| Crestmore History |
 Founded in 1864, Crestmore University opened its doors as The Crestmore Institute for Boys, a magical educational facility in Upstate NY. Named for philanthropist and mage Alan Crestmore, the school originally welcomed students ages 16 and up for continuing education and research. The Crestmore campus began on 10 acres of land, and comprised is of the main academic building (Crest Hall), Mercywood chapel, and a single dormitory. An additional dormitory was built when the university began admitting female students in 1904. It is now a coeducational and nondenominational school. Crestmore is located on a beautiful 200-acre campus outside of scenic Augustown, NY and is nestled against Mercywood Forest. With the largest academic magickal library in existence, Crestmore is one of the leading programs for mages in the country. Crestmore University is a rigorous institution for mages wishing to continue their education and enter into specialized areas of study. Ambitious and creative students are welcomed to Crestmore for the opportunity to cultivate their craft in collaboration with a dedicated, distinguished faculty. Crestmore offers high-level courses in several disciplines, with the opportunity for personalized study and cutting edge research. This is designed to prepare students for life after academia, and graduates have gone on to become influential and powerful members of their community. The main areas of study are Physical Magicks, Psychic Magicks, and Theoretical Magicks. Campus is open only to faculty and students, who are given keys upon acceptance, and is accessed by a magically concealed road. It is otherwise protected from public access. The current acceptance rate is 22%. All students and faculty will be given a crestmore.edu email account for inter-school communications. The current University President is Dr. Catherine Ambrose-Barrett. |
| For Students | |||
| Upon acceptance, students of Crestmore University are welcomed into one of three houses: Rose House, for students of phyiscal magicks; Wilde House, for students of psychic magicks; and Mercy House, for students of theoretical magick. All students are given space to reside on campus, and are welcome to take classes outside their declared discipline should their schedule allow. Most masters level studies take 2-3 years to complete and the average doctorate level track is 2-5 years. Students graduate based on acceptance of a masters thesis or doctorate dissertation. There are opportunities for continuing study available with Crestmore faculty and alumni, as well as post-graduate residencies, apprenticeship programs, and teaching assistant positions. Students will have access to premier research facilities, an extensive library system, and a variety of social and community-building events.
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Students enrolled at ROSE HOUSE study physical magicks, including but not limited to: transformation, transvection, illusion work, and conjuration. The Rose House residence is a large Victorian house, which includes a common space, a full kitchen, and reinforced practice & study spaces. Rose House students are asked to assist with maintaining the school’s security wards as part of their graduation requirements. 
Students enrolled at WILDE HOUSE study psychic magicks, including but not limited to: telepathy, clairvoyance, divination, and astral projection. Wilde House students are given rooms at the Wilde cottages, complete with common spaces, a full kitchen, and outdoor gardens. Wilde House students are asked to organize and carry out Crestmore's Alumni Day each year as part of their graduation requirements.
Students enrolled at MERCY HOUSE study theoretical magicks, including but not limited to: magickal history & archiving, translation, spellcraft, and research. The residences of Mercy House are located above the library, and students are given apartments with full kitchens and living space. Additionally, Mercy House students are asked to take a weekly library shift every semester as part of their graduation requirements. | For Faculty |
| Crestmore faculty are renowned leaders in their fields, extraordinary teachers and dedicated mentors. Professors and teaching assistants at Crestmore University may be associated with one of the three houses (Rose House for phyiscal magicks; Wilde House for psychic magicks; and Mercy House for theoretical magicks), but may also teach core classes that are open to all. House Faculty are required to dedicate a certain amount of time to service roles on campus, which can include joining academic committees or serving as Department Chair. Most Department Chairs are appointed on a rotating basis and switch hands after 2-3 years. Crestmore does offer tenure track positions. About 70% of faculty are tenured based on research publication and service to the institution, typically after 5 years of employment. The remaining 30% are full time lecturers, part time, or adjunct teachers. Full time faculty teach up to 4 courses per semester, dependent on subject and seniority. Part time and adjunct faculty may teach up to 2 courses. Crestmore is also open to visiting lecturers or research grant recipients. Faculty offices are located in Crest Hall, with a few offices available in the Library and the Arts building available through an application process. Faculty are welcome to live on or off campus. |
| Crestmore Mythology |
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✦ It is said that Crestmore was founded by a deal with the daemon of the forest, who gave the land in exchange for Alan Crestmore's soul... ✦ It is said that the Mercywood daemon takes one living Crestmore descendant from every generation to continue the ancient deal... ✦ It is said that the ghost of Alan Crestmore can still be seen wandering in Mercywood Forest, looking to trade back for his soul... ✦ It is said that The Fox King is the messenger spirit of the Forest, and can be seen when the forest is in danger... ✦ It is said that the lake in the basement of the theater is home to the spirit of a student who was never able to graduate. It is also said that the girl is not a spirit, but a siren come to lure graduating students away from their studies, so they can never leave... ✦ It is said that the statue of Winston H. Williams, which resides in the lobby of the arts building, contains the spirit of a former student who was trapped there by a spurned lover. Now, Crestmore students can be seen kissing Winston's statue before finals week for good luck... ✦ It is said that for any two people who go in to the forest, only one comes out... ✦ It is said that the first Crestmore bonfires included a living sacrifice, and every year a student was chosen by their classmates to be consumed by flame... ✦ It is said that the Wilde House cottage gardens are home to a unique form of fungi, which is then ground to powder and consumed to help develop psychic abilities... ✦ It is said that there have been no less than 15 attempted break-ins of the Crestmore library, none of which succeeded. And everyone has thoughts as to what they were after... ✦ It is said that there were once several portal doors on campus, leading both to the other buildings and to far-off destinations, but all have been lost... |