Stetson University
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| Stetson University | |
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| Motto: | Pro Deo et Veritate (For God and Truth) |
| Established: | 1883 |
| Type: | Private |
| Endowment: | $137,556,000[1] |
| President: | Douglas Lee |
| Faculty: | 163 |
| Students: | 2,273 undergraduates |
| Location: | DeLand, Florida, United States |
| Campus: | Suburban, 174 acres (668,000 m²) |
| Colors: | Green and White |
| Mascot: | The Hatter |
| Affiliations: | None |
| Website: | http://www.stetson.edu |
Stetson University is an independent, private, co-educational, liberal arts university that consistently earns high rankings in national college guides. In the 2007 U.S. News and World Report guide, Stetson ranks 2nd (tied with Elon) in the category of Southern Masters-granting institutions[citation needed].. The university's College of Arts & Sciences, School of Business Administration and School of Music are housed at the historic main campus in DeLand, Florida, United States. The university also includes the Stetson University Center at Celebration, the Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport/St. Pete and the satellite Tampa Law Center in downtown Tampa.
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[edit] Campus
Stetson's main campus is situated just north of the historic downtown area of DeLand, Florida, about halfway between Orlando and Daytona Beach. The 175 acre main campus is a nationally designated National Historic District. The most recent addition to the campus is the $12.7 million Lynn Business Center, Florida's first Green building certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Stetson held two ceremonial groundbreakings Sept. 21 for two buildings: the new Science Center and the Homer and Dolly Hand Art Center. Construction on the Science Center has begun and both buildings are expected to be finished for the 2008-09 school year. Two other academic building projects were also announced at the groundbreaking. The four projects represent $13 million in new construction at Stetson.
The first phase of the Science Center will be a 22,000-square-foot expansion to the front (west side) of the existing science building, Sage Hall. The new two-story section will increase space for science at Stetson by nearly 50 percent.
The new 5,000-square-foot Homer and Dolly Hand Art Center will feature two galleries – one to exhibit rotating selections from Stetson’s extensive collection of art by Modernist painter Oscar Bluemner (1867-1938) and the second to display other works from the university’s permanent art collection or for special shows. It will be located between Sampson Hall and the duPont-Ball Library on campus.
Stetson has a satellite campus in Celebration, Florida which opened in 2004, a law school in Gulfport, Florida and law center in Tampa, Florida. Stetson's law school is the only master's program in the nation to offer its own mock-court on campus in Tampa, Florida.
DeLand Campus:
- College of Arts & Sciences
- School of Music
- School of Business Administration
- Graduate Programs
There are over 60 undergraduate majors and minors offered on the main campus.
Gulfport Campus:
Celebration Campus:
- Stetson University Center at Celebration
Tampa Campus:
- The Tampa Law Center (Stetson Law)
[edit] History
Florida's first private university[1], Stetson University was founded in 1883 by Henry A. DeLand, a New York philanthropist, as DeLand Academy. In 1887, the Legislature of the State of Florida enacted the Charter of DeLand University as an independent institution of higher learning. The university's name was changed in 1889 to honor John B. Stetson, the nationally-known hat manufacturer who gave generously of his time and means to advance the quality and reputation of the institution, and who served, with Mr. DeLand and others, as a founding trustee of the University. The first charter stated that the objective of the University should be "to promote the general interests of education, and to qualify its students to engage in the learned professions or other employments of society, and to discharge honorably and usefully the various duties of life."
Today, Stetson University is an independent, private university in the liberal arts tradition, composed of individually strong undergraduate programs in four colleges and schools and a selected group of academically distinctive graduate, professional and continuing education programs. Seven core values guide the university in preparing students for principled lives, professional achievement and engaged citizenship in the world.
[edit] Students
In Fall 2007 there were 2,264 undergraduates and 363 graduate students enrolled at Stetson (not including the College of Law), from 40 states and over 37 foreign countries. 41% are male, 59% female. 72 percent of undergraduates live on campus (90% of first-year students).
In 2007, the incoming freshman class had an average 3.70 GPA, was in the middle 50 percent SAT range of 1030-1240, and middle 50 percent ACT range of 21-27.
[edit] Faculty
Stetson University employs 195 full-time faculty members, 95% of which hold Ph.D. or equivalent degrees. The student-faculty ratio is 12-1.
[edit] Residential Life
There are nine residential dormitory halls at Stetson University, in addition to the University Village Apartments. These include:
- Carson-Hollis Hall
- Chaudoin Hall
- Conrad Hall
- Emily Hall
- Gordis Hall
- Nemec Hall
- Residence Hall A
- Smith Hall
- Stetson Hall
- University Village Apartments
In addition to the residence halls, the Community Service Station, Foreign Language House and French House also provide student housing. Carson-Hollis Hall traditionally serves as wellness living for students who wish to abstain from any substance use, including alcohol and tobacco. A portion of Smith Hall is utilized for students involved in the University's Honors Program.
Conrad and Chaudoin Halls serve as all-female housing, with Conrad being used almost exclusively for first-year females.
In addition to Conrad and parts of Chaudoin Halls being utilized for first-year students, Smith Hall, Gordis Hall, and portions of Stetson Hall are also home to first-years.
For the 2008-2009 Academic Year, Nemec Hall will serve as the home for five of the six on-campus men's fraternities, while their traditional facilities are redeveloped. Nemec Hall normally serves as the home of the Honors Program, as well as primarily first-year students.
[edit] Student Life
Stetson features approximately 20 honorary academic and professional organizations and over 100 other student organizations on campus. Organizations on campus include the Floyd M. Riddick Model United States Senate program, Model United Nations, a Philosophy Club, Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Professional Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi Business Professional Fraternity, and Roots 'N Shoots (an envirvonmental club), among many others.
There are several religious organizations found on campus as well, including the Southern Baptist Collegiate Ministry, the Roman Catholicism Collegiate Ministry, the Wesley House (Methodist Ministry), the Islam Student Organization, and the Jewish Student Organization.
There are also a number of multicultural and social justice organizations on campus, including the Black Student Association, the Hispanic Organization for Latin American Awareness (HOLA), Organization for Students Actively Pursuing Equality (OSAPE), Students Taking Action Now: Darfur (STAND), and Kaleidoscope (the GLBT alliance on campus).
In addition, there is also an United States Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) unit that students can participate in on-campus through Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Successful completion of the ROTC program allows University students to be commissioned in the United States Army as a US Army Second Lieutenant, and requires a service commitment.
There are 5 social sororities on campus: Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Xi Delta, Delta Delta Delta, Pi Beta Phi, and Zeta Tau Alpha. Also, 6 social fraternities:Lambda Chi Alpha, Phi Sigma Kappa, Pi Kappa Phi, Delta Sigma Phi, Sigma Nu, and Sigma Phi Epsilon.
Stetson is also home to chapters from Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a music fraternity for men, and Sigma Alpha Iota, a music fraternity for women.
[edit] Student Government
Student governance at Stetson consists of an executive and unicameral legislative branch.
The executive branch consists of a Student Body President, Student Body Vice President, Tresurer, Secretary and Historian. The Student Body President and Student Body Vice President are elected in annual elections held in the spring, after which the President appoints the Tresurer, Historian and Secretary. The Vice President appoints the committee chairs for each committee. The committees consist of Academic Affairs, Campus Life, Community Relations, Financial Affairs, First Year Students, Food Services, Policy Reform, Residential Life, and Social Responsibility. The senate seats are elected for each residence hall, and then a Senator is appointed to represent each student organization.
[edit] Floyd M. Riddick Model United States Senate
Stetson University hosts the nation's first and oldest college-level Model United States Senate program (established in 1970) every year in March. Each year, students from colleges and universities around the nation gather at Stetson University for this three-day event. The F.M.R. Model U.S. Senate reproduces the actual procedures and activities of the United States Senate in an effort to provide experience and education for the student participants. Each student is assigned a Senator in one of five legislative committees and is responsible for researching a variety of bills, and crafting appropriate amendments. In addition, the Model Senate attracts national speakers and lecturers, including former and sitting United States Senators. [2]
[edit] Athletics
[edit] Intercollegiate Athletics
Stetson is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and both men’s and women’s teams compete on a Division I level in the Atlantic Sun Conference. The basketball and baseball teams play national schedules and have achieved national rankings.
Men’s Teams include: Baseball, Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, and Tennis. Women’s Teams include: Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Volleyball.
One of Stetson's longtime rivals were the University of Central Florida Golden Knights, owing in part to geographical proximity. This rivalry came to a halt after UCF left the Atlantic Sun Conference for Conference USA.
Stetson played the first intercollegiate basketball games (both men’s and women’s), the first intercollegiate baseball game, and the first intercollegiate football game in Florida. Stetson’s men’s basketball team was the first in Florida to earn 1,000 victories.
The school's mascot is the Stetson Hatter.
[edit] Intramural Program
The Intramural Program offers students the opportunity to manage, officiate, direct and participate in physical activities with the conviction that this participation will promote stability, coordination, sportsmanship, and a sense of leadership which will touch all aspects of their lives. The following sports are available to both men and women:
Basketball, Indoor Volleyball, Swimming, Bowling, Kickball, Table Tennis, Darts, Soccer, Ultimate Frisbee, Dodge Ball, Sand Volleyball, Water Polo (Inner tube), Flag Football, Softball
[edit] Continuing Education
The University has a department of continuing education which specializes in services to organizations outside of the Stetson community. The department is responsible for overseeing a number of different programs held on the University's campus.
The "Elder Hostel" program - held primarily at the end of the fall semester into the beginning of the spring semester - allows individuals older than the "traditional" university age to attend classes on campus and in the region for a week, with specialized courses taught throughout the university's curriculum. [3]
The HATS (High Achieving Talented Students) Program [2] serves gifted and high achieving 4th - 9th grade students through Saturday and summer programs, scholarships, and above-level testing.
In February, Continuing Education and the department of Religious Studies host the Florida Winter Pastors’ School, an event popular with clergy from across North America.
[edit] Notable alumni
| Alumni | Notability |
|---|---|
| Thomas A. James | CEO of Raymond James & Associates |
| Charles E. Merrill | Founder of Merrill Lynch |
| Max Cleland | Former U.S. Senator, head of U.S. Veterans' Administration |
| Dr. James Merritt | Former President of the Southern Baptist Convention, current pastor and CEO of television show Touching Lives |
| George Winston | New age recording artist |
| E. Clay Shaw, Jr. | Former U.S. Representative |
| Kevin Nicholson | 2004 Olympian |
| Richard J. McKay | President and general manager, Atlanta Falcons |
| Ted Cassidy | Actor who played Lurch on the TV show, The Addams Family |
| Craig Crawford | Television political commentator, writer, and columnist for the Congressional Quarterly (1978) |
| Roy Geiger | United States Marine Corps general |
| Joe Negron | Florida State legislator and Republican nominee to succeed ex- Rep. Mark Foley in the 16th Congressional District |
| Joseph Edwards Hendricks | Former United States Representative from Florida |
| Emmett Wilson | Former United States Representative from Florida |
| Jessica Rafalowski | Miss Florida USA 2008 |
[edit] See also
- Stetson University College of Law
- Atlantic Sun Conference
- Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida
- Reserve Officers' Training Corps
- Model United Nations
[edit] References
- ^ The state's public university, the University of Florida, traces its history to 1853, but was not chartered as a university until 1905. In the view of many, including Gilbert Lycan, a Stetson history professor who wrote the University's official centennial history in 1983, Stetson University is Florida's first University, public or private.
- ^ Stetson University HATS (High Achieving Talented Students) Program
[edit] Bibliography
Lycan, Gilbert L. Stetson University: The First 100 Years. DeLand, FL: Stetson University Press, 1983.
[edit] External links
- Stetson University (official site)
- Campus Life (official site)
- Stetson U. College of Arts & Sciences (official site)
- Stetson U. School of Business Administration (official site)
- Stetson U. School of Music (official site)
- Stetson U. College of Law (official site)
- Stetson U. Center at Celebration (official site)
- Stetson University Values Council (official site)
- Stetson University 2007-08 Fact Book (.pdf)
- Stetson University Model United States Senate (official site)
- Stetson University Sigma Nu Chapter (official site)
- Stetson University Delta Sigma Phi Chapter (official site)
- Stetson University Pi Kappa Phi-Chi Chapter (official site)
- Stetson University Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia - Xi Nu Chapter
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