Western Connecticut State University (WestConn) is a public university in Danbury, Connecticut. Founded in 1903, WestConn has an arts and sciences curriculum, a business school, and several professional programs, including elementary and secondary education, nursing, and social work.
History
WestConn started as a teachers' college, training the primary and secondary school educators for Connecticut's Fairfield County and surrounding areas. The school's name has changed over the years as it has focused on additional areas of study. In the 1950s, it was called the Western Connecticut State Normal School, later the Western Connecticut State Teachers College, then Western Connecticut State College, and finally, Western Connecticut State University.
Student Body
As of 2003, WestConn has approximately 3000 full-time undergraduates and 3000 graduate or part-time students.
WXCI - a pioneering alternative music radio station
The college radio station is WXCI, 91.7 FM, obtained its FCC license to operate on 28 February 1973. Initially transmitting at 10 watts of power, WXCI upgraded to 760 watts in 1978. In 1982, WXCI was one of the first FM stations to focus on alternative music, a format now common among US college radio stations. As one of a handful of stations playing alternative music in the US in the early 1980s, WXCI helped popularize new bands such as U2, Culture Club, Duran Duran, and Black Flag.
Athletics
WestConn is a member of the NCAA Division III and the Eastern College Athletic Conference and fields teams in baseball, basketball, lacrosse, football, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, and volleyball.
Other schools in the Connecticut State University system
Its three sister schools are Eastern, Central, and Southern Connecticut State University.
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