Ferris State University
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| Ferris State University | |
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| Established: | 1884 |
| Type: | Public university |
| Staff: | 800 |
| Students: | 13000 |
| Undergraduates: | >12,000 |
| Postgraduates: | >1,000 |
| Location: | Big Rapids / Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States |
| Campus: | Big Rapidsin |
| Nickname: | Bulldogs |
| Website: | Ferris.edu |
Ferris State University has a main campus in Big Rapids, Michigan, in Mecosta County and a secondary campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and smaller programs located throughout the region. It is known for its high rate of employment amongst graduates.
Ferris State University consists of eight colleges: Allied Health Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Services, Optometry, Pharmacy, Technology, and Kendall College of Art and Design. Ferris grants doctorate degrees via its Optometry and Pharmacy colleges. Kendall College of Art and Design is a satellite campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan with over 30 degree programs on-site locally. Via a partnership arrangement, Ferris also grants Bachelor's degrees to graduates of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy at Northwestern Michigan College.
As of the Fall 2006 semester, a record 12,578 students were enrolled at Ferris State University, approximately 85% of whom attend class on the main campus in Big Rapids. The majority of the remainder are at its locations in downtown Grand Rapids: Kendall and the Applied Technology Center. The university's faculty-student ratio is 1:15, and all classes are taught by professional instructors, not graduate assistants.
As of 2003, Ferris State University was the largest employer in Mecosta County.
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[edit] Points of interest
The Ferris Ice Arena and Sports Complex features basketball courts, volleyball courts, hockey rink and a general ice-skating rink located in the Ewigleben Arena, named after former college president Robert Ewigleben. This sports complex hosts university and high school competitions as well as community sports programs.
The university is home to the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia, an extensive collection of everyday items that promote racial segregation or present racial stereotypes of African Americans, for the purpose of academic research and education about their cultural influence.[1]
The Card Wildlife Education Center has a museum, library, and computer facility for students doing wildlife research.
In conjunction with its Professional Golf Management program, the university operates the Katke Golf Club, an 18-hole course adjacent to the Big Rapids campus.
The John and Rhea Smith Greenhouse serves as a resource for the general biology and biotechnology programs at the university. The Rankin Gallery presents exhibits throughout the academic year, and the university hosts the Michigan Art Walk, a growing campus-wide exhibit of works by Michigan sculptors. The university houses the Canadian Collection, a $20 million collection of prints and photographs.
The College of Business is the only one in the state of Michigan to offer a major in Public Relations.
[edit] History
The school was founded in 1884 by Woodbridge Nathan Ferris, an educator from New England who later served as governor of the State of Michigan and finally the US Senate where he remained until his death in 1928. The school was noteworthy at its time for accepting female students beginning with its first graduating class.
Big Rapids Industrial School, as it was originally named, opened on September 1st, 1884. By the beginning of the next semester in January 1885 the school changed its name to Ferris Industrial School. Soon it was again renamed Ferris Institute in 1899 and remained privately owned until 1931. Ferris became a state school in 1949 and was renamed Ferris State College by 1963. The school became a university and assumed its current name, Ferris State University, in 1987.
The first classes at Big Rapids Industrial School were held in temporary quarters in the present location of JCPenney. The school moved to a more permanent location which is today the Fifth Third Bank building on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Maple Street. In 1894, the campus moved into a dedicated new building known as Old Main, which was the first building in the now present location of the campus. Old Main, along with most of the original buildings at the campuses present location, was destroyed by a fire in 1950. All that remains of this original campus today is the Alumni Building.
[edit] Student Government
The Student Government of Ferris State University consists of an Executive Board (president, executive vice-president, vice-presidents of finance, internal assessment, technology and campus affairs along with treasurer and parliamentarian), Senate (representing the various colleges) and a House of Representatives (registered student organizations).
The Finance Division is actually separate from the student government itself, but works together as allocating student funds require the approving votes from the Senate and House. The Finance Division is run by the Vice-President of Finance, along with a committee of members. The Finance Division seeks to distribute student funds to a variety of student organizations around campus on request, as any campus organization may apply for money. Distribution of all student funds, including major events such as homecoming and Ferris Fest, are directed through the Finance Division.
The Division of Internal Assessment (IA) is a committee within the student government that seeks to provide accountability for all members and assessment of progress for the organization. IA is run by the Vice-President of Internal Assessment, along with a committee of members in a similar fashion to that of the Finance Division. The Vice-President of Internal Assessment is in charge of running the committee, approving new members before bringing them to a vote before the Senate and House and initiating expulsion procedures along with organizing all aspects of the elections.
At the start of each semester new ad-hoc committees are created and chairpersons are appointed to chair each committee. Many times a committee may reach for an achievable goal and dissolve upon completion. However, most committees are oriented around goals that may be broad and continuous, such as member recruitment and putting on special events, and thus may need to be re-initiated at the start of every semester.
SGFSU follows Robert's Rules of Order and is mandated by its governing documents, which includes the Constitution, Mandate of Internal Assessment, Rules of Appropriation and Allocation, and a separate Governing Document written at the beginning of each presidential term by the president to describe the way they wish to organize the Executive Board.
SGFSU is notable for creating Textbookunion.com, a cost saving initiative for textbook prices that has gained recognition across student bodies around the United States. Created in 2006 by the Textbook Committee, textbookunion.com has been presented at state and national student government conferences such as Association of Michigan Universities and COSGA, respectively. Although it currently only feeds textbook information from specific Michigan universities, textbookunion.com is in the process of bringing it to the national level. Any student may still use its sophisticated search engine to find the lowest price on the internet for a specific textbook.
[edit] Athletics
National Runners-up:
- 1989 - Wrestling - NCAA Division II
- 2004 - Women's Golf - NCAA Division II
- 2006 - Women's Golf - NCAA Division II
Club Sports National Championships:
- 1994 - Men's Ice Hockey - ACHA Division II
[edit] Ferris State Bulldogs Fight Song
- Cheer those Bulldogs
- Watch them fight.
- Boost those Bulldogs
- They're all right.
- We'll stand by the Crimson and Gold
- Fight! Fight! Fight!
- Bulldogs of Ferris
- Cheer that Bulldog varsity
- Steer that team to victory.
- Fight you Ferris Bulldogs
- And gain another victory.
- Fight! Fight! Fight!
- Fight for Ferris
[edit] Ferris Alma Mater
- As constant as the Northern Star
- Our faith we pledge to thee.
- Our word, our bond, our oath, our trust to you fidelity.
- From promise of the crimson dawn
- To sunset's mellow gold,
- Thy spirit shall prevail
- We pledge allegiance as of old.
- Alma Mater, Hail!
- As changeless as the earth and sea
- Our faith shall fix our way.
- God's truth, our guide, confirms our will
- For steadfastness we pray.
- Forever in our soul enshrined
- These youthful learning days
- Our future to secure.
- To keep endeavor, strong and true,
- Life and purpose pure.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Carlton Brewster, wide Receiver for the New Orleans Saints
- Monty Brown, former NFL Linebacker. Professional Wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment
- Allen Feigel, Offensive Lineman for Team Michigan, All-American Football League
- Dave Karpa, Former NHL Defenceman.
- Chris Kunitz, professional ice hockey player for the Anaheim Ducks
- Harry Melling, 1988 NASCAR championship car owner (Melling Racing) and owner of Melling Tool
- Dana King, news anchor for CBS news affiliate in San Francisco, California.
- Butch Jones, head Football Coach for Central Michigan University
- George Ryan, Former Governor of Illinois
[edit] The Ferris State Torch
The Ferris State Torch is a student run newspaper first published in 1931. It is a weekly publication between 16 and 28 pages in length with a circulation of just under 5,000. The Torch has been completely student governed, with the exception of a faculty advisor and business manager. The Department of Languages and Literature acts as a liaison between the publication and the rest of the University.
The Torch is currently compromised of four sections: News, featuring news stories regarding topics pertinent to the campus and surround area of Big Rapids; Arts & Entertainment, with stories and columns about topics ranging from upcoming art exhibits to local concerts to music and movie reviews; Sports, containing a recap of Bulldog and regional sports, and Opinions, where writers take a personal stance on a topic of choice.
The Editor in Chief of the Torch is considered the CEO of the small business, usually ranging from 30 to 50 employees. He/she is responsible for all final policy decisions and is responsible for keeping the Torch within legal, ethical, and journalistic standards and practices.
Recent Editor in Chiefs
James O'Gorman 2007-2008
Sarah Lundgren 2006-2007
Paul Jarema 2005-2006
Beth Garcia 2004-2005
Aaron Carriere 2003-2004
Chris Miller 2001-2003
Ryan Johnson 2000-2001
[edit] Bulldog Radio
Bulldog Radio is a student organization on the Big Rapids campus. It operates via FSU Info 530, an AM radio channel, on Channel 21 through Mecosta County Charter Communications, Channel 21 through the campus cable provider, and through a live webcast. Bulldog Radio broadcasts information about the campus to the general public. It also airs music and talk programming. Bulldog Radio is available free, 24 hours a day, to Ferris State University, Mecosta County, and the world.
[edit] Notes
[edit] External links
- Gamma Epsilon Tau
- Ferris State University
- Ferris State Torch
- The Student Government of Ferris State University
- Bulldog Radio
- Ferris State University Featured Article on AnyCollege.com
- Computer Enthusiasts Group
- FSU Alumni Association Online Community
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