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Northeastern State University
Public university in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, US From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Northeastern State University (NSU) is a public university with its main campus in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The university also has two other campuses in Muskogee and Broken Arrow. Northeastern is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of Oklahoma as well as one of the oldest institutions of higher learning west of the Mississippi River.[5] Tahlequah is home to the capital of the Cherokee Nation and about 25 percent of the students at NSU identify themselves as American Indian.[6] The university has many courses focused on Native American linguistics, and offers Cherokee language Education as a major.[7] Some classes are taught in Cherokee for first language speakers as well.[8]
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History
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On May 7, 1851, the Cherokee Nation founded the Cherokee National Female Seminary at Tahlequah, the same year that it opened a male seminary in its territory. This was after its removal to Indian Territory and part of its building institutions to support its future.
On March 6, 1909, after statehood, the State Legislature of Oklahoma passed an act providing for the creation and location of Northeastern State Normal School at Tahlequah, Oklahoma for the training of teachers. For this purpose, it purchased from the Cherokee Tribal Government the building, land, and equipment of the Cherokee Female Seminary.
In 1921, the name was changed to Northeastern State Teachers College as it had expanded to a full four-year curriculum.[6] In the 1950s Northeastern emerged as a comprehensive state college, broadening its curriculum at the baccalaureate level to encompass liberal arts subjects and adding a fifth-year program designed to prepare master teachers for elementary and secondary schools.
With addition of graduate-degree programs, in 1974, the Oklahoma Legislature authorized changing the name of the institution from Northeastern State College to Northeastern Oklahoma State University; in 1985 it authorized a change in name to Northeastern State University. In 1979, NSU opened its College of Optometry.[6]
In the early 21st century, NSU is the fourth-largest university in Oklahoma.[9] On March 6, 2009, NSU celebrated its centennial with Founders Day celebrations.
Presidents
- Albert Sydney Wyly, 1909
- Frank Redd, 1909–1911
- Frank E. Buck, 1911–1912
- W.E. Gill, 1912–1914
- George W. Gable, 1914–1919
- William T. Ford, 1919–1923
- Monroe P. Hammond, 1923–1935
- J.M. Hackler (acting), 1935–1936
- John Samuel Vaughan, 1936–1951
- Louis H. Bally (acting), 1951
- Harrell E. Garrison, 1951–1970
- Robert E. Collier, 1970–1977
- Elwin Fite (acting), 1977–1978
- W. Roger Webb, 1978–1997
- Larry B. Williams, 1997–2007
- Kim Cherry (interim), 2007–2008
- Don Betz, 2008–2011
- Martin Tadlock (interim), 2011[10]
- Steve Turner, 2012–2023
- Rodney Hanley, 2023-present
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Tahlequah campus
The Tahlequah campus, which spans over 200 acres (0.81 km2), was developed on the grounds of the Cherokee Female Seminary. The original building for the seminary is now used as Seminary Hall, an academic building. The campus has numerous classroom, laboratory, residential, and athletic facilities. In recent years the university constructed a $10 million Science Center, funded by a bond issued by the university.[11]
NSU offers 69 undergraduate degree programs, 18 graduate degree programs, and 13 pre-professional programs in five colleges (Business & Technology, Liberal Arts, Education, Optometry, and Health & Science Professions). The student-to-faculty ratio is 26 to 1, and in the Spring of 2008 the total enrollment for the Tahlequah Campus was 6,216.[12] There is also a distance-learning program, by which students who cannot attend the university due to work or family obligations can complete courses via the Internet or videoconferencing.
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Athletics
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The Northeastern State (NSU) athletic teams are called the RiverHawks.[13] The university is a member of the Division II ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) for most of its sports since the 2012–13 academic year;[14][15][16] while its men's soccer team competes in the Great American Conference (GAC). The RiverHawks previously competed as an NCAA D-II Independent during the 2011–12 school year; in the D-II Lone Star Conference (LSC) from 1997–98 to 2010–11; and in the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference (OIC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1974–75 to 1996–97.
NSU competes in 12 intercollegiate sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer and tennis; while women's sports include basketball, golf, soccer, softball, spirit squads and tennis.
Accomplishments
In 2003, the men's basketball team won the NCAA Division II National Championship, beating Kentucky Wesleyan 75–64.[17]
Name change
Northeastern State University announced on May 23, 2006, that they would be dropping "Redmen" and selecting a new mascot. The change was made proactively in response to the 2005 NCAA Native American mascot decision.[18] The university announced its new athletic name as the RiverHawks on November 14, 2006.[13]
Campus life
Greek life
Northeastern State University has several fraternities and sororities located on the Tahlequah campus.[20][21][22]
Jazz Lab
The NSU Jazz Ensemble performs with regional, national, and international guest artists at the Jazz Lab every year.
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Branch campuses
Muskogee
NSU's Muskogee campus was opened in 1993 as a 27,700-square-foot (2,570 m2) facility located on 23 acres (93,000 m2). The campus offers upper-level and graduate courses in education, business, general studies, nursing, and industrial management.[23] In 2001 the NSU Muskogee opened the Mike Synar Center in honor of Mike Synar, former U.S. Congressman from the 2nd District of Oklahoma from 1979 to 1995.
Broken Arrow
NSU's Broken Arrow campus was opened in 2002 with a little over 1,000 students. Funding for the campus came from a one-half percent sales tax which was approved by Broken Arrow voters. The first phase of the campus included an administration building, a maintenance facility, and two classroom buildings.[24] In 2004 the campus began a $26 million expansion made possible by Tulsa County's Vision 2025, which also funded Tulsa's new BOK Center. The expansion doubled the size of the campus and also allowed room for up to another 5,000 students. It also added a library along with science and classroom buildings. Construction was completed in the fall of 2007.[24]
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Notable alumni
Notes
- The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.
- The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.
References
External links
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