Georgia Southern University
Encyclopedia
Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a 700 acres (2.8 km²) campus in Statesboro, Georgia
, USA
. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia
and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive array of baccalaureate degrees and master's and doctoral programs. The university is the fifth largest university in the University System of Georgia
, with a fall 2011 enrollment of 20,212 students Georgia Southern is classified as a Doctoral and Research University (2006) by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
.
Georgia Southern University's intercollegiate sports teams, known as the "Georgia Southern Eagles
," compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the Southern Conference
.
Georgia Southern University began as First District Agricultural & Mechanical School; its inaugural academic year began in 1908 with four faculty members and 15 students.
Founded as a school for teaching modern agricultural production techniques and homemaking skills to rural school children, First District A&M began within two decades to shift its emphasis to meet the growing need for teachers within the state. Its name and mission were changed in 1924 to Georgia Normal School as a training ground for educators. Five years later in 1929, full-fledged senior college status was granted and the school was renamed South Georgia Teachers College.
Ensuing decades found more name and mission changes: to Georgia Teachers College in 1939 and Georgia Southern College in 1959. The university continued program and physical expansion. The institution would experience probably its biggest change in identity in 1990 when it became known as Georgia Southern University.
Since then, the University has embarked on a massive upgrade of facilities, adding more than $300 million in new construction. Georgia Southern was named a Doctoral/Research University by Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in 2006. The University is recognized in publications including U.S. News & World Report
s "America's Best Colleges" and "Best Graduate Schools", Forbes
"America’s Best Colleges" and most recently by Kiplinger
for being one of the Top 100 Best Values among Public Colleges and Universities. Additionally, Georgia Southern’s MBA program was named one of the Best 301 in the country by The Princeton Review
.
Since 1999, two new colleges have been established: the College of Information Technology in 2001, and the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health in 2004. Additional undergraduate and graduate programs were formed including doctorate degrees in psychology, public health and nursing.
Online bachelor’s degrees are available in nursing and information technology. Master’s programs are offered in kinesiology
, instructional technology, accomplished teaching, instructional improvement, higher education administration and educational leadership.
The past 10 years have represented the most significant period of growth in the University’s more than 100-year history. Not only has the University grown in enrollment, but it has also grown in physical size. With a Campus Master Plan in place, the University has continued to expand most recently with the addition of the 1,001-bed residence hall–Centennial Place. In addition, the University completely renovated and significantly expanded the Zach S. Henderson Library. The institution also recently completed the construction of the Eugene M. Bishop Alumni Center that will serve as a gathering place for alumni and friends of the University. The Center for Wildlife Education and the Botanical Garden have also been expanded. Today Georgia Southern has more than 20,000 students, more than 2,000 faculty and staff, and 117 programs of study at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels.
Georgia Southern is located in the city of Statesboro, Georgia
and is accessible by Interstate 16
from the cities of Macon
and Savannah
. By car Statesboro is approximately one hour from Savannah and three hours from Atlanta
.
. It also includes an indoor track, two dance studios, a studio for yoga
and pilates
, five racquetball courts, and a 45 feet (13.7 m) indoor climbing wall.
In 2006, the RAC was expanded, adding additional basketball
and multi-purpose courts, weight and fitness rooms, an Olympic-size swimming pool, a rehabilitation pool, and more space for CRI (Campus Recreation and Intramural) personnel. The expansion also brought a bandshell area that has hosted several national touring artists.
is centered on an early 20th century farmstead and offers visitors a view of the cultural and natural heritage of the southeastern coastal plain, an area rich in endangered plants. The garden's nearly 11 acres (44,515.5 m²) site includes woodland trails, the Bland Cottage Visitor Center and Gift Shop, Heritage Garden, Rose Arbor, Children's Vegetable Garden, Camellia Garden, Native Plant Landscape Garden, Native Azalea Collection and Bog Garden. The Botanical Garden's mission is to promote knowledge and appreciation of the native plants and animals of the southeastern coastal plain
, connect people to the natural and cultural heritage of the region and inspire environmentally responsible behavior.
, Einstein Bros. Bagels
, a convenience store, an optical shop and print shop. Eagle Village is a housing facility reserved for freshmen only and houses roughly 775 freshman residents each year. All first-time Georgia Southern students, with some exceptions, are required to live on campus.
For more than two decades, the University Museum has showcased artifacts of the natural and cultural history of the region, as well as offered visiting exhibits from U.S. and international museums. The only accredited museum of its kind in the coastal region, it holds both both permanent and traveling educational programs which include interactive and hands-on programs for children, adults, families, and teachers. Permanent collections and exhibits focus on preserving the natural and cultural history of the Coastal Plain.
. Other galleries feature scheduled exhibitions of private, student, and faculty works. The Center also hosts a 150-seat Black Box Theatre for student performances.
Georgia Southern was reclassified as a doctoral/research institution in April 2005 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Academic standards at the university have increased dramatically in the last decade. For the 2009 fall semester, the average SAT score for incoming freshman was more than 1106, an increase of 119 points.
In fall 2011, Georgia Southern announced that its student body consists of 20,212 students including 2,687 graduate students. Students come from all 50 U.S. states and 101 different nations.
Georgia Southern University consists of eight colleges: The College of Business Administration, The College of Education, The College of Health and Human Sciences, The Allen E. Paulson College of Science and Technology, The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, The College of Information Technology, The Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, and the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies.
, masters degree, and Doctorate
programs in eight colleges.
In 2010, Georgia Southern received approval to offer three new engineering degrees: Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, and the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Classes for the nation's newest engineering school began in Fall 2011.
The College of Business Administration houses the only School of Economic Development in the southeastern United States. The School of Accountancy in the College of Business Administration is the only AACSB certified school in the United States to offer forensic accounting courses to both undergraduate and graduate students.
Georgia Southern has significantly expanded its online degree offerings after launching the program on January 9, 2008.
Georgia Southern's Department of Writing and Linguistics is the only freestanding writing department in the State of Georgia.
In 2009, the University was approved to offer its first ever Ph.D. program. The Ph.D. in Logistics/Supply Chain Management is the first of its kind to be offered in the state of Georgia through the University's College of Business Administration. Classes began in Fall 2010.
, Georgia Southern was once again recognized as a National University. Georgia Southern was also recognized as one of America's Best Graduate Schools in the 2010 edition published by U.S. News & World Report. Georgia Southern University has recently been ranked 4th most popular University in the nation which is based on the number of students who apply and actually enroll.
2010 U.S. News & World Reports America's Best Graduate Schools
2010 Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Top 100 Best Values in Public Colleges
2010 Princeton Review 301 Best Business Schools
2010 Forbes
America's Best Colleges
2009 DailyBeast.com
Top 25 Safest College Campuses
benefits of higher education.
Georgia Southern is home to the Institute of Arthropodology and Parasitology. An integral part of this program is the U.S. National Tick Collection
, the largest collection of ticks in the world with more than one million specimens representing most of the world's 850 species.
Georgia Southern's athletic teams are known as the Eagles and compete in NCAA Division I FCS as members of the Southern Conference
. The Eagles compete in baseball, basketball, football, golf, tennis, volleyball, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, cross country and track and field. The football team has won six NCAA Division I-AA national championships (1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999 and 2000). The university's baseball team has participated in the College World Series twice (1973 and 1990). The university has two different cheerleading squads, including an All-Girl Squad and the Coed Squad. There are twenty-two women that were chosen for the All-Girl squad and seven men and women consist of the Coed Squad.
The university offers intramural teams for all varsity level sports, equestrian events, fencing, and judo.
would be considered a cultural student organization.
. It also produces a large number of military nurses. In 2010 and 2011, it was presented with the prestigious MacArthur Award, recognizing the unit as one of the eight best in the country.
(WVGS 91.9 The Buzz), various cable shows running on Channel 97 (including ENN, and City Beat), and a college newspaper, The George-Anne.
(NIC), National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), or National Pan-Hellenic Council
(NPHC) recognized organizations on campus.
There are also Greek-letter professional fraternities, along with a number of academic honor societies
(such as Alpha Upsilon Alpha
, Beta Gamma Sigma
, and Phi Alpha Theta
). In addition, there are a number of Greek-letter service organizations, such as Gamma Sigma Sigma
and Omega Phi Alpha
.
In the last six years, Georgia Southern's student population ranged between 16,100 and 19,086, across all programs. In 2009 the university enrolled 16,486 students in undergraduate programs and 2,600 students in graduate programs. The undergraduate student population is 48.5% female and 51.5% male. The graduate population is 66.2% female and 33.8% male.
Georgia Southern received 12,880 applications for admission in fall 2009; 8,341 were admitted (64.8%) and 5,241 (62.8) enrolled. The average SAT
score for incoming freshmen in 2009 was 1106.
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia
University System of Georgia
The University System of Georgia is the organizational body that includes 35 public institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state of Georgia. The System is governed by the Georgia Board of Regents. It sets goals and dictates general policy to educational institutions as well as administering...
and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive array of baccalaureate degrees and master's and doctoral programs. The university is the fifth largest university in the University System of Georgia
University System of Georgia
The University System of Georgia is the organizational body that includes 35 public institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state of Georgia. The System is governed by the Georgia Board of Regents. It sets goals and dictates general policy to educational institutions as well as administering...
, with a fall 2011 enrollment of 20,212 students Georgia Southern is classified as a Doctoral and Research University (2006) by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1905 and chartered in 1906 by an act of the United States Congress, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching is an independent policy and research center, whose primary activities of research and writing have resulted in published reports on every level...
.
Georgia Southern University's intercollegiate sports teams, known as the "Georgia Southern Eagles
Georgia Southern Eagles
The Georgia Southern Eagles are the athletic teams of Georgia Southern University. The Eagles compete in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision and are members of the NCAA Division I Southern Conference...
," compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the Southern Conference
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
.
History
| J. Walter Hendricks | 1908-1909 |
| E.C.J. Dickens | 1909-1914 |
| F.M. Rowan | 1915-1920 |
| Ernest V. Hollis | 1920-1926 |
| Guy H. Wells | 1926-1934 |
| Marvin S. Pittman | 1934-1941 |
| Albert M. Gates | 1941-1943 |
| Marvin S. Pittman | 1943-1947 |
| Judson (Jake) C. Ward, Jr. | 1947-1948 |
| Zach S. Henderson | 1948-1968 |
| John O. Eidson | 1968-1971 |
| Pope A. Duncan | 1971-1976 |
| Nicholas W. Quick (Acting) | 1977-1978 |
| Dale W. Lick | 1978-1986 |
| Harrison (Harry) S. Carter (Acting) | 1986-1987 |
| Nicholas L. Henry | 1987-1998 |
| Bruce F. Grube | 1999-2009 |
| Brooks A. Keel | 2010-Present |
| Note: During the time that the university was known as First District A&M, the President held the title of "Principal". |
|
Founded as a school for teaching modern agricultural production techniques and homemaking skills to rural school children, First District A&M began within two decades to shift its emphasis to meet the growing need for teachers within the state. Its name and mission were changed in 1924 to Georgia Normal School as a training ground for educators. Five years later in 1929, full-fledged senior college status was granted and the school was renamed South Georgia Teachers College.
Ensuing decades found more name and mission changes: to Georgia Teachers College in 1939 and Georgia Southern College in 1959. The university continued program and physical expansion. The institution would experience probably its biggest change in identity in 1990 when it became known as Georgia Southern University.
Since then, the University has embarked on a massive upgrade of facilities, adding more than $300 million in new construction. Georgia Southern was named a Doctoral/Research University by Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in 2006. The University is recognized in publications including U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
s "America's Best Colleges" and "Best Graduate Schools", Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
"America’s Best Colleges" and most recently by Kiplinger
Kiplinger
Kiplinger is a Washington, D.C.-based publisher of business forecasts and personal finance advice, available in print, online, audio, video and software products ....
for being one of the Top 100 Best Values among Public Colleges and Universities. Additionally, Georgia Southern’s MBA program was named one of the Best 301 in the country by The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review is an American-based standardized test preparation and admissions consulting company. The Princeton Review operates in 41 states and 22 countries across the globe. It offers test preparation for standardized aptitude tests such as the SAT and advice regarding college...
.
Since 1999, two new colleges have been established: the College of Information Technology in 2001, and the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health in 2004. Additional undergraduate and graduate programs were formed including doctorate degrees in psychology, public health and nursing.
Online bachelor’s degrees are available in nursing and information technology. Master’s programs are offered in kinesiology
Kinesiology
Kinesiology, also known as human kinetics is the scientific study of human movement. Kinesiology addresses physiological, mechanical, and psychological mechanisms. Applications of kinesiology to human health include: biomechanics and orthopedics, rehabilitation, such as physical and occupational...
, instructional technology, accomplished teaching, instructional improvement, higher education administration and educational leadership.
The past 10 years have represented the most significant period of growth in the University’s more than 100-year history. Not only has the University grown in enrollment, but it has also grown in physical size. With a Campus Master Plan in place, the University has continued to expand most recently with the addition of the 1,001-bed residence hall–Centennial Place. In addition, the University completely renovated and significantly expanded the Zach S. Henderson Library. The institution also recently completed the construction of the Eugene M. Bishop Alumni Center that will serve as a gathering place for alumni and friends of the University. The Center for Wildlife Education and the Botanical Garden have also been expanded. Today Georgia Southern has more than 20,000 students, more than 2,000 faculty and staff, and 117 programs of study at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels.
Campus
Statesboro, Georgia
Statesboro is a city in southeast Georgia, United States, and is the county seat and most populous city of Bulloch County. Statesboro has a population of 28,422 and the Statesboro, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 70,217...
and is accessible by Interstate 16
Interstate 16
Interstate 16 , also known as Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway or State Route 404 , is an intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the state of Georgia, United States...
from the cities of Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
and Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
. By car Statesboro is approximately one hour from Savannah and three hours from Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
Center for Wildlife Education and Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center
The Center for Wildlife Education and The Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center is an educational and research facility located on 18 acres (72,843.5 m²) on the Campus of Georgia Southern University. In addition to undergraduate and graduate research, the Center hosts over 165,500 annual visitors through general admission and off-site outreach programs. The center is home to “Freedom”, Georgia Southern's free-flighted American Bald Eagle mascot, as well as 85 birds, 67 reptiles, 70 amphibians, and 8 mammals. The diverse habitat displays are home to several species of bird of prey including hawks, owls, falcons, kestrels, vultures. The center also contains an amphitheater and an indoor classroom. Inside the Center, exhibitions of reptiles and amphibians such as alligators, painted turtles, box turtles, and gopher tortoises, rattlesnakes, corn snakes, king snakes, boa constrictors, pythons, are held. The staff perform flighted raptor demonstrations. In 2009, the center added an 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) expansion known as the Wetland Preserve. This preserve features various examples of water fowl in their native habitats. The center is the only one of its kind to be located in the center of a major University campus.Recreation and Activities Center (RAC)
The Recreation and Activities Center (the RAC) is a 220000 square feet (20,438.7 m²) complex that includes areas for weight lifting, cardio, and basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
. It also includes an indoor track, two dance studios, a studio for yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
and pilates
Pilates
Pilates is a physical fitness system developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates in Germany, the UK and the USA. As of 2005, there were 11 million people practicing the discipline regularly and 14,000 instructors in the United States....
, five racquetball courts, and a 45 feet (13.7 m) indoor climbing wall.
In 2006, the RAC was expanded, adding additional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and multi-purpose courts, weight and fitness rooms, an Olympic-size swimming pool, a rehabilitation pool, and more space for CRI (Campus Recreation and Intramural) personnel. The expansion also brought a bandshell area that has hosted several national touring artists.
Botanical Garden
The Georgia Southern Botanical GardenGeorgia Southern Botanical Garden
The Georgia Southern Botanical Garden is a botanical garden featuring many unique and endangered plants with many native to Georgia...
is centered on an early 20th century farmstead and offers visitors a view of the cultural and natural heritage of the southeastern coastal plain, an area rich in endangered plants. The garden's nearly 11 acres (44,515.5 m²) site includes woodland trails, the Bland Cottage Visitor Center and Gift Shop, Heritage Garden, Rose Arbor, Children's Vegetable Garden, Camellia Garden, Native Plant Landscape Garden, Native Azalea Collection and Bog Garden. The Botanical Garden's mission is to promote knowledge and appreciation of the native plants and animals of the southeastern coastal plain
Coastal plain
A coastal plain is an area of flat, low-lying land adjacent to a seacoast and separated from the interior by other features. One of the world's longest coastal plains is located in eastern South America. The southwestern coastal plain of North America is notable for its species diversity...
, connect people to the natural and cultural heritage of the region and inspire environmentally responsible behavior.
Student housing
Georgia Southern currently has eight housing facilities, offering mostly suite and apartment configurations. In fall 2009, Centennial Place, a residential complex with four buildings, was constructed. It contains 1,001 beds and retail space including a Cold Stone CreameryCold Stone Creamery
Cold Stone Creamery is an American-based ice cream parlor chain. The company, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is owned and operated by Kahala Franchising, L.L.C. The company's main product is premium ice cream, or ice cream made with approximately 12-14% butterfat, that is made on location and...
, Einstein Bros. Bagels
Einstein Bros. Bagels
Einstein Bros. Bagels is a bagel and coffee chain in the United States. As of 2010, there were 587 restaurants with the Einstein Bros. name.Einstein Bros. was created by a chain restaurant corporation, Boston Chicken in 1995, as a way to market breakfast foods...
, a convenience store, an optical shop and print shop. Eagle Village is a housing facility reserved for freshmen only and houses roughly 775 freshman residents each year. All first-time Georgia Southern students, with some exceptions, are required to live on campus.
Georgia Southern Museum
Center for Art & Theatre
The Center for Art & Theatre opened on February 29, 2008. One of its three galleries is the permanent home for The Georgia Artists Collection, a continuously expanding gift of pieces established and curated by Betty Foy Sanders, Bulloch County native and wife of former Georgia Governor Carl SandersCarl Sanders
Carl Edward Sanders Sr. is an American politician who served as the 74th Governor of the state of Georgia from 1963 to 1967.Sanders was born in Augusta, Georgia and attended the University of Georgia on a football scholarship...
. Other galleries feature scheduled exhibitions of private, student, and faculty works. The Center also hosts a 150-seat Black Box Theatre for student performances.
Performing Arts Center
The Performing Arts Center is home to touring shows, lecturers, and programs for cultural outreach. The 825-seat theatre features an orchestra pit and shell, a full-sized stage and technology for lighting, sound, and production.Southern Express
Southern Express is Georgia Southern's bus transportation system. In Fall 2010, adjustments were made and two new routes with a combined 8 buses were introduced. The Gold Route runs from the University Store and makes two stops on Forest Drive before proceeding to the RAC and the park-ride lot at Paulson Stadium. The Gold Route Buses then return to the store making the same stops as before. The Blue Route makes one large circle. The Blue route starts at the University Store and makes two stops on Forest Drive and two stops on Lanier Drive before returning to the University Store. The buses change their routes on days of football games to accommodate fans. During the 2009-2010 school year the buses carried almost 1.6 million passengers.Academics
In fall 2011, Georgia Southern announced that its student body consists of 20,212 students including 2,687 graduate students. Students come from all 50 U.S. states and 101 different nations.
Georgia Southern University consists of eight colleges: The College of Business Administration, The College of Education, The College of Health and Human Sciences, The Allen E. Paulson College of Science and Technology, The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, The College of Information Technology, The Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, and the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies.
Degree programs
The university offers 114 bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, masters degree, and Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
programs in eight colleges.
In 2010, Georgia Southern received approval to offer three new engineering degrees: Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, and the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Classes for the nation's newest engineering school began in Fall 2011.
The College of Business Administration houses the only School of Economic Development in the southeastern United States. The School of Accountancy in the College of Business Administration is the only AACSB certified school in the United States to offer forensic accounting courses to both undergraduate and graduate students.
Georgia Southern has significantly expanded its online degree offerings after launching the program on January 9, 2008.
Georgia Southern's Department of Writing and Linguistics is the only freestanding writing department in the State of Georgia.
In 2009, the University was approved to offer its first ever Ph.D. program. The Ph.D. in Logistics/Supply Chain Management is the first of its kind to be offered in the state of Georgia through the University's College of Business Administration. Classes began in Fall 2010.
Rankings
In the 2010 edition of America’s Best Colleges, published by U.S. News & World ReportU.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
, Georgia Southern was once again recognized as a National University. Georgia Southern was also recognized as one of America's Best Graduate Schools in the 2010 edition published by U.S. News & World Report. Georgia Southern University has recently been ranked 4th most popular University in the nation which is based on the number of students who apply and actually enroll.
- 2010
Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Kiplinger's Personal Finance is a magazine that has been continuously published, on a monthly basis, from 1947 to the present day. It was the nation's first personal finance magazine, and claims to deliver "sound, unbiased advice in clear, concise language"...
Top 100 Best Values in Public Colleges
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
America's Best Colleges
The Daily Beast
The Daily Beast is an American news reporting and opinion website founded and published by Tina Brown, former editor of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker as well as the short-lived Talk Magazine. The Daily Beast was launched on October 6, 2008, and is owned by IAC...
Top 25 Safest College Campuses
Research
Georgia Southern is involved in energy-related issues in a move toward energy independence and self-sufficiency with a focus on renewable energy and environmental science research. The Renewable Energy and Engines Laboratory provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and Georgia Southern faculty to participate in real-world applied research that can provide local economic benefits to the region. The State of Georgia established and funded an Endowed Chair of Renewable Energy at Georgia Southern, and biofuel facilities in the state are converting Georgia-grown agricultural products into marketable fuel. The research team is identifying renewable sources of energy in south Georgia and design and evaluate products to capture the energy in a usable form for commercial or residential use in the region. The research team is also assisting regional industries in energy consumption analysis, appropriate strategies for conservation of energy, and preservation of our environments. In addition to creating a regional repository of technology that showcases renewable energy application, these activities will help advance the State of Georgia and the region through thebenefits of higher education.
Georgia Southern is home to the Institute of Arthropodology and Parasitology. An integral part of this program is the U.S. National Tick Collection
U.S. National Tick Collection
The U.S. National Tick Collection is the largest collection of ticks in the world. The vital function of the collection is to separate ticks that are medically and financially important from those that are common....
, the largest collection of ticks in the world with more than one million specimens representing most of the world's 850 species.
Athletics
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
. The Eagles compete in baseball, basketball, football, golf, tennis, volleyball, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, cross country and track and field. The football team has won six NCAA Division I-AA national championships (1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999 and 2000). The university's baseball team has participated in the College World Series twice (1973 and 1990). The university has two different cheerleading squads, including an All-Girl Squad and the Coed Squad. There are twenty-two women that were chosen for the All-Girl squad and seven men and women consist of the Coed Squad.
The university offers intramural teams for all varsity level sports, equestrian events, fencing, and judo.
Student organizations
There are many types of organizations on campus such as Professional, Greek Letter, Cultural, Service and Religious. ROTC would be considered as a professional student organization while Hispanic Student AssociationHispanic Student Association
On many college campuses, the Hispanic Student Association is an umbrella group for all Hispanic/Latino based organizations at the respective university. The main goal is to unite the Latino student body by utilizing the existing organizations to host events together about the Hispanic community...
would be considered a cultural student organization.
Eagle Battalion ROTC
Although Georgia Southern is not a military college, it has an Eagle Battalion ROTCEagle Battalion ROTC
The Army ROTC Eagle Battalion is a Military Science program at Georgia Southern University. The Eagle Battalion is a part of the 6th Brigade, which consists of Georgia Southern University, East Georgia College, Savannah State University, Armstrong Atlantic State University, and Savannah College of...
. It also produces a large number of military nurses. In 2010 and 2011, it was presented with the prestigious MacArthur Award, recognizing the unit as one of the eight best in the country.
Student media
Student media include a college radio stationRadio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
(WVGS 91.9 The Buzz), various cable shows running on Channel 97 (including ENN, and City Beat), and a college newspaper, The George-Anne.
Fraternities and sororities
The first fraternities and sororities were chartered on the campus in 1953 and 1968. There are three governing bodies for Greek-letter organizations at Georgia Southern University, governing all North-American Interfraternity ConferenceNorth-American Interfraternity Conference
The North-American Interfraternity Conference , is an association of collegiate men's fraternities that was formally organized in 1910, although it began on November 27, 1909. The power of the organization rests in a House of Delegates where each member fraternity is represented by a single delegate...
(NIC), National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), or National Pan-Hellenic Council
National Pan-Hellenic Council
The National Pan-Hellenic Council is a collaborative organization of nine historically African American, international Greek lettered fraternities and sororities. The nine NPHC organizations are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Divine Nine"...
(NPHC) recognized organizations on campus.
There are also Greek-letter professional fraternities, along with a number of academic honor societies
Honor society
In the United States, an honor society is a rank organization that recognizes excellence among peers. Numerous societies recognize various fields and circumstances. The Order of the Arrow, for example, is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America...
(such as Alpha Upsilon Alpha
Alpha Upsilon Alpha
Alpha Upsilon Alpha is an academic honor society recognizing excellence in reading and language arts at the undergraduate and graduate level...
, Beta Gamma Sigma
Beta Gamma Sigma
Beta Gamma Sigma or ΒΓΣ is an honor society for business students and scholars. Founded in 1913 at the University of Wisconsin, it has over 650,000 members, selected from over 500 chapters in AACSB-accredited business schools...
, and Phi Alpha Theta
Phi Alpha Theta
Phi Alpha Theta is an American honor society for undergraduate and graduate students and professors of history.The society is a charter member of the Association of College Honor Societies and has over 350,000 members, with about 9,500 new members joining each year through 860 local chapters.-...
). In addition, there are a number of Greek-letter service organizations, such as Gamma Sigma Sigma
Gamma Sigma Sigma
Gamma Sigma Sigma is a national service sorority founded in October 1952 at Beekman Tower in New York City by representatives of Boston University, Brooklyn College, Drexel Institute of Technology, Los Angeles City College, New York University, Queens College, and the University of Houston. ...
and Omega Phi Alpha
Omega Phi Alpha
Omega Phi Alpha is an American national service sorority. It was founded in 1967 at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio...
.
Latina-based social sororities (NALFO)
National Association of Latino Fraternal OrganizationsNational Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations
The National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations is an umbrella council for 19 Latino Greek Letter Organizations established in 1998...
| Organization | Symbol | Chapter (Chartered) | Chapter Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sigma Iota Alpha Sigma Iota Alpha Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. --is a Latina-based Greek lettered intercollegiate sorority founded on September 29, 1990, by 13 dedicated ladies from four universities in the state of New York: SUNY Albany, SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY New Paltz, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute... |
ΣΙΑ | Alpha Tau (2010) | AT |
Social sororities (NPC)
National Panhellenic ConferenceNational Panhellenic Conference
The National Panhellenic Conference , founded in 1902, is an umbrella organization for 26 national women's sororities.Each member group is autonomous as a social, Greek-letter society of college women and alumnae...
| Organization | Symbol | Chapter (Chartered) | Chapter Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Delta Pi Alpha Delta Pi Alpha Delta Pi is a fraternity founded on May 15, 1851 at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. The Executive office for this sorority is located on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia. Alpha Delta Pi is one of the two "Macon Magnolias," a term used to celebrate the bonds it shares with Phi Mu... |
ΑΔΠ | Epsilon Pi (1968) | ΕΠ |
| Phi Mu Phi Mu Phi Mu is the second oldest female fraternal organization established in the United States. It was founded at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. The organization was founded as the Philomathean Society on January 4, 1852, and was announced publicly on March 4 of the same year... |
ΦΜ | Kappa Mu (1968) | ΚΜ |
| Kappa Delta Kappa Delta Kappa Delta was the first sorority founded at the State Female Normal School , in Farmville, Virginia. It is one of the "Farmville Four" sororities founded at the university... |
ΚΔ | Delta Lambda (1968) | ΔΛ |
| Alpha Xi Delta Alpha Xi Delta Alpha Xi Delta is a women's fraternity founded on April 17, 1893 at Lombard College, Galesburg, Illinois. Alpha Xi Delta is one of the oldest women's fraternities as well as one of the ten founding fraternities of the National Panhellenic Conference... |
ΑΞΔ | Epsilon Sigma (1968) | ΕΣ (Inactive) |
| Zeta Tau Alpha Zeta Tau Alpha Zeta Tau Alpha is a women's fraternity, founded October 15, 1898 at the State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia. The Executive office is located in Indianapolis, Indiana... |
ΖΤΑ | Zeta Xi (1968) | ΖΞ |
| Chi Omega Chi Omega Chi Omega is a women's fraternity and the largest member of the National Panhellenic Conference. Chi Omega has 174 active collegiate chapters and over 230 alumnae chapters. Chi Omega's national headquarters is located in Memphis, Tennessee.... |
ΧΩ | Nu Kappa (1976) | ΝΚ (Inactive) |
| Alpha Omicron Pi Alpha Omicron Pi Alpha Omicron Pi is an international women's fraternity promoting friendship for a lifetime, inspiring academic excellence and lifelong learning, and developing leadership skills through service to the Fraternity and community. ΑΟΠ was founded on January 2, 1897 at Barnard College on the campus... |
ΑΟΠ | Alpha Lambda (1988) | ΑΛ |
| Kappa Kappa Gamma Kappa Kappa Gamma Kappa Kappa Gamma is a collegiate women's fraternity, founded at Monmouth College, in Monmouth, Illinois, USA. Although the groundwork of the organization was developed as early as 1869, the 1876 Convention voted that October 13, 1870 should be recognized at the official Founders Day, because no... |
ΚΚΓ | Zeta Upsilon (1990) | ΖΥ |
Social sororities (NPHC)
National Pan-Hellenic CouncilNational Pan-Hellenic Council
The National Pan-Hellenic Council is a collaborative organization of nine historically African American, international Greek lettered fraternities and sororities. The nine NPHC organizations are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Divine Nine"...
| Organization | Symbol | Chapter (Chartered) | Chapter Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Kappa Alpha Alpha Kappa Alpha Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle... |
ΑΚA | Lambda Kappa (1979) | ΛΚ |
| Delta Sigma Theta Delta Sigma Theta Delta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University... |
ΔΣΘ | Xi Eta (1979) | ΞΗ |
| Sigma Gamma Rho Sigma Gamma Rho Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was founded on the campus of Butler University on November 12, 1922, by seven school teachers in Indianapolis, Indiana... |
ΣΓΡ | Nu Omicron (1993) | ΝΟ (Inactive) |
| Zeta Phi Beta Zeta Phi Beta Zeta Phi Beta is an international, historically black Greek-lettered sorority and a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.Zeta Phi Beta is organized into 800+ chapters, in eight intercontinental regions including the USA, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean... |
ΖΦΒ | Epsilon Xi (1989) | ΕΞ |
Latino-based social fraternities (NALFO)
National Association of Latino Fraternal OrganizationsNational Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations
The National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations is an umbrella council for 19 Latino Greek Letter Organizations established in 1998...
| Organization | Symbol | Chapter (Chartered) | Chapter Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phi Iota Alpha Phi Iota Alpha Phi Iota Alpha , established December 26, 1931, is the oldest Latino fraternity still in existence, and works to motivate people, develop leaders, and create innovative ways to unite the Latino community. The organization has roots that stem back to the late 19th century to the first Latino... fraternity |
ΦΙΑ | Alpha Sigma (2008) | ΑΣ |
| Sigma Lambda Beta Sigma Lambda Beta Sigma Lambda Beta is the largest Latino-based social fraternity established on cultural understanding and wisdom. Founded on April 4, 1986 at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, the organization is committed to create and expand multicultural leadership, promote academic excellence, advance... fraternity |
ΣΛΒ | Colony (2010) | |
Fraternities (NIC)
North-American Interfraternity ConferenceNorth-American Interfraternity Conference
The North-American Interfraternity Conference , is an association of collegiate men's fraternities that was formally organized in 1910, although it began on November 27, 1909. The power of the organization rests in a House of Delegates where each member fraternity is represented by a single delegate...
| Organization | Symbol | Chapter (Chartered) | Chapter Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Tau Omega Alpha Tau Omega Alpha Tau Omega is a secret American leadership and social fraternity.The Fraternity has more than 250 active and inactive chapters, more than 200,000 initiates, and over 7,000 active undergraduate members. The 200,000th member was initiated in early 2009... |
ΑΤΩ | Eta Zeta (1968) | ΗΖ |
| Delta Chi Delta Chi Delta Chi or D-Chi is an international Greek letter college social fraternity formed on October 13, 1890,at Cornell University, initially as a professional fraternity for law students. On April 29, 1922, Delta Chi became a general membership social fraternity, eliminating the requirement for men... |
ΔΧ | Georgia Southern (2002) | |
| Delta Sigma Phi Delta Sigma Phi Delta Sigma Phi is a fraternity established at the City College of New York in 1899 and is a charter member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference. The headquarters of the fraternity is the Taggart Mansion located in Indianapolis, Indiana... |
ΔΣΦ | Theta Omega (2008) | ΘΩ |
| Delta Tau Delta Delta Tau Delta Delta Tau Delta is a U.S.-based international secret letter college fraternity. Delta Tau Delta was founded in 1858 at Bethany College, Bethany, Virginia, . It currently has around 125 student chapters nationwide, as well as more than 25 regional alumni groups. Its national community service... |
ΔΤΔ | Epsilon Omega (1969) | ΕΩ |
| Kappa Alpha Order Kappa Alpha Order Kappa Alpha Order is a social fraternity and fraternal order. Kappa Alpha Order has 124 active chapters, 3 provisional chapters, and 2 commissions... |
ΚΑ | Delta Theta (1968) | ΔΘ |
| Kappa Sigma Kappa Sigma Kappa Sigma , commonly nicknamed Kappa Sig, is an international fraternity with currently 282 active chapters and colonies in North America. Kappa Sigma has initiated more than 240,000 men on college campuses throughout the United States and Canada. Today, the Fraternity has over 175,000 living... |
ΚΣ | Kappa Zeta (1968) | ΚΖ |
| Phi Delta Theta Phi Delta Theta Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S... |
ΦΔΘ | Georgia Epsilon (1968) | (Inactive) |
| Phi Kappa Theta Phi Kappa Theta Phi Kappa Theta is a national social fraternity with over 50 chapters and colonies at universities across the United States. "Phi Kaps", as they are commonly referred to colloquially, are known for diversity among their brothers and a dedication to service.-History:Phi Kappa Theta was established... |
ΦΚΘ | Colony (2010) | |
| Phi Sigma Kappa Phi Sigma Kappa -Phi Sigma Kappa's Creed and Cardinal Principles:The 1934 Convention in Ann Arbor brought more changes for the fraternity. Brother Stewart W. Herman of Gettysburg wrote and presented the Creed, and Brother Ralph Watts of Massachusetts drafted and presented the Cardinal Principles.-World War II:The... |
ΦΣΚ | Chi Septaton (2008) | (Inactive) |
| Pi Kappa Alpha Pi Kappa Alpha Pi Kappa Alpha is a Greek social fraternity with over 230 chapters and colonies and over 250,000 lifetime initiates in the United States and Canada.-History:... |
ΠΚΑ | Iota Upsilon (1993) | ΙΥ |
| Pi Kappa Phi Pi Kappa Phi Pi Kappa Phi is an American social fraternity. It was founded by Andrew Alexander Kroeg, Jr., Lawrence Harry Mixson, and Simon Fogarty, Jr. on December 10, 1904 at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina... |
ΠΚΦ | Gamma Kappa (1968) | ΓΚ |
| Sigma Alpha Epsilon Sigma Alpha Epsilon Sigma Alpha Epsilon is a North American Greek-letter social college fraternity founded at the University of Alabama on March 9, 1856. Of all existing national social fraternities today, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is the only one founded in the Antebellum South... |
ΣΑΕ | Georgia Alpha (1989) | |
| Sigma Chi Sigma Chi Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon... |
ΣΧ | Eta Zeta (1970) | ΗΖ |
| Sigma Nu Sigma Nu Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia... |
ΣΝ | Theta Kappa (1970) | ΘΚ |
| Sigma Pi Sigma Pi Sigma Pi is an international college secret and social fraternity founded in 1897 at Vincennes University. Sigma Pi International fraternity currently has 127 chapters and 4 colonies in the United States and Canada and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee... |
ΣΠ | Gamma Tau (1968) | ΓΤ (Inactive) |
| Sigma Phi Epsilon Sigma Phi Epsilon Sigma Phi Epsilon , commonly nicknamed SigEp or SPE, is a social college fraternity for male college students in the United States. It was founded on November 1, 1901, at Richmond College , and its national headquarters remains in Richmond, Virginia. It was founded on three principles: Virtue,... |
ΣΦΕ | Georgia Epsilon (1993) | GA E |
| Tau Kappa Epsilon Tau Kappa Epsilon Tau Kappa Epsilon is a college fraternity founded on January 10, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University with chapters in the United States, and Canada, and affiliation with a German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent... |
ΤΚΕ | Lambda Upsilon (1968) | (Inactive) |
| Theta Xi Theta Xi Theta Xi was founded at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York on 29 April 1864. Theta Xi Fraternity was originally founded as an engineering fraternity, the first professional fraternity... |
ΘΞ | Gamma Phi (2008) | ΓΦ |
Social fraternities (NPHC)
National Pan-Hellenic CouncilNational Pan-Hellenic Council
The National Pan-Hellenic Council is a collaborative organization of nine historically African American, international Greek lettered fraternities and sororities. The nine NPHC organizations are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Divine Nine"...
| Organization | Symbol | Chapter (Chartered) | Chapter Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Phi Alpha Alpha Phi Alpha Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ... |
ΑΦΑ | Xi Tau (1980) | ΞΤ |
| Iota Phi Theta | IΦΘ | Zeta Chi (2008) | ZΧ |
| Kappa Alpha Psi Kappa Alpha Psi Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin... |
ΚΑΨ | Iota Pi (1978), Omicron Phi (2005) | ΙΠ (defunct), ΟΦ |
| Omega Psi Phi Omega Psi Phi Omega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos... |
ΩΨΦ | Zeta Delta Delta (1987) | ΖΔΔ (Inactive) |
| Phi Beta Sigma Phi Beta Sigma Phi Beta Sigma is a predominantly African-American fraternity which was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. The founders A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I... |
ΦΒΣ | Pi Rho (1987) | ΠΡ |
Students
| Undergraduate | U.S. Census | |
|---|---|---|
| Black/Non-Hispanic | 22.1% | 12.3% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.7% | 3.7% |
| White/Non-Hispanic | 68.7% | 75.1% |
| Hispanic | 3.2% | 16.3% |
| Native American | 0.3% | 0.9% |
| International Students | 2.9% | N/A |
In the last six years, Georgia Southern's student population ranged between 16,100 and 19,086, across all programs. In 2009 the university enrolled 16,486 students in undergraduate programs and 2,600 students in graduate programs. The undergraduate student population is 48.5% female and 51.5% male. The graduate population is 66.2% female and 33.8% male.
Georgia Southern received 12,880 applications for admission in fall 2009; 8,341 were admitted (64.8%) and 5,241 (62.8) enrolled. The average SAT
SAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
score for incoming freshmen in 2009 was 1106.
Additional reading
- "TSC Blues Review Interview with Erk Russell" Southern-Connection.com August 2002
External links
- www.georgiasouthern.edu – Official website
- www.georgiasoutherneagles.com – Official Athletics website
- cogs.georgiasouthern.edu/admission – Official Graduate Admissions website
- www.georgiasouthern.edu/research – Official Research website