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University's College at Wise has highest increase of applications

Less than a year after the University's branch campus changed its name from Clinch Valley College to the University of Virginia's College at Wise, it is posting a 9 percent increase in the number of applications for admission.

The increase is the highest in the school's history, and can be attributed in part to the school's name change, which was implemented over the summer, said Jeannie Gambill, asst. director of admissions at the University of Virginia's College at Wise.

"The record number of applicants is due partly to increased recruiting efforts and partly due to the publicity received by the name change. We had a great number of applications submitted after July 1, which only supported the idea that the name change had something to do with it," Gambill said.

University of Virginia's College at Wise is a freestanding college in Wise County, Virginia under the auspices of the University's Board of Visitors.

The school's officials pushed for the name change last year, hoping to emphasize the school's connection to the University. The branch campus at Wise primarily draws students from the rural, southwestern Virginia area, but officials hoped the name change will open the school to more applicants from across the state. But the CVC name change proposal faced a torrent of opposition from University alumni and students, many of whom flooded Board members with letters and e-mails in protest. The Board at first declined to allow CVC to use the name "University of Virginia-Wise," but the General Assembly passed legislation renaming the school "University of Virginia's College at Wise."

University Rector John P. Ackerly III said he has received a great deal of positive feedback since the name change took place.

"Everybody thought the compromise name was a good solution to the problem," Ackerly said.

Officials from the University of Virginia's College at Wise said the name change already has made a significant difference.

"It has definitely been for the better. We have just taken on a different look and feel. It's like we got a total facelift," said Margie Schoenewald, office manager of the division of student affairs.

(Cavalier Daily Associate Editor Daniel Rubin contributed to this article.)

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