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McNeese State University: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 30°10′50″N 93°13′00″W / 30.18056°N 93.21667°W / 30.18056; -93.21667
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Reverted to revision 676736661 by Billy Hathorn (talk): Article is about the University, not Greek life. (TW)
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|country=United States
|country=United States
|coo{{Coord|30|10|50|N|93|13|00|W|region:US-LA_type:edu|display=inline,title}}
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|students = 8,242<ref name="Enrollment 2014">{{cite web | url = http://as400.regents.state.la.us/pdfs/enroll14/fall2014/fpenrlrpt.pdf | title = Preliminary Headcount Enrollment Summary | publisher= Louisiana Board of Regents | date = September 25, 2014 | accessdate=2014-12-20}}</ref>
|students = 8,162<ref>{{cite web|title=Fall 2015 Enrollment|url=http://www.mcneese.edu/ire/fall_2015_enrollment_quick_facts|website=www.mcneese.edu|publisher=McNeese State University|accessdate=29 September 2015}}</ref>
|undergrad = 7,431<ref name="Enrollment 2014" />
|undergrad = 7,465<ref name="Fall 2015 Enrollment" />
|postgrad = 811<ref name="Enrollment 2014" />
|postgrad = 697<ref name="Fall 2015 Enrollment" />
|faculty= 302 full-time faculty
|faculty= 302 full-time faculty
|staff= 848 full-time and part-time employees
|staff= 848 full-time and part-time employees

Revision as of 22:07, 29 September 2015

McNeese State University
File:McNeese State University Official Seal Logo.jpg
MottoExcellence With A Personal Touch
TypePublic
EstablishedSeptember 1939
Endowment$75 million[1]
PresidentPhilip C. Williams, J.D., Ph.D
Academic staff
302 full-time faculty
Students8,162[2]
Undergraduates7,465[3]
Postgraduates697[3]
Location
Lake Charles
,
Louisiana
,
United States
CampusUrban, 121 acres (0 km2)
ColorsRoyal Blue & Sunflower Gold   
NicknameCowboys & Cowgirls
AffiliationsUL System
MascotRowdy
Websitewww.mcneese.edu

McNeese State University is a public regional university located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the United States. Founded in 1939 as Lake Charles Junior College, it was renamed McNeese Junior College after John McNeese, an early local educator. The present name was adopted in 1970.

McNeese is part of the University of Louisiana System and is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a Master's University.[4] U.S. News and World Report designates McNeese as a Tier One South Regional University.[5] The selective admissions university consists of six colleges and the Doré School of Graduate Studies. McNeese is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and all programs of study are accredited by their respective national boards.

History

Statue of John McNeese on the campus. McNeese, a regional pioneer educator, is the namesake of the university.

McNeese State University was founded in 1939 as a division of Louisiana State University and was originally called Lake Charles Junior College. It offered only the first two years of higher education. McNeese opened its doors on an 86-acre (350,000 m2) tract donated by the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, the parish governing board. There were two original buildings: the former Administration Building (Kaufman Hall) and the McNeese Arena (Ralph O. Ward Memorial Gym). The auditorium, now Francis G. Bulber Auditorium, was completed in 1940 as the third building on the campus. These three buildings are still in use today. The name became John McNeese Junior College in 1940 by resolution of the University Board of Supervisors in honor of this pioneer educator of Lake Charles.

In 1950, the college advanced to four-year status under legislation pushed by State Senator Gilbert Franklin Hennigan of DeRidder in neighboring Beauregard Parish. It was separated from Louisiana State University and renamed McNeese State College. Its administration was transferred to the Louisiana State Board of Education. In 1960, legislators authorized McNeese to offer curricula leading to the master's degree; in 1966, the degree of Educational Specialist was first offered. In 1970, its name changed to McNeese State University. McNeese was first accredited in 1954 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

University leadership

The President's Home
  • Dr. Joseph T. Farrar (1939–1940)
  • Dr. William B. Hatcher (1940–1941)
  • Dr. Rodney Cline (1941–1944)
  • Dr. Lether Edward Frazar (1944–1955) Retired in 1955, became lieutenant governor of Louisiana thereafter.
  • Dr. Wayne N. Cusic (1955–1969) Retired in 1969.
  • Dr. Thomas S. Leary (1969–1980) Resigned from presidency.
  • Dr. Jack Doland (1980–1986) Resigned in order to run for state office.
  • Dr. Robert Hébert (1986–2010)
  • Dr. Philip C. Williams (2010–present)

Campus

The Quadrangle looking toward the Student Union, also known as The Ranch

The main campus occupies 121 acres (0.49 km2) lined with oak trees in the heart of south Lake Charles. The main campus includes 68 main buildings. In addition, the physical plant also includes the 503-acre (2.04 km2) McNeese Farm, a 65-acre (260,000 m2) Athletic plant, Burton Coliseum, the Louisiana Environmental Research Center, and nearly 1,600 acres (6.5 km2) of donated farm property used for research, farming, and ranching.[2]

A renovation of the quadrangle was recently completed to relieve the flooding that plagued students during rainy days. The Southwest Louisiana Entrepreneurial and Economic Development (SEED) Center is under construction on the university campus to allow local business leaders and McNeese students to work in tandem.[6] The newly renovated Jack V. Doland Field House, which now houses offices for all of the football coaches, equipment manager, conditioning and strength coach and members of the athletic administration as well as the ticket office, held its official grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony September 9, 2011.[7] A commemorative statue of John McNeese has recently been placed near Smith Hall, and new decorative signs have been built on each corner of the main campus. Also, a recent $16 million annex to the Shearman Fine Arts Center has been completed and renovations have begun on the older sections of the facility.

The McNeese Recreation Complex includes two weight rooms, basketball courts, tennis courts, an indoor track, and an Olympic-size swimming pool.[8]

Academics

Academic rankings
Master's
Washington Monthly[9]360
Regional
U.S. News & World Report[10]87 (South)

McNeese State University offers 83 degree programs in its eight colleges and divisions:

Contraband Bayou runs through the southern portion of the McNeese campus.
The Shearman Fine Arts Center stands behind the McNeese Entrance Plaza.
  • The Division of General and Basic Studies
  • The College of Business
  • The Burton College of Education
  • The College of Engineering
  • The College of Liberal Arts
  • The College of Nursing and Health Professions
  • The College of Science
  • The Doré School of Graduate Studies

McNeese is the first university in the State of Louisiana to offer a concentration in forensic chemistry. It is one of the first schools in the nation to offer a concentration in terrorism, preparedness and security.[11]

The College of Nursing and the Department of Mass Communications are housed in the Juliet Hardtner Hall, named for a McNeese donor and daughter of the Louisiana timber magnate and conservationist, Henry E. Hardtner of La Salle Parish.

The Department of English and Foreign Languages, in conjunction with the local chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, publishes The Arena, which is an annual collection of art, essays, fiction, and poetry by students, regardless of major.

Courtyard near the Engineering Technology Laboratory building

Fifteen members of faculty have received Fulbright Awards.[12] Faculty members in the Departments of Engineering, Performing Arts, Social Sciences and English and Foreign Languages have taught in Rwanda, Romania, Greece, Korea, and Wales, among other countries. In the Department of English and Foreign Languages alone, four faculty members have received Fulbrights.

McNeese is the only institution in the state of Louisiana to have a Kodály Certification Program as part of its Music Education degree.

The College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Less than 5% of the world's business schools are accredited by this prestigious association.[13]

The College of Engineering offers a multi-discipline curriculum to all students with majors in chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering. That is, students in these individual disciplines are taught by faculty of other disciplines in certain classes. In addition to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Engineering, the college also offers the Master of Engineering degree in chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering and engineering management. The College of Engineering is closely linked to the nearby petrochemical industries and refineries through the Industrial Advisory Board and Lake Area Industry Alliance/McNeese Engineering Partnership. Many students participate in internships with the related industries. The Engineering Program is ranked third nationally with the greatest lifetime return on investment (ROI).[14][15]

McNeese recently formed an Institute for Industry-Education Collaboration that will offer training courses as well as continuing education courses for local Lake Area industries and graduates of McNeese.[16]

  • Bulber Auditorium is on the National Register of Historic Places
    Bulber Auditorium is on the National Register of Historic Places
  • Drew Hall, housing the College of Engineering
    Drew Hall, housing the College of Engineering
  • Burton Business Center
    Burton Business Center
  • Frasch Hall is home to the Department of Biology and Health Sciences.
    Frasch Hall is home to the Department of Biology and Health Sciences.
  • Gayle Hall houses the Harold and Pearl Dripps Department of Agricultural Sciences.
    Gayle Hall houses the Harold and Pearl Dripps Department of Agricultural Sciences.
  • Frasch Hall Annex
    Frasch Hall Annex
  • Entrance to Frazar Memorial Library
    Entrance to Frazar Memorial Library
  • Farrar Hall and Memorial Gymnasium from the quadrangle
    Farrar Hall and Memorial Gymnasium from the quadrangle
  • Hardtner Hall
    Hardtner Hall
  • Office of Student Housing
    Office of Student Housing
  • Kirkman Hall
    Kirkman Hall

Athletics

Main article: McNeese State Cowboys and Cowgirls
Cowboy Stadium, also known as "The Hole"

McNeese's colors are blue and gold. The men's sports teams are known as the Cowboys, while the women's athletic teams are the Cowgirls. McNeese State sports teams participate in NCAA Division I (Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA) for football) in the Southland Conference.

Football

Main article: McNeese State Cowboys football

The football team plays at Louis Bonnette Field at Cowboy Stadium, which seats 17,000 fans. It is also known as "The Hole" and is located near campus. The team played in the inaugural Independence Bowl game in 1976, a 20–16 victory over Tulsa. They would go on to make two more appearances in 1979 and 1980. The Cowboys football team have more recently played in two Division I-AA Finals, in 1997 and 2002.

Basketball

The Cowboys basketball teams play at Burton Coliseum, to the south of campus. In 1956 the Cowboys won the NAIA Division I Men's Tournament. It was the only appearance the Cowboys made in the NAIA tournament. McNeese State defeated Texas Southern 60 to 55. The men's basketball team has made two appearances in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, most recently in 2002, and the team has qualified for the NIT three times, the most recent invitation being in 2011. The women's basketball team earned their first invitation to the "Big Dance" in 2011, by sweeping the Southland Conference Tournament. In 2011, both the men's and women's basketball teams claimed the Southland Conference title in their respective divisions, marking the first time in the 25-year history of the Southland Conference that the men's and women's teams from the same university have won regular-season titles in the same year.[17]

Baseball

The baseball team plays games at Cowboy Diamond. The Cowboys' baseball teams have made several appearances in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, most recently in 2000 and 2003.

Student life

The McNeese Student Union, also known as The Ranch

McNeese State University's speech and debate team is recognized as a national powerhouse and boasts numerous national championships over the last 40 years. The McNeese State University newspaper is The Contraband, a weekly publication which has existed since 1939. The university's award winning student yearbook is The Log. It was first published in 1941.

Greek life

The Greek community of McNeese State University comprises 14 Greek letter organizations.[18]

Fraternities National Pan-Hellenic Council Pan-Hellenic Association

Notable faculty

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ "McNeese State University". McNeese State University. McNeese State University. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Fall 2015 Enrollment". www.mcneese.edu. McNeese State University. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Fall 2015 Enrollment was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
  5. ^ colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/lake-charles-la/mcneese-state-2017/
  6. ^ http://www.kplctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=12723336
  7. ^ http://www.mcneesefieldhouse.com/plans/
  8. ^ http://mcneesealumni.com/s/1148/index.aspx?sid=1148&gid=1&pgid=333
  9. ^ "2024 Master's Universities Rankings". Washington Monthly. August 25, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  10. ^ "2023-2024 Best Regional Universities Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. September 18, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  11. ^ http://www.mcneese.edu/parents/facts.asp Retrieved Sept. 11, 2010
  12. ^ http://www.mcneese.edu/president/blog/rankings_value_and_student_success Retrieved March 13, 2014
  13. ^ http://mcneesealumni.com/s/1148/index.aspx?sid=1148&gid=1&pgid=252&cid=1298&ecid=1298&crid=0&calpgid=340&calcid=918
  14. ^ "Engineering Program". www.mcneese.edu. McNeese State University. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  15. ^ "College ROI Report". www.payscale.com. Payscale. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  16. ^ http://mcneesealumni.com/s/1148/index.aspx?sid=1148&gid=1&pgid=252&cid=1220&ecid=1220&crid=0&calpgid=61&calcid=882 Retrieved September 27, 2010
  17. ^ http://www.southland.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=18400&ATCLID=205110108
  18. ^ "Greek Life". www.mcneese.edu. McNeese State University. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  19. ^ "Newsmaker of the Year". theind.com. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  20. ^ "Dr. Chuck Quarles' Introduction of Dr. Joe Aguillard, Inauguration Ceremony, March 23, 2006" (PDF). lacollege.edu. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  21. ^ "James Armes, III's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  22. ^ "Zack Bronson". daabaseFotball.com. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  23. ^ "Ben Broussard Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  24. ^ "Tierre Brown". Basketball-Reference.Com. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  25. ^ "Michael Ray Charles Art21 PBS". pbs.org. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  26. ^ "Mike Danahay". house.louisiana.gov. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  27. ^ "Dr. Grady A. Dugas". The Monroe News-Star. March 26, 2007. Retrieved February 18, 2015. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ "Joe Dumars". Basketball-Reference.Com. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  29. ^ "House District 36". enlou.com. Retrieved December 10, 2009. [dead link]
  30. ^ "Ray Fontenot Stats". Basketball Almanac. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  31. ^ "Dorothy Hill's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  32. ^ "Bob Howry Stats". Basketball Almanac. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  33. ^ "Luke Lawton". databaseFootball.com. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  34. ^ "Biographical Sketch". Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  35. ^ [1]
  36. ^ "Keith Ortego". databaseFootball.com. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  37. ^ "Kavika Pittman". databaseFootball.com. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  38. ^ "House District 35", Louisiana Encyclopedia (1999)
  39. ^ "Louisiana: Stine, Dennis Neal", Who's Who in American Politics, 2003-2004, 19th ed., Vol. 1 (Alabama-Montana) (Marquis Who's Who: New Providence, New Jersey, 2003), p. 796
  40. ^ "Louisiana: Stine, Timothy D.", Who's Who in American Politics, 2003-2004, 19th ed., Vol. 1 (Alabama-Montana) (Marquis Who's Who: New Providence, New Jersey, 2003), p. 796
  41. ^ "John Thomson Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
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