Pittsburg State University

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Pittsburg State University
Motto Where People Succeed
Established 1903
Type Public
Endowment $40,784,334
President Tom W. Bryant
Faculty 700
Undergraduates 5,200
Postgraduates 1,400
Location Pittsburg, KS, USA
Address 1701 South Broadway
Pittsburg KS 66762
Telephone 620-231-7000
Campus Rural, 223 acres
Colors Crimson and Gold
Nickname Gorillas
Mascot Gus the Gorilla
Affiliations NCAA DII, MIAA
Website www.pittstate.edu

Pittsburg State University, also called Pitt State or PSU, is a public university with approximately 6,600 students (5,200 undergraduates and 1,400 graduate students) located in Pittsburg, Kansas. A large percentage of the student population consists of Kansas residents with the gender proportion relatively equal. Almost 89% of the students are white Americans. Pitt State also has an 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio. It is a member of the Kansas Board of Regents. Currently, it boasts an endowment of around $40,784,334.

The student newspaper of Pittsburg State University is the Collegio.

Contents

[edit] History

Pittsburg State University started out in 1903 as the Auxiliary Manual Training Normal School. After ten years, PSU was renamed Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg and became a four-year college. Once more in 1959, its name was changed again to Kansas State College of Pittsburg. Eventually, Kansas State College became Pittsburg State University on April 21, 1977.

[edit] Campus

Located in the southeast Kansas, the 223-acre campus[1] is considered one of the safest campuses in the United States. Pittsburg State University is also the home of the $30 million Kansas Technology Center, a state-of-the-art technology program in the largest academic building in Kansas.

[edit] Academic

PSU is organized into the following schools and colleges:

The Kelce College of Business is accredited by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). In addition, research institutes are located on campus such as the Business & Technology Institute and the Kansas Polymer Research Center.

[edit] Ranking

According to U.S. News & World Report, Pitt State is ranked #87 among Best Midwestern Universities - Master's (where the highest degree offered is a Master's)[2]. The US News also ranked PSU students 4th among Midwest Universities - Master's in the least amount of debt carried after graduation, based on the 2004 class.

[edit] Admissions

The average grade point average and ACT score for an admitted freshman was 3.30 and 21, respectively according to Princeton Review. According to College Board, 91% of the applicants are accepted into Pittsburg State University.

Pitt State offers the "Gorilla Advantage" plan, whereby certain qualifying students living in designated counties of southwest Missouri and northeast Oklahoma are eligible for in-state tuition. [3]

[edit] Athletics

Enlarge

Pittsburg State University is well known for its outstanding athletic and scholastic presence in the NCAA Division II division, most notably the football program. The school has been a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) since 1989.

The Pitt State football program has been National Champions on three occasions; 1957, 1961 and 1991. During the 2004 season the Gorillas finished 14-1, losing 31-36 to Valdosta State University in the National Championship. Pittsburg State has won, outright or shared, a total of 27 conference championships during the 96-year history of its intercollegiate program, including 13 conference titles in the last 19 seasons. PSU reached the Division II National Championship game in 2004, 1995, and 1992 and is the winningest football program in the history of Division II. PSU football had the winningest record in college football at any level in the 1990s; and since 1990 has produced more All-American athletes than any other NCAA Division II school. In 2004 Pitt State broke the NCAA record for most points scored in a season.

[edit] Traditions

Pitt State's mascot is the Gus the Gorilla and the school colors are crimson and gold. In 1903 the school adopted the color crimson, and gold was added in 1920.

[edit] The Gorillas

PSU is the only university in the United States to feature a gorilla as a mascot. The concept of the mascot was conceived in 1920, and officially adopted on January 15, 1925. The current mascot, Gus, was designed in 1985 by L. Michael Hailey.

[edit] Fight Song

Pittsburg State team, fight for your college!
Come and join the fray!
Pass that ball around for a touchdown
And we'll win this game today!
Fight! Fight! Fight! for the glory and fame
Because our spirit is so great!
And when this game is over
We'll shout the whole world over:
Pittsburg State!

[edit] University Presidents

  • Russell S. Russ (1903-1911)
  • George E. Myers (1911-1913)
  • William A. Brandenburg (1913-1940)
  • O. P. Dellinger (1940-1941)
  • Rees H. Hughes (1941-1957)
  • Leonard H. Axe (1957-1965)
  • George F. Budd (1965-1977)
  • James Appleberry (1977-1983)
  • Donald W. Wilson (1983-1995)
  • John R. Darling (1995-1999)
  • Tom W. Bryant (1999-Present)

[edit] Notable Pitt State alumni

[edit] External links

Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Central Missouri • Emporia State • Fort Hays State • Missouri Southern • Missouri Western • Northwest Missouri • Pittsburg State • Southwest Baptist • Truman • Washburn
Public Colleges and Universities in Kansas
Emporia State • Fort Hays State • Kansas • Kansas State • Pittsburg State • Wichita State
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