Rogers State University

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Rogers State University


Motto:	Tradition Innovation Excellence
Established:	1909
Type:	Public
Endowment:	$6,700,000^[1]
President:	Dr. Joe A. Wiley
Provost:	Bill R. Beierschmitt
Dean:	Dr. Michael Turner
OU Board of Regents:	Paul D. Austin, Chairman
Faculty:	196^[2]
Students:	4,014^[3]
Location:	Claremore, Oklahoma, USA
Campus:	Suburban
Colors:	Blue and Red
Mascot:	Hillcats
Affiliations:	Sooner Athletic Conference
Website:	www.rsu.edu

Rogers State University is a public, co-educational university located in Claremore, Oklahoma with branch campuses in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and Pryor Creek, Oklahoma. Since it began offering bachelor's degrees in 2000, it has outpaced the growth of all other public universities in Oklahoma. It currently has a total enrollment of over 4,000 students in programs at its three campuses and in its distance learning programs.

1 History
2 Academics
3 Athletics
4 Media
5 References
6 External links

[edit] History

The institution that is now RSU has gone through several stages in its existence, from its foundation as a state sponsored preparatory school, to its transition to a military academy, and finally, to its current incarnation as a four year university.

It has its roots in the Eastern University Preparatory School, which was founded in 1909. During the construction of the famous "Preparatory Hall", Eastern University Preparatory School held its classes in the old Claremont building until 1911. The institution was closed in 1917.

In 1919 it was restarted as the Oklahoma Military Academy (OMA), to meet the growing educational and training needs of the United States Armed Forces, and from 1923 to 1971 it offered secondary and collegiate education. Thousands graduated from OMA, and over 100 alumni gave their lives serving their country during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

In 1971, the Oklahoma Legislature replaced the OMA with an institution to grant two year associate degrees to the public known as Claremore Junior College. In 1982, it became Rogers State College, named after the county the main campus is located in, Rogers County, Oklahoma.^[4] Rogers County is in turn named in honor of Clement Vann Rogers, not Clem's son, Will Rogers.^[5]^[6]. In 1996, Rogers State College and the University Center at Tulsa (UCAT) merged to form Rogers University, with campuses in Claremore and Tulsa, which operated for two years before being separated by the Oklahoma Legislature. The part that had been Rogers State College became a member of the OU Board of Regents, and was renamed Rogers State University. RSU was given permission to seek accreditation as a four year, bachelor degree granting university. In 2000, RSU became the institution it is today, a public four year, residential university. On August 16, 2006, Rogers State's Stratton Taylor Library was named a Federal depository library, the 20th in the state of Oklahoma.

[edit] Academics

RSU currently offers bachelor's degrees in 14 areas: Applied Technology, Biology, Business Administration, Business Information Technology, Communications, Community Counseling, Game Development, Justice Administration, Liberal Arts, Nursing, Organizational Leadership, Social Science, Sports Management, and Visual Arts. In conjunction with Cameron University, RSU also offers a "2+2" program in Elementary Education, in which students can earn an associate's degree in elementary education from RSU and then trasition to the final two years of a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Cameron, with all classes taught at RSU's campus in Claremore.

RSU also offers associate's degrees in 15 areas, which include Nursing, Accounting, Elementary Education, and Computer science.

RSU is a pioneer in online and distance learning through eCollege, compressed video courses, and telecourses. Three bachelor's degrees, in Applied Technology, Business Information Technology, and Liberal Arts, and 4 associate's degrees are available completely online. RSU also has a radio station and the only university operated, full power public television station in Oklahoma. These facilities on the Claremore campus allow students to gain real-world experience in media and communications during their studies.

[edit] Athletics

The school's sports teams are referred to as the Hillcats, a mascot chosen in 2005. The school participates in the NAIA's region six, and is an associate member of the Sooner Athletic Conference. The University currently fields men's teams in baseball, basketball and soccer and women's teams in basketball, soccer and softball. RSU also has a competitive rodeo team that is a member of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. The Hillcats' women's softball team became the first RSU athletic team to be nationally ranked on March 28, 2007, entering the NAIA softball ratings at number 22.^[7] It has plans to add other sports, including golf.

The University's current athletic director and head men's basketball coach is Wren Baker. The senior women’s athletic department administrator and head softball coach is Dawn Reed.

[edit] Media

RSU's radio station, KRSC, is broadcast on 91.3 FM and over the Internet. It began in 1980 as a 10 watt station, and is now 3000 watts, reaching an audience of over 1.2 million in notheastern Oklahoma. The station's programming consists mainly of indie rock and pop, with specialty rock, blues, jazz and Native American music shows. KRSC also provides coverage of area high school sporting events through the Rogers County Sports Radio program. The station is staffed by students, faculty and area media personalities. Davit Souders hosts The Local Flavors Show, a weekly program featuring independent music from the region. KRSC broadcasts from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. It is an associate member of the public radio satellite system and the Oklahoma News Network. The facilities are located in Markham Hall.

RSU's television station, KRSC-TV 35, is the only full-powered public station licensed to a public university in the state. It broadcasts cultural and educational programming on UHF Channel 35 and Digital channel 36 from its 2.75 million watt tower from 6 a.m. until 12 a.m. daily. The station is also carried on local cable systems, and is available on Cox Cable Channel 19 in Claremore and Tulsa. The station is home to many telecourses and interactive courses, part of RSU's distance learning programs. It also produces in-house documentaries and regular programming[1]. It is operated by a paid staff, with assistance from RSU students. The station reaches an audience of 1.2 million in the northeastern Oklahoma and southeastern Kansas areas.