Missouri State University
Missouri State University (formerly
Southwest Missouri State University) located in
Springfield,
Missouri is the state's second largest
university, second only to the
University of Missouri 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.
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. With the planned full implementation of selective admission standards over the next several years, the academic profile of entering freshmen will continue to improve.
Residential Life
Missouri State University requires, with few exceptions, that all freshmen live in one of the nine
residence halls. Woods House, a 10-story residence hall, provides 376 men and women with single-gender floors. Freudenberger House is 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, once housed President
Harry S. Truman and
Groucho Marx. Scholars House is made up of 115 students who are members of the honors program. Hammons House is an eight-story residence hall accommodate 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 facility houses 186 upper-class men and women in a coed environment.
Student Organizations, Groups and Activities
There are over 250 student organizations. Focuses of these organizations range from ethnic to political, religious to special interest.
The student union provides a place for sts to relax, sleep, study, watch television, or socialize. Another group at Student Activities Council which provides diverse activities and programs in the Union. These programs can include movies, concerts, give-a-aways, 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.
Greek Life
Sororities
*
Alpha Chi Omega*
Alpha Delta Pi*
Alpha Sigma Alpha*
Delta Sigma Theta*
Delta Zeta*
Sigma Alpha Chi*
Sigma Gamma Rho*
Sigma Kappa*
Sigma Sigma Sigma*
Xi Omicron IotaFraternities
*
Alpha Gamma Sigma*
Alpha Kappa Lambda*
Alpha Kappa Psi*
Alpha Phi Alpha*
Delta Chi*
Delta Sigma Pi*
Kappa Alpha*
Kappa Alpha Psi*
Kappa Sigma*
Omega Psi Phi*
Phi Beta Sigma*
Phi Delta Theta*
Pi Kappa Phi *
Sigma Chi*
Sigma Phi Epsilon*
Sigma Pi*
Theta ChiThe Missouri State 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,
baseball,
cross country (men's program discontinued),
field hockey,
football,
golf,
swimming,
track (men's program discontinued) 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, and baseball making the College World Series in 2003.
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 to go toward the building of the new JQH Arena. JQH Arena will seat more than 12,000 spectators and will be located next to the current Hammons Student Center. 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.
*
Tess Harper, actor
*
John Goodman, actor
*
Kathleen Turner, actor
*
Sterling Macer, actor and director
*Original members of the
Ozark Mountain Daredevils.
*
Bill Mueller, current MLB player, 2003 AL batting champion (.326 with the Boston Red Sox)
*
Ryan Howard, current MLB player, 2005 NL Rookie of the year, 2006 Home Run Derby Champion
*
Scott Bailes, former MLB player
*
Mark Bailey, former MLB player
*
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
*
David Glass,
Kansas City Royals owner, former
CEO of
Wal-Mart*
Roy Blunt, current
Majority Whip*
John Q. Hammons, hotel developer
*
Bob Holden, former
governor of
Missouri*
Chris X. Moloney, author, Chief Marketing Officer,
Scottrade, Inc.
There is a heated controversy over whether the university should modify its nondiscrimination policy to include "
sexual orientation" as an officially protected status. Former University president Dr. John Keiser had 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 John Keiser, stating 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, 2005â€"the centennial anniversary of the Universityâ€"at the Plaster Student Union where several student leaders and state leaders were present.
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.
*
Student Association of Missouri*http://www.missouristate.edu
*http://www.missouristatebears.com
*http://www.missouristatehockey.com
*http://www.missouristatebookstore.com
*http://www.myspringfield.net
