University of Central Oklahoma

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University of Central Oklahoma
Established:	1890
Type:	Public university
President:	W. Roger Webb
Provost:	William J. Radke
Faculty:	834
Students:	15,724[1]
Undergraduates:	14,156
Postgraduates:	1,568
Location:	Edmond, Oklahoma, USA (35°39′30″N 97°28′19″W / 35.65833°N 97.47194°W / 35.65833; -97.47194))
Campus:	Urban, 210 acres (0.85 km2)
Colors:	Bronze and Blue
Nickname:	Bronchos
Mascot:	Buddy Broncho
Affiliations:	NCAA Division II, Lone Star Conference
Website:	http://www.uco.edu/
Logo is a trademark of the University of Central Oklahoma

The University of Central Oklahoma, often referred to as UCO, is a coeducational public university located in Edmond, Oklahoma. The university is the third largest in Oklahoma, with almost 16,000 students and approximately 434 full-time and 400 adjunct faculty. Founded in 1890,^[2] the University of Central Oklahoma is the oldest institution of higher learning in Oklahoma.

Contents 1 History 2 Academic Profile 2.1 Schools and Colleges 2.2 Degree Options 3 UCO Jazz Lab 4 Broadcasting 5 Campus 5.1 Academic buildings 5.2 Other Campus Buildings 5.3 Residential Buildings 6 Athletics 6.1 Club Sports 6.2 Fight Song 7 Presidents of UCO 8 Greek Life 9 Alumni 10 Faculty 11 References 12 External links

[edit] History

The University of Central Oklahoma was founded on Dec. 24, 1890, when the Territorial Legislature voted to establish the Territorial Normal School.[1] It was established alongside the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University), but because its first classes were held before either school, UCO claims to be the oldest institution of higher education in Oklahoma. Classes were first held in November 1891, whereas Oklahoma A&M College held its first classes in December 1891 and the University of Oklahoma began in fall 1892.^[3][4][5]

The Territorial Legislature located the new school in Edmond, provided certain conditions were met. First, Oklahoma County had to donate $5,000 in bonds, and Edmond had to donate 40 acres (160,000 m²) of land within one mile (1.6 km) of the town, the land was eventually donated by Anton Classen. Ten of those acres had to be set aside for the new school. The remaining land had to be divided into lots that would be sold to raise money for the new school. On Oct. 1, 1891 Richard Thatcher was elected the 1st President of Territorial Normal School of Oklahoma.^[6]

School Names[7]

Territorial Normal School of Oklahoma 1890-1903

Central State Normal School 1904-1918

Central State Teachers College 1919-1938

Central State College 1939-1970

Central State University 1971-1991

University of Central Oklahoma 1991-present

The conditions all were met, with the city of Edmond donating an additional $2,000 in bonds. The first class, a group of 23 students, met for the first time Nov. 1, 1891, in the Epworth League Room, located in the unfurnished First Methodist Church. A marker of Oklahoma granite was placed in 1915 near the original site by the Central Oklahoma Normal School Historical Society. It can be seen at Boulevard and Second Street.

Old North Tower was the first building constructed in the summer of 1892 on the campus of what was then Territorial Normal School. Occupancy began Jan. 3, 1893. The school first operated as a normal school with two years of college work and a complete preparatory school. In 1897, the first graduating class—two men and three women—received their Normal School diplomas.

In 1904, Territorial Normal became Central State Normal School. Statehood was still three years away. On Dec. 29, 1919, the State Board of Education passed a resolution making Central a four-year teachers’ college conferring bachelor’s degrees. From 1901 until 1961, UCO housed a laboratory school in which local elementary schoolchildren were schooled by UCO faculty and soon-to-be teaching graduates.

Two years later, the Class of 1921 had nine members, the first graduates to receive the four-year degrees. Two decades later, Central State Teacher's College became Central State College. In 1939, the Oklahoma Legislature authorized the institution to grant both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees.

On March 11, 1941, Central State became part of a coordinated state system of post-secondary education overseen by the Oklahoma Regents for Higher Education, and joined institutions with similar missions as a regional institution.

In 1954, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education gave Central permission to offer the Master of Teaching Degree, which became the Master of Education in 1969. In 1971, the college was authorized to grant the Master of Arts in English and the Master of Business Administration degrees.

On April 13, 1971, the state legislature officially changed the institution’s name to Central State University. Old North Tower was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. On May 18, 1990, during the university’s Centennial Year, legislation was passed changing the name to the University of Central Oklahoma, though many of the students still refer to the University as "Central".^[8]

[edit] Academic Profile

UCO has the state’s largest Computing Science department. It maintains the highest percentage of students passing the CPA Exam. The Department of Physics is ranked among the top 20 in the United States and the only university in Oklahoma to receive this ranking by the American Institute of Physics. The University of Central Oklahoma School of Music Jazz Division is the largest in the state and one of the largest in the region. The Nursing program is the second largest in Oklahoma and the UCO Debaters are consistently rated one of the top in the nation. The College of Education is the largest in the state of Oklahoma and has graduated more than 50,000 teachers since the school was established in 1890. UCO is consistently recognized as having one of the best Colleges of Education in the region.

UCO is also the only institution in the state of Oklahoma that offers Undergraduate Degrees in Forensic Science, Humanities, Funeral Services, Photo Journalism, Biomedical Engineering, Golf Management, Business Legal Studies and Insurances. UCO is also the University in the state of Oklahoma to offer a Master of Science in Athletic Training, a Master of Science in Forensic Science and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies

[edit] Schools and Colleges

UCO is comprised 7 schools and colleges.

College of Arts, Media & Design School of Music Department of Art Department of Design Department of Theatre, Dance and Media Arts College of Business Administration Department of Accounting Department of Economics Department of Finance Department of Information Systems & Operations Management Department of Management Department of Marketing College of Liberal Arts Department of English Department of History & Geography Department of Humanities & Philosophy Department of Mass Communication Department of Modern Languages Department of Political Science Department of Sociology, CJ & SAS

College of Education and Professional Studies Department of Adv. Professional Services Department of Curriculum and Instruction Department of Human Environmental Sci. Department of Kinesiology & Health Stud. Department of Occupational Tech. Educ. Department of Professional Teacher Edu. Department of Psychology Department of Special Services Department of Teacher Education Services College of Mathematics and Science Department of Biology Department of Chemistry Department of Computer Science Department of Funeral Services Department of Mathematics and Statistics Department of Nursing Department of Engineering & Physics Jackson College Of Graduate Studies

[edit] Degree Options

UCO offers over 135 degree options.

• Associate's Degree (ACM@UCO)
  • Associate of Applied Science
• Bachelor's Degree
  • Bachelor of Applied Technology
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Bachelor of Arts in Education
  • Bachelor of Business Administration
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts Education
  • Bachelor of Music
  • Bachelor of Music Education
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Bachelor of Science in Education
• Master's Degree
  • Master of Arts
  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Education
  • Master of Fine Arts
  • Master of Music
  • Master of Science
• Certificates:
  • Funeral Service
• Non-Degree Pre-Professional Programs:
  • Pre-Dental
  • Pre-Engineering
  • Pre-Medical
  • Pre-Occupational Therapy
  • Pre-Optometry
  • Pre-Pharmacy
  • Pre-Physician's Assistant
  • Pre-Physical Therapy
  • Pre-Radiological Technology
  • Pre-Veterinary Medicine

[edit] UCO Jazz Lab

The UCO Jazz Lab is home for the celebrated Jazz Studies Division of the University of Central Oklahoma School of Music. The Jazz Program was started in 1974 by Dr. Kent Kidwell. Since 1974, the Jazz program grew to what it is today. Current Jazz faculty include Lee Rucker, who is the director of the Jazz Lab and also serves as director of 1st Jazz Ensemble. Mr. Rucker also teaches applied Jazz Improvisation. Brian Gorrell is the Head of the Jazz Studies Division, Recording studio and is the director of the 2nd Jazz Ensemble. Mr. Gorrell also teaches Applied Saxophone, Applied Jazz Piano and is the Jazz Graduate Advisor. Jeff Kidwell is the director of the 3rd Jazz Ensemble and teaches applied trombone. Other faculty include Clint Rohr, Mitch Bell, Danny Vaughan, Dr. David Hardman and Dr. James Klages.

The UCO Jazz Lab is located on the corner of 5th and Littler St. in Edmond, Oklahoma. The Jazz Lab was built in 2001. It was built with a stage, classrooms, Hideaway Pizza and the Jazz Lab Recording Studio^[9]. Students utilize the Jazz Lab on a daily basis. The UCO Jazz Studies Division offers numerous performance ensembles which include^[10]:

• Jazz Ensembles I, II & III
• Undergraduate and Graduate Combos
• Latin Jazz Ensemble
• The Jazz Guitar Ensemble I & II
• Special Education

The School of Music currently offers an undergraduate Minor in Jazz Studies and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies with Majors either in Performance or Commercial Music Production. The UCO Jazz Lab also Hosts the Annual Recording Technology Workshop and The Annual Guitar Techniques Workshop During the summer. The UCO Jazz Ensembles have received many awards. In 2008, The UCO Jazz Ensemble I revived the "Outstanding University Jazz Ensemble" award at the 2006 and 2008 UNT Jazz Festival^[11]. In 1983 UCO's Dixieland band was ranked No.1 in the nation^[12] and in 1975, UCO Jazz Ensemble I received top honors at the Wichita Jazz Festival and since then, all UCO Jazz Bands have participated in the event.

Since it opened, The Jazz Lab has won "Best Place for Live Music" multiple times in the Edmond Life & Leisure's Reader's Choice annual poll, and has been repeatedly won the award for The Best Live Music Venue in the Oklahoma Gazette’s Best of OKC readers’ poll. The Jazz Lab has featured many famous performers including:

Wynton Marsalis George Winston Chris Botti Kenny Werner Christopher Cross United States Army Jazz Ambassadors David Gibson Ann Hampton Callaway Steve Tyrell Miguel Zenon

Lynn Seaton Jane Monheit John Pizzarelli Boz Scaggs Peter Krauss Maynard Ferguson Leon Russell Phil Woods Chick Corea Tierney Sutton

In addition to featuring some of the biggest names in Jazz, The UCO Jazz Lab features the Best local and regional musicians from various genres every Thursday, Friday and Saturday Nights.

[edit] Broadcasting

UCO is well known for its broadcasting program. UCentral is the student network of the University of Central Oklahoma.The University currently operates 2 radio stations and a TV station. The school operates an FM radio station, 90.1 KCSC, which plays classical music, opera, and features news from the BBC.

The school's Mass Communication Department also operates a second radio station, KCSC-HD2 which is student run and known as ed 90.1. It can be heard on the UCO campus and all across the Oklahoma City area on 90.1 HD-2 and online at ed901.com. This station plays mainly adult hits from the 90's and Today.

The school also operates a television station which is also student run. The TV station, known as UCentral, airs alternative rock music videos throughout most of the day and features a newscast along with other student produced shows. It can be seen on Cox Cable Digital Channel 125 in the Edmond Area.

[edit] Campus

[edit] Academic buildings

• The Art and Design Building
• Max Chambers Library
• Communications Building
• Education Building
• Evans Hall
• Health and Physical Education Building
• Math and Computer Science Building
• Coyner Health Sciences Building
• Human Environmental Science Building
• Howell Hall
• Laboratory Annex
• UCO Jazz Lab
• Liberal Arts Building
• Michell Hall Theatre
• Business North
• Business South
• Music Building
• Thatcher Hall
• Wantland Hall^[13]

[edit] Other Campus Buildings

• Wantland Stadium
• Lillard Administration Building
• Old North
• Central Cafeteria
• Stephenson Park Theatre
• Nigh University Center
• Housing Office
• Ropes Course
• University Commons Clubhouse
• Edmond Chamber of Commerce
• Department of Public Safety
• Alumni House
• Hamilton Field House
• Central Plant
• Wellness Center
• Physical Plant
• Y Chapel of Song

[edit] Residential Buildings

UCO has five residence halls on campus.

• Murdaugh Hall - traditional-style men's residence hall; houses up to 290 students.
• West Hall - traditional-style women's residence hall; can house up to 452 students.
• The University Suites - co-ed suite-style residence hall; houses up to 302 students and contains a computer lab and dining facility.
• University Commons apartments - consists of multiple apartment buildings, which include two-bedroom and four-bedroom apartments. The Commons Clubhouse is a 3,000 sq ft (280 m²) community building with a TV lounge, computer lab, and recreation room.
• Central Plaza - residence hall located across the street from the main campus; contains a dining facility. It was opened in 2005 and formerly operated as a Ramada hotel.

[edit] Athletics

UCO athletes participate in the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and is the largest school in the conference. Both men's and women's teams are nicknamed the "Bronchos." UCO currently competes in baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's cross-country, football, men's and women's golf, women's soccer, softball, women's tennis, volleyball, and wrestling, and women's rowing.

Wantland Stadium is home for the Bronchos Football team. First used in 1965, it went under a $16 Million renovation in 2005 increasing the seating capacity to 10,000. UCO Basketball home court is Hamilton Field House and seats 3,000.

The Official website for UCO athletics is Bronchosports.com

[edit] Club Sports

Men's Hockey	University of Central Oklahoma Hockey Club	Founded 2006
Rugby Union	University of Central Oklahoma Rugby Football Club	Founded 2007
Men's Soccer	University of Central Oklahoma Men's Soccer Club	N/A

[edit] Fight Song

UCO Fight Song Fight Boys, Fight for U – C – O! Fight Boys, Fight Today! All for the team, boys All full of steam, boys, Hear our cheers for you, Go Bronchos!

Fight Boys, Fight for the Bronze and the Blue Fight Boys, Fight Today! Add one more vict’ry To Central’s hist’ry! U - C- O!

[edit] Presidents of UCO

• Richard Thatcher 1891-1893
• George W. Winans 1893-1894
• E.R. Williams 1894-1895
• E.D. Murdaugh 1895-1901
• F.H. Umholtz 1901-1906
• T.W. Butcher 1906-1908
• James A. McLaughlin 1908-1911
• Charles Evans 1911-1916
• Grant B. Grumbine 1916-1917
• J.W. Graves 1917-1919
• John G. Michell 1919-1931
• M.A. Beeson 1931-1935
• John O. Mosley 1935-1939
• Roscoe R. Robinson 1939-1948
• George P. Huckaby 1948
• W. Max Chambers 1948-1960
• Garland Godfrey 1960-1975
• Bill J. Lillard 1975-1992
• George Nigh 1992-1997
• W. Roger Webb 1997-Present^[14]

[edit] Greek Life

UCO is home to 18 Greek organizations.

IFC Chapters: Sigma Tau Gamma Sigma Nu Kappa Sigma Tau Kappa Epsilon Pi Kappa Alpha Acacia Fraternity Panhellenic Chapters: Delta Zeta Sigma Kappa Alpha Gamma Delta Alpha Xi Delta

National Pan-Hellenic Chapters: Alpha Kappa Alpha Alpha Phi Alpha Delta Sigma Theta Omega Psi Phi Phi Beta Sigma Sigma Gamma Rho Zeta Phi Beta NALFO Chapters: Sigma Lambda Gamma Christian Chapters: Sigma Phi Lambda Professional Fraternity Association Kappa Kappa Psi

[edit] Alumni

[edit] Faculty

• Wei R. Chen, Professor of biomedical engineering and recipient of 2008 U.S. Professor of the Year award from CASE^[15]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• http://www.uco.edu/
• http://www.bronchosports.com/ - Official UCO athletic website
• http://www.ucojazzlab.com/ - UCO Jazz Lab Website
• http://www.uco.edu/alumni/ - University of Central Oklahoma Alumni Association
• http://library.uco.edu/ - Chambers Library at University of Central Oklahoma
• http://www.camd.uco.edu/ - UCO College of Arts, Media & Design
• http://www.busn.uco.edu/ - University of Central Oklahoma's College of Business
• http://www.ed901.com/ - Alternative Rock- ED 90.1 HD~2 in Edmond/Oklahoma City; 99.9 FM on the UCO Campus.
• http://www.libarts.uco.edu/masscomm/ - University of Central Oklahoma Department of Mass Communication
• http://www.kcscfm.com/ - Classical music station: KCSC 90.1 FM in Edmond/Oklahoma City; also KBCW 91.9 FM in McAlester, OK
• UCO Acacia Fraternity
• Stacy McNeiland - Executive Director for Community Outreach and Special projects
• http://www.ucohockey.com/ - Official UCO Hockey website

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