High Point University High Point University is a private liberal arts university in High Point , North Carolina , U . S . , affiliated with the United Methodist Church . History . Beginnings . The school was founded in 1924 as High Point College , a joint venture between the Methodist Protestant Church and the citizens of High Point . When the college opened , the campus consisted of three buildings , attended by nine faculty members , with a student enrollment of 122 . The Methodist Protestant Church , which is now part of the United Methodist Church , first became active in educational pursuits in North Carolina in the middle of the 19th century . Of the various institutions which it sponsored , the most ambitious was Yadkin College , which operated in neighboring Davidson County from 1856 to 1895 . After some years of consideration , the statewide governing body of the Methodist Protestant Church finally voted to proceed with establishing a new college in 1921 . Shortly afterwards it accepted an offer from the citizens of High Point to contribute of land and $ 100 , 000 to the project . The campus was designed by R . E . Mitchell of Washington , D . C . , assisted by Herbert Hunter of High Point , in the English Renaissance style . Though finishing touches were still being added to Roberts Hall , Women ' s Hall , and McCulloch Hall , classes began in September 1924 . The steadfast growth that characterized the birth of the College ended abruptly with the Great Depression . This period was difficult for the College in 1932 – 33 , as faculty salaries were cut and expenses were sometimes bartered . Despite a $ 50 , 000 fund raising campaign , the College declared bankruptcy on June 15 , 1934 and reorganization in an effort to reduce its indebtedness . Reorganization enabled the College to move forward with business and expansion . By the end of the decade , the M . J . Wrenn library and the H . Albion Millis athletic stadium were constructed . During World War II , the College hosted the 326th College Training Detachment of the U . S . Army Air Force . With the liquidation of debt , financial stability ultimately returned by 1945 . Recent history . A 1990 report from a task force called " The National Commission on the Future of High Point College " outlined the blueprints for growth into the twenty first century . The report called for emphasis on teaching ethics in the curriculum , enhancing international relationships and exchanges , improving academic and dormitory spaces , and reconstituting college as a university . On October 9 , 1991 , by the action of the Board of Trustees , the name of High Point College was changed to High Point University to reflect post - graduate degree programs . The campus saw expansion of the Millis Athletic / Convocation Center in late 1992 to provide facilities for convocations , physical education , athletic , and health activities . Other notable additions to the campus include an addition to the Hayworth Hall of Science and the Hayworth Fine Arts Center , a domed structure with a Tuscan portico designed in consultation with London - based architect Christopher Smallwood . By 2004 , the University ' s endowment increased to $ 40 million . A major donation from community activist and philanthropist David Hayworth to High Point University brings total contributions from David Hayworth and his late brother Charles to $ 25 million . In its increased capacity , High Point University has been instrumental in attracting high - profile speakers to campus , including former President George W . Bush , former President Bill Clinton , former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani , televangelist pioneer Rev . Robert Schuller , Queen Noor of Jordan , television legend Bill Cosby , U . S . Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas , astronaut and children ' s book author Buzz Aldrin , Coca - Cola Company Chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent , athlete Lance Armstrong , former U . S . First Lady Laura Bush , and the man who co - founded Apple , Inc . with Steve Jobs , Steve Wozniak is slated to be the 2013 Commencement speaker . Since taking office in 2005 , President Nido Qubein has raised $ 159 million for the university . " Businessweek " reports that about $ 700 million in new building and campus upgrades was financed by heavy borrowing and Moody ’ s Investor Services downgraded the school ’ s bonds to junk status because it is one of the most heavily - leveraged colleges in the country as a result . The university countered that it has an innovative and financially sound plan for the future . " Businessweek " invited the school to make financial documents available to support any challenges to the article ' s accuracy . In addition to questioning debt levels , " Businessweek " characterized the college ’ s growth as being based more on high - end student amenities and marketing strategy than on solid academics . School of Education . High Point University held a grand opening for the new LEED - Certified School of Education with a ceremony , tours of the state - of - the - art facility and demonstrations in the classrooms . The 31 , 000 - square - foot School of Education houses the education and psychology departments in technologically advanced classrooms , computer labs and offices . It features high - tech educational equipment , such as smart boards , a children ' s book library , math and science touch screen games , a methods lab designed to look and feel like a real elementary school classroom , a Mac lab and psychology research booths . The building is also setting an example for modern - day energy conservation with things like floor to ceiling windows for natural lighting and light sensors in the rooms . LEED certification is a rating system for " green " buildings developed by the Green Building Environmental Council of the United States ( USGBC ) and provides certain environmental standards for construction . Water usage is cut by 30 percent inside the building and by 50 percent in its irrigation system , while energy usage is decreased by 24 percent . Further information regarding LEED certification may be found at the following sites : U . S . Green Building Council , Natural Resources Defense Council , Green Building Certification Institute . Campus . Location . Together , Greensboro , High Point and Winston - Salem , along with the surrounding suburbs and townships , form the Piedmont Triad region , an area with a population over 1 . 5 million . Of that number , approximately 100 , 342 live in High Point . Both Greensboro and Winston - Salem are twenty minutes from campus . East of the University are Raleigh , NC ( 1½ hours away ) and the Atlantic Ocean ( 3½ hours away ) ; south of the University are Charlotte , NC ( 1½ hours away ) and Atlanta , GA ( 5 hours away ) ; west of the University are the Appalachian Mountains ( 2 hours away ) and north is Washington , DC ( 5 hours away ) . Notable buildings . At the University ' s founding , Washington , D . C . architect R . E . Mitchell partnered with local architect Herbert Hunter and adopted a Georgian Revival theme to provide an air of dignity and erudition for an institution in its infancy . Built in this theme , the most impressive building on the campus is Roberts Hall , among the first triad of buildings , which demonstrates the British Renaissance ideals that inspired Georgian architecture in its tall multi - tiered tower and imposing front portico of Corinthian columns . This 1923 building may have been loosely modeled on Independence Hall in Philadelphia . Women ' s Hall , also designed by Herbert Hunter in 1923 , continues the architectural theme of Roberts Hall . In addition , Women ’ s Hall sports an elaborate cupola centered over the heart of the building . Wrenn Hall , originally constructed as the M . J . Wrenn Library , was completed in 1937 and progressed the Georgian dialog of early campus buildings with an elaborate elliptical transom window and a broken ogee frontispiece . These buildings constitute the ceremonial core of the campus and provide a backdrop for special events such as graduation . Breaking free of the Georgian theme , architect Leon Schute contributed a number of modernist designs to the campus . The Horace S . Haworth Hall of Science opened in 1967 and featured a two - story masonry façade that was broken at regular intervals by concrete pilasters to provide the effect of a classical colonnade ; this modernist façade was mostly covered by a neoclassical addition in 1999 . Schute was also the designer of the Slane University Center ( formerly the McPherson Campus Center ) , in 1972 , that continued modernist themes for which he was well known . In 1993 , Montlieu Avenue , a thoroughfare that cut through the center of the campus , was closed to traffic and dedicated as the Kester International Promenade ( originally known as the " Greensward " ) , an open commons that unites the campus with green - space . Recent additions to the campus have revisited historically inspired architecture , including the Hayworth Fine Arts Center , a domed structure with a Tuscan portico designed in consultation with London - based architect Christopher Smallwood . This structure is Smallwood ’ s only project in the United States outside the northeastern states . Thanks to a $ 486 million renovation project of the campus , led by fund raising efforts by President Nido Qubein , several new residential and educational buildings have been added . These additions include notably Norton Hall , the Blessing Residential Hall , The Village Residential Complex , the Slane Student Life and Wellness Center , and the Jerry and Kitty Steele Sports Center . A large number of fountains have also been installed throughout the university commons with plans to add even more . There are also several facilities currently under construction and slated for completion in 2009 . These buildings include the Nido R . Qubein School of Communication , the Plato S . Wilson Family School of Commerce , and the crown jewel of student life , the $ 50 million University Center ( formerly called the Multiplex ) . The University Center , completed in 2009 , houses 600 students in 300 upscale apartment - like facilities and includes a fully functional movie theater , a steakhouse , a convenience store , a bakery and a two story gaming - and - restaurant concept . With the campus renovations at High Point University breaching $ 486 million in August 2010 , President Nido Qubein announced several other additions to the campus . These include a new school of education and a Greek Village . The Greek Village will consist of roughly 14 houses aimed at housing 200 total students . The $ 10 million Greek Village and the school of education will begin construction in 2010 . In February 2011 , the university acquired the Oak Hollow Mall which is located less than a mile from campus . The university then hired the previous owners to manage the property as a retail mall " for now " . Long term plans for the property have not been announced . Academics . High Point University offers day and evening undergraduate degree programs ( Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science ) and evening graduate degree programs ( Master of Education in Elementary Education , Master of Education in Educational Leadership , Master of Public Administration in Nonprofit Organization , Master of Business Administration , and Master of Science in Sports Studies ) . A doctoral degree in Educational Leadership began in the fall of 2012 . In 2012 , High Point University had a student - to - faculty ratio of 16 : 1 and a student retention rate of 79 % . Study Abroad . High Point University offers a wide variety of study abroad programs , including semester programs at universities in Italy , Germany , France , Ecuador , Australia , the United Kingdom , Japan , Fiji , the Czech Republic , Spain , Austria , South Africa and Russia . In addition , students can participate in Faculty - in - Residence Programs in Oxford , England ( Fall ) and Prague , Czech Republic ( Spring ) . Students take a full load of credits transferable toward their High Point University degree . Costs are equivalent to the High Point all - inclusive fee and most financial aid applies . Each May , High Point University provides access to many short - term , faculty - led " Global Experience " programs . For 2013 , the ' Maymester ' offerings include Animal Behavior in South Africa , Spanish in Guatemala , International Marketing in China , Drawing and a Choir Tour to Italy , a Flamenco course to Spain , Interior Design in Paris & France and a Cross - Cultural Psychology tour to Italy , Germany and France . Courses vary each year . The Student Career Intern Program ( SCIP ) places students in career - related positions in area businesses before graduation . Academic rankings . High Point University was named No . 1 in two categories in the " 2013 Best Colleges , " published by " U . S . News & World Report , " . No . 1 Up and Coming College in the South and No . 1 Regional College in the South , moving past # 2 John Brown University ( Arkansas ) , # 3 Meredith College ( NC ) , and # 4 Asbury University ( KY ) to claim the top regional ranking in the South . HPU has been included in the list , " America ' s Best Colleges , " ranking at number 510 on the list of 650 created by Forbes magazine . Parade Magazine also listed High Point University as one of the top 25 large private schools in the nation in the magazine ' s 2010 " College A - List . " On April 16 , 2013 the Princeton Review , partnering with the U . S . Green Building Council , named High Point University to its list of Green Colleges . The Princeton Review ' s Guide to 322 Green Colleges is a profile of higher education institutions that " demonstrate strong commitment to sustainability in their academic offerings , campus infrastructure , activities and career preparation . " [ http : / / www . princetonreview . com / green - schools - full - list . aspx Princeton Review Green Colleges [ Full List < nowiki > ] < / nowiki > ] Athletics . The High Point Panthers include HPU ' s 16 athletic teams that compete at the NCAA Division I level , mostly in the Big South Conference . HPU ' s 16 varsity sports are baseball , men ' s and women ' s basketball , men ' s and women ' s cross country , men ' s and women ' s golf , men ' s and women ' s lacrosse , men ' s and women ' s soccer , men ' s and women ' s indoor track & field , men ' s and women ' s outdoor track & field and women ' s volleyball . The 2010 – 11 season was the most successful since High Point University joined NCAA Div . I in 1999 – 2000 . In the fall , the women ' s soccer team and women ' s volleyball team won Big South Tournaments and the men ' s soccer team won the Big South regular season . In the spring , the women ' s lacrosse team won the National Lacrosse Conference tournament and set a record for wins by a first - year program , with 15 . High Point University also fields the following sports at the club level : men ' s and women ' s basketball , men ' s and women ' s golf , men ' s and women ' s lacrosse , men ' s and women ' s rowing , running , men ' s and women ' s soccer , men ' s and women ' s swimming , men ' s and women ' s tennis , women ' s field hockey , softball , ultimate frisbee and equestrian . Donations to High Point University ' s Athletic Department have exceeded $ 30 million . The primary athletics facilities at High Point University are the Millis Center ( basketball , volleyball ) , Williard Stadium ( baseball ) and Vert Stadium ( track , soccer , lacrosse ) . Vert Stadium was resurfaced with Mondo 3NX turf in 2011 . In January 2008 , Wake Forest University associate athletic director Craig Keilitz was appointed High Point University ' s Director of Athletics . In May 2009 , former University of North Carolina captain Scott Cherry was named head coach of men ' s basketball . Greek life . High Point University is home to 12 fraternities and sororities . The following Greek organizations are present at HPU : Sechrest gallery . A permanent collection of original works donated to the University by High Point Alumnus Darrell L . Sechrest . Among others , the permanent collection includes works by Christian Dietrich , Sir Lawrence Alma - Tadema , Sir Joshua Reynolds , Allesandro Gherardini , El Greco , Sir George Harvey Emile Louis Picault , Elsie Popkin , and Antonio Zucchi and Angelica Kauffman . The gallery is housed within the Hayworth Fine Arts Center on the campus of High Point University .