Missouri State University
Established:	March 17, 1905
Type:	Public state university
Endowment:	$55.8 million [1]
President:	Michael T. Nietzel
Staff:	1,015
Students:	17,425 (2007)[2]
Location:	Springfield, MO, USA
Campus:	Urban, 225 acres (911,000 m²)
Colors:	Maroon and White
Nickname:	Bears
Mascot:	Boomer the Bear
Website:	www.missouristate.edu

Missouri State University is a state university located in Springfield, Missouri. It is the state's second largest university in student enrollment, second only to the University of Missouri. From 1972 to 2005, Missouri State was known as Southwest Missouri State University (initialized as SMS). MSU was granted a statewide mission in Public Affairs in 1995. The name was changed in 2005 to reflect this mission. In addition to its main campus, it has a two-year branch campus in West Plains, a research campus in Mountain Grove, and various programs in China. The date of establishment or date of founding of an institution is the date on which that institution chooses to claim as its starting point. ... is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1905 (disambiguation). ... quagmire:For alternate meanings see state university (disambiguation). ... A financial endowment is a transfer of money or property donated to an institution, with the stipulation that it be invested, and the principal remain intact. ... University President is the title of the highest ranking officer within a university, within university systems that prefer that appellation over other variations such as Chancellor or rector. ... This article is about work. ... For other uses, see Student (disambiguation). ... Springfield is a city in Christian and Greene Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Look up urban in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about the unit of measurement. ... School colors are the colors chosen by a school to represent it on uniforms and other items of identification. ... Maroon is a color related to dark red. ... This article is about the color. ... The athletic nickname, or equivalently athletic moniker, of a university or college within the United States of America is the name officially adopted by that institution for at least the members of its athletic teams. ... Image File history File links Missouri_State_bear_logo. ... The Missouri State Bears and Lady Bears are the athletic teams representing Missouri State University. ... Millie, once mascot of the City of Brampton, is now the Brampton Arts Councils representative. ... A website (alternatively, Web site or web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or several Web server(s), usually accessible via the Internet, cell phone or a LAN. A Web page is a document, typically written in HTML... quagmire:For alternate meanings see state university (disambiguation). ... Springfield is a city in Christian and Greene Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the university in Columbia. ... West Plains is a city in Howell County, Missouri, United States. ... Mountain Grove is a city in Wright and Texas County, Missouri. ...

History

Missouri State University was first founded under the name Fourth District Normal School on March 17, 1905. Like other normal schools of the day, the school's primary purpose in its early years was the preparation of teachers for the public school system. A normal school or teachers college is an educational institution for training teachers. ... The term public school has three distinct meanings: In the USA and Canada, elementary or secondary school supported and administered by state and local officials. ...

The original campus was composed of a single building, Academic Hall, which was constructed on National Avenue in 1908. The building is now known as Carrington Hall, named after William T. Carrington, the first president of the State Normal School, and serves as the University's administrative center.

The Fourth District Normal School became Southwest Missouri State Teacher's College in 1919 to reflect its regional and academic emphases. Throughout the interwar period, the College's programs expanded to include liberal arts and sciences in the curriculum, thus facilitating a name change to Southwest Missouri State College in 1945. A burgeoning student population throughout 1950s and 1960s resulted in the establishment of residence halls such as Wells, Freudenberger, Blair-Shannon, and Woods (all named for one-time professors at the school), accompanied by a growth in post-graduate studies. This led to a third name change in 1972, to Southwest Missouri State University. Interbellum redirects here. ... In the history of education, the seven liberal arts comprise two groups of studies, the trivium and the quadrivium. ... A halls of residence, British English (almost always halls and not hall) or a residence hall (North American English) is a type of residential accommodation for large numbers of students. ... Degree ceremony at Cambridge. ...

By 1985, SMSU had grown into the second-largest public university in the state, leading administrators to support a bill to change the name to Missouri State University, which eventually died in committee in the Missouri General Assembly. Further attempts throughout the 1990s and early 2000s also failed. In 2004, legislators took it upon themselves to back a new name change attempt. 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 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 John Keiser, stating that Missouri State University 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. This does not cite its references or sources. ... The Missouri General Assembly is the state legislature of Missouri. ... The University of Missouri is a public land-grant research university system. ...

Academics

Missouri State University's academic divisions include:

• College of Arts and Letters
• College of Business Administration
• College of Continuing Education and the Extended University
• College of Education
• College of Health and Human Services
• College of Humanities and Public Affairs
• College of Natural and Applied Sciences
• Graduate School

The average ACT score of entering freshmen remains above both the state and national averages. The average ACT score for first-time freshmen was 23.6 in fall 2003 compared to 21.7 in fall 1995. The Arts is a broad subdivision of culture, comprised of many expressive disciplines. ... For other uses, see Literature (disambiguation). ... This article is about business administration. ... For other uses, see Humanities (disambiguation). ... Public Administration can be broadly described as the development, implementation and study of government policy. ... For the scientific journal named Science, see Science (journal). ... The ACT® test is a standardized achievement examination for college admissions in the United States produced by ACT, Inc. ...

Residential life

Missouri State University campus contains nine residence halls. Woods House, a 10-story residence hall, provides 376 men and women with single-gender floors. Freudenberger House, a five-story, U-shaped residence hall, is designed with 2-, 3- and 4-person rooms to accommodate 740 men and women on single-gender floors. Wells House, the first residence hall, houses 490 men and women. Kentwood Hall, formerly a luxury hotel that once housed President Harry S. Truman and Groucho Marx, accommodates 136 upper-class men and women and non-traditional students in a co-ed environment. Scholars House is made up of 115 students who are members of the honors program or presidential scholarship recipients. Hammons House is an eight-story residence hall that accommodates 584 men and women on single-gender floors. A twin dormitory of Hammons House, Hutchens House is an eight-story residence hall offers housing accommodations for 605 men and women on five single-gender floors. Blair-Shannon House accommodates 729 men and women in a suite-style format with the living areas on single-gender floors. Sunvilla Tower is an 18-story apartment facility that houses 186 upper-class men and women in a coed environment. A typical American college dorm room Another typical not-so-clean college dorm room Watterson Towers, Illinois State University Potomac Hall, second-largest dormitory at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. ... For other persons named Harry Truman, see Harry Truman (disambiguation). ... Groucho redirects here. ...

Student organizations, groups and activities

There are over 300 student organizations. These organizations range from ethnic to political, religious to special interest.

The Student Activities Council (SAC) provides diverse activities and programs in the Plaster Student Union and around campus. These programs can include movies, concerts, giveaways, etc. Intramural sports are also popular on campus. A large intramural field is located next to Hutchens House and Scholars House.

The Pride Band is the university's marching band. The Pride consists of 300 student musicians. The band plays at every home football game and has made trips to London, England and various festivals around the country. The PRIDE has been invited to the 2008 Tournament of Roses Parade and will lead the parade. An American college marching band on the field (Kansas State University) A marching band is a group of instrumental musicians who generally perform outdoors, and who incorporate movement â€“ usually some type of marching and other movements  â€“ with their musical performance. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ...

The Standard is the university's student-run newspaper. It is published every Tuesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters. The newspaper's content is entirely created and edited by the student staff.

The Growl (a.k.a. The Growl Student e-Radio) is the university's student-run internet radio station. It is the first radio station in Southwest Missouri to offer a netcast 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is still the only one exclusively on the Internet. Students develop the programming which has focused on student audio projects, campus news, regional entertainment, and sporting events such as volleyball home/play-off games.

The Army ROTC program has nine alumni who attained General rank in the Army. A number that is, per-capita, higher than that of the United States Military Academy at West Point. The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a training program of the United States armed forces present on college campuses to recruit and educate commissioned officers. ... USMA redirects here. ... West Point painting West Point is a federal military base (and a census-designated place) located in the Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York. ...

Greek life

Sororities

• Alpha Chi Omega
• Alpha Delta Pi
• Alpha Sigma Alpha
• Delta Sigma Theta
• Delta Zeta
• Sigma Kappa
• Xi Omicron Iota
• Zeta Phi Beta
• Sigma Gamma Rho

Alpha Chi Omega (ΑΧΩ, also known as A-Chi-O) is a womens fraternity founded on October 15, 1885. ... Alpha Delta Pi (ΑΔΠ) was founded May 15, 1851 at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia making it the first female fraternal organization. ... Alpha Sigma Alpha (ΑΣΑ) is a US national sorority founded on November 15, 1901 at Longwood College (now University) in Farmville, Virginia. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Delta Zeta (ΔΖ) is a college sorority founded on October 24, 1902, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. ... Sigma Kappa (ΣΚ) is a sorority founded in 1874 at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. ... Zeta Phi Beta (ΖΦΒ) Sorority, Inc. ... Sigma Gamma Rho (ΣΓΡ) was founded on November 12, 1922, by seven educators in Indianapolis, Indiana. ...

Fraternities

• Alpha Gamma Sigma
• Alpha Kappa Lambda
• Alpha Phi Alpha
• Delta Chi
• Kappa Alpha Order
• Kappa Alpha Psi
• Kappa Sigma
• Omega Psi Phi
• Phi Beta Sigma
• Phi Delta Theta
• Phi Gamma Delta
• Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
• Pi Kappa Phi
• Sigma Phi Epsilon
• Sigma Pi
• Theta Chi

AGS Logo Alpha Gamma Sigma (AGS) is a statewide community college honor society in California. ... Alpha Kappa Lambda (ΑΚΛ) is an American collegiate social fraternity for men founded at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1914. ... Alpha Phi Alpha (ΑΦΑ) is the first intercollegiate fraternity established by African Americans. ... Delta Chi (ΔΧ) (del-ta kai) or D-Chi is an international college social fraternity formed on October 13, 1890 at Cornell University initially as a professional fraternity for law students. ... Kappa Alpha Order (commonly known as KA) is a collegiate Order of Knights and American social fraternity. ... Kappa Alpha Psi (KAΨ) is the second-oldest collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership and the first black intercollegiate fraternity incorporated as a national body. ... ΚΣ (Kappa Sigma) is an international fraternity with currently 234 chapters and 42 colonies in North America. ... Omega Psi Phi (ΩΨΦ) is a national fraternity, and was the first black national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. ... Phi Beta Sigma (ΦΒΣ) Fraternity was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. ... Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ) is an international fraternity founded in 1848 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. ... Phi Gamma Delta (also known as FIJI) is a collegiate social fraternity with 116 chapters and 5 colonies across the United States and Canada. ... Phi Mu Alpha (ΦΜΑ) Sinfonia is a collegiate social fraternity for men of musicianly character. ... Pi Kappa Phi is a national social fraternity that was founded in the spirit of nu phi, meaning non-fraternity. ... ΣΦΕ (Sigma Phi Epsilon), commonly nicknamed SigEp or S-P-E, is a social fraternity for male college students in the United States. ... Sigma Pi (ΣΠ) is an international college social fraternity with chapters in the United States and Canada. ... Theta Chi (ΘΧ) is an international college fraternity for men. ...

Campus

Missouri State University’s main campus is located on 225 acres in central Springfield. National Avenue forms the eastern boundary, South Holland Avenue to the west, Cherry Street to the north, and Grand Street to the south. John Q. Hammons Parkway bisects the campus, running north and south. Greenwood Laboratory School, a K-12 school, is located at the north end of campus. Duane G. Meyer Library, which was constructed in 1980 and named after the former president of the University, was renovated in 2002 and the Jane A. Meyer Carillon added, one of only 500 carillons in the nation. The Plaster Student Union provides a place for students to dine, study, shop, see movies and guest speakers in the theatre, and socialize. A bronze bear statue was dedicated to the University in 1999 and stands at the front entrance of the student union. For the University of Regina student newspaper, see The Carillon. ... A student activity center or SAC, is a type of building found on university campuses. ...

Athletics

Also See: Missouri State Bears Image File history File links Missouri_State_bear_logo. ... The Missouri State Bears and Lady Bears are the athletic teams representing Missouri State University. ...

The Missouri State University Bears are members of the Missouri Valley Conference for all sports except football, men's swimming, and field hockey. Football competes in the Gateway Football Conference, men's swimming in the Sun Belt Conference, and field hockey in the Mid-American Conference. Their colors are maroon and white. Sports sponsored include men's and women's basketball, golf, and swimming; men's baseball and football; and women's cross country, field hockey, track, and volleyball. The school has had great success with the men's basketball reaching the Sweet Sixteen in 1999, women's basketball in the Final Four in 1992 and 2001, baseball making the College World Series in 2003, and the Volleyball Bears earned their 1000th win Nov. 17, 2006 (only the second team in NCAA history to do so). In 1974 the women's softball team won the AIAW national championship. Former Missouri Valley Conference logo The Missouri Valley Conference (also called MVC or simply The Valley) is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States. ... The Gateway Football Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the midwestern United States. ... The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAAs Division I since 1976. ... The Mid-American Conference (MAC) is a college athletic conference with a membership base that stretches from New York to Illinois. ... This article is about the sport. ... This article is about the sport. ... Swimmer redirects here. ... This article is about the sport. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... The Minnesota State Highschool Cross Country Meet A cross country race in Seaside, Oregon. ... A game of field hockey in progress Field hockey is a popular sport for men, women and children in many countries around the world. ... A womens 400 m hurdles race on a typical outdoor red rubber track in the Helsinki Olympic Stadium in Finland. ... For the ball used in this sport, see Volleyball (ball). ... The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women was founded in 1971 to govern collegiate women’s athletics and to administer national championships. ...

Football games are played at Plaster Sports Complex. Men's and women's basketball games are contested at the Hammons Student Center. In 2006, alum John Q. Hammons announced a gift of $25 million dollars (which later increased to $30 million dollars to accommodate increasing costs) to go toward the building of the new JQH Arena. JQH Arena will seat 11,000 spectators and will be located next to the current Hammons Student Center, with a walkway linking both structures. The Bears baseball team shares Hammons Field with the Springfield Cardinals of the AA Texas League. Hammons Field is considered to be one of the top minor league facilities in the country.^{[citation needed]} The Plaster Sports Complex is an 16,300-seat multipurpose stadium located in Springfield, Missouri. ... The Hammons Student Center is an 8,846 seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. ... John Q. Hammons (born James Quentin Hammons on February 24, 1919) is an American businessman and one of the nations premier developers of upscale luxury hotels and resorts. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Hammons Student Center is an 8,846 seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. ... Hammons Field, is a $32 million, 7,986 seat ballpark in downtown Springfield, Missouri. ... Hammons Field, is a $32 million, 7,986 seat ballpark in downtown Springfield, Missouri. ...

In 2001 Missouri State started a Missouri State University Ice Bears Hockey team that plays at Jordan Valley Ice Rink.

Missouri State University is one of only four schools since 1999 to reach the Division I Men's basketball Sweet 16, the Women's basketball Final Four, and College World Series. Division I (or DI) is the highest level of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the United States. ... This article is about NCAA Mens Division I Basketball Championship. ... The NCAA Womens Division I Championship is an annual basketball tournament for women. ... The College World Series is the tournament which determines the NCAA Division I collegiate baseball champion. ...

Womens swimming has so far been the only team on campus to win a Conference title in 2008. They won by over 170 points, over SIU. The other teams in the conference were UNI, UE, ISU, and SIU.

Traditions

Fight song

Uphold tradition, our school we hold so dear,

We will be loyal throughout our college years,

Fight for victory as we stand up and cheer,

Let's hear it for the Bears,

B-E-A-R-S-Bears,

M-I-S-S-O-U-R-I-State

Alma Mater

Sing we praises

Now to our Alma Mater,

All hail Maroon and White

Missouri State, we pledge devotion

May you live ever in truth and right,

May you live ever in truth and right.

Notable alumni

• David Glass, former Wal-Mart CEO, current Kansas City Royals owner
• Jason Whittle, current NFL player
• Tess Harper, actor
• John Goodman, actor
• Matt Pickens, current MLS player
• Kathleen Turner, actress
• Bill Mueller, former MLB player, 2003 AL batting champion (.326 with the Boston Red Sox), current hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers
• Ryan Howard, current MLB player, 2005 NL Rookie of the year, 2006 Home Run Derby Champion, 2006 NL Most Valuable Player
• Scott Bailes, former MLB player
• Mark Bailey, former MLB player
• Kendra Kassebaum, Broadway actress/singer
• Brad St. Louis, current NFL player
• Jackie Stiles, former WNBA player, NCAA All-Time Leading Scorer
• Winston Garland, former NBA player
• Curtis Perry, former NBA player
• Derek Ingram, Radio Announcer Chicago Cubs Minor Leagues
• Katina Kramos, Assistant Softball Coach, Illinois State University, Member of the Greek National Team in the 2004 Olympics
• Roy Blunt, current Minority Whip of the United States House of Representatives
• John Q. Hammons, hotel developer
• Bob Holden, former governor of Missouri
• Jim Brady, baseball coach, University of Missouri St-Louis, 600 career victories
• Jim Bohannon, coast-to-coast radio talk show host for Westwood One

Blake Ahearn- NBA Player (current) David Glass David D. Glass became Owner and Chief Executive Officer of the Kansas City Royals on April 18, 2000 after serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Royals since Sept. ... Major league affiliations American League (1969–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 5, 10, 20, 42 Name Kansas City Royals (1969–present) Other nicknames The Boys in Blue Ballpark Kauffman Stadium (1973–present) a. ... Jason Whittle (born March 7, 1975 in Springfield, Missouri) is an American football offensive guard who currently plays for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. ... Tessie Jean Washam (born August 15, 1950), better known as Tess Harper, is an American actress. ... Not to be confused with Johnny Goodman (TV producer), Johnny Goodman, or John C. Goodman. ... Matt Pickens (born April 5, 1982 in Washington, Missouri) is an American soccer player, who currently plays goalkeeper for the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer. ... Mary Kathleen Turner (born June 19, 1954) is an Academy Award-nominated American actress. ... William Richard Mueller [MILL-er] (born March 17, 1971) is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who currently serves as the hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. ... Ryan James Howard (born November 19, 1979 in St. ... Mark Bailey (born 26 November 1970) is a cricket player in Hamilton, New Zealand. ... Promotional headshot of musical actress Kendra Kassebaum Kendra Kassebaum is an American actress. ... Brad Allen St. ... Jackie Marie Stiles is a basketball shooting guard born December 21, 1978 in Kansas City, Kansas to Pat and Pam Stiles. ... Winston Garland (born December 19, 1964, in Gary, Indiana) is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2nd round (40th overall) of the 1987 NBA Draft. ... Curtis R. Perry (born September 13, 1948 in Washington, D.C.) is a retired American basketball player. ... The Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, commonly known as the 2004 Summer Olympics were the 28th Summer Olympic Games. ... Roy D. Blunt (born January 10, 1950) is a Republican politician from Missouri, currently representing that states 7th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. ... The Majority Whip is an elected member of the U.S. House of Representatives who assists the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader to coordinate ideas on and garner support for proposed legislation. ... Type Bicameral Speaker of the House of Representatives House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Steny Hoyer, (D) since January 4, 2007 House Minority Leader John Boehner, (R) since January 4, 2007 Members 435 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party... John Q. Hammons (born James Quentin Hammons on February 24, 1919) is an American businessman and one of the nations premier developers of upscale luxury hotels and resorts. ... Bob Holden (born August 24, 1949, in Kansas City, Missouri), former Governor of Missouri, is an American politician of the Democratic Party. ... The Governors of Missouri since its statehood in 1820 are: Alexander McNair 1821-24 Frederick Bates 1824-25 Abraham J. Williams 1825-26 John Miller 1826-32 Daniel Dunklin 1832-36 Lilburn W. Boggs 1836-40 Thomas Reynolds 1840-44 Meredith Miles Marmaduke 1844 John C. Edwards 1844-48 Austin... We dont have an article called Jim Brady Start this article Search for Jim Brady in. ... Jim Bohannon is a broadcaster who has worked in both television and radio. ... Westwood One, Inc. ...

Issues

There was a heated controversy over whether the university should modify its nondiscrimination policy to include "sexual orientation" as an officially protected status. The addition reads: "...the University does not discriminate on any basis (including, but not limited to, political affiliation and sexual orientation) not related to the applicable educational requirements for students or the applicable job requirements for employees." Former University president Dr. John Keiser had firmly opposed the change. However, the policy was quietly changed on September 18, 2006 during a meeting outside of Springfield held for the first time in St. Louis. It is generally believed this move was to avoid the mostly conservative citizens of Springfield and add this policy "under the radar" of the critics of the change.^[3] Opponents of the addition believe the meeting being held in St. Louis for the first time in school history was Dr. Nietzel and the Board of Governors way to amend the policy "in a backdoor fashion to avoid critics." Missouri Governor Matt Blunt quickly released criticism of the policy calling it "unnecessary and bad." Also saying the decision "bows to the forces of political correctness".^[4] Sexual orientation refers to the direction of an individuals sexuality, usually conceived of as classifiable according to the sex or gender of the persons whom the individual finds sexually attractive. ...

Dr. Michael T. Nietzel, formerly provost at the University of Kentucky, was introduced on March 4, 2005 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, 2005. The University of Kentucky, also referred to as UK, is a public, co-educational university located in Lexington, Kentucky. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Missouri State Bears Hockey
• Official website
• Missouri State Bears Athletics
• Missouri State Bookstore