Texas Wesleyan University Texas Wesleyan University is a private , coeducational , liberal arts university founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church , South , in 1890 . The main campus is located in the Polytechnic Heights Neighborhood of Fort Worth , Texas , United States . Its mascot is the " ram . " History . Texas Wesleyan University was originally founded as Polytechnic College by the Methodist Episcopal Church , South , in 1890 . A committee under the direction of Bishop Joseph S . Key explored locations for a campus and settled on a site east of Fort Worth donated by area pioneers A . S . Hall , W . D . Hall , and George Tandy . The school held its first classes in September 1891 with a handful of faculty members and 111 students . In 1902 , H . A . Boaz assumed the presidency and managed a period of moderate growth . He hoped to develop Polytechnic College into a new university for Southern Methodism . When Dallas was selected by Methodist Church leaders as the site for Southern Methodist University , the Polytechnic campus was designated the " woman ’ s college for Southern Methodism , " eventually becoming Texas Woman ’ s College in 1914 , attracting young women from around Texas and the Southwest . However , when faced with dwindling resources during the Great Depression , the college ' s trustees voted to close the school in 1931 . A merger with the financially secure Texas Wesleyan Academy in Austin saved the college from failure and resulted in the formation of Texas Wesleyan College in 1934 . Men were readmitted that same year , returning the institution to a coeducational status . The university added graduate programs in education in the 1970s and in nurse anesthesia in the 1980s . After contemplating a relocation of the campus to a west Fort Worth site , Texas Wesleyan renewed its commitment to its historic Polytechnic Heights Neighborhood location by building the Eunice and James L . West Library in October 1988 . Recognizing the growth in programs , trustees changed the name of the institution to Texas Wesleyan University , effective in January 1989 . To add flexibility in the scheduling of courses and to recognize the special needs of adult learners , the university added the C . E . Hyde Weekend / Evening Program in 1994 . The university established a campus in downtown Fort Worth in 1997 with the relocation of the Texas Wesleyan University School of Law , which was established in 1992 following the acquisition of the former Dallas / Fort Worth School of Law . Campus . Texas Wesleyan is located on a 75 - acre campus in the Polytechnic Heights Neighborhood in east Fort Worth . The campus sits 140 feet above the Trinity River and is one of the highest points in the city of Fort Worth . Key Places . Polytechnic College President H . A . Boaz built the The Oneal - Sells Administration Building administration building in 1902 and oversaw its renovation and enlargement in 1909 . The building was constructed in 1902 - 1903 of rock acquired from a quarry in Dublin , Texas . A red overhead sign bearing the university ’ s name was added during the 1938 - 39 school year . The building was remodeled again from 1963 - 1966 . Cora Maud Oneal and Murray Case Sells , for whom the building is named , financed the renovation . The overhead sign was removed during that renovation in 1963 . The building became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1966 . Sanguinet & Staats , a firm noted for building many sites on the National Register of Historic Places , built Dan Waggoner Hall in 1917 . The building was primarily used as a dormitory until the late 1970s , when a renovation converted the building into use for offices . After a renovation in 1999 , it now houses the offices of the School of Education and classrooms . The Eunice and James L . West Library was built in 1988 and funded by a gift of Tandy Corporation stock from Eunice and James L . West of Fort Worth . West and his wife , Eunice , gave $ 16 million in stock to several Texas colleges , $ 12 million of which came to Texas Wesleyan for construction of the library . The library sits at the front of the campus mall and is a focal point looking from the entrance of campus . The Polytechnic United Methodist Church was built in 1951 - 1952 by Wyatt C . Hedrick and is designed in the collegiate gothic style . Hedrick developed a master plan for the college in 1949 and the church wanted its building to fit into the planned design of the campus . The college was allowed to use classrooms in the building during the week . In 2005 , the second and third floors were renovated for faculty offices and classrooms . Known as “ Poly Church , ” it currently houses the School of Arts and Letters and the university chaplain . Academics . U . S . News & World Report has ranked Texas Wesleyan in the # 1 tier of regional universities in 2013 , 2012 and 2011 . Texas Wesleyan places an emphasis on the development of critical thinking skills , and the university ’ s strategic plan requires faculty to develop measurable critical thinking , analytical reasoning and creative problem - solving skills in students based on academic proficiency and assessment metrics . More than 70 percent of Texas Wesleyan ’ s classes have fewer than 20 students , and the university ’ s average student - to - teacher ratio is 15 : 1 . Texas Wesleyan has 27 areas of undergraduate study , as well as Honors and Pre - Professional Programs . The university offers graduate programs in business , education , counseling , nurse anesthesia and law . University academics are divided into six schools or programs : The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits Texas Wesleyan . The School of Law is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the American Association of Law Schools . Throughout its history , the university has remained closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church . The university maintains special relationships with several United Methodist congregations , and some trustees are representatives of the United Methodist Church . In keeping with Methodist tradition , the university welcomes individuals of all faiths and is thoroughly ecumenical in its practices . Student Body . U . S . News & World Report considers Texas Wesleyan ’ s admissions “ selective . ” Undergraduate enrollment is 1 , 794 and graduate enrollment is 1 , 410 students . 412 students live on campus . 58 percent of the student body is female and 42 percent is male . More than 1 , 233 students are enrolled full - time , with 561 students enrolled part - time . 44 percent of the student body identify as “ minority . ” More than $ 64 million was awarded to students in financial aid during the 2012 academic year , and 99 percent of entering undergraduates received some form of financial aid . The average amount of aid offered to each student is $ 17 , 500 . Undergraduate students make up 56 percent of total student enrollment . The average age of a first - time freshman student at Texas Wesleyan is 19 . The average age of a transfer student is 26 . 85 percent of Texas Wesleyan students are Texas residents . Student life . Student Newspaper . The Rambler is a student - run newspaper , which provides interested students with a hands - on learning experience by simulating a real - world newspaper environment . The Rambler also offers a public forum for the dissemination of news and opinion of interest and relevance to the Wesleyan community . Student organizations and intramurals . Student Life Office administers various student organizations and academic groups . Intramurals include cheerleading , competitive dance , disk golf , flag football , and 3 - 3 basketball . Greek life . Wesleyan is home to 9 Fraternity and Sororities Athletics . Texas Wesleyan teams , nicknamed athletically as the Rams , are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics ( NAIA ) , primarily competing in the Red River Athletic Conference ( RRAC ) since 2002 . The Warriors formerly competed in the Heartland Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NAIA ) Division II level . Men ' s sports include baseball , basketball , cross country , golf , soccer and track & field ; while women ' s sports include basketball , cross country , golf , soccer , softball , track & field and volleyball . The University also features the most dominant table tennis team in the country , which has won 33 out of 45 collegiate titles since 2002 . Junior Varsity Baseball and Basketball teams have also been added to increase the participation opportunities for students at Wesleyan . Student trainers and cheerleaders serve under the Athletic Department . Student trainers provide the service during team practices and game activities . Cheerleaders cheer primarily at men ' s and women ' s basketball games and also cheer for the school ' s wide pep rallies . Soccer . Texas Wesleyan ' s soccer home is Martin Field , 2806 Ben Avenue , Fort Worth , Texas , U . S . 76103 . Table tennis . History . Texas Wesleyan University is one of the few four - year colleges that offer table tennis scholarships in the country and has already won 33 out of 45 possible national collegiate titles since 2002 . Texas Wesleyan ’ s involvement with table tennis started in 1982 when Bobby Cornett , current assistant golf coach , lobbied for creation of a table tennis team at the university . At that time , the administration was against the idea partially because the NAIA did not sanction table tennis . In 1990s , Texas Wesleyan moved up to the NCAA Division II . In 2002 , the school dropped back to the NAIA because the competition was too costly for the small college . Meanwhile , Cornett convinced the current University President Dr . Harold Jeffcoat that a table tennis team would set the school apart from other small - college athletic programs . In the same year , the school hired Christian Lillieroos , a former star player and Swedish national team coach , to begin the first full - status varsity table tennis program in the country . Lillieroos recruited many renowned American and foreign players , including Eric Owens , Razvan Cretu , Dinko Kranjac , Ludovic Gombos and Jasna Reed . He coached the Rams to third place finishes at the 2002 and 2004 North American Open Team Championships and NCTTA collegiate titles in 2004 and 2005 . The team is currently run by Jasna Reed , 1988 Olympics Bronze Medalist in women ’ s doubles , and Keith Evans , represented his native Jamaican team from 1984 to 1999 . Mark Hanzinski , Chance Friend , Carlos Chiu and Ines Perhoc are top - ranked domestic and international players on the team . The program also actively recruits the athletes with physical disability and involves with U . S . Paralympics . In addition , men ’ s and women ’ s junior varsity teams have been added to popularize table tennis and increase the participation among Texas Wesleyan students . Program Impact . Texas Wesleyan ' s table tennis program has brought in many foreign players to increase competition within America and popularize the sport in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas . The scholarships give domestic and international players opportunities to pursue higher education . On the other hand , the program involved some unusual problems for the school . National Collegiate Table Tennis Association ( NCTTA ) sanctions the sport but has different amateur status and eligibility rules than in traditional NCAA sports . In addition , because Texas Wesleyan awards scholarships to some foreign and domestic players who have already made professional money at the sport , it has caused some grousing from other schools . Community outreach . Texas Wesleyan University ' s outreach efforts have been focused on the immediate area surrounding the main campus . An appropriation request proposal was submitted by the university for the 2009 fiscal year to the U . S . representative Michael C . Burgess of the 26th District for a project entitled “ Rosedale Avenue Redevelopment Initiative ” . In this proposal the university requests funding for a “ … comprehensive revitalization plan that includes commercial and residential development , with park - like open spaces . ” The university donated land and help arrange for the construction of a new Boys and Girls Club on Rosedale Street , directly across from the campus . Opened in March 2002 , this facility provides activities for area youth , and offers opportunities for Wesleyan students to mentor and tutor local youngsters . The University also offers a Speak Up Scholarship , which is designed for area students with a B or better average who graduate from both the William James Middle School and Poly High School , both located in the Polytechnic Heights neighborhood . Students are given financial assistance in the form of scholarships or loans to attend Texas Wesleyan . Critics have pointed out that not enough students and school advisors are aware of the Speak Up Scholarship , however the program has helped five to ten students a year for the last few years , within ten being awarded the scholarship in 2004 . It should be noted , however , that the commitment to the community has faltered during the University ’ s history . In 1981 , concerns mounted in regards to the economic decline in the Polytechnic area . Sociologist Dr . Sarah Horsfall ' s 2005 research article about the Inner City of Fort Worth explains ; “ The trustees , urged by the then - President , voted to relocate the campus and purchased land in the northwest of Fort Worth . Community organizers and the Methodist Church opposed the move and worked to keep Texas Wesleyan where it was ” . By 1985 , the plan was abandoned as impractical . Instead , the University administrators ( and a new University president ) renewed their dedication and commitment to the Polytechnic Heights neighborhood .