Chowan College

Chowan University

Motto	Lux et Veritas
Motto in English	Light and Truth
Type	Private
Established	1848
Affiliation	Baptist State Convention of North Carolina
President	M. Christopher White
Provost	Danny Moore
Students	1,532
Undergraduates	1,522
Postgraduates	10
Location	Murfreesboro, NC, USA
Campus	Rural
Colors	Chowan Blue and White
Nickname	Hawks
Affiliations	NCAA DII; NCCAA
Mascot	Murf the Hawk
Website	www.chowan.edu

Chowan /tʃoʊˈwɔːn/ University is a small private university of about 1500 students located in Murfreesboro, North Carolina, United States. The school is affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, though it accepts students of all backgrounds. It is the second-oldest Baptist school in North Carolina. The University offers both Associate's and Bachelor's degrees in 70 academic disciplines and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Chowan was founded by Dr. Godwin Cotton Moore in 1848 as Chowan Baptist Female Institute, a four-year women's college. It traces its roots to the Hertford Academy. The McDowell Columns building, which houses the administrative offices of the college, was constructed in 1851. Between 1850-1867, the school changed names to the Chowan Female Collegiate Institute, then switched back to the Chowan Baptist Female Institute.

The school was renamed Chowan College in 1910 when it began awarding baccalaureate degrees, and began admitting male students in 1931. Financial strain from the effects of the Great Depression forced the school to become a two-year institution in 1937. In 1992 the college returned to four-year status when it admitted a junior class. The school's Board of Trustees elected to officially change the name to Chowan University on April 6, 2006, and the change in status took place on September 1, 2006.