Georgia Southern University

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Georgia Southern University
Established:	December 1, 1906 (1906-12-01)
Type:	Public
President:	Dr. Bruce Grube
Faculty:	801
Staff:	1,821
Students:	17,764 [1]
Postgraduates:	2,256 [2]
Location:	Statesboro, Georgia, United States
Campus:	~ 700 acres (2.73 km²)
Former names:	First District Agricultural and Mechanical School Georgia Normal School South Georgia Teacher's College Georgia Southern College
Colors:	Blue and White
Nickname:	Eagles
Mascot:	GUS the Eagle Freedom (live mascot)
Athletics:	Division I
Affiliations:	Southern Conference
Website:	www.georgiasouthern.edu

Georgia Southern University is a public co-educational regional university located in Statesboro, Georgia, USA.^[3] It is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia.^[4] Georgia Southern is also classified as a Doctoral and Research University by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.^[5] The university is the fifth-largest in the University System of Georgia with a fall 2008 enrollment of 17,764 students.^[1]

Contents 1 Academics 1.1 Enrollment 1.2 Rankings 2 Location 3 History 4 Campus 4.1 Student Housing 4.2 Recreation and Activities Center 4.3 Wildlife Education Center and Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center 4.4 Botanical Garden 4.5 Museum 4.6 Center for Art and Theatre 5 Student activities 5.1 Athletics 5.2 Performing Arts 5.3 Student media 5.4 Fraternities and sororities 5.4.1 Social Sororities (NPC, NPHC) 5.4.2 Social Fraternities (NIC, NPHC) 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 Additional reading 10 External links

[edit] Academics

Academic standards at the university have increased dramatically in the last decade - in 1999 the average SAT score was 987. For the 2008 fall semester, the average SAT score for incoming freshman was 1,111, an increase of 124 points.^[6] The 2008 freshman SAT average is the fourth-highest in the University System of Georgia.^[7]

In the 2008 edition of America’s Best Colleges, published by U.S. News and World Report, Georgia Southern made its first appearance as a National University.ref name="ABC08" /> Previously ranked as a Master’s University, Georgia Southern was reclassified as a doctoral/research institution in April 2006 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.^[8] Georgia Southern again appeared in the 2010 rankings of National Universities by the U.S. News and World Report.^{[citation needed]}

The university offers more than 100 bachelor's degree, masters degree, and Doctorate programs in eight colleges.^[9][10]

In addition to becoming a National University, Georgia Southern has significantly expanded its online degree offerings. The online expansion has centered around offering several online degree options for teachers who want to advance their educational level. Teachers who already have an undergraduate degree may now apply for a Master of Education degree with one of several different concentrations. These concentrations include Instructional Technology, Accomplished Teaching, Instructional Improvement, Higher Education Administration and Educational Leadership. Georgia Southern launched its online degree expansion efforts on January 9, 2008. The Georgia Department of Education, the Board of Education, the Board of Regents, and the Professional Standards Commission agreed on three levels of standards for teachers in Georgia: initial teaching, accomplished teaching and exemplary teaching. Additional online degree offerings include the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Web MBA, Master of Science in Kinesiology (Coaching), Master of Science in Applied Economics, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, and Registered Nurse-Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. The university also offers blended programs for the Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Kinesiology and the Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) in Teaching and Learning degrees. The DNP was introduced online in Fall 2008 through the University’s School of Nursing.^[11]. It is one of only two such degree programs in the state of Georgia.^{[citation needed]} It becomes the fifth doctorate degree program offered by the university, joining the doctoral degree programs in psychology (PsyD), public health (DrPH), and two education degree programs (EdD).

The university currently offers two Honors program options, the College Honors Program and the 1906 Scholars.

Georgia Southern is home to the Institute of Anthropology and Parasitology. An integral part of this program is the U.S. National Tick Collection, the largest collection of ticks in the world with more than one million specimens representing most of the world's 850 species.^[12]

The College of Business Administration houses the only School of Economic Development in the southeastern United States. ^[13] The School of Accountancy in the College of Business Administration is the only AACSB certified school in the United States to offer forensic accounting courses to both undergraduate and graduate students. ^[14]

[edit] Enrollment

Enrollment at the university has increased in the last ten years from 13,904 in the 1998-99 school year to 17,764 students in the fall of 2008.^[7]

Enrollment by College (Fall 2007) ^[15]

College	Total Enrollment
College of Business Administration	3,320
College of Education	2,540
College of Information Technology	462
College of Health and Human Sciences	2,658
Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies
Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health	73
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences	3,514
Allen E. Paulson College of Science and Technology	2,825
Online Degree Programs

[edit] Rankings

• 2008 U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges ^[16]
• 2008 Kiplinger's Personal Finance' Top 100 Best Values in Public Colleges^[17]
• 2008 Forbes' America's Best Colleges ^[18]
• 2009 The Princeton Review - 296 Best Business Schools ^[19]
• The top ranked Nursing School in the Southeast.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Location

Georgia Southern is located in the city of Statesboro, Georgia and is accessible by Interstate 16 from the cities of Macon and Savannah. By car Statesboro is approximately one hour from Savannah and three hours from Atlanta. In addition, the university is approximately one and a half hours, by car, from the beaches and resort town of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

[edit] History

Presidents of Georgia Southern University^[20]

J. Walter Hendricks	1908-1909
E.C.J. Dickens	1909-1914
F.M. Rowan	1914-1919
Ernest V. Hollis	1920-1926
Guy H. Wells	1926-1934
Marvin S. Pittman	1934-1941
Alber M. Gates	1941-1943
Marvin S. Pittman	1943-1947
Judson C. Ward Jr.	1947-1948
Zach S. Henderson	1948-1968
John O. Eidson	1968-1971
Pope A. Duncan	1971-1978
Dale W. Lick	1978-1986
Nicholas L. Henry	1987-1998
Bruce F. Grube[A]	1999-2009

Georgia Southern University was founded in 1906 as First District Agricultural and Mechanical School.^[4] Earlier in the year, local Bulloch County residents learned that the State of Georgia was planning to locate one of several new agricultural and mechanical trades schools in the First Congressional District. A delegation from Statesboro travelled to Savannah on December 1, 1906 to make the equivalent of a $125,500 bid in win the school.^[4] During the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s the school expanded, began to offer a wider range of curriculum with an emphasis on education, and changed its name to Georgia Normal School. It progressed from a two-year to a four-year teacher's college called South Georgia Teacher's College during those years.

In 1959, the school became known as Georgia Southern College when it became a senior college within the University System of Georgia. In 1968, the college received the authority to reorganize into separate schools of arts and science, education, and business. ^[4]

In 1990, the school was granted university status and became the first regional university in the University System of Georgia. ^[21]

In April 2006, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching announced that Georgia Southern changed classifications from its previous Masters I designation to the National Doctoral/Research University level.^[8]

On October 30, 2006, Georgia Southern University was visited by President George W. Bush, marking the first time that a current President has visited the campus.^[22]

[edit] Campus

The university has a residential campus with every state and 86 nations represented in the student body.^[23]

[edit] Student Housing

Georgia Southern currently has twelve housing facilities, offering mostly suite and apartment configurations. At the end of the Spring 2008 semester, three older-style residence halls were demolished to make way for the Centennial Place residential complex. The new hall, with four buildings, 1,001 beds, and retail space is expected to be completed by July 2009, in time for Fall 2009 semester. In addition, starting Fall 2009, all freshmen will be required to live in a residence hall ^[24], unless they fulfill certain criteria. ^[25]

[edit] Recreation and Activities Center

The Recreation and Activities Center (the RAC) is a 220,000-square-foot (20,000 m²) complex that includes areas for weight lifting, cardio, and basketball. It also includes an indoor track, two dance studios, a studio for yoga and pilates, five racquetball courts, and a 45-foot (14 m) indoor climbing wall.

In 2006, the RAC was expanded, adding additional basketball and multi-purpose courts, weight and fitness rooms, an Olympic-size swimming pool, a rehabilitation pool, and more space for CRI (Campus Recreation and Intramural) personnel. The expansion also brought an bandshell area that has hosted several national touring artists.

[edit] Wildlife Education Center and Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center

The Wildlife Center and Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center is home to Georgia Southern's eagle mascots and more than 5 acres (20,000 m²) of diverse habitats and species of bird of prey including, hawks, owls, falcons, kestrels, vultures. The center also contains an amphitheater and an indoor classroom. Inside, exhibits of reptiles and amphibians such as alligators, turtles, tortoises, rattlesnakes, corn snakes, king snakes, boa constrictors, pythons, are held. The staff perform flighted raptor demonstrations.^[26]

[edit] Botanical Garden

The Georgia Southern Botanical Garden is centered on an early 20th century farmstead and offers visitors a unique view of the cultural and natural heritage of the southeastern coastal plain, an area rich in unique and endangered plants. The garden's nearly 11-acre (45,000 m²) site includes woodland trails, the Bland Cottage Visitor Center and Gift Shop, Heritage Garden, Rose Arbor, Children's Vegetable Garden, Camellia Garden, Native Plant Landscape Garden, Native Azalea Collection and Bog Garden. The Botanical Garden's mission is to promote knowledge and appreciation of the native plants and animals of the southeastern coastal plain, connect people to the natural and cultural heritage of the region and inspire environmentally responsible behavior. ^[27]

[edit] Museum

The Georgia Southern Museum is located in the Rosenwald Building on Sweetheart Circle. It contains a number of permanent exhibits and provides space for a variety of temporary exhibits throughout the year. Many exhibits at the museum include installations that are suitable for children to manipulate.

[edit] Center for Art and Theatre

The Center for Art and Theatre opened on February 29, 2008. The building features three exhibition galleries and a black box theatre for student exhibitions along with faculty and administrative office space.

[edit] Student activities

[edit] Athletics

Georgia Southern's athletic teams are known as the Eagles and compete in NCAA Division I FCS as members of the Southern Conference. The Eagles compete in baseball, basketball, football, golf, tennis, volleyball, soccer, softball and track & field. ^[28] The football team has won six NCAA Division I-AA national championships (1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999 and 2000). The university's baseball team has participated in the College World Series twice (1973 and 1990).^{[citation needed]}

The university offers intramural teams for all varsity level sports, equestrian events, fencing, and judo.

[edit] Performing Arts

The world premiere of Michael Braz's opera, A Scholar Under Siege, took place at the Center on April 20, 2007.[29]

The Performing Arts Center hosts national acts as well as Georgia Southern student shows.^[30]

[edit] Student media

Student media include a college radio station (WVGS 91.9 The Buzz), various cable shows running on Channel 97 (including ENN, and City Beat), and a daily college newspaper, The George-Anne Daily.^[31]

[edit] Fraternities and sororities

There are three governing bodies for Greek-letter organizations at Georgia Southern University, governing all North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), or National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) recognized organizations on campus.

There are also Greek-letter professional fraternities, along with a number of academic honor societies (such as Alpha Upsilon Alpha and Phi Alpha Theta). In addition, there are a number of Greek-letter service organizations, such as Gamma Sigma Sigma and Omega Phi Alpha.

[edit] Social Sororities (NPC, NPHC)

National Panhellenic Conference

Organization	Symbol	Chapter (Chartered)	Chapter Symbol
Alpha Delta Pi	ΑΔΠ	Epsilon Pi (1968)	ΕΠ
Phi Mu	ΦΜ	Kappa Mu (1968)	ΚΜ
Kappa Delta	ΚΔ	Delta Lambda (1968)	ΔΛ
Alpha Xi Delta	ΑΞΔ	Epsilon Sigma (1968)	ΕΣ (Inactive)
Zeta Tau Alpha	ΖΤΑ	Zeta Xi (1968)	ΖΞ
Chi Omega	ΧΩ	Nu Kappa (1976)	ΝΚ (Inactive)
Alpha Omicron Pi	ΑΟΠ	Alpha Lambda (1988)	ΑΛ
Kappa Kappa Gamma	ΚΚΓ	Zeta Upsilon (1990)	ΖΥ

National Pan-Hellenic Council

Organization	Symbol	Chapter (Chartered)	Chapter Symbol
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.	ΑΚA	Lambda Kappa (1979)	ΛΚ
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.	ΔΣΘ	Xi Eta (1979)	ΞΗ
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.	ΣΓΡ	Nu Omicron (1993)	ΝΟ (Inactive)
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.	ΖΦΒ	Epsilon Xi (1989)	ΕΞ

[edit] Social Fraternities (NIC, NPHC)

North-American Interfraternity Conference

Organization	Symbol	Chapter (Chartered)	Chapter Symbol
Alpha Tau Omega	ΑΤΩ	Eta Zeta (1968)	ΗΖ
Delta Chi	ΔΧ	Georgia Southern Colony (2002)
Delta Sigma Phi	ΔΣΦ	Theta Omega (2004)	ΘΩ
Delta Tau Delta	ΔΤΔ	Epsilon Omega (2006)	ΕΩ
Kappa Alpha Order	ΚΑ	Delta Theta (1968)	ΔΘ
Kappa Sigma	ΚΣ	Kappa Zeta (1968)	ΚΖ
Phi Sigma Kappa	ΦΣΚ	Chi Septaton (2008)
Pi Kappa Alpha	ΠΚΑ	Iota Upsilon (1993)	ΙΥ
Pi Kappa Phi	ΠΚΦ	Gamma Kappa (1968)	ΓΚ
Sigma Alpha Epsilon	ΣΑΕ	Georgia Alpha (1989)
Sigma Chi	ΣΧ	Eta Zeta (1970)	ΗΖ
Sigma Nu	ΣΝ	Theta Kappa (1970)	ΘΚ(Inactive)
Sigma Pi	ΣΠ	Gamma Tau (1968)	ΓΤ (Inactive)
Sigma Phi Epsilon	ΣΦΕ	Georgia Epsilon (1993)
Tau Kappa Epsilon	ΤΚΕ	Lambda Upsilon (1968) [32]	ΛΥ
Theta Xi	ΘΞ	Gamma Phi (2008)	ΓΦ

National Pan-Hellenic Council

Organization	Symbol	Chapter (Chartered)	Chapter Symbol
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.	ΑΦΑ	Xi Tau (1980)	ΞΤ
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.	IΦΘ	Zeta Chi (2008)	ZΧ
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.	ΚΑΨ	Iota Pi (1978), Omicron Phi (2005)	ΙΠ (defunct), ΟΦ
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.	ΩΨΦ	Zeta Delta Delta (1987)	ΖΔΔ (Inactive)
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.	ΦΒΣ	Pi Rho (1987)	ΠΡ

[edit] See also

• List of Georgia Southern University alumni
• Georgia Southern Eagles football

[edit] Notes

A.^{^} On November 24, 2008, Bruce Grube announced he would resign his position as President of Georgia Southern University effective June 30, 2009.^[6] On February 24, 2009, at the request of Chancellor Erroll Davis, Grube agreed to remain in office through December 31, 2009.^[33]

[edit] References

[edit] Additional reading

• "TSC Blues Review Interview with Erk Russell" Southern-Connection.com August 2002
• Presley, Delma Eugene (2006). The Southern Century: Georgia Southern University 1906-2006. Georgia Southern University. ISBN 13:978-0-9788650-0-9. 

[edit] External links

• www.georgiasouthern.edu -- Official web site
• www.gadaily.com -- George-Anne Student Newspaper
• www.919thebuzz.com -- WVGS 91.9 The Buzz
• www.georgiasoutherneagles.com -- Georgia Southern University Athletics
• www.usg.edu -- University System of Georgia Board of Regents web site

Coordinates: 32°25′10″N 81°46′36″W / 32.419448°N 81.776698°W / 32.419448; -81.776698

v • d • e University System of Georgia Research Universities University of Georgia • Georgia State University • Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) • Medical College of Georgia Regional Universities Georgia Southern University • Valdosta State University State Universities Albany State University • Armstrong Atlantic State University • Augusta State University • Clayton State University • Columbus State University • Fort Valley State University • Georgia College & State University • Georgia Southwestern State University • Kennesaw State University • North Georgia College & State University • Savannah State University • Southern Polytechnic State University (Southern Poly) • University of West Georgia State Colleges Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College • College of Coastal Georgia • Dalton State College • Gainesville State College • Georgia Gwinnett College • Gordon College • Macon State College • Middle Georgia College Two-year Colleges Atlanta Metropolitan College • Bainbridge College • Darton College • East Georgia College • Georgia Highlands College • Georgia Perimeter College • South Georgia College • Waycross College Independent research unit Skidaway Institute of Oceanography Governing body Georgia Board of Regents

v • d • e Education in Savannah, Georgia Colleges and universities Armstrong Atlantic | SCAD | Savannah State | South University | Georgia Tech Savannah | Georgia Southern | Savannah Tech | Skidaway Institute of Oceanography Savannah-Chatham County Public High Schools Beach | Groves | Jenkins | Johnson | Savannah Arts | Savannah | Windsor Forest Private High Schools Benedictine | Calvary Day | Memorial Day | Savannah Christian | Savannah Country Day | St Andrew's | St. Vincent's

v • d • e Southern Conference Appalachian State Mountaineers • Chattanooga Mocs • The Citadel Bulldogs • College of Charleston Cougars • Davidson Wildcats • Elon Phoenix • Furman Paladins • Georgia Southern Eagles • Samford Bulldogs • UNC Greensboro Spartans • Western Carolina Catamounts • Wofford Terriers Champions – Baseball • Basketball • Football

v • d • e Marching bands of the Southern Conference Marching Mountaineers (Appalachian State) • Marching Mocs (Chattanooga) • Regimental Band (The Citadel) • Fire of the Carolinas (Elon) • Paladin Regiment (Furman) • Southern Pride (Georgia Southern) • Bulldog Marching Band (Samford) • Pride of the Mountains (Western Carolina)