| Missouri State University |
Article Index for Missouri State |
Website Links For Missouri State |
Information AboutMissouri State University |
Missouri State University located in Springfield , Missouri is the state's second largest University , second only to the University Of Missouri - Columbia in Student enrollment. In addition to its main campus, MSU has a two-year branch campus in West Plains and a Research campus in Mountain Grove . HISTORY Missouri State University was founded in Springfield in 1905 as the Fourth District Normal School. During its early years, the institution's primary purpose was the preparation of teachers for the Public School systems in the southwest region of Missouri. The first name change came in 1919 when the school became Southwest Missouri State Teachers College, reflecting its regional mission. By the mid-1940s, the University had expanded its instructional program beyond teacher education to include the Liberal Arts and sciences. As a consequence, in 1945 the Missouri legislature authorized an official change in the institution's name to Southwest Missouri State College. In 1963 a residence center offering freshman and sophomore level courses was established at West Plains. Now, as a second campus of the university with its own mission, the West Plains campus offers a two-year general education program which is fully integrated with programs on the main campus as well as other specialty and skills courses. By 1972, as additional programs were implemented at the undergraduate level and with the development of graduate education, the University had become an educationally diverse institution. Recognition of this further growth and development again resulted in an official name change to Southwest Missouri State University. Today, the institution is a multipurpose metropolitan university providing diverse instructional, research, and service programs. In 1995, then-Governor Mel Carnahan signed into law a bill establishing the statewide SMSU Public Affairs Mission , which is intended "to produce citizens of enhanced Character , more sensitive to the needs of community, more competent and committed in their ability to contribute to society, and more civil in their habits of thought, speech and action." On August 28, 2005 the name of the university was changed from Southwest Missouri State University (which, ironically, was not as far southwest as Missouri Southern State University in nearby Joplin ) to Missouri State University. ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY Total enrollment is over 19,950. Academic offerings include 43 graduate programs and over 150 undergraduate majors. The university's Mascot is the Bear , and its athletic teams compete in Division I of the NCAA . Celebrity Alumni include actors Tess Harper , John Goodman , Kathleen Turner , and original members of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils . Representative Roy Blunt , current Majority Whip , is also an alumnus. Alumni Athletes:
ISSUES There is a heated controversy over whether the university should modify its nondiscrimination policy to include " Sexual Orientation " as an officially protected status. Previously, university president Dr. John Keiser has firmly opposed the change, and the issue remains deeply divisive. The university's name change provoked considerable controversy. It was opposed by the University of Missouri System (which operates the four campuses of the University of Missouri), which feared that the name change would lead to duplication of academic programs and ongoing battles for students and state funding. In 2005, after over 20 years of effort, the name-change bill was passed, following a late-night compromise between University of Missouri System President Elson Floyd and then Southwest Missouri State President Keiser that Missouri State would not duplicate certain programs offered by the University of Missouri. The bill to rename the university finally passed the Missouri Senate (25-7). On March 1st, 2005, after more than seven hours of debate, the bill passed the Missouri House (120-35) before the Governor signed it into law. The signing took place on March 17th, 2005 -- the centennial anniversary of the university -- at the Plaster Student Union where several student leaders and state leaders were present. UPDATED NEWS Dr. Michael T. Nietzel, provost at the University of Kentucky, was introduced on March 4 as the ninth president of Missouri State University. He also will be a tenured professor in the psychology department. Nietzel, 57, began his duties July 1. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
|
|
|