corps while completing first-week experiences, such as "Hell Week". Civilian students are also eligible to participate in the athletic program.

Minority and female students

After enrolling in 1966, Charles Foster became the first African-American cadet to graduate from the Citadel in 1970.

Admission of women

The Corps of Cadets at The Citadel was all-male until August 1996, although women had attended civilian graduate and undergraduate evening programs at the school for many years.

On January 20, 1994, Shannon Faulkner, by court order after a two-year legal fight, became the first female student to enroll in day classes at The Citadel. After additional legal battles, Faulkner won the right to enroll in the residential Corps of Cadets program. She joined an otherwise all-male Knob class on August 15, 1995. However, except for a few hours on the first day, she spent the entire first week in the infirmary before resigning, complaining of exhaustion. After her departure, the male cadets openly celebrated on the campus.[link]

In the fall of 1996, four more women enrolled at the Citadel. While two dropped out citing harresment, Nancy Mace, whose father was the Commandant of Cadets at the time, became the first female cadet to graduate from The Citadel on May 8, 1999. The first African-American women graduated on May 11, 2002. The Citadel, like the United States military, has adopted gender norming for physical fitness tests.

Campus

The Citadel sits on a 300 acre tract of land on the Ashley River. There are 27 buildings grouped around a ten acre grass parade ground. The buildings around the parade ground include ten classroom buildings, an administrative building, four barracks, a student activities building, infirmary, chapel, stadium, a field house, and library. Just off the main campus are the football stadium, baseball stadium, and alumni center.

College of Graduate and Professional Studies

The Citadel’s evening college serves the Lowcountry by offering nationally accredited bachelors, masters and specialist degrees scheduled around the student’s profession, family and lifestyle. CGPS offers 19 graduate programs with concentrations in education, psychology, computer science and business. The Masters of Business Administration program is the only nationally accredited MBA program in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina. Enrollment is up 12 percent from fall semester 2000. CGPS also offers undergraduate evening programs in business and engineering. The Citadel is also the only college in South Carolina that offers an undergraduate civil and electrical engineering degree in an evening program.

Core Values

In its [Vision Statement], the Citadel Board of Visitors identifies the following as the school's "core values:"

Academics: We produce graduates who have insight into the issues, ideas and values that are important to society and possess the skills necessary to deal with them successfully.

Duty: We emphasize the importance of individual accountability and the moral obligation of responsibility for the welfare of others.

Honor: We adhere to a code which teaches that uncompromising personal integrity is the primary guide in all situations. "A cadet does not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those that do."

Morality: We operate a leadership laboratory which emphasizes a structured environment, acceptance of responsibility, self-confidence and service to others.

Discipline: We operate a leadership laboratory which emphasizes a structured environment, acceptance of responsibility, self-confidence and service to others.

Diversity: We promote diversity in all segments of our campus community and college life.

Enrollment

Eligibility is not restricted to South Carolina residents (although it is more difficult to gain an appointment for non-residents). The Citadel has graduated students from across the U.S. and from many other countries. South Carolina residents do receive a discount in tuition, as is common at most state-sponsored schools. Total first year expenses (tuition, fees, uniforms, housing, meals, etc.) for the 2006-2007 school year will be $18,458 for South Carolina residents and $28,777 for all others.[Citadel press release] (10 June 2006).

Military service

All cadets are required to undergo four years of ROTC training in one of the four branches of the armed services, but they are not required to enter military service after graduation. Civilian students may opt to attend. Currently, just over 40 percent of graduates go into military service and less than ten percent make the military a career. The others go on to graduate, law, or medical school programs or enter the civilian workforce. Over the years, 126 Citadel alumni have reached the top ranks in the military by becoming flag officers (generals, rear admirals or commodores) [link]. Alumni of the Citadel have served their country in all wars involving the United States. Citadel alumni have been killed in action during the Civil War (67), World War I (15), World War II (280), Korean War (32), Vietnam War (68), Lebanon (1), Grenada (1), the Gulf War (1), and the current War on Terror (11). [] [link]

Notable graduates

Military

Business

Sports

Other

Fictional depictions

References

 

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