North Dakota State University
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| North Dakota State University | |
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| Motto: | "For the land, and its people." |
| Established: | 1890 |
| Type: | Public, Land Grant |
| President: | Joseph A. Chapman |
| Faculty: | 724 |
| Staff: | 4,498 |
| Students: | 12,527 |
| Undergraduates: | 10,751 |
| Postgraduates: | 1,776 |
| Location: | Fargo, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Campus: | Urban - Fargo Campus: 258 acres (1.04 km²) - Total: 22,053 acres (89.24 km²) (1.04 km²) |
| Athletics: | North Dakota State Bison |
| Sports: | 16 Division I |
| Colors: | Yellow and Green |
| Nickname: | Bison |
| Mascot: | Thundar |
| Affiliations: | North Dakota University System |
| Website: | www.ndsu.edu |
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North Dakota State University (NDSU) is a public university in Fargo, North Dakota, United States. Currently, over 12,500 students attend classes on the NDSU campus.[1] Founded as "North Dakota Agricultural College" in 1890 as a land grant institution, it sits on a 258 acre (1 km²) campus in an urban setting. The school also operates several agricultural research centers around the state which brings total land holdings past 22,000 acres (89 km²). NDSU is a part of the North Dakota University System.
NDSU offers 360 separate academic options from the Bachelor's degree to the doctoral level including 108 bachelor's, 75 minors, 56 master's, 42 doctoral, and three professional degrees. NDSU uses a semester system (Fall and Spring, with the addition of two summer sessions). The majority of students are full-time. 45.3% of the students are female and 54.7% are male.
Since 1999, NDSU has generated more than a $1 billion impact on North Dakota's economy.[2] NDSU is a comprehensive doctoral research university with programs involved in high research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation.[3] NDSU employs over 5,300 people in all of its capacities. The current president is Dr. Joseph A. Chapman.
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[edit] History
[edit] Founding
The bill founding North Dakota Agricultural College (NDAC) was signed into law on March 8, 1890; seven years after initial plans to start an agricultural college in the northern portion of the Dakota Territory. NDAC was established as the land grant university of North Dakota, meaning that it was established for the people of the state.[4]
On October 15, 1890 Horace E. Stockbridge became the first president of NDAC. The same day the first three faculty members: Henry L. Bolley, Edwin F. Ladd, and Clare Bailey Waldron were approved by the Board of Trustees.[5]
Six classrooms were rented from the Fargo College, until the college’s first building (Old Main) could be built. A provisional course was first held on January 6, 1891; however, the first regular class of students was not admitted until September 8, 1891. It was not until 1892 that College Hall (Old Main) was completed. College Hall contained offices, classrooms, and a library; it served the 80 students that were currently enrolled at NDAC.[5]
[edit] 20th Century
It was in 1909 that the school’s official colors, Yellow and Green, were ratified; just a year after the school’s alma mater The Yellow and The Green was written.[4]
NDAC continued to grow and became known as North Dakota State University on November 8, 1960. The name change was to reflect the increasing field of study breadth of the institution.[4]
[edit] 21st Century
At the turn of the century, NDSU began a phase of growth. NDSU first surpassed 10,000 students in the fall of 2000. Just seven years later NDSU had increased enrollment by another 20%, to 12,527 students in the fall of 2007. NDSU is the fastest growing higher education institution in the state.[6] Furthermore, when North Dakota and Minnesota students took the 2007 ACT, more selected NDSU than any other state option.[7]
Coupled with this large student growth is substantial growth in all areas of the University. Other areas that have grown in the 21st century include academic programs, research, athletics, and campus facilities. Between 2000 and 2007, a number of undergraduate programs were added as well as 31 graduate programs. Research expenditures have doubled reaching over $100 million making NDSU the largest research institution in the state. In 2004, all athletic programs moved to Division I. Several building have been built or expanded and remodeled over the past seven years, including the Wallman Wellness Center, Memorial Union, and the College of Business.[7]
[edit] Campuses
North Dakota State University is primarily located in Fargo, North Dakota. NDSU consists of several campuses including: the main campus, NDSU Downtown, and several agricultural experiment station campuses.
[edit] Main campus
The main campus sits on 258 acres (1.04 km²) of beautiful, well landscaped land and consists of over 100 major buildings. The main campus features hundreds of flowerbeds and trees of great variety, all supported by the University’s extensive agricultural programs. The main campus is bordered by 19th Avenue to the North, University Drive to the East, and 12th Avenue to the South.
Located in the historic Minard – South Engineering quad is the Babbling Brook. The Babbling Brook is a large water feature that offers students a serene location to relax and unwind. Enhancing the area are several waterfalls, various fish and flowers, an amphitheater, and "buffalo-rubbed" rocks. This area also offers a space for the holding of classes outdoors as well as performances. Over the years NDSU’s main campus was aesthetically enhanced with many monuments including: an F-104, the Bjornson Memorial Obelisk, Theatre Passion: Mask Sculpture, We Will Never Forget Memorial, and Noble's Golden Marguerite, among many others.
[edit] Southern area
The Southeastern area of campus consists of many of NDSU’s historic buildings including Old Main, Minard Hall, Ceres Hall, Putnam Hall, South Engineering, and Morrill Hall. The Southwestern area consists of agricultural research centers, the USDA, State Seed, and many research plots.
[edit] Central area
The central area consists of the Engineering Complex, Shepperd Arena, and many academic buildings. The central campus is also home to the Industrial Agricultural Communications Center (IACC) which is a technology powerhouse for the entire state. The IACC contains several hundred computers; computer servers for many of the Universities in the North Dakota University System; and many other technologies and communication devices.
The NDSU Memorial Union is also situated within the central campus. The NDSU Memorial Union is a structure built for the sole purpose of serving student’s social needs. The NDSU Memorial Union is nearing completion of a multi-million dollar addition and renovation. The addition consists of over 68,000 square feet to be used for dining facilities, student offices, lounges, meeting and a new ballroom. The renovation includes redesigning the main concourse to better serve students, the addition of the Bison Connection, which is a one stop shop to meet many of the student’s administrative needs, and more.
When the addition and renovation are complete the NDSU Memorial Union will consist of six restaurants, a coffee shop, a dining center, a rec center, including a bowling alley, the NDSU Bookstore, the Herd Shop convenience store, large, spacious lounges and meeting rooms, a radio station and much more. The large outdoor area to the east of the NDSU Memorial Union, known as Churchill Field, will be converted to a large quad consisting of plazas, water features, amphitheaters, and landscaping features. The quad will provide a great area for students to hang out and relax and will serve as a focal point for outdoor performances and recreations.
[edit] North area
Just north of the central area of campus is a large area that consists of many academic buildings, residence halls, and dining centers. This area is easily recognizable as four residential high-rises rise above the landscape. The high-rises are surrounded by grassy quads, an amphitheater, and sand-volleyball and basketball courts. In between the four identical high-rises is a dining center that serves the 1000+ residents of the high-rises. Tunnels connect the high-rises and the dining center to ease travel. A large new upper-class student residence facility, known as the Living Learning Center (East and West), is to the west of the high-rises. To the east is another dining center serving other nearby residence halls and 1000+ residents.
This area of campus is also home to the NDSU Wellness Center and YMCA. The Wellness Center, which was completed in 2002, is nearing completion of a multi-million dollar addition. The addition will include several basketball courts, a multipurpose gym, several racquetball courts, a large free-weight area, spinning and cycling rooms, martial arts facilities, and the state’s tallest rock climbing formation, among many other features.
[edit] Athletic area
Further north is area of campus that consists of many athletic facilities including the Benson/Bunker Fieldhouse, Bison Sports Arena, Fargodome, Newman Outdoor Field, Ellig Sports Complex, McCormick Wrestling Complex, Dacotah Field, Schlanser Track, and others.
A multi-million dollar addition and renovation of Bison Sports Arena is to begin summer 2007. Talks are currently underway about the possibility of building a new basketball arena and attaching it to the Fargodome. The arena is expected to have 6,000 seats with available expansion to 8,000.
[edit] Research and technology park
The Research and Technology Park is a 55 acre site of innovation and technology; the site sits to the west of the north area of campus. The Research and Technology Park consists of entities that research and develop nano technologies, RFID, polymers and coatings, high performance computing, and others.
To supplement the Research and Technology Park the Center for Technology Enterprise was developed to assist startup entities and the NDSU Development Foundation built an extended stay hotel.
[edit] NDSU downtown
NDSU Downtown is a growing campus of North Dakota State University. This mini-campus started in 2004 with the purchase and renovation of the Northern School Supply building at NP Avenue and 8th Street north in downtown Fargo. This building is home to NDSU's visual arts program and is also home to part of its architecture program. In 2006, the NDSU Development Foundation purchased the Pioneer Mutual Life Insurance Building and Lincoln Mutual Life & Casualty Insurance Building along 2nd Avenue North between 8th and 10th Street in downtown Fargo from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of North Dakota. The buildings and subsequent additions will house the College of Business and some architectural programs. The area surrounding the buildings will be developed into a "mini-campus" with large grass areas, trees, and other amenities. To further supplement the area, local developers immediately expressed interest in developing the area after campus expansions were reported. For travel between NDSU Downtown and the main campus, a free bus system will be available as well as a large walking and biking path.
[edit] Agricultural experiment stations
North Dakota State University has many experiment stations across the state that encompass over 22,053 acres (89.24 km²) in total. Major NDSU research and experiment stations are located near Carrington, Casselton, Dickinson, Fargo, Hettinger, Langdon, Minot, Streeter, and Williston.
[edit] Current construction and expansion
NDSU is currently growing at an exceptional rate. NDSU's recent move to NCAA Division I athletics coupled with the addition of many academic programs and research opportunities has led to a nearly 20% increase in enrollment in 5 years.
Recently completed and future projects include:
- Minard Hall addition and renovations - additions have been completed, renovations have begun.
- NDSU Technology Park - a 55 acre site that contains many research buildings and a hotel.
- Richard H. Barry Hall - the new downtown College of Business building which will include many classrooms, auditoriums, a bookstore and a finance room featuring live market analysis and world news feeds.
- Living Learning Center East and West, Bison Court, and F Court - residential buildings.
- Wellness Center - additions and renovations affecting over 70,000 square feet.
- Memorial Union - additions and renovations encompassing nearly 200,000 square feet.
- NDSU Downtown - includes the art department, architecture, and college of business.
- Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute - researches urban and rural transportation and logistics.
- NDSU Library expansion - studies are being conducted regarding the building of a $40+ million new library.
- Research Greenhouses - 16 million dollars worth of funding has been approved to build new research facilities.
- Athletic facilities upgrades and expansions - includes remodeling of current facilities and the prospect of a new basketball arena.
- Klai Hall - a new downtown home to the Department of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.
Many privately funded projects are also underway around the campus. These include shopping areas, restaurants, student housing, and beautification, among others.
[edit] Academics
North Dakota State University is well known for many of its academic programs. Not only are many of NDSU's academic programs nationally known, but NDSU offers many unique degree programs including: Communication and Signal Processing, Emergency Management, Health Communication, and Behavioral Statistics.
North Dakota State University is divided into the following colleges:
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- College of Agriculture, Food Systems & Natural Resources
- College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
- College of Business
- College of Engineering and Architecture
- College of Human Development and Education
- College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Allied Sciences
- College of Science and Mathematics
- College of University Studies
- Graduate School
Additionally NDSU has the following academic divisions:
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- Continuing Education
- Cooperative Education
- International Programs
108 bachelor's, 75 minors, 79 options, 56 master's, 42 doctoral, and three professional degrees make up North Dakota State University. NDSU offers a unique major unknown as University Studies that allows a student to study in nearly any area that interests them. To enhance learning among its students, NDSU offers many online classes, online academic portals, and technology enhanced classrooms.
[edit] Libraries
Total collections at NDSU libraries include about 1.4 million units.
Libraries at NDSU:
- Main Library - As of 2003, the main library contained over 400,000 books and 100,000 individual periodicals. The library also offers electronic books, government documents, maps, electronic resources, Microforms, non-print materials, and slide sets.
- H.J. Klosterman Chemistry Library - This library contains nearly 7,300 books as well as serials, periodicals, a reference collection, a number of microfilms, theses, and indexes.
- Architecture and Landscape Architecture Library - This library contains more than 13,000 books. Other offerings include periodicals, slides, microfilms, theses, and audio-visual equipment.
- Philip N. Haakenson Health Sciences Library - Contains various material relating to health sciences.
- Institute of Regional Studies
A feasibility study was recently completed regarding the construction of a new library at North Dakota State University. The feasibility study makes recommendations in excess of 65 million dollars.
[edit] Research
- See also: Red River Valley Research Corridor
NDSU is a major component of the Red River Valley Research Corridor and does research in many areas. According to the National Science Foundation, NDSU is the largest research institution in the state of North Dakota. NDSU’s position is the highest National Science Foundation ranking in the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Idaho and is also among the top 100 research universities in the United States in six research categories including both federal and non-federal research expenditures. NDSU's annual research expenditures exceed 100 million dollars. NDSU is among North America's "35 Best Places to Work for Postdocs”, according to a survey published in The Scientist's March 1, 2006 issue.
Major fields of research at NDSU include nanotechnology, RFID technology, agriculture, and polymers/coatings. NDSU also has a 55 acre (223,000 m²) Technology Park located on the north side of the main campus.
[edit] Athletics
NDSU's sports teams are known as the North Dakota State Bison, or simply The Bison; however, they are also known as "The Thundering Herd". NDSU's athletic symbol is the American Bison.
North Dakota State's intercollegiate sports teams participate in NCAA Division I in all sports (Division I Championship Subdivision in football). NDSU was a charter member of the Division II North Central Conference (NCC), and made the move to Division I sports in the fall of 2004. NDSU spent the next two years as an independent in Division I in all sports other than football in which it is a member of the Great West Football Conference. The school was accepted into The Summit League on August 31, 2006 and began play in that conference on July 1, 2007. The football team left the Great West Football Conference and joined the Missouri Valley Football Conference on March 7, 2007. They will become a full member of the conference during the 2008 season.
The Bison football team, which plays their home games at the Fargodome (cap. 19,287), was the winningest program in NCC history with twenty-six conference championships. A dominant force in NCAA Division II, and its predecessor NCAA College Division, they won eight national championships (1965, 1968, 1969, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990) before moving to Division I Championship Subdivision in 2004. In November 2006, the Bison football team won their first Division I Championship Subdivision Great West Football Conference title against the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits. On October 20, 2007, the Bison defeated the Minnesota Golden Gophers at the Metrodome. NDSU football is a major event in the city of Fargo and the region, averaging over 18,000 fans per home game.
The men's and women's Bison basketball teams play in the Bison Sports Arena. The women's basketball team was also a dominant force in Division II throughout the 1990s. They won five titles during the decade (1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996). In January of 2006, the NCAA recognized NDSU's four consecutive Division II Women's Basketball Championships (1993 - 1996) as one of the "25 Most Defining Moments in NCAA History." NDSU's men's basketball team gained national recognition in 2006 with an upset win at #13 ranked Wisconsin, and again in the 2006-07 season with a win at highly-ranked Marquette.
The Bison wrestling program has also had great success winning four Division II team titles (1988, 1998, 2000, 2001). The team is fully eligible for the Division I tournament competition. They recently joined with six other institutions to create the Western Wrestling Conference.
[edit] Student Life
Student life at NDSU is an important part of the students' collegiate experience. The NDSU community works to ensure that students' needs are met. NDSU administration, faculty, and staff work the ensure that one of the university's themes "Students are Paramount" is a reality at NDSU, this is evident in the way student life is promoted at NDSU.
[edit] Campus media
NDSU's student newspaper is The Spectrum. The Spectrum has been in print since 1896 and is the longest continually printed collegiate newspaper in North Dakota. Thunder Radio, an NDSU radio station, operates on KNDS-LP 105.9 FM and offers online streaming. KNDS' format is diverse and varies from program to program.
The NDSU Magazine and Bison Illustrated are other NDSU media productions. NDSU Magazine is a magazine that covers various topics from the arts to sports to world issues. Bison Illustrated is a sports magazine that solely focuses on North Dakota State Bison Athletics. The sports magazine has an estimated readership of 45,000-65,000 people.
[edit] Performing arts
The Division of Fine Arts offers four performance facilities:
- Festival Concert Hall - An acoustically excellent, 1000-seat hall, opened in 1981. FCH is the concert home for all NDSU music major ensembles, such as the Gold Star Concert Band and the NDSU Concert Choir. It also is home for the F-M Symphony and the F-M Opera.
- Beckwith Recital Hall - A smaller setting with a seating capacity of 200. It is used as a classroom for art and music as well as faculty, student and small group recitals.
- Askanase Auditorium - A 380-seat proscenium theatre. The Little Country Theatre uses the space for a majority of their productions.
- Walsh Studio Theatre - A flexible studio-laboratory "black box" theatre. It is located in Askanase Hall.
[edit] Residence Life
North Dakota State University's department of Residence Life ensures that a healthy, vibrant learning environment is provided to students living on the campus. NDSU Residence Life currently operates 14 residence halls and apartment complexes serving over 3000 students.
[edit] Greek life
Greek life has been a part of the NDSU campus since 1913 and there are currently 15 national fraternities and sororities. The Greek community has over 500 students. In 2005, the 15 fraternities and sororities at NDSU raised nearly $100,000 and served over 5,500 hours to local and national charities.[8]
[edit] Notable alumni
- Mark Andrews - former U.S. Senator
- Bob Backlund - former World Wrestling Federation champion wrestler
- David Bernauer - former CEO, current chairman of Walgreens
- Tyrone Braxton - former NFL player
- Douglas Burgum - senior vice president of Microsoft Business Solutions
- Alf Clausen - composer for "The Simpsons" as well as other television programs and motion pictures
- Craig Dahl - current NFL player
- Stan Dardis - President and CEO of Bremer Financial Corporation
- Lamar Gordon - current NFL player
- William L. Guy - former governor of North Dakota
- Phil Hansen - former NFL player
- Arthur A. Link - former governor of North Dakota
- Earl Mindell - writer and nutritionist
- Steve Nelson - former NFL player
- Annette Olson - Miss North Dakota 2006
- Mancur Olson - 20th century economist and social scientist
- Stacy Robinson - former NFL player
- Isaac Snell - current NFL player
- Gen. Charles F. Wald - former Deputy Commander of United States European Command
- Milton R. Young - former U.S. Senator
[edit] References
- ^ It's Happening Today: NDSU sets another enrollment record. University Relations at North Dakota State University. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
- ^ Higher Education at a Crossroad. Midwestern Higher Education Compact. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
- ^ The Carnegie Foundation...Classifications. The Carnegie Foundation. Retrieved on 2007-07-01.
- ^ a b c NDSU History and Traditions Council: Did You Know?. NDSU History and Traditions Council. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
- ^ a b University Archives - NDSU History. NDSU Archives. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
- ^ Fall Enrollment Report 2006. North Dakota State Board of Higher Education. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
- ^ a b NDSU: State of the University Address - 2007. NDSU. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
- ^ Greek Life. NDSU Memorial Union. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
[edit] External links
- NDSU official website
- NDSU Athletics website
- NDSU Bookstore
- The Spectrum website - NDSU's student-run newspaper
- NDSU Student Government website
- NDSU Alumni Association
- NDSU Development Foundation
- NDSU Magazine
- NDSU Research and Technology Park
- ndbison.com - website that contains information for NDSU students (not affiliated with NDSU)
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