Southern Polytechnic State University
Encyclopedia
Southern Polytechnic State University (commonly called SPSU or Southern Poly) is a public, co-educational state university located in Marietta
, Georgia
, USA
just northwest of Atlanta. It is part of the University System of Georgia
and known as "Georgia's Technology University".
Southern Polytechnic State University was established in 1948 as The Technical Institute in Chamblee, Georgia, United States. The first classes were held with 116 students. It was renamed in 1949 and moved to its present campus in Marietta, Georgia, around 1958. It went through another name change in 1987 and was named Southern College of Technology. Later in the summer of 1996, the university adopted its current name. Today, the university encompasses more than 230 acre (0.9307778 km²) and includes approximately 35 buildings. Southern Polytechnic State University is well known for its academic programs in architecture, engineering, technology, and computer science.
, the need for technicians spiked due to a major economic shift within Georgia
from being a largely agricultural state to one that is more industry heavy. The new industries required technicians to bridge the growing gap between engineers and craftsmen, effectively the gap between research/ development and building/implementing. At the time, most technical institutes within the United States
were located in the northeastern states, and thus the need for a technical institute within the south was great.
In response to the growing demand, the president of Georgia Tech
, Colonel Blake R. Van Leer, sought to establish a technical institute program within Georgia
. In 1945 he was approached by the Associated Industries of Georgia (AIG) who shared their common desire to have such a program established and offered Van Leer their support. It took years for Van Leer to convince the Board of Regents
to give Georgia Tech authorization to establish a technical institute, but finally on October 8, 1947 the authorization was granted. The location of the fledgling institute was a Naval Air Station in Chamblee, GA, the first director was to be Professor Lawrence V. Johnson, and it was going to open under the name of The Technical Institute. In March 1948 The Technical Institute held its first registration for a spring quarter, and started with 116 students, all but 10 being World War II
veterans, and a staff of 12.
-level school by the U.S. Department of Education. Less than a decade later (around 1958), the college migrated to its present campus in Marietta, which was previously part of Dobbins Air Force Base. NAS Atlanta also moved to the opposite (south) end of Dobbins around the same time.
In 1961, Hoyt McClure was named acting director and led the movement to build eight new buildings on 120 acres (48 hectares) of land. Since then SPSU has continued to expand—the campus now encompasses more than 230 acres (92ha) and contains 35 buildings with continuing projects to expand the campus for both academia and student housing.
STI became accredited as a four-year college in 1970, and was one of the first colleges in the nation to offer the bachelor
of engineering technology degree. It also earned independence in the University System, separating ties with Georgia Tech. In the summer of 1980, SPSU officially became the 14th senior college and the 33rd independent unit of the University System of Georgia
.
The college's first president, Dr. Stephen R. Cheshier of Purdue University
, was named in 1980 and served with distinction until his retirement as president in June 1997. He saw SPSU through two name changes—Southern College of Technology in 1987 and Southern Polytechnic State University in the summer of 1996, when the school also became a university. Dr. Daniel S. Papp served as interim president from July 1997 to August 1998, when the university welcomed Dr. Lisa Rossbacher
, formerly of Dickinson College
, as its president.
Currently, SPSU also hosts a satellite campus for Georgia Highlands College
.
The most popular majors for undergraduate students that are at SPSU are in Civil Engineering, Civil Engineering Technology, Computer Science, Information Technology, Architecture, Construction Management, Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering Technology. The construction engineering program is one of nine in the nation. The mechatronics engineering degree is the first in Georgia. Other unique programs at Southern Polytechnic State University include a five-year professional accredited Architecture degree, and undergraduate degrees in Surveying and Mapping, Systems Engineering, and Technical Communication.
SPSU follows the University System of Georgia's Common Core program. The curriculum framework for the Common Core System is made up of several areas. These areas outline the required core classes for each student to graduate. Area A: Essential Skills is made up of basic English and Math courses. Area B: Institutional Options is made up of courses pertaining to global issues in science and technology, oral communication, and critical thinking. Area C: Humanities and Art Fine Arts includes courses such as Literature, Art Appreciation, and Languages. Area D: Science and Mathematics is made up of courses such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, and Calculus. Area E: Social Sciences includes courses in History, Political Science, Psychology, Ethnic Studies, and Religion.
programs as well as several masters degree programs throughout its four schools and division of engineering. It offers 24 online certificate, graduate and undergraduate degree programs, as well as the "eCore" program which is made up of the first two years of college courses completely online and is composed primarily of core classes.
power, the vice president chairs the legislative body, and the chief judge has judgment authority over questions of constitutionality.
The SGA is composed of three main branches:
The Legislative Council divided into four committees. These committees include Budget and Finance, Public Relations, Internal Affairs, and Elections.
, is a non-commercial station that began in 1979 and used to be located at 100.7 on the FM
dial. The station's license would have expired on April 16, 2004, but had been canceled on January 16, 2004. WGHR remains off radio broadcast, but continues to function via webcast
. Their web home page is a work in progress, but navigation includes the DJ schedule, events, live radio, and contact information. The student radio station is located in an office in SPSU's student center (at the center of campus life). The SPSU Student Handbook 2007-2008 informs that WGHR "offers interested students an opportunity to gain broadcast and technical experience".
For more than a decade, an SPSU student team has competed in the International Aerial Robotics Competition
sponsored by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI). Over the years the SPSU teams have won various awards for their fully autonomous aerial robots. Also, the Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Technology department sponsors a student-run Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) team that competes in an annual AUVSI underwater vehicle competition in San Diego, California. The Civil Engineering Technology department sponsors the Steel Bridge team and the Concrete Canoe team, both of which compete in annual competitions on a regional and national level.
In 1992 the Formula SAE
competition team was started by John M. Leverett, director of engineering at Panoz Auto Development. The team has competed in numerous annual competitions since then, placing 20th in the 2007 competition. The team is currently in the design process for a new car for the 2012 competition.
(IFC), two of the National Panhellenic Conference
(NPC), and five of the National Pan-Hellenic Council
(NPHC).
Fraternities and sororities are groups used to engage a student's social life.
North-American Interfraternity Conference (IFC)
National Panhellenic Conference (NPHC)
Panhellenic Association (NPC)
Recreation
Performing Arts
Competition
Honorary
and Southern States Athletic Conference
, competing in four varsity-level sports: men's soccer, baseball, and men's and women's basketball.
In 2010, men's soccer went 12-5-3 in the regular season with 6-0 record in the conference. They reached the SSAC tournament and won one game, but they eventually lost in the finals. They also qualified for the NAIA tournament. They won their first match but lost in the round of 16.
SPSU's baseball team went 53–10 in the 2009 regular season, won the SSAC conference championship, and finished fifth in the NAIA World Series. Three players from the team were drafted by major league baseball teams (the Baltimore Orioles
, Philadelphia Phillies
and Florida Marlins
).
In 2009, men’s basketball went 23-5 in the regular season and 12-2 record in the conference. They reached the SSAC tournament and won three straight games which made them SSAC Champions. They also qualified for the NAIA tournament. They won three straight games before losing in the final four to Azusa Pacific University. During this season, many Hornets received personal awards. Jazz Rogers- won 2009-2010 SSAC Player of the Year, Brent Jennings, Xavier Dawson, and Jazz Rogers was named SSAC All-Conference Team, Darrien Beacham was the 2010 Musco Lighting Champion of Character Team, and Jordan Lemons was named SSAC All-Academic Team.
In 2009, women's basketball went 26-4 in the regular season and 12-4 in the conference. They won the SSAC championship and went on to the NAIA tournament. They won the first game but lost the next one to Union university. During this season, many hornets received personal awards. NAIA Scholar-Athlete and All-Academic Team was given to Crystal Davis, All-Freshmen Team was given to Brittany White, All-Conference Team was awarded to Dione Parks and Marisa Stoler, and the 6th Man Award was given to Dione Parks. Newcomer of the year was awarded to Marisa Stoler, and Musco Lighting Champion of Character Team was given to Aurielle Morgan. Also the Coach of the Year was awarded to Nathan Teymer.
SPSU also offers intramural and club sports. Intramural sports offers many team and individual competitive programs throughout the year. Intramural sports consist of basketball, badminton, Racquetball, dodge ball, soccer, softball, volleyball, and flag football. Club sports are organized by individuals and groups on Southern Polytechnic's campus. SPSU has many club sports such as disc golf, and ultimate Frisbee.
Intercollegiate practices and recreational sports take place in the Recreation and Wellness Center, the Outdoor Recreation Complex, the Athletic Gymnasium, and Walter J. Kelly, Jr. Field.
The Recreation and Wellness Center has a weight room, running machines, basketball/volleyball gym, a pool and racquetball/badminton court.
The Outdoor Recreation Complex has three softball fields, a soccer field, and a large field for multiple sports. Intramural sports use theses fields all year. The complex also has tennis courts and a running trail.
"The Runnin' Hornets basketball teams practice and play in the Athletic Gymnasium. Athletic Department offices are also located here. The Southern Polytechnic baseball team plays at Walter J. Kelly, Jr. Field".
Since 2006, there has been a general 70% to 30% ratio of men to women professors. In 2007-2008 male professors made up to 7,000 dollars more than female professors on average. The gap between the difference in pay quickly decreased and by the 2009-2010 academic year the salary only differed by 300 dollars, $77,699 for males and $77,410 for females. Of the 48 full-time professors in 2007, 52% of them had tenure. The amount of professors dropped from 48 to 44 in 2008, and with the drop of full-time professors, there were only 44% of full time faculty that had tenure. It was also recorded in 2010, that the amount of full-time professors dropped again to 39, but the tenure rate still remained the same.
There are many awards given out at Southern Polytechnic State University among the faculty including the Outstanding Faculty Award and the Employee Service Award. Throughout the course of a faculty members time working at SPSU they have the chance to receive an Outstanding Faculty Award (OFA). The university chooses a select group of faculty whose achievements have been noteworthy enough to receive the OFA. The OFA committee changes each year and is made up of the previous year's recipients of the Outstanding Faculty Award. The Employee Service Award acknowledges the service and achievement of its permanent employees at periodic intervals with appropriate ceremony and awards. A committee composed of representatives from the Staff Council and the Outstanding Faculty Awards Committee determine who receive the awards and the ceremony date. Both awards are given out at the same ceremony, and it takes place at the end of spring term.
, one of the leading producers of electricity in the United States.
John M. Leverett, Director of Engineering at Panoz Auto Development graduated from Southern Polytechnic State University. His legacy remains as having started "Southern Poly Motorsports", the sponsoring Formula SAE
competition team, in 1992.
33.940°N 84.520°W
Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
, Georgia
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...
just northwest of Atlanta. 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 known as "Georgia's Technology University".
Southern Polytechnic State University was established in 1948 as The Technical Institute in Chamblee, Georgia, United States. The first classes were held with 116 students. It was renamed in 1949 and moved to its present campus in Marietta, Georgia, around 1958. It went through another name change in 1987 and was named Southern College of Technology. Later in the summer of 1996, the university adopted its current name. Today, the university encompasses more than 230 acre (0.9307778 km²) and includes approximately 35 buildings. Southern Polytechnic State University is well known for its academic programs in architecture, engineering, technology, and computer science.
Establishment
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the need for technicians spiked due to a major economic shift within Georgia
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...
from being a largely agricultural state to one that is more industry heavy. The new industries required technicians to bridge the growing gap between engineers and craftsmen, effectively the gap between research/ development and building/implementing. At the time, most technical institutes within the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
were located in the northeastern states, and thus the need for a technical institute within the south was great.
In response to the growing demand, the president of Georgia Tech
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
, Colonel Blake R. Van Leer, sought to establish a technical institute program within Georgia
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...
. In 1945 he was approached by the Associated Industries of Georgia (AIG) who shared their common desire to have such a program established and offered Van Leer their support. It took years for Van Leer to convince the Board of Regents
Board of Regents
In the United States, a board often governs public institutions of higher education, which include both state universities and community colleges. In each US state, such boards may govern either the state university system, individual colleges and universities, or both. In general they operate as...
to give Georgia Tech authorization to establish a technical institute, but finally on October 8, 1947 the authorization was granted. The location of the fledgling institute was a Naval Air Station in Chamblee, GA, the first director was to be Professor Lawrence V. Johnson, and it was going to open under the name of The Technical Institute. In March 1948 The Technical Institute held its first registration for a spring quarter, and started with 116 students, all but 10 being World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veterans, and a staff of 12.
Early history
In 1949, it became the Southern Technical Institute (STI or Southern Tech), and was recognized as a collegeCollege
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
-level school by the U.S. Department of Education. Less than a decade later (around 1958), the college migrated to its present campus in Marietta, which was previously part of Dobbins Air Force Base. NAS Atlanta also moved to the opposite (south) end of Dobbins around the same time.
In 1961, Hoyt McClure was named acting director and led the movement to build eight new buildings on 120 acres (48 hectares) of land. Since then SPSU has continued to expand—the campus now encompasses more than 230 acres (92ha) and contains 35 buildings with continuing projects to expand the campus for both academia and student housing.
STI became accredited as a four-year college in 1970, and was one of the first colleges in the nation to offer the bachelor
Bachelor'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...
of engineering technology degree. It also earned independence in the University System, separating ties with Georgia Tech. In the summer of 1980, SPSU officially became the 14th senior college and the 33rd independent unit 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...
.
The college's first president, Dr. Stephen R. Cheshier of Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
, was named in 1980 and served with distinction until his retirement as president in June 1997. He saw SPSU through two name changes—Southern College of Technology in 1987 and Southern Polytechnic State University in the summer of 1996, when the school also became a university. Dr. Daniel S. Papp served as interim president from July 1997 to August 1998, when the university welcomed Dr. Lisa Rossbacher
Lisa Rossbacher
Lisa A. Rossbacher, Ph.D., is the current president of Southern Polytechnic State University—the first woman geologist to serve as a university president in North America...
, formerly of Dickinson College
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
, as its president.
Currently, SPSU also hosts a satellite campus for Georgia Highlands College
Georgia Highlands College
Georgia Highlands College, commonly known as Georgia Highlands, is a two-year community college associate degree-granting unit of the University System of Georgia, and located in Rome, Georgia, USA; with satellite campuses in Heritage Hall, Rome, Georgia; Cartersville, Georgia; Marietta, GA;...
.
Accreditations
- The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- The Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
- The National Architectural Accreditation Board (NAAB)
- The American Council for Construction Education (ACCE)
- The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Recent developments
In the recent years the SPSU campus has seen major revisions through multiple building additions.- Engineering Technology Center and Building (The Q Building)
- On January 24, 2008, Governor Sunny Purdue recommended a little over 33 million dollars towards the construction of a new building to house five programs: Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering, and Mechatronics Engineering. The 123000 square feet (11,427.1 m²) facility was completed in December of 2010 and opened on the first day of classes for the spring semester of 2011.
- DineOnCampus
- The construction of the new dining hall replaced the old dining hall when it was completed in July 2010. Located at the center of the university, the new dining hall has two levels. The upper level dining area offers commercial food service and the lower level is designed to host special event for the college and its administration. Both the upper and lower level has the capacity to accommodate the entire campus with variety of food program and choices.
- New Student Housing
- To meet the rising demand for on-campus housing, Southern Polytechnic State University ordered the construction of new apartment complexes, suite-styled dormitories, plus special interest housing for fraternities, sororities, and athletics. Starting in 2003, the Courtyard Apartments were built to hold 414 beds within 104 units as well as renovation of the Howell and Norton Residence Halls. Construction was completed in 2004. More recently, the construction of new residence halls and special interest housing began in 2009. The residence halls consist of two buildings holding 600 new beds and the special interest housing are divided among ten buildings.
- Design II Building
- The new Design II building was completed December 2010. This new building brings an additional 14500 square feet (1,347.1 m²). Acting as an extension of Design I, Design II houses six large studio spaces and a 286 seat auditorium.
Undergraduate programs
SPSU offers many different majors through its different schools. Southern Polytechnic's academic divisions are made up by its School of Architecture, Civil Engineering Technology and Construction; School of Computing and Software Engineering; School of Engineering Technology and Management; School of Arts and Sciences; and Division of Engineering. SPSU serves both traditional and non-traditional students at the undergraduate level.The most popular majors for undergraduate students that are at SPSU are in Civil Engineering, Civil Engineering Technology, Computer Science, Information Technology, Architecture, Construction Management, Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering Technology. The construction engineering program is one of nine in the nation. The mechatronics engineering degree is the first in Georgia. Other unique programs at Southern Polytechnic State University include a five-year professional accredited Architecture degree, and undergraduate degrees in Surveying and Mapping, Systems Engineering, and Technical Communication.
SPSU follows the University System of Georgia's Common Core program. The curriculum framework for the Common Core System is made up of several areas. These areas outline the required core classes for each student to graduate. Area A: Essential Skills is made up of basic English and Math courses. Area B: Institutional Options is made up of courses pertaining to global issues in science and technology, oral communication, and critical thinking. Area C: Humanities and Art Fine Arts includes courses such as Literature, Art Appreciation, and Languages. Area D: Science and Mathematics is made up of courses such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, and Calculus. Area E: Social Sciences includes courses in History, Political Science, Psychology, Ethnic Studies, and Religion.
Graduate programs
SPSU offers master's degrees in Accounting, Architecture, Business Administration, Computer Science, Construction Management, Engineering Technology—Electrical, Information and Instructional Design, Information Design and Communication, Information Technology, Quality Assurance, Software Engineering, and Systems Engineering. There is no age requirement to go to Southern Polytechnic State University. Anyone can join the graduate program as long as they have the right prerequisites. SPSU has always prided itself on the fact that it can accommodate the unique needs of graduate students. SPSU has been offering many of its master's degrees online since 1997.Schools and degrees
The University offers a broad range of undergraduate degreeUndergraduate degree
An undergraduate degree is a colloquial term for an academic degree taken by a person who has completed undergraduate courses. It is usually offered at an institution of higher education, such as a university...
programs as well as several masters degree programs throughout its four schools and division of engineering. It offers 24 online certificate, graduate and undergraduate degree programs, as well as the "eCore" program which is made up of the first two years of college courses completely online and is composed primarily of core classes.
Progression of Programs
Under the name of Southern College of Technology the school offered many Associate of Science and several Bachelor of Science degree programs. Starting in 1987, the Masters of Science degree programs began to be added, with the newest, the M.S. in Architecture, added in 2011. In 1994 the former Architectural Engineering Technology degree was converted into an undergraduate five-year professional architecture degree. Also, in 1996 Southern Polytechnic State University offered a Bachelors of Applied Science Degree. After the adoption of the name Southern Polytechnic University in 1996, the school began to offer more Bachelor degree programs, and now offers only one associates degree program. Most undergraduate degrees are Bachelor of Science degrees (including such fields as Political Science, Psychology, and Technical Communication), with several Bachelor of Arts degrees also offered. Degree programs at SPSU always have a technological focus. In 2009, The Division of Engineering was added by Southern Poly, and offers six undergraduate engineering degrees, including evening degrees in Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering.- The School of Architecture, Civil Engineering Technology, and Construction
- B.Arch. in ArchitectureArchitectureArchitecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
- B.S. in Civil Engineering TechnologyCivil engineeringCivil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
- B.S. in Construction ManagementConstruction managementConstruction Project Management is the overall planning, coordination and control of a project from inception to completion aimed at meeting a client’s requirements in order to produce a functionally and financially viable project that will be complete mingement is project management that applies...
- M.S. in Construction Management
- The School of Computing and Software Engineering
- B.S. in Computer Game Design and DevelopmentGame developmentGame development is the software development process by which a video game is developed. Development is undertaken by a game developer, which may range from a single person to a large business. Mainstream games are normally funded by a publisher and take several years to develop. Indie games can...
- B.S. in Computer ScienceComputer scienceComputer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
- M.S. in Computer Science
- B.S. in Information TechnologyInformation technologyInformation technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
- M.S. in Information Technology
- B.S. in Software EngineeringSoftware engineeringSoftware Engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software, and the study of these approaches; that is, the application of engineering to software...
- M.S. in Software Engineering
- The School of Engineering Technology and Management
- B.S. in Accounting
- M.S. in Accounting
- B.S. in Business Administration
- M.S. in Business Administration
- B.S. in Electrical Engineering TechnologyElectrical engineeringElectrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
- M.S. in Engineering Technology--Electrical
- B.S. in Industrial Engineering TechnologyIndustrial engineeringIndustrial engineering is a branch of engineering dealing with the optimization of complex processes or systems. It is concerned with the development, improvement, implementation and evaluation of integrated systems of people, money, knowledge, information, equipment, energy, materials, analysis...
- B.S. in Mechanical Engineering TechnologyMechanical engineering technologyMechanical engineering technology is the application of physical principles and current technological developments to the creation of useful machinery and operation design. Technologies such as solid models may be used as the basis for finite element analysis and / or computational fluid dynamics ...
- M.S. in Quality AssuranceQuality AssuranceQuality assurance, or QA for short, is the systematic monitoring and evaluation of the various aspects of a project, service or facility to maximize the probability that minimum standards of quality are being attained by the production process...
- The School of Arts and Sciences
- B.S. in BiologyBiologyBiology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
- B.S. in ChemistryChemistryChemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
- B.S. in English and Professional Communication
- M.S. in Information and Instructional Design
- M.S. in Information Design and Communication
- B.S. in MathematicsMathematicsMathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
- B.S. in PhysicsPhysicsPhysics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
- B.S. in Political SciencePolitical sciencePolitical Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
- B.S. in PsychologyPsychologyPsychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
- B.S. in Technical CommunicationTechnical communicationTechnical communication is a method of researching and creating information about technical processes or products directed to an audience through media. The information must be relevant to the intended audience. Technical communicators often work collaboratively to create products for various...
- Division of Engineering
- B.S. in Civil EngineeringCivil engineeringCivil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
(evening program) - B.S. in Construction Engineering
- B.S. in Electrical Engineering (evening program)
- B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (evening program)
- B.S. in Mechatronics Engineering
- B.S. in Systems EngineeringSystems engineeringSystems engineering is an interdisciplinary field of engineering that focuses on how complex engineering projects should be designed and managed over the life cycle of the project. Issues such as logistics, the coordination of different teams, and automatic control of machinery become more...
- M.S. in Systems Engineering
- Extended University
List of presidents
| Name | Term of office | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Lisa Rossbacher Lisa Rossbacher Lisa A. Rossbacher, Ph.D., is the current president of Southern Polytechnic State University—the first woman geologist to serve as a university president in North America... |
August 1998 – Present | Served as Interim Vice Chancellor of the University System of Georgia in 2007 |
| Dr. Daniel S. Papp Daniel S. Papp Dr. Daniel S. Papp is the current President of the Kennesaw State University , a position he has held since July 2006.-Education:Dr. Papp is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Dartmouth College with a bachelor's degree in International Affairs in 1969. In 1973, Papp received a Ph.D. in International... |
July 1997-August 1998 | Served as Interim President. Current president of Kennesaw State University Kennesaw State University Kennesaw State University, also referred to as KSU, Kennesaw, or Kennesaw State, is a public, coeducational, comprehensive university that is part of the University System of Georgia. The university's main campus is located in Kennesaw, Georgia, United States, approximately north of Atlanta... |
| Dr. Stephen R. Cheshier | Summer 1980-July 1997 | First President of SPSU |
| Previous presidents were from the Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia Institute of Technology The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States... (Georgia Tech) |
||
Research
Southern Polytechnic State University, focuses on using knowledge and technology to better Georgia's economic development. Both faculty and students take part in research that advances the school's mission and its students' preparation for their future careers. Many individuals and organizations, such as the Immerse Membrane and SNAPTECH Research Projects, have been directly impacted by the school's applied research. SPSU Faculty members have completed research fellowships with the United States Air force and other governmental labs. They have also done programming for Blue Cross Blue shield making business applications, and they have developed and managed systems for IBM.Student government
Student organizations such as fraternities, clubs, and the general student body are governed by the Student Government Association of Southern Polytechnic State University. SGA is composed of elected and appointed undergraduate and graduate students. The SGA is designed closely to the U.S. government, where the president has vetoVeto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
power, the vice president chairs the legislative body, and the chief judge has judgment authority over questions of constitutionality.
The SGA is composed of three main branches:
- Executive (President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, Chief Judge, and four committee chairs)
- Legislative (Ten Councilmen including the four committee chairs, chaired by the VP and recorded by the Secretary/Treasurer)
- Judicial (Chief Judge and six Associate Judges)
The Legislative Council divided into four committees. These committees include Budget and Finance, Public Relations, Internal Affairs, and Elections.
WGHR ( Green Hornet Radio )
The campus radio station, WGHRWGHR
WGHR is a noncommercial radio station operated solely by the students of Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta, Georgia, USA. The station is student- and listener-supported, with diverse programming from a wide variety of genres.-History:...
, is a non-commercial station that began in 1979 and used to be located at 100.7 on the FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
dial. The station's license would have expired on April 16, 2004, but had been canceled on January 16, 2004. WGHR remains off radio broadcast, but continues to function via webcast
Webcast
A webcast is a media presentation distributed over the Internet using streaming media technology to distribute a single content source to many simultaneous listeners/viewers. A webcast may either be distributed live or on demand...
. Their web home page is a work in progress, but navigation includes the DJ schedule, events, live radio, and contact information. The student radio station is located in an office in SPSU's student center (at the center of campus life). The SPSU Student Handbook 2007-2008 informs that WGHR "offers interested students an opportunity to gain broadcast and technical experience".
The Sting
The Sting, formerly the Southern Technical Institute News Gazette, was established when the school was founded, but has been discontinued and the website has expired. According to the 2007 Student Handbook, "It offered excellent opportunities for writers, photographers, and advertising salespeople to acquire valuable experience and to extend their interest into activities outside their courses of study." The Hornet's Nest, a faculty-run e-newsletter that began February 4, 2008, is the current source for SPSU on-line news.Academic competition teams
SPSU fields a number of academic competition teams, including a robotics team.For more than a decade, an SPSU student team has competed in the International Aerial Robotics Competition
International Aerial Robotics Competition
The International Aerial Robotics Competition began in 1991 on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology and is the longest running university-based robotics competition in the world...
sponsored by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI). Over the years the SPSU teams have won various awards for their fully autonomous aerial robots. Also, the Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Technology department sponsors a student-run Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) team that competes in an annual AUVSI underwater vehicle competition in San Diego, California. The Civil Engineering Technology department sponsors the Steel Bridge team and the Concrete Canoe team, both of which compete in annual competitions on a regional and national level.
In 1992 the Formula SAE
Formula SAE
Formula SAE is a student design competition organized by the Society of Automotive Engineers . The competition was started back in 1978 and was originally called SAE Mini Indy.-Concept:...
competition team was started by John M. Leverett, director of engineering at Panoz Auto Development. The team has competed in numerous annual competitions since then, placing 20th in the 2007 competition. The team is currently in the design process for a new car for the 2012 competition.
Fraternities and sororities
Southern Polytechnic State University is home to thirteen fraternities and sororities: five of the 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...
(IFC), two of the National Panhellenic Conference
National 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...
(NPC), and five of the 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).
Fraternities and sororities are groups used to engage a student's social life.
North-American Interfraternity Conference (IFC)
- Sigma PiSigma PiSigma 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...
- Kappa SigmaKappa SigmaKappa 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...
- Pi Kappa PhiPi Kappa PhiPi 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...
- Sigma Alpha EpsilonSigma Alpha EpsilonSigma 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...
- Sigma NuSigma NuSigma 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...
- Tau Kappa EpsilonTau Kappa EpsilonTau 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...
National Panhellenic Conference (NPHC)
- Alpha Phi AlphaAlpha Phi AlphaAlpha 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 ...
- Alpha Kappa AlphaAlpha Kappa AlphaAlpha 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...
- Delta Sigma ThetaDelta Sigma ThetaDelta 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...
- Zeta Phi BetaZeta Phi BetaZeta 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...
- Kappa Alpha PsiKappa Alpha PsiKappa 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...
- Omega Psi PhiOmega Psi PhiOmega 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...
- Phi Beta SigmaPhi Beta SigmaPhi 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...
Panhellenic Association (NPC)
- Alpha Xi DeltaAlpha Xi DeltaAlpha 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...
- Gamma Phi BetaGamma Phi BetaGamma Phi Beta is an international sorority that was founded on November 11, 1874, at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. The term "sorority," meaning sisterhood, was coined for Gamma Phi Beta by Dr. Frank Smalley, a professor at Syracuse University.The four founders are Helen M. Dodge,...
Social and other clubs
SPSU supports many student-run social organizations along the genres of international cultures, faith, athletics, special interests, etc.Recreation
- Pure Bliss (SPSU Ultimate Team)
- Runnin' Hornets That Run
- SPSU Arch Angel Paintball Team
- SPSU Cheerleaders
- SPSU Dance Team
- SPSU Fishing Club
Performing Arts
- SPSU Drama Club
- SPSU Band
Competition
- 2010 NECA
- Aerial Robotics Team
- APV Club
- Concrete Canoe Team
- Steel Bridge Team
- AUV Team
- SPSU FSAE
- SPISA
Honorary
- Alpha Chi NHS
- Student Honors Council
- Tau Alpha Pi NHS
Bathtub Race
In the 1960s one of the fraternities at Southern Polytechnic converted a castiron bath tub into a cooler for parties. When the tub became difficult to move they attached wheels to the tub. Some time after other fraternities acquired their own castiron tubs, attached wheels, and the fraternities began to hold races around the perimeter of the school. In light of a growing liability risk the school put an end to the annual bath tub races in the early 1990s. In 2010 the SPSU Alumni group resurrected the Bathtub Race, under the stipulation that the tubs must be motorless.Campus dining
SPSU has several options for campus dining: Stingers Restaurant, Mondo Sub, and The Community Center. Stingers Restaurant is located in X Building, near the Hornet Village residence buildings. The Hornets Nest is located on the basement level of Joe Mack Wilson Student Center. Mondo Sub, located inside the J-building, provides subs, outtake cuisine and soups. The Community Center has two restaurants, Build-A-Burger And Habaneros, selling fast food, open to midnight for the convenience of students.Athletics
SPSU is a member of National Association of Intercollegiate AthleticsNational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
and Southern States Athletic Conference
Southern States Athletic Conference
The Southern States Athletic Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. The 16 member universities compete in 13 sports in the NAIA. Basketball teams compete in Division I of the NAIA.-History:...
, competing in four varsity-level sports: men's soccer, baseball, and men's and women's basketball.
In 2010, men's soccer went 12-5-3 in the regular season with 6-0 record in the conference. They reached the SSAC tournament and won one game, but they eventually lost in the finals. They also qualified for the NAIA tournament. They won their first match but lost in the round of 16.
SPSU's baseball team went 53–10 in the 2009 regular season, won the SSAC conference championship, and finished fifth in the NAIA World Series. Three players from the team were drafted by major league baseball teams (the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
and Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
).
In 2009, men’s basketball went 23-5 in the regular season and 12-2 record in the conference. They reached the SSAC tournament and won three straight games which made them SSAC Champions. They also qualified for the NAIA tournament. They won three straight games before losing in the final four to Azusa Pacific University. During this season, many Hornets received personal awards. Jazz Rogers- won 2009-2010 SSAC Player of the Year, Brent Jennings, Xavier Dawson, and Jazz Rogers was named SSAC All-Conference Team, Darrien Beacham was the 2010 Musco Lighting Champion of Character Team, and Jordan Lemons was named SSAC All-Academic Team.
In 2009, women's basketball went 26-4 in the regular season and 12-4 in the conference. They won the SSAC championship and went on to the NAIA tournament. They won the first game but lost the next one to Union university. During this season, many hornets received personal awards. NAIA Scholar-Athlete and All-Academic Team was given to Crystal Davis, All-Freshmen Team was given to Brittany White, All-Conference Team was awarded to Dione Parks and Marisa Stoler, and the 6th Man Award was given to Dione Parks. Newcomer of the year was awarded to Marisa Stoler, and Musco Lighting Champion of Character Team was given to Aurielle Morgan. Also the Coach of the Year was awarded to Nathan Teymer.
SPSU also offers intramural and club sports. Intramural sports offers many team and individual competitive programs throughout the year. Intramural sports consist of basketball, badminton, Racquetball, dodge ball, soccer, softball, volleyball, and flag football. Club sports are organized by individuals and groups on Southern Polytechnic's campus. SPSU has many club sports such as disc golf, and ultimate Frisbee.
Intercollegiate practices and recreational sports take place in the Recreation and Wellness Center, the Outdoor Recreation Complex, the Athletic Gymnasium, and Walter J. Kelly, Jr. Field.
The Recreation and Wellness Center has a weight room, running machines, basketball/volleyball gym, a pool and racquetball/badminton court.
The Outdoor Recreation Complex has three softball fields, a soccer field, and a large field for multiple sports. Intramural sports use theses fields all year. The complex also has tennis courts and a running trail.
"The Runnin' Hornets basketball teams practice and play in the Athletic Gymnasium. Athletic Department offices are also located here. The Southern Polytechnic baseball team plays at Walter J. Kelly, Jr. Field".
Faculty
Faculty at SPSU are at a ratio of about 1 faculty member per 19 students. About 42.5% of students attend classes with less than 20 students. The small class size promotes a greater attention to the students and lets the faculty become more involved in each students education. The faculty also centers their attention to provide a laboratory and/or professionally-oriented education that caters to problem solving, ethical awareness, and a desire for lifelong learning. Every faculty member has to have experience in relevant work or research of a topic to be qualified to teach at the school. Because the faculty is more involved, most Freshman, 75.5 percent, attend the school for a second year.Since 2006, there has been a general 70% to 30% ratio of men to women professors. In 2007-2008 male professors made up to 7,000 dollars more than female professors on average. The gap between the difference in pay quickly decreased and by the 2009-2010 academic year the salary only differed by 300 dollars, $77,699 for males and $77,410 for females. Of the 48 full-time professors in 2007, 52% of them had tenure. The amount of professors dropped from 48 to 44 in 2008, and with the drop of full-time professors, there were only 44% of full time faculty that had tenure. It was also recorded in 2010, that the amount of full-time professors dropped again to 39, but the tenure rate still remained the same.
There are many awards given out at Southern Polytechnic State University among the faculty including the Outstanding Faculty Award and the Employee Service Award. Throughout the course of a faculty members time working at SPSU they have the chance to receive an Outstanding Faculty Award (OFA). The university chooses a select group of faculty whose achievements have been noteworthy enough to receive the OFA. The OFA committee changes each year and is made up of the previous year's recipients of the Outstanding Faculty Award. The Employee Service Award acknowledges the service and achievement of its permanent employees at periodic intervals with appropriate ceremony and awards. A committee composed of representatives from the Staff Council and the Outstanding Faculty Awards Committee determine who receive the awards and the ceremony date. Both awards are given out at the same ceremony, and it takes place at the end of spring term.
Notable alumni
One notable alumnus of SPSU is Mike Garrett, former president and CEO of Georgia PowerGeorgia Power
Georgia Power is an electric utility headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is the largest of the four electric utilities that are owned and operated by Southern Company....
, one of the leading producers of electricity in the United States.
John M. Leverett, Director of Engineering at Panoz Auto Development graduated from Southern Polytechnic State University. His legacy remains as having started "Southern Poly Motorsports", the sponsoring Formula SAE
Formula SAE
Formula SAE is a student design competition organized by the Society of Automotive Engineers . The competition was started back in 1978 and was originally called SAE Mini Indy.-Concept:...
competition team, in 1992.
Police department
SPSU operates an on-campus police department. Its officers have the ability to arrest on university property (which is under the control of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia) and on any public or private property within 500 yards (457.2 m) of property controlled by the Board of Regents. As of October 2010, the SPSU Police Department holds the Cobb Chamber of Commerce's Public Safety Officer of the Year award, which is handed out annually at the chamber's Public Safety Recognition Awards ceremony.External links
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