Editing Salisbury University (section)

==History==
[[File:Holloway Hall.jpg|thumb|Holloway Hall, named after the institution's first president, William J. Holloway]]
Salisbury University, originally called the '''Maryland State Normal School''', opened on September 7, 1925, as a two-year institution to train elementary school teachers to help fill the teacher shortage in the state of Maryland. The original class of 105 students was greeted by Salisbury's first president, William J. Holloway, an experienced educator and the driving force behind the creation of the school.

The curriculum was influenced by those established at [[Teachers College, Columbia University|Columbia's Teachers College]], alma mater of six of Salisbury Normal School's eight original faculty. During the [[Great Depression]], Maryland extended the required course of study at normal schools from two years to three years, and to four years in 1934, paving the way for the institution to rebrand as a teachers' college one year later.<ref name="Holloway">{{cite web | url = http://www.salisbury.edu/library/archives/sup/holloway.htm | publisher = Salisbury University | work = The Presidents of Salisbury University from 1925 to Present | title = Dr. William James Holloway: Ye Old Tyme Schoolemaster (1925–1934)}}</ref>

In 1935, the school's name was changed to '''Maryland State Teachers College''', and in 1963 to '''Salisbury State College'''. Between 1962 and 1995, several [[master's degree]] programs were approved, and in 1988, the name was changed to '''Salisbury State University'''. In 2001, the name was changed to Salisbury University.<ref>{{cite press release | url = http://www.salisbury.edu/newsevents/fullstoryview.asp?id=865 | publisher = Salisbury University | title = University Proposes Name Change | date = April 6, 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.baltimoresun.com/2000/04/08/salisbury-to-remove-state-from-school-name/ | title = Salisbury to remove 'State' from school name | date = April 8, 2000 | work = [[The Baltimore Sun]] | access-date = March 11, 2017}}</ref>

Since the early 2000s, Salisbury has grown rapidly in enrollment as well as campus facilities. Since 2002, Henson Hall, Conway Hall, Perdue Hall, the Patricia R. Guererri Academic Commons, and Sea Gull Stadium have been constructed.

From July 1, 2018 through July 14, 2022, the university was under the leadership of president Charles "Chuck" Wight. Wight succeeded Dudley-Eschbach, who, after 18 years as SU's president, opted to return to teaching foreign language at SU, following one year in hiatus training Wight.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/2017/09/27/su-president-dudley-eshbach-stepping-down-spring-2018/707870001/|title=Dudley-Eshbach stepping down as Salisbury University president in 2018|work=Delmarva Daily Times|access-date=2018-07-27|language=en}}</ref> Carolyn Ringer Lepre began her term as the 10th president of Salisbury University on July 15, 2022.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.salisbury.edu/news/article/2022-7-15-SU-Welcomes-President-Carolyn-Ringer-Lepre | title=SU Welcomes President Carolyn Ringer Lepre | date=15 July 2022 }}</ref>

Following two incidents of racist vandalism in 2019, students asked for "the safety and inclusion of black students and other minority groups on campus".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eu.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2019/11/05/after-racist-vandalism-salisbury-university-students-demand-action/4158413002/|title = Racist, threatening vandalism at Salisbury University sparks call for action}}</ref> After a third incident, in 2020, the president cancelled classes for a Day of Healing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wmdt.com/2020/02/third-salisbury-university-racist-graffiti-incident/|title=Third Salisbury University racist graffiti incident|date=20 February 2020}}</ref> In June 2020, "an African American man" confessed to having caused the vandalism.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Susan Svrluga |title=Maryland man agrees to plead guilty in Salisbury University hate-crime incidents |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/06/09/maryland-man-agrees-plead-guilty-salisbury-university-hate-crime-incidents/ |access-date=12 June 2020 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=9 June 2020 |quote=Jerome K. Jackson, an African American man, agreed to plead guilty to one count of maliciously defacing property while exhibiting racial animosity}}</ref>

In May 2024, the university announced during a public city council meeting that a new $100 million performing arts complex will be built downtown in four to five years. The project will include a thousand seat theatre, a smaller 450 seat music and theatre space, a dance studio and other supporting amenities. The location currently houses the Wicomico Public Library, which the university will help relocate to a building that it owns and will lease for $1 a year during this transition to a newly renovated building.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.salisbury.edu/news/article/2024-5-8-SU-Announces-Plans-for-Downtown-Salisbury-Performing-Arts-Center | title=SU Announces Plans for Downtown Salisbury Performing Arts Center | date=8 May 2024 }}</ref>