Towson University
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Established | 1866 |
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| Type | Public |
| President | Robert L. Caret |
| Faculty | 1,257 (full-/part-time) |
| Undergraduates | 14,495 |
| Postgraduates | 3,516 |
| Location | Towson, Maryland, United States |
| Campus | Suburban, 328 acres (1.33 km²) |
| Colors | Black and gold |
| Nickname | Tigers |
| Mascot | Tiger |
| Website | http://www.towson.edu |
Towson University, formerly State Normal School (1866-1935), Maryland State Teachers College at Towson (1935-1963), Towson State College (1963-1976), Towson State University (1976-1988), is a public university located in Towson in Baltimore County, Maryland, is part of the University System of Maryland. It is the 2nd largest college in Maryland, behind the University of Maryland, College Park.
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[edit] History
[edit] Commission of State Normal School (1866)
In 1866, the Maryland State Legislature passed a bill to standardize Maryland's school system, and there need to be a training facility for the new teachers, or a normal school. Its original mission of preparing teachers for Maryland's public school system, it was originally commissioned as the Maryland State Normal School by its first president, McFadden Alexander Newell. The first building that the school was housed in was Red Man's Hall in downtown Baltimore on North Paca Street.
[edit] Movement and Name Change (1915-1976)
TIn 1872 the school moved to another building, the Athenaeum, to accommodate the growing school body. By then, the school integrated more programs and courses into the curriculum. In 1875 the school moved into another building in Baltimore on Mulberry Street, but the building was in such poor condition, the roof fell in after the first day of classes. In light of what happened on Mulberry Street, the school moved in to a building specifically designed for it on Carrollton and Lafayette streets in Baltimore. By 1915 it moved to it's permanent suburban location in Towson, Maryland. By 1935, it had become a degree-granting institution called the Maryland State Teachers College at Towson. In 1963, following expansion of programs in the arts and sciences, its name was changed to Towson State College. University status was accorded in 1976, in recognition of Towson State's broadened role in Maryland higher education.
[edit] Joining the University System (1988)
In 1988, Towson State University joined 10 other public institutions in the University of Maryland System. On July 1, 1997, another name change took effect. Towson dropped the designation "state" from its name to become Towson University. The new name recognizes shifts in funding and the development and growth of Towson as a metropolitan university.
[edit] Presidents of Towson University
 First Principal, Maryland State Normal School (MSNS), 1866–1890 |
 Principal, MSNS, 1890–1905 |
 Principal, MSNS, 1905–1909 |
 Principal, MSNS, 1909–1917 |
 Principal, MSNS, 1917–1920 |
 Principal, 1920–1934, President, 1934–1938 |
 President, 1938–1947 |
 President, 1947–1969 |
 President, 1969–1978 |
 President 1979–2001 |
 President July, 2001–April, 2002 |
 President, July, 2003 to the present |
[edit] Life at Towson
[edit] Enrollment
More than 18,000 full-time and part-time students are enrolled in the University. Their numbers include over 800 international students from 100 nations. There are more than 15,000 undergraduates; approximately 13% are minority students. In 2006 Towson achieved more enrollment in its business school than any college in the state of Maryland
[edit] Housing
About 77% of the freshman class, and over 3,900 students among all four classes, resides on campus. The University has 12 residence halls, which include apartment complexes, modern high-rise towers, and more traditional two- and three-story residential buildings. These are the names of the housing complexes on campus:
- Glen Complex
- Richmond Hall
- Newell Hall
- Prettyman Hall
- Scarborough Hall
- Residence Tower (International Housing)
- Ward Hall
- West Hall
- Towson Run Apartments
While on campus, students have access to a counseling center, an academic advising center, a health center, and a career center. Grub Street, the university's nationally recognized literary magazine, showcases the talented writers, poets, and artists that make up the richly diverse body of students.
[edit] Food and Recreation
Campus life offers opportunities in many areas; academic, athletic, cultural, and social opportunities are some of the staples of the university. TU is home to more than 150 campus organizations and student clubs, fraternities, sororities, social clubs, professional clubs and club sports. Students love to gather at the University Union, which houses the school bookstore, the university store, dining facilities, the post office, the video/DVD renting center (Tiger Reels), ATM machines, and Paws, a student center with billiards, food, entertainment, music and a cyber cafe.
These are the dining facilities on campus:
- Glen Marketplace - This recently renovated dining facility features a brick-oven pizza station and offers a wide variety of popular all-you-care-to-eat menu options, including vegetarian and vegan. All of these choices are showcased in a comfortable, contemporary atmosphere with a window-wall view of the beautiful Glen.
- Newell Dining Hall - Features a Mongolian Grill, spectacular salad bar, Kosher Corner, and a wide variety of all-you-care-to-eat menu options.
- Susquehanna - Offers Chick-fil-A, University Deli, Pazzeli's Pizza, Grill, Tigerfresh Bakery, Krispy Kreme, and Bamboo Asian Cuisine.
- Paws - An extended-hours facility with popular food and entertainment choices. From its custom grilled selections to Sweet Sensation bakery and Starbucks Coffee. New this year is Stacker's Deli; upscale made to order sandwiches on specialty breads. Paws' entertainment offers a stage for music and comedy events. Pool tables, and large screen TVs are everywhere, and private personal or small-group seating is available away from the stage.
- Starbucks- Enjoy a selection of premium bakery products, sandwiches, salads and of course, incredible coffee, espresso beverages, etc. Located in Cook Library.
- Brick Street Cafe - Offers those on the go Seattle's Best Coffee, personal-pan pizza, Outtakes grab-and-go sandwiches and salads, plus custom-made deli delights from Leo's.
- Newell Den - This is another extended hours facilities. Featured menu items include Sbarro pizza and pasta specialties, a coffee shop, and popular items from the Fresh Grill and York Road Deli.
- Patuxent - This facility is a favorite lunchtime location for students, faculty, and staff. From its custom-made hot or cold sandwiches, and specials of the day, to the pasta, salad, and dessert stations, the Patuxent is sure to please.
- 7720 Cafe - When in the Administration building, this is the place to eat breakfast or lunch. Managed by our catering chef, the 7720 cafe offers hot and sweet breakfast selections, and specially made deli delights for lunch.
[edit] OneCard
Students get access to their meal plan, dorm buildings, and computer labs through the use of their One Card. They can also go to all of the school sporting events and several on campus events with the use of their card. It also serves dually as identification on campus for the police.
[edit] Academics
[edit] Colleges
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Towson educates undergraduate and graduate students in thirty academic departments which are subdivided into eight colleges:
- Business and Economics
- Education
- Fine Arts and Communication
- Graduate Studies and Research
- Health Professions
- Honors
- Liberal Arts
- The Jess and Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics
The university provides 64 undergraduate majors, 37 master's degree programs and 4 doctoral programs.
[edit] "Points of Pride"
Towson has achieved several milestones in the University System of Maryland, which it calls "Points of Pride". They're also listed on the school's website.
[edit] College of Business and Economics
- CBE is the largest undergraduate business school in Maryland, with more than 2,600 undergraduate students.
- Towson University is the only institution in the University System of Maryland with an undergraduate degree in e-Business.
- CBE is one of just 30 exclusively undergraduate programs accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), and only one of five in the nation that has both of its business and accounting programs AACSB-accredited.
- CBE has increased the number of partner organizations by 91 since 2004.
[edit] College of Education
- The College of Education is the oldest and largest producer of teachers in the state of Maryland. Across the nation, more than 10,500 educators trained at Towson University are now at the head of the class.
- The Center for Leadership in Education offers practical workshops for school administrators, teachers and parent groups across the state. Its members serve as unpaid consultants and advisors to school leaders and system administrators.
- The college is nationally recognized for its network of more than 110 professional development schools where teacher candidates receive hands-on training in the classroom and guidance from experienced mentor teachers. This approach significantly improves teacher retention, saves needed public education dollars and contributes to an improved learning environment for students.
- The College of Education has assumed a leadership role in Towson’s metropolitan university outreach program with Baltimore’s Cherry Hill community. With the Cherry Hill elementary, middle and high schools as the springboards, Towson will respond to a wide range of community needs, from nutritional programs to financial planning.
[edit] Jess & Mildred Fisher College of Science & Mathematics
- The Fisher College recently named Dr. Joy Watts, a nationally recognized molecular ecologist, as the first holder of the Jess & Mildred Fisher Endowed Chair in the Biological and Physical Sciences, which is the only endowed faculty chair at the university.
- The Department of Chemistry offers the only B.S. program in Forensic Chemistry in the state of Maryland.
- Towson University and the Fisher College’s Department of Computer and Information Sciences have been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Security and Assurance by the National Security Agency.
- The Fisher College annually receives nearly $2 million in external grants and contracts to support pure and applied research and curriculum development. An important component of this is a successful record of providing undergraduate research opportunities through major support from the National Science Foundation.
- The Fisher College has established state-of-the-art interdisciplinary labs in materials science, nanotechnology, and biogeochemistry to conduct faculty/student research dealing with environment and high technology.
[edit] College of Fine Arts and Communication
- The Oscars, the Tony’s, the Grammy’s, Gap commercials, Madonna’s latest tour, The Rockettes, The Lion King, Aida, Chicago, Fosse, Chorus Line, Funny Girl, 42nd Street, Cats, and almost every major dance company in the United States, include graduates of Towson University’s Department of Dance.
- If you’ve seen the Broadway production of Candide, you’ve seen costumes designed by a Tony Award winning TU graduate—Judy Dolan. And if you’ve seen the award-winning actors Roc Dutton and John Glover, you’ve seen TU graduates.
- The U.S. Air Force Band includes Towson University music graduates.
- Towson University’s M.F.A. in Theatre program has attracted the attention of American Theatre magazine. American Theatre describes Towson’s program as a “unique international project.” Students from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Poland and the United States participated in the Warsaw Project hosted by Towson University.
- Towson University’s production of R & J was recently performed at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
- Towson University’s choirs and bands tour annually, taking Towson University throughout the United States.
- Towson University music alumnus Shea Welsh toured as guitarist for pop singer Britney Spears and played on her two most recent albums. Music alumnus Austin Caughlin played guitar for the tour of the musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
[edit] College of Liberal Arts
- Towson University’s Department of Women’s Studies, founded in 1973, is the second-oldest in the United States.
- The English Department's Online Writing Support Web site has received over 55,000 hits from users as close as Towson and as far away as Singapore. The site offers information, interactive exercises and self-teaching units on grammar, punctuation and usage. It also includes a grammar hotline.
- Omar H. Ali, Department of History, will be a Visiting Fulbright Professor at the National University of Colombia in Bogotá during the fall 2006 term.
- Atlantic Cousins: Benjamin Franklin and his Visionary Friends, the critically acclaimed book by Jack Fruchtman, Department of Political Science, will be available in paperback in late 2006 or early 2007.
- The 2005 issue of Grub Street, the student literary publication sponsored by Department of English Professor Clarinda Harriss and run entirely by Towson University students, won a Gold Crown Award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Only four other universities (one of them Harvard) had student literary publications that received this award last year.
[edit] College of Health Professions
- The College of Health Professions enrolls more bachelor’s and master’s health care and sport-related students than any other institution in Maryland.
- The Department of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science has the state’s only combined B.S./M.S. program in Occupational Therapy.
- The Department of Nursing is Maryland’s second-largest nursing program.
- The Department of Kinesiology is the largest producer of teachers in physical education and sport-related programs.
- The Department of Health Science has the only program in Health Care Management certified by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration.
- The Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Program is one of only two state-supported programs and the only program to provide the opportunity for students to do a clinical practicum experience in the on-campus clinic.
[edit] Buildings
The majority of the buildings are named after past principals, presidents, and/or notable alumni. Probably one of the most notable is Smith Hall which is named after George Smith, who was a teacher at Towson. The name is notable because on the teachers way home one evening, he was hit by a train.
Stephens Hall (1915), the oldest academic building on campus, is home of the College of Business and Economics. Its clock tower is a campus landmark.
Albert S. Cook Library (1969), named after a Maryland Superintendent of Schools, contains over 700,000 volumes and non-book items, and over 2,000 periodical subscriptions.
[[Image:TowsonCookLibrary.jpg|thumb|The Albert S. Cook library. After this photo was taken, the letters have been changed and the tiger has been removed due to [vandalism]
The Center for the Arts (1973), houses the departments of art, dance, music, and theatre arts; a 346-seat main stage theatre, the Ruth Marder Studio Theatre, two art galleries, studio space, and the 520-seat Harold J. Kaplan Concert Hall. In 2002 there was a massive expansion to include more classrooms and dance studios into the building as well as a new recital hall and studio theatre.
The University Union (1971), is where the Student Government Association headquarters, the University Store, and various administrative and student life offices are located. The facilities include meeting rooms, conference halls, dining rooms, and a recreation center.
The Enrollment Services Building (1972), notable for its cantilever design, houses the Bursar's Office, Registrar's Office and Financial Aid.
Van Bokkelen Hall is one of the original academic buildings on campus. Renovated in 1980, it houses the departments of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and Mass Communication and Communication Studies. Auburn House, an historic mansion near the Towson Center, is headquarters for the Alumni Association and Tiger Club.
The Hawkins Hall, Psychology Building, and Lecture Hall complex houses the College of Education, the Psychology Department, and the University Academic Advising Center. The modern clock tower on the Psychology Building is symbolic of the relocated center of the expanded university.
Towson Center has been noted as one of the finest sports and physical education complexes on the East Coast. The 24-acre sports complex includes the Towson Center building, the 5,000-seat Minnegan Stadium, 10 tennis courts, and separate fields for football, lacrosse, soccer, field hockey and softball. The Towson Center arena seats 5,000 people for athletic events, concerts and lectures.
[edit] President Caret
[edit] A President's Blog
Towson University is one of the first, if not the first, college in the United States to have a president who has his own internet blog and Podcast on Apple's iTunes. In addition, President Caret has established a program called Adopt-A-Campus, which gives local businesses, organizations and others an opportunity to help beautify the TU campus. Every group will be assigned a certain section of the campus, and will be encouraged to pick up litter and help keep the area clean and beautiful. [citation needed]
[edit] TU 2010
Towson University President Dr. Robert L. Caret has recently developed a plan called TU 2010, which aims to make considerable renovations and improvements to the campus. The largest aspects of TU 2010 are a new $60 million building for the College of Liberal Arts, more parking garages and spaces, and major renovations to the Towson Center (approximately 15 million dollars-worth).
[edit] Campus Lore
[edit] The Tiger Statue
According to Towerlight, the school newspaper, when the Student Government Association first bought the tiger statue that sits outside Cook Library in 1996, the organization hoped to boost school spirit. Instead, it became subject to vandalism and disrepair.
The most recent incident occurred over spring break. On Sunday, March 19, the Towson University Police Department received the first of two reports of destruction of the tiger statue. Suspect(s) had spray-painted profanities on the tiger between Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening. A few days later, the tiger's paw and teeth were removed. TUPD reported that the incident occurred between Wednesday, March 23 and Saturday, March 26, but the damage wasn't reported until Tuesday.
The police reports said Aramark estimated the cost of repair at $1,500. As of Wednesday, the statue still had not been cleaned. Since then the statue has been removed. These recent incidents were not the only acts of vandalism on the tiger statue. Since it found its home on the Beach ten years ago, the tiger has lost part of its tail, and a few teeth. There was even an attempted robbery.
The idea of bringing the tiger to Towson started with the introduction of a bill on Feb. 28, 1995. The SGA allocated $3,000 " though it was purchased for $2,500 " for a fiberglass tiger to create a more positive campus atmosphere. Donna Garrison, an SGA senator at the time, had heard student complaints of Towson lacking school spirit.
The tiger was erected and placed on the campus at the end of the spring 1996 semester.
The following September it lost its tail to vandals. The damage totaled $500. The tiger was repaired and was fine for six months until March 17, 1997. On that evening, police aide Ron Bond saw seven males pushing the tiger off its platform, but upon police arrival, the seven fled the scene.
Three were apprehended, one of whom was not a TSU student. The suspects were sent to the Baltimore County Detention Center with $2,500 bail. The statue had been bolted to the platform by its three paws, and the paws were damaged in the attempt to move the tiger. One of the tiger's canine teeth was also broken off in the act.
In February, the university looked into repairing or replacing what the students called an eyesore. She asked Jeff Ellis of Scenic Artistry & Custom Finishes and Joseph Clarkson of Fiberglass Specialties to appraise the statue. "It looked pretty much beyond repair," Ellis said in an interview. "It's one of those things where you don't know where to start and where to finish."
In 2006, the Towerlight reported that a new bronze tiger statue had been unveiled as the centerpiece of the university's "Capital Campaign" to raise $50 million dollars. The primary difference between the new statue and previous one is that all of the legs are on the ground and the tail is wrapped around its legs rather than raised, so it won't get damaged by vandals. President Caret has recently announced that the new statue will be placed outside Stephens Hall where Caret says it will be "visible to passersby on York Road as well as students".
[edit] "The Beach"
During the warm months in the Spring and Summer, students will often sunbathe on the grass in front of the Cook Library.
[edit] Student Organizations
[edit] SGA Affiliated
These groups are affiliated with the Student Government Association at the university:
- Actuary Club
- American Advertising Federation
- American College of Health-care Executives
- American Marketing Association
- Athletic Training Club
- Communications Society
- Computer and Technology Club
- E-business Association
- Economics Society
- English Club
- Excelsior
- Financial Management Association
- Geography Club
- Mathematics Club
- Minority Science and Technology
- National Association of Future Doctors of Audiology
- National Science Teacher’s Association
- National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association
- Nursing Student Association
- Philosophy Forum
- Physical Education Majors Club
- Prelaw Society
- Psychology Club
- Public Relations Group
- Society of Physics Students
- Society of Professional Journalists
- Speech and Debate Team
- Sports Management Club
- Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society
- Student Council on Family Studies
- Student Education Association
[edit] Cultural Organizations
Towson has been noted as one of the most diverse colleges in Maryland, due to the clubs and organizations that the university offer to minority and international students, including:
- African Diaspora Club
- Black Student Union
- Caribbean Students’ Association
- Chinese Student and Scholarship Association
- Delta Phi Omega
- Diverse Sexual Orientation Collective
- Filipino Cultural Association
- International Student Association
- Japanese Association
- Latin American Student Organization
- South Asian Student Association
- Towson Zionist Organization of America
- Zeta Sigma Chi Multicultural Sorority
[edit] Recreation and Sport Clubs
As of 2006 the sports and recreation offered at Towson include:
- Chess Club
- Dance Team
- Pom Squad
- Sport Clubs Organization:
- Badminton,
- Bowling
- Cycling
- Dodgeball
- Field Hockey
- Figure Skating
- Ice Hockey
- Men's & Women's Lacrosse
- Martial Arts
- Outdoor Adventures Unlimited
- Rock Climbing Contingent
- Roller Hockey
- Rugby
- Men's & Women's Soccer
- Stunt
- Tennis
- Track & Field
- Men's & Women's Ultimate Frisbee
- Men's & Women's Volleyball, Wrestling
- Triple T (Towson’s Tapping Tigers)
[edit] Religious Organizations
Some of the religious organizations at Towson include:
- Athletes in Action
- Baptist Student Ministry
- BASIC
- Campus Crusade for Christ
- Collegelife
- Episcopal Campus Fellowship
- Gospel Choir
- Hillel
- Korean Campus Ministry
- Lutheran Student Movement
- Muslim Student Association
- Newman Club
- Reformed University Fellowship
- University Bible Fellowship
[edit] Community Service
A lot of students at Towson often volunteer for different programs and community outreach programs during the year, the main programs include:
- American Red Cross Corps
- Brotherhood
- Choice Tutoring
- Circle K
- Dance Marathon
- Habitat for Humanity
- Proud Athletes Who Serve (PAWS)
- Project L.O.U.
- Sisterhood
- Towson Volunteer Board
[edit] Media and Publications
Towson also has several media outlets, including a radio station that named the Best In Baltimore in 2003. Other media include:
- WMJF-LP - Low Power Broadcast Television Station
- Grub Street Literary and Arts Magazine
- The Towerlight WMJF – TV
- WTMD – FM/WTSR – AM
[edit] Greek Life
| Sororities | Fraternities | Honor and Recognition | Religious | Service |
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[edit] Famous Attendees
- Myrna Cardin, activist and wife of Senator Ben Cardin.
- Jack L. Chalker, author of over 50 science fiction novels, graduated in 1966, awarded as a Distinguished Alumni, College of Liberal Arts, April 2003.
- John Christ, Guitar player for Danzig dropped out in 1987.[1]
- David Collins, Reporter for WBAL TV Channel 11 in Baltimore.
- David R. Craig, (1971), Harford County Executive, 2005-present.
- Catherine Curran O'Malley, (1985), Associate Judge for the First District Court of Maryland, wife of Baltimore Mayor, Martin O'Malley.
- Charles S. Dutton, Famed film and Broadway actor
- DJ Gallo, founder of sports satire site SportsPickle.com.
- Tamir Goodman, professional basketball player once known as the "Jewish Jordan"
- Kyle Hollingsworth, Keyboardist for the String Cheese Incident.
- Sean Landeta, NFL player
- Stacy Keibler, Actress and former WWE Diva was part of Towson's Mass Communications department. Her Graduation is uncertain.
- John Glover, Smallville star (graduated and received an honorary Masters degree) and frequently visits the Theatre department to work with students.
- Dave Meggett, NFL player
- Ronald Damien Malfi, Novelist graduated in 1999.
- Mike Rowe, Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs host
- Gerry Sandusky, Sportscaster for WBAL Channell 11 in Baltimore, son of Baltimore Colts' John Sandusky.
- John Schuerholz Atlanta Braves General Manager
- Dwight Schultz, TV actor, played Capt. "Howling Mad" Murdock on The A-Team and Lieutenant Reginald Barclay in Star Trek: The Next Generation, graduated with a BA in Arts
- Brian Stelter, operater of media-focused blog TV Newser.
- Deborah Tillett, President of BreakAway Games, an electronic gaming company that has exlcusive contracts with the U.S. Military.
- Bob Turk, weather forecaster for WJZ Channel 13 in Baltimore.
- Theodore G. Venetoulis, Baltimore County Executive, 74-78
| University System of Maryland |
|---|
| State universities: Bowie • Coppin • Frostburg • Salisbury • Towson • Baltimore University of Maryland: Baltimore • Baltimore County • College Park • Eastern Shore • University College Joint campuses: USM at Hagerstown • Universities at Shady Grove Research centers: Biotechnology Institute • Center for Environmental Science |
| Atlantic 10 Football Conference |
|---|
| Delaware • Hofstra • James Madison • Maine • Massachusetts • New Hampshire • Northeastern • Rhode Island • Richmond • Towson • Villanova • William & Mary |
[edit] External links
- Towson University homepage
- Official Athletic Website
- The Towerlight, biweekly student newspaper
- WMJF-LP, Student Run Television Station
- The history of Towson University
