Shawnee State University
 | |
| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Established | 1986 |
| Endowment | $11.6 million[1] |
| President | Jeff Bauer (interim) |
| Students | 3,582 |
| Undergraduates | 3,406 |
| Postgraduates | 176 |
| Location | , , 38°43′53″N 82°59′36″W / 38.731389°N 82.993333°W |
| Campus | 52 acres (210,000 m2) |
| Colors | Navy Blue and Gray |
| Nickname | Bears |
| Affiliations | NAIA Division I — MSC |
| Website | www.shawnee.edu |
Shawnee State University (SSU) is a public university in Ohio. Established in 1986, it is located in the city of Portsmouth in Scioto County, near the Ohio River.
History
The Ohio Board of Regents voted to authorize the merger of Ohio University-Portsmouth (formerly part of Ohio University) and Scioto Technical College into a new State General and Technical College in 1974. The Regents charted the new institution the following year, and groundbreaking for the new campus took place in 1977. Also in 1977, the Ohio Legislature changed the name of the institution to Shawnee State Community College. The college began operating in 1978.[2]
In 1985, Vern Riffe, the speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, introduced legislation to create Shawnee State University. The legislation passed the Legislature and was signed into law by Governor Richard Celeste in 1986. The new university enrolled 2,797 students in its first year. In 1987, the university's library was named a federal depository library.[2]
In 1990, the university awarded its first bachelor's degrees, having been authorized by the state Regents to establish baccalaureate programs two years earlier. The university established its first master's degree program in 2000 and its second master's program (the Master of Education) in 2010.[2]
Academics
Shawnee State University is a member institution of the Ohio Appalachian Center for Higher Education (OACHE).[3]
Facilities
Shawnee State, located in downtown Portsmouth, has a 52-acre (210,000 m2) campus. Buildings include the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts, Clark Planetarium, and James A. Rhodes Athletic Center.[4] The university's library was named the Clark Memorial Library in 1997.[5]
Shawnee State University's Clyde W. Clark Planetarium opened in 1998. Funding for the planetarium was provided by Clyde W. Clark, a university donor, for whom the planetarium and library are named.[5]
Athletics
Shawnee State University teams, nicknamed athletically as the Bears, are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Mid-South Conference. The Bears previously competed in the American Mideast Conference from 1991–92 to 2009–10. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer and track & field (outdoor); while women's sports include basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field (outdoor) and volleyball.
Notable people
- Ted Strickland, former governor of Ohio and U.S. Representative, served as assistant professor at the university before entering politics[6]
- Candice Cassidy, graduate of Shawnee State University (B.A. in psychology), June 2009 Playboy Playmate of the Month.[7]
References
- ^ As of June 30, 2011. "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2011 Endowment Market Value and Percentage Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2010 to FY 2011" (PDF). National Association of College and University Business Officers. January 17, 2012. p. 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c Shawnee History, Shawnee State University.
- ^ "OACHE Member Institutions". Ohio Appalachian Center for Higher Education. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
- ^ Modern Educational Facilities, Shawnee State University.
- ^ a b About the Library, Clark Memorial Library.
- ^ Shawnee State University announces Governor Strickland as spring 2018 commencement speaker, Shawnee State University (March 8, 2018).
- ^ "Shawnee State Alumna Appears in Playboy" by Jimmy Davis. University Chronicle Archived 2009-10-16 at the Wayback Machine