Stephen F. Austin State University

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Stephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University Logo
Established 1921 (classes began in 1923)
Type State university, public
President Dr. Baker Pattillo
Staff 528 full-time faculty members
Students 10,822 (as of spring 2007)
Location Nacogdoches, Texas, USA
Campus Rural, 360 acres (Main Campus)
Colors Purple, White, and Red
Mascot Lumberjacks
Affiliations Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Southland Conference
Website www.sfasu.edu

Stephen F. Austin State University (known to students as SFA or Stephen F) is a higher education institution that was founded as a teachers' college in 1921. Stephen F. Austin is a public university located in Nacogdoches, Texas. The university is named after one of Texas' founding fathers, Stephen F. Austin; its campus resides on part of the homestead of another Texas founding father, Thomas Jefferson Rusk.

Stephen F. Austin is one of four public universities in Texas not affiliated with a university system.

Contents

[edit] Academics

Stephen F. Austin offers more than 120 areas of study, including more than 80 undergraduate majors, nearly 60 graduate degrees, and two doctoral programs. Stephen F. Austin offers classes through seven colleges, however, the university plans to merge the Colleges of Liberal Arts and Applied Arts and Sciences in 2007. SFA houses one of only two schools of forestry in the State of Texas and the only one in the timber-producing East Texas region.

In addition to the main campus, the university maintains a 642-acre agricultural research center for beef, poultry and swine production and an equine center; an 18.7-acre experimental forest in southwestern Nacogdoches County and a 25.3-acre forestry field station on Lake Sam Rayburn.

[edit] Presidents

The main entrance to Stephen F. Austin State University
The main entrance to Stephen F. Austin State University

[edit] Athletics

Stephen F. Austin's colors are purple, and white, . In tribute to the forest industry which is a major component of the area's economy, the men's athletic teams are called Lumberjacks, and women's teams are known as Ladyjacks. Stephen F. Austin sports teams participate in NCAA Division I (I-AA for football) in the Southland Conference.

Men's NCAA Sports:

Women's NCAA Sports

[edit] Traditions

  • Students of the university consider it bad luck to enter the Old Stone Fort museum located next to the Miller science building before they graduate — fearing doing so will result in them never graduating.
  • At home football games, large signs and banners representing campus fraternities, sororities, and student organizations adorn the grassy hills that surround Homer Bryce Stadium.
  • The annual Parents Day is now in its 32nd year. This is one of the largest student run programs on the campus of SFA. Parents, friends and family members of students visit the campus every fall for a day of activities and school spirit. Parents Day is sponsored by the Residence Hall Association in conjunction with the Housing and Residence Life Departments.
  • The University's main rivals are Sam Houston State University and Northwestern State University.
  • Since 1960, a seven-foot, six-inch statue of an Indian named "Chief Caddo" was carved as a trophy between SFA and Northwestern State University (both schools are located in towns named for a branch of the Caddo tribe). The winner of the football game between these two schools maintains possession of the statue. Chief Caddo is the largest trophy in college football. SFA is currently in possession of Chief Caddo, after defeating Northwestern State in November 2006.
  • Every year at Homecoming a bonfire is lit. The bonfire is built and lit by members of Alpha Phi Omega. Preceding the lighting of the bonfire, a "Torchlight Parade" is held where students walk through campus with flashlights to the Homecoming Pep Rally.

[edit] Notable alumni

Notable individuals who either attended or graduated from SFASU:

[edit] Trivia

The statue of Stephen F. Austin in the middle of campus.
The statue of Stephen F. Austin in the middle of campus.
  • In 2004, minor planet 1999 TJ17 was renamed "Sfasu" after Stephen F. Austin State University.
  • On July 12, 2004, "Jack," a titan arum plant, bloomed at the Mast Arboretum, releasing its putrid stench to a large crowd of watchers. It is quite rare for this "corpse flower" to bloom; when one takes place it is often a highly publicised event.[1]
  • The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Stephen F. Austin State University operates the second largest Observatory in Texas and the Central Time Zone. The observatory served as a background in a 2002 Honda magazine ad.
  • The Art Center, one of SFA's art galleries, is located in the Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches. This is the location where the Marx Brothers first incorporated comedy into their singing act after the audience became disinterested in their singing.
  • A ghost named "Chester" is said to be haunting the Turner Fine Arts Auditorium on campus. Legend has it that he is the spirit of the architect who died before the building's completion. Other stories point to Chester as the ghost of a former drama student who committed suicide.[2]
  • SFA Co-Ed Cheerleaders have been the National Cheerleading Association Division I national champions in 1994, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006.

[edit] Points of interest

  • Mast Arboretum
  • The Old Stone Fort
  • The Planetarium
  • The Observatory
  • Art Galleries
    • Griffith Gallery
    • The Art Center

[edit] External links


Southland Conference
Central Arkansas • Lamar • McNeese State • Nicholls State • Northwestern State • Sam Houston State • Southeastern Louisiana • Stephen F.  Austin • Texas–Arlington • Texas–San Antonio • Texas A&M–Corpus Christi • Texas State
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