Cool Facts about the College of William and Mary (from https://www.wm.edu/about/history/coolfacts/, https://www.admitsee.com/blog/10-fun-facts-about-the-college-of-william-and-mary, and https://www.wm.edu/about/history/index.php, Feb 21, 2019)
A succession of influential individuals — including President George Washington, President John Tyler, Chief Justice Warren Burger, former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, former Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger and former Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Sandra Day O'Connor have held the post of Chancellor of William & Mary. In 2012, former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates '65, L.H.D. '98 was installed as William & Mary's 24th Chancellor and he was re-invested in 2019.
College of William and Mary
Although William & Mary retains its traditional title of "College," it's really a small university that offers over 40 graduate and professional degree programs.
College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary is one of the 8 Public Ivies, which also includes UC Berkeley, Miami University OH, Michigan, UNC - Chapel Hill, UT - Austin, UVA and University of Vermont.
College of William and Mary
Comedian Jon Stewart graduated from W&M in 1984. Surprisingly, he actually started off as a chemistry major before transitioning to psychology.
College of William and Mary
Every couple at College of William and Mary will have gone to the crest of the Crim Dell bridge and shared a kiss! Legend has it that those that do will be together forever.
College of William and Mary
First American institution of higher education to receive its charter from the Crown under the Seal of the Privy Council in 1693. Hence it was known as "their majesties" Royal College of William & Mary.
College of William and Mary
First and only American institution of higher education to receive a coat of arms from the College of Heralds (1694).
College of William and Mary
First college to become a university (1779).
College of William and Mary
First institution of higher education in the U.S. in its antecedents, which go back to it proposed at Henrico (1619). Second to Harvard in actual operation.
College of William and Mary
First institution of higher education in the U.S. to have a full faculty, consisting of a president, six professors, usher and writing master (1729).
College of William and Mary
First institution of higher education to confer medallic prizes, gold medals donated by Lord Botetourt (1771).
College of William and Mary
First institution of higher education to establish an intercollegiate fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa (December 5, 1776). It remains as the oldest academic honor society.
College of William and Mary
First institution of higher education to have a School of Modern Languages (1779).
College of William and Mary
First institution of higher education to have a School of Municipal and Constitutional Law (1779). Thomas Jefferson had the idea. His mentor, George Wythe, was hired in 1779 as William & Mary's first "professor of law and police," and the great Chief Justice John Marshall was among the first lawyers Wythe taught.
College of William and Mary
First institution of higher education to have an Honor System (1779).
College of William and Mary
First institution of higher education to have the Elective System of study (1779).
College of William and Mary
First university to have a School of Modern History (1803).
College of William and Mary
First university to teach Political Economy (1784).
College of William and Mary
Founded in 1842, the William & Mary Alumni Association is the sixth oldest such group in the U.S.
College of William and Mary
Mike Tomlin, head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, played college football at William and Mary. When the Steelers own the Super Bowl in 2009, Tomlin became the youngest head coach to win the Super Bowl, and still holds that record.
College of William and Mary
Named for its presumed architect, the Sir Christopher Wren Building was completed in 1699 and provided classrooms, library, dining hall and a chapel for generations of William & Mary students. It is the oldest college building still standing in the U.S. — classes are still taught within its walls.
College of William and Mary
On February 8, 1693, King William III and Queen Mary II of England signed the charter for a "perpetual College of Divinity, Philosophy, Languages, and other good Arts and Sciences" to be founded in the Virginia College.
College of William and Mary
Though an unofficial tradition, students of W&M partake in their own style of a "triathlon", which includes streaking, jumping over a wall, and swimming across a pond. Many students do it in parts, and also do it while naked.
College of William and Mary
Three Presidents of the United States were educated at William & Mary: Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe and John Tyler (four if we count George Washington's surveyor's license).
College of William and Mary
William & Mary is one of only eight U.S. institutions of higher education designated a "Public Ivy." A public ivy is a state-assisted institution that offers a superior education at a cost far below that of Ivy League schools.
College of William and Mary
William & Mary's 11-to-1 student-faculty ratio is the lowest among the top public universities, a factor that helps strengthen W&M's traditional commitment to teaching. Eighty six percent of William & Mary's classes have fewer than 40 students — nearly half have fewer than 20 students.
College of William and Mary
With 35 alumni currently serving, William & Mary is the top producer of Peace Corps volunteers among medium-sized public universities.
College of William and Mary