Jump to content

Oklahoma State University

Coordinates: 36°07′56.02″N 97°04′51.23″W / 36.1322278°N 97.0808972°W / 36.1322278; -97.0808972
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Keith8404 (talk | contribs) at 06:21, 30 September 2010 (History: added photo of Henry Bennett statue). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.


Oklahoma State University-Stillwater
TypePublic
Sun-grant
Land-grant
Established1890
Endowment$239 million[1]
PresidentV. Burns Hargis
Students20,831[2]
Location, ,
36°07′56.02″N 97°04′51.23″W / 36.1322278°N 97.0808972°W / 36.1322278; -97.0808972
CampusSmall city, 1,489 acres (6.03 km2) on the Stillwater campus[3]
NicknameCowboys/Cowgirls
ColorsOrange & Black   
AffiliationsBig 12 Conference
MascotPistol Pete
Websitewww.okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University–Stillwater (also referred to informally as Oklahoma State, O-State and OSU) is a land-grant, sun-grant, coeducational public research university located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA. OSU was founded in 1890 under the Morrill Act. Originally known as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (Oklahoma A&M), it is the flagship institution of the Oklahoma State University System. Official enrollment for the fall 2010 semester system-wide was 35,073, with 21,149 students enrolled at OSU-Stillwater.[6] OSU is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a "High Research Activity campus" [7].

Oklahoma State University is listed by the Princeton Review as one of 120 “Best Western Colleges” for 2011, and as one of 50 "Best Value Colleges - Public" for 2010.[8] It is ranked by U.S. News & World Report No. 66 among "Top Public Schools:National Universities" and No. 132 among all National Universities for 2011.[9] For 2009-10, Kiplinger listed OSU among its "100 Best Values in Public Education," with an in-state ranking of No. 91 and an out-of-state ranking of No. 93.[10]

The Oklahoma State Cowboys' athletic heritage includes 49 national championships, a total greater than all but 3 NCAA Division I schools in the United States, and first in the Big 12 Conference.[11] OSU's Homecoming celebration, begun in 1913, draws more than 40,000 alumni and over 70,000 participants each year to campus and is billed by the university as "America's Greatest Homecoming Celebration!" [12]

History

1894 photo of OSU's Old Central

On December 25, 1890, the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature finally gained approval for Oklahoma Territorial Agricultural and Mechanical (A&M) College, the land-grant university established under the Morrill Act of 1862. It specified that the college was to be within Payne County. Such an ambiguous description created rivalry between towns within the county, with Stillwater ultimately winning out. Upon statehood in 1907, "Territorial" was dropped from its title. The first students assembled for class on December 14, 1891. Classes were held for two and one-half years in local churches until the first academic building, later known as Old Central, was dedicated on June 15, 1894, on the southeast corner of campus, which at the time was flat plowed prairie.[13] In 1896, Oklahoma A&M held its first commencement with six male graduates. The first Library was established in Old Central in one room shared with the English Department. The first campus building to have electricity, Williams Hall, was constructed in 1900. With its turreted architecture it was referred to as the "Castle of the Prairies";[14] It remained standing until 1969. One of the earliest campus buildings was also a barn, used as part of an agricultural experiment station, which was served by a large reservoir pond created in 1895. The barn burned in 1922, but the pond, enlarged and remodeled in 1928 and 1943, is now known as Theta Pond, a popular campus scenic landmark. [15] In 1906, Morrill Hall was completed and became the principal building on campus. A fire gutted the building in 1914, but the outside structure survived intact, and the interior was reconstructed. The first dormitory for women was completed in 1911. It contained a kitchen, dining hall, some classrooms, and a women's gymnasium. It is now the Bartlett Center for the Studio Arts and houses the Gardiner Art Gallery. By 1919 the campus included Morrill Hall, the Central Building, the Engineering Building (now Gunderson Hall), the Women's building, the Auditorium (replaced later by the Seretean Center for Performing Arts), the Armory-Gymnasium (now the Architecture Building) and the Power Plant.[16].

Statue of Henry G. Bennett near Library Lawn at OSU

Much of the growth of OAMC and the campus architectural integrity can be attributed to work of Henry G. Bennett, who served as the school's president from 1928 to 1950. Early in his tenure Dr. Bennett developed a strategic vision for the physical expansion of the university campus. The plan was adopted in 1937 and his vision was followed for more than fifty years, making the university what it is today, including the Georgian architecture that permeates the campus. The focal point of his vision was a centrally located library building, which became a reality when the Edmon Low Library opened in 1953. Another major addition to the campus during the Bennett years was the construction of the Student Union, which opened in 1950. Subsequent additions and renovations have made the building one of the largest student union buildings in the world at 611,000 sq.ft.[17] A complete renovation and further expansion of the building began in 2010.

OSU's Student Union Building

On May 15, 1957, Oklahoma A&M changed its name for the final time to Oklahoma State University to reflect the broadening scope of curriculum offered. Subsequently, the Oklahoma State University System was created, with the Stillwater campus as the flagship institution and several outlying branches: OSU-Institute of Technology in Okmulgee (1946), OSU-Oklahoma City (1961), OSU-Tulsa (1984) and the Center for Health Sciences also in Tulsa (1988).[18]

In 2005, OSU announced its "Campus Master Plan", a campaign to enhance academic, athletic, and administrative facilities. Over $800 million is ear-marked for campus construction and renovation over twenty years. The Plan calls for an "athletic village" where all of the university's athletic facilities will be located on the main campus. To accomplish this goal, the athletic department bought all (or nearly all) the property north of Boone Pickens Stadium up to McElroy between Knoblock and Washington streets. This drew criticism from the city of Stillwater and property owners.[19] While the vast majority of the real estate was rental property targeting college students, a few owners were longtime residents. There was a lone holdout in this parcel of land, who sued OSU over their right to use eminent domain.[20] The case was decided in favor of the University. The project includes the construction of an indoor practice facility for most sports, a soccer stadium/outdoor track, a tennis complex, and a baseball stadium.

In 2006, OSU become the recipient of a gift of $165 million from alumni T. Boone Pickens to the university's athletic department, and in 2008 received another gift from Pickens of $100 million for endowed academic chairs. It was the largest gift for academics ever given in the state.[21] In February, 2010, Pickens announced that he was contributing another $100 Million to fund a scholarship endowment as part of a $1 Billion fund-raising campaign titled "Branding Success." The gift brought the total contributed to OSU by Pickens to over $500 Million.[22] The "Branding Success" campaign seeks to raise about $500 Million for endowed scholarships and fellowships for students, $200 million toward attracting and retaining professors and researchers, $200 million for the construction and upgrading of educational and research facilities and $100 million to create and sustain programs and services to benefit Oklahomans.[23] One of the first endowed professorships established through the campaign is the Temple Grandin Endowed Professorship in Animal Behavior and Well-Being, named in honor of animal scientist and autistic expert Temple Grandin.[24]

Oklahoma State has hosted a number of high-profile speakers throughout the years, including several sitting presidents. Richard Nixon, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush all gave commencement addresses while they were in office.[25]

Colleges

Oklahoma State slogan used in the state of Texas

Oklahoma State University-Stillwater offers nearly 200 undergraduate degree majors through six Colleges:

  • College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) - The CASNR offers 16 majors: Agribusiness, Agricultural Communications, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Leadership, Animal Science, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering, Entomology, Environmental Science, Food Science, Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, Landscape Contracting, Natural Resource Ecology & Management, Plant & Soil Science
  • College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) - The CAS is divided into 24 departments: Aerospace Studies, Art, Botany, Chemistry, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Computer Sciences, English, Foreign Languages, Geography, Geology, History, Mathematics, Media and Strategic Communications, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Military Science, Music, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Statistics, Theatre, Zoology
  • College of Education (COE) - The COE has 29 program areas, including Athletic Training, Aerospace Administration and Operations, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Physical Education, Health Education and Promotion, Leisure Studies, Career and Technical Education
  • College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology (CEAT) - The CEAT is divided into 13 academic units: School of Architecture, School of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of General Engineering, School of Industrial Engineering and Management, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Division of Engineering Technology, Construction Management Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, Fire Protection and Safety Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology
  • College of Human Environmental Sciences (CHES) - The CHES is divided into four departments: Department of Design, Housing and Merchandising; Department of Human Development and Family Science; Department of Nutritional Sciences; School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration
  • Spears School of Business - The Spears School is divided into seven departments: School of Accounting, Department of Economics & Legal Studies in Business, School of Entrepreneurship & Emerging Enterprises, Department of Finance, Department of Management, Department of Management Science and Information Systems, Department of Marketing

The graduate degree programs of all colleges are administered through the Graduate College

The Center for Veterinary Health Sciences (CVHS) has three academic Departments: Veterinary Pathobiology, Physiological Sciences, and Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Each of the three academic departments share responsibility for the four-year professional curriculum leading to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) degree. The interdepartmental Veterinary Biomedical Sciences graduate program offers MS and PhD degrees.

OSU also provides further opportunities for select students to study, conduct research, and exchange ideas in a more challenging and supportive academic environment through the Honors College

Awards and distinctions

Oklahoma State has garnered many awards and distinctions. As a land-grant university, historically renowned programs include its College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and the College of Veterinary Medicine. The College of Engineering is internationally renowned, particularly in the fields of architecture and mechanical engineering.

Ledger

Student Union Memorial Gardens

Oklahoma State University provides information about the university that is easily accessible on its Ledger website,[34] which provides a thorough look at OSU, its colleges and its departments, helping prospective students and their parents make informed decisions about their college choice. The ledger is divided into three sections:

Academic Ledgers contain a five year history of student, faculty, research, and financial information, as well as tuition/mandatory fee rates. The academic ledgers are available for the entire university, as well as broken down by academic college, and within each college by department.

Student Profile contains additional student information including the geographic origins of OSU students, enrollment trends, academic information and enrollment projections.

Diversity Ledger is a five year history that provides a more detailed breakdown of the student, faculty and staff of Oklahoma State University.

Student life

Housing

Current university-owned housing options include 26 residence halls, more than 30 dining options, and seven family-first apartment complexes. In recent years, on-campus housing has been undergoing significant transformation. Student living was previously dominated by traditional dormitories; however, apartment-style buildings now comprise approximately half of the living quarters. In 2005, the high-rise Willham North and South residential halls that once dominated the Stillwater skyline with Kerr and Drummond Halls were demolished and replaced with the Village suites on its site. Iba Hall, another traditional dorm, was closed in 2007. Parker Hall is also slated to be closed at the end of the 2008-2009 school year for temporary use as offices for departments that will be displaced by renovations of the Student Union.

Kerr-Drummond, Parker, Wentz and Stout Halls continue to offer traditional dormitory accommodations. Apartments for single students are Bost, Davis, Morsani-Smith, Peterson-Friend, Kamm, Sitlington and Young Halls. Housing in suite-style accommodations are provided in the named Village CASNR (College of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources), Village HES (Human and Environmental Science), Village C, Village D, Village E and Village F. Deluxe suites are provided in Patchin & Jones, Bennett, Zink & Allen, and Stinchcomb & Booker Halls. Graduate students and families are offered accommodations in seven apartment "neighborhoods" with a variety of floor plans and amenities: Brumley, Demaree, Morrison, Prosser, Stevens, West and Williams.

Additionally, a number of learning communities and special interest housing options are available, providing opportunity for students who share interests or majors to live together. Most of these communities occupy certain floors of buildings or halls, rather than consisting of separate buildings. Included among the options are: FIT (Freshman in Transition, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources), athletic training, career exploration (College of Arts and Sciences), computer science house, engineering houses, health and sciences house, HES house (College of Human and Environmental Sciences), journalism and broadcasting house, Kamm Leadership House, Ketchum House (Native American interests), Maude's Quad (Women in Engineering House), Recovery House (students recovering from drug and/or alcohol dependence), Spanish House (language immersion), Spears School of Business House, Stout Honors housing (University's Honors Program), Uhuru House (African Centered Cultural House), Wellness House, and The Transfer Zone (transfer students).

Greek life

Oklahoma State University's fraternities and sororities celebrated 100 years of existence at OSU in 2008.

Social fraternities and sororities at Oklahoma State are divided among four councils: Panhellenic, Interfraternity, National Pan-Hellenic and Multicultural.

Eleven national Panhellenic sororities have chapters at OSU. They are: Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Gamma Phi Beta, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Phi Mu, Pi Beta Phi, and Zeta Tau Alpha.

Twenty One fraternities make up the Interfraternity Council. Member fraternities include: Alpha Gamma Rho, Alpha Tau Omega, Beta Theta Pi, Delta Tau Delta, FarmHouse, Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma, Lambda Chi Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta, Phi Kappa Tau, Pi Kappa Alpha, Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Sigma Nu, Sigma Pi, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Theta Chi, and Zeta Beta Tau.

NPHC member organizations are historically black fraternities and sororities. As of the 2006-2007 school year, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, Sigma Gamma Rho and Zeta Phi Beta have chapters at OSU. In March 2007, the Alpha Phi Alpha chapter at OSU was closed down in the midst of serious allegations of hazing.

The Multicultural Greek Council is the umbrella organization for additional minority Greek letter groups. Member organizations include Alpha Pi Omega, the nation's first Native American sorority; Delta Epsilon Psi, a south Asian fraternity; Phi Sigma Nu, the nation's first Native American fraternity and a colony of Sigma Lambda Gamma, a Latina sorority.

Other Greek letter organizations not affiliated with a governing council include Beta Upsilon Chi, a Christian fraternity; Omega Phi Alpha, a service-based sorority; and Sigma Phi Lambda, a Christian sorority.

Theta Alpha Phi National Theatre Honor Fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma, (the national honorary fraternity and sorority for college band members) were founded at Oklahoma State in 1919 and 1946, respectively.

See also Notable OSU Greek Alumni

Student organizations

Organizations are available to students through the university that serve any interest. A complete list of campus organizations can be found here.

Athletics

OSU athletics logo

Stats:

NCAA Division I-A
Conference: Big 12 (South)
Major Rivalries: University of Oklahoma Sooners
Minor Rivalries: University of Texas Longhorns, University of Kansas Jayhawks (basketball), Iowa State University (wrestling), and Texas Tech Red Raiders (football)
NCAA Championships: 49
Wrestling: 34
Golf: 10
Basketball: 2 1945 and 1946
Baseball: 1 1959
Cross Country: 2
Athletic Director: Mike Holder

Football

10 conference titles - 19 bowl games played - 1988 Heisman trophy winner and single season rushing record (Barry Sanders).

Basketball

File:OSU Spirit Rider 4.JPG
OSU Spirit Rider

Men's basketball is tradition rich at Oklahoma State. Oklahoma State made the Final Four in 1995 and 2004 and was the first ever Division 1 basketball program to win back-to-back National Championships in 1945~1946.

Wrestling

The Cowboy wrestling team brought home their 33rd NCAA championship in spring 2005, scoring the most points ever by an Oklahoma State wrestling team in the NCAA. OSU won their 34th overall (and 4th consecutive) title in 2006.[35] OSU's 34 team titles are the most ever collected by a school in one sport. The Cowboys have also produced 127 individual national champions, including the sport's first-ever four-time champion, Pat Smith.

Other sports

Since the 1924 Olympics, 55 Oklahoma State University Olympians have won a total of 24 medals: 21 gold, two silver, and one bronze.

Fight song

Notable among a number of songs commonly played and sung at various events such as commencement, convocation, and athletic games are: The Waving Song, Ride 'Em Cowboys (the Oklahoma State University fight song), and the OSU Chant.

Fight Song:Audio Ride, ride, ride, ride, Ride'em Cowboys, Right down the field; Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight'em Cowboys, and never yield. Ride, ride, ride, ride, Ride on, Cowboys, to victory; Cross (opponent)'s goal; Then we'll sing O-kla-homa State!

Waving Song:Audio Oklahoma State! Oklahoma State! We'll sing your praise tonight; To let you know where e’re we go, For the Orange and Black we'll fight We'll sing your worth o’er all the Earth And shout: Ki Yi! Ki Ye! In books of fame we'll write your name, Oklahoma State!

OSU Chant:Audio GO! GO! GO POKES! GO POKES! GO POKES GO! O!...S!...U! O S U The greatest in the nation O S U The team that's got the go spirit and the will to win Make a score and we'll shout Beat (opponent)!! O S U It's orange and black we're cheering on to victory today And then we'll say O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A! STATE! Univer-si-ty!

Alma Mater:Audio Proud and immortal, Bright Shines Your Name, Oklahoma State, We Herald Your Fame, Ever You'll Find Us, Loyal and True, To Our Alma Mater, O...S...U

At the end of every sporting event, win or lose, OSU student-athletes face the student section and sing the alma mater along with other students, faculty, alumni and staff.

People

Today, there are more than 200,000 living OSU alumni worldwide.[36] Prominent alumni include oil tycoon and billionaire philanthropist T. Boone Pickens, country singers Garth Brooks and Hoyt Axton, US Senator Tom Coburn, former acting Surgeon General of the United States Robert A. Whitney, Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Steven W. Taylor and legal scholar Anita Hill. Coaching alumni include OSU wrestling head coach John Smith, OSU football head coach Mike Gundy, former OSU basketball coaches Eddie Sutton and Sean Sutton. The Cowboys have produced several NBA players, including Desmond Mason of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Tony Allen of the Boston Celtics, Joey Graham of the Denver Nuggets, JamesOn Curry of the Chicago Bulls, and former New York Knicks guard John Starks. NFL players Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas also attended OSU. MMA fighter and UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture wrestled at OSU. PGA professional golfers Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan also attended OSU.

Interviews with OSU Alumni can be viewed and heard through the O-State Stories Project of the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program.[37]

Campus buildings

Academic buildings

Engineering South and Edmon Low Library - view from classroom building
  • Advanced Technology Research Center
  • Agriculture Hall
  • Architecture
  • Bartlett Center for the Visual Arts
  • Classroom Building
  • Classroom Building North
  • Colvin Center
  • Cordell
  • Edmon Low Library
  • Engineering North
  • Engineering South
  • Food and Agricultural Products Research & Technology Center
  • Gundersen
  • Hanner Hall
  • Henry Bellman Research Center
  • Human Environmental Sciences
  • Human Environmental Sciences West
  • Life Sciences East
  • Life Sciences West
  • Math Statistics Computer Science
  • Morrill Hall
  • Murray Hall
  • Noble Research Center
  • North Murray
  • Old Central (Home of the Honors College starting Fall 2009[38])
  • Paul Miller School of Journalism and Broadcasting Building
  • Physical Sciences
  • Seretean Center for the Performing Arts
  • Spears School of Business
  • Thatcher Hall
  • Whitehurst
  • Willard, home of the College of Education

Residential buildings

Bennett Hall
Kerr and Drummond halls
  • Bennett Hall
  • Bost Hall
  • Davis Hall
  • Drummond Hall
  • Kamm-Peterson-Friend
  • Kerr Hall
  • Morsani-Smith
  • Parker Hall
  • Patchin-Jones Hall
  • Scott Hall
  • Stout Hall
  • Booker Hall (formerly known as Suite A)
  • Stinchcomb Hall (formerly known as Suite B)
  • The Village Suite Halls A-F
  • Wentz Hall
  • Young Hall
  • Zink-Allen

Other buildings

The Student Union

See also

References

  1. ^ http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/stillwater-ok/oklahoma-state-3170
  2. ^ http://vpaf.okstate.edu/IRIM/StudentProfile/2009/PSBpage03.html
  3. ^ History and Background Information - Budget & Asset Management - Oklahoma State University
  4. ^ http://vpaf.okstate.edu/IRIM/StudentProfile/2009/PSBpage03.html
  5. ^ http://vpaf.okstate.edu/IRIM/StudentProfile/2009/PSBpage03.html
  6. ^ Record Enrollment at OSU
  7. ^ Carnegie Foundation - Oklahoma State University - Main Campus
  8. ^ Princeton Review - Rankings & Lists
  9. ^ U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges: Top Public Schools: National Universities
  10. ^ 100 Best Values in Public Colleges
  11. ^ NCAA Summary, National Collegiate/Division I Men's
  12. ^ OSU Alumni Association - Homecoming History
  13. ^ http://www.library.okstate.edu/scua/exhibit/campusbeg/index.htm
  14. ^ OSU Library History
  15. ^ Special Collections: Theta Pond
  16. ^ [A History of the Oklahoma State University Campus, by J. Lewie Sanderson, R. Dean McGlamery, and David C. Peters]
  17. ^ http://union.okstate.edu/renovation/BuildingHistory.htm OSU Student Union Building History
  18. ^ "OSU History"
  19. ^ "Pickens's Donation to Oklahoma State Spurs Fight on Land Grab". Boone State. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  20. ^ "Lone Holdout Blocks Pickens's Vast Sports Project at Oklahoma State U." The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  21. ^ http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/052208dnmetpickens.152d3ba1.html Dallas Morning News, "T. Boone Pickens donates $100M to OSU"]
  22. ^ NewsOK, "With T. Boone Pickens’ gift, OSU kicks off drive for $1B"
  23. ^ http://www.osugiving.com/ Branding Success: The Campaign for Oklahoma State University
  24. ^ Oklahoma Beef Council makes $250,000 gift to kick-off OSU’s new endowed professorship named in honor of Temple Grandin
  25. ^ Colleges cough up time, money to find right person to address grads
  26. ^ OKCBusiness - Oklahoma City Business News
  27. ^ OSU Chosen America's #1 Best Buy
  28. ^ NSA and DHS Announce the 2005 Designation of the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education
  29. ^ "OK-FIRST Timeline". okfirst.ocs.ou.edu. Retrieved 2007-03-29.
  30. ^ What is IGSHPA?
  31. ^ OSU’s Colvin Center Named One of Six Top Centers in Nation
  32. ^ OSU Alumni Association - Homecoming History
  33. ^ History of Orrange Peel
  34. ^ http://vpaf.okstate.edu/IRIM/OSULedgers.html
  35. ^ "Oklahoma State Wins Fourth Straight NCAA Wrestling Title". big12sports.com. Archived from the original on 2006-11-06. Retrieved 2007-03-29.
  36. ^ OSU Alumni Association
  37. ^ O-State Stories Oral History Project, Oklahoma Oral History Research Program
  38. ^ Tulsa World: Renovation: First, do no harm
  39. ^ About Us
  40. ^ "Filming Locations for All-American Murder (1992) (V)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2007-01-28.