Rogers State University

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**Rogers State University**
Motto	Tradition Innovation Excellence
Established	1909
Type	Public
President	Dr. Joe A. Wiley
Provost	Bill R. Beierschmitt
Dean	Dr. Michael Turner
OU Board of Regents	Paul D. Austin, Chairman
Students	4,039[1]
Location	Claremore, Oklahoma, USA
Address	1701 W. Will Rogers Blvd. Claremore, Oklahoma 74017
Telephone	1-800-256-7511 918-343-7777
Campus	Suburban
Colors	Blue and Crimson
Mascot	Hillcats
Affiliations	Sooner Athletic Conference
Website	www.rsu.edu

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

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

[edit] History

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

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

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

In 1971, the Oklahoma Legislature replaced the OMA with an institution to grant two year associate degrees to the public known as Claremore Junior College. In 1982, it became Rogers State College. In 1996, Rogers State College and the University Center at Tulsa (UCAT) merged to form Rogers University, with campuses in Claremore and Tulsa, which operated for two years before being separated by the Oklahoma Legislature. The part that had been Rogers State College became a member of the OU Board of Regents, and was re-christened Rogers State University. RSU was given permission to seek accreditation as a four year, bachelor degree granting university. In 2000, RSU became the institution it is today, a public four year, residential university. On August 16, 2006, Rogers State's Stratton Taylor library was named a Federal depository library, the 20th in the state of Oklahoma.

[edit] Academics

RSU currently offers bachelor's degrees in 9 areas: Applied Technology, Biology, Business Administration, Business Information Technology, Communications, Game Development, Justice Administration, Liberal Arts, and Social Science. Beginning in spring 2007, RSU will add a tenth area and offer a BFA in Visual Arts with concentrations including studio arts, graphic design and multimedia. RSU will also offer a degree in Organizational Management, beginning in March 2007. In fall 2007, RSU will add bachelors in Sport Management, Community Counseling and Nursing.

In conjunction with Cameron University, RSU also offers a "2+2" program in Elementary Education, in which students can earn an associate's degree in elementary education from RSU and then trasition to the final two years of a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Cameron, with all classes taught at RSU's campus in Claremore.

RSU also offers associate's degrees in almost 20 areas, which include Nursing, Accounting, Police Science, and Computer science.

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

[edit] Athletics

The school's sports teams are referred to as the Hillcats, a mascot chosen in 2005. The school participates in the NAIA's region six, and will be an associate member of the Sooner Athletic Conference beginning in 2007. The University currently fields teams in softball and baseball, and will begin men's and women's teams in both basketball and soccer in 2007. RSU also has a competitive rodeo team that is a member of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. It has plans to add other sports, including golf.

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

[edit] Miscellany

The university is named after the county the main campus is located in, Rogers County, Oklahoma [2]. Rogers County is in turn named in honor of Clement Vann Rogers[3], not, as commonly thought, Clem's son, Will Rogers.

Oklahoma Broadcasting and Promotions legend Davit Souders hosts The Local Flavors Show, a weekly program on KRSC-FM, RSU's radio station, featuring independent music from the region.