Norwich University

Norwich University

Norwich University, located in Northfield, Vermont, is the oldest private military college in the United States and has a storied history dating back to its founding in 1819. Students who attend there do not necessarily have to choose military careers in the future but they will surely excel in military discipline and skills. Norwich educators promote studying and learning in a military setting so that students can learn better and improve in academics.

Student Profile Overview

The school has a diverse population where about 51 percent of students come from different states outside New England. Most students come from states that include Maine, New Jersey, and California, among others. In addition, there are also students who attend that are from other countries. Meanwhile, about 60 percent students are in the Corps of Cadets. According to school stats, about 58 percent of students who graduate receive a commission in military services annually. About 17 percent of the students are commuters. Every year, the school receives about 3,500 applications with a 56% acceptance rate.

Corps of Cadets

The school emphasizes that military schools are not only for those who want to venture into military careers in the future. The education and training offered by the military college aim to develop students so that they become competent people in the future. The main mission of the school is to help students become effective and strong leaders. Its challenges are designed to help students become responsible for their actions and support fellow students with a common goal.

School officials claim that graduates from Norwich become effective business and government leaders due to the education and training each of them acquired from the college.

Accreditation

The college is duly-recognized by the NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) via the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.

Clubs and Specialties

The four-year college offers various specialty units in training and there are various groups that students can participate in. Some of these groups include the cavalry, regimental band, drill team, Mountain and Cold Weather Company, Norwich Artillery Battery, and Ranger Company, among others.

Leadership

Norwich is also known for its various organizations aiming to promote leadership skills. They include the SGA (Student Government Association), Buddy Up, and others. There are also alternative break programs which may or may not include week-long mission activities, volunteer trips, and others, which may take place during the spring and Thanksgiving. The school also has its Campus Activities Board which main task includes programming campus events as well as publicizing them. In addition, it is involved in planning and executing various college activities such as the Winter Carnival and Family Weekend.

Abroad Tie-Up

The school is in partnership with several countries such as Nicaragua, Tanzania, and Thailand. There are also several trips sponsored by the school annually.

Norwich is indeed one of the best schools in Vermont for students to attend. If you want nothing but the best for your son or daughter, you can check out Norwich today. The school offers complete education and training when it comes to military discipline and leadership. You can start planning the bright future for your child by registering at Norwich University.

A tradition of innovation

There are only a few schools that have a legacy as long or as influential as Norwich’s. There were only a few schools in existence in 1819 when Alden Partridge started the institution. But Norwich’s legacy isn’t great just because of longevity—more important is what the organization has done in its lifetime.

Norwich has always been the innovator in American Education. Actually the American System of Education startedat Norwich. Yes, the most advanced and successful education system in the world, the education students throughout the world seek, the education system that has literally transformed civilization into modern society, started at Norwich.

That’s a big accomplishment. But it’s certainly not the only one, as Norwich does not rest on its laurels. This institution has a mission, a job to do, and the people of Norwich take it seriously. We are here to serve this great nation and educate students who will become leaders in business, government, and the military in order to advance the causes of the Republic, ensure its continued freedom, and develop the economic, political, and social infrastructure of this new century.

More firsts: Sometimes Norwich does things that are unconventional or buck the status quo. In 1974, we admitted women to the Corps of Cadets. That does not sound like a big deal now, but in 1974, it was downright revolutionary. It has proved a difficult and unpopular move for other military colleges, but Norwich did it right—and it was the right thing to do.

Norwich is accustomed to being first, a tradition that continues today. Norwich was one of the first institutions—and certainly the smallest—to receive the National Security Agency’s designation as a Center of Excellence in Information Security Education. Why? Because that is what the nation desperately needed and will need for many years to come.

Norwich was the first private college in the nation to teach engineering. Why? Because that is what the nation needed in 1819. While other institutions of higher education concentrated on classical studies, Norwich was marching its students out into the field to study civil engineering and other practical sciences, as well as literature and modern languages. The young nation needed bridges, agricultural innovation, graduates who were savvy in commerce and about the world, and people who could lead militarily if needed. Norwich met all of those needs in a time when such a curriculum was considered experimental. But Norwich’s system of balanced and useful education soon became the norm—in fact, the pattern—for the great American System of Education.

In 1820 our collegiate military band was created, the first of its kind in the nation and the oldest to date. Norwich also has the distinction of being the birthplace of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). In addition, Norwich was the one of the first schools in the nation to admit international students.

A university’s legacy is also measured by the impact of its graduates.

Norwich graduates helped build the nation, whether it was the chief engineer that connected the Pacific and Atlantic coasts with the railroad, fathers of industrial tycoons, leaders in famous battles, or developers of the nation’s banking system. Current graduates include the former CEO of NBC, the CEO of the nation’s most prominent accounting and consulting firm, a partner in one of the world’s premier brokerage and investment houses, the former Chief of Staff of the Army, the owner of one of the defense industry’s most important contracting companies, the general partner of one of the nation’s premiere engineering and construction companies, etc., etc. These were graduates who were balanced thinkers, good communicators, had hands-on experience in their fields while still in college, and who had faculty that cared for them and would never quit on them. Norwich’s graduates do great things because they are challenged at this university. Rigorous, hands-on academics complemented by a military lifestyle for cadets and challenging co-curricular activities for traditional students ensures that graduates can handle most of what comes their way in the real world.

Finally, legacy can be measured by the pride people have in their alma mater.

One of the first things people will tell you about Norwich is that it loves its alumni and its alumni love it. Few university alumni groups display the kind of camaraderie that Norwich alumni have, both with each other and with the institution. This pride, this bond, and this fraternity of graduates stand out on the landscape of higher education. When you become part of Norwich University, you join a distinguished, established family and part of a tradition of innovation, dedication and distinction.

Throughout its existence, Norwich has produced a wide array of alumni who have gone on to achieve notable successes in various fields. Some of the more renowned individuals associated with Norwich University include:

General Gordon R. Sullivan: He is a former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army and served from 1991 to 1995. Sullivan is a 1959 graduate of Norwich.

General Ernest N. Harmon: He was a decorated combat commander during World War II and later became the 21st president of Norwich University.

Edward H. Brooks: A 1916 graduate, Brooks rose to the rank of Lieutenant General in the U.S. Army and played significant roles during World War II.

Major General Briard Poland Johnson: He was an aviation pioneer and an Army Air Service officer during World War I.

Thomas W. Chittum: A combat veteran, Chittum was a recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Cross during the Vietnam War.

Admiral Alan G. Kirk: A 1929 graduate, Kirk commanded the U.S. naval forces during the Normandy landings on D-Day during World War II.

Colonel Frank Tompkins: Known for his role during the Mexican Border Campaign and for his book, “Chasing Villa,” which detailed his experiences.

Mike Kelley: While perhaps not “famous” in the conventional sense, Kelley is a notable figure in ice hockey. He coached and was a significant figure in the establishment of the ice hockey program at Norwich University.

Alden Partridge: While he’s more historically significant than “famous,” it’s worth noting Partridge as the founder of Norwich University and a pioneering figure in American military education.

There are, of course, many other alumni of Norwich University who have gone on to achieve success in military, business, public service, and other realms. The above list highlights just a few of the prominent individuals associated with the university.