Angelo State University

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Angelo State University
Motto:	Fiat lux ("Let there be light")
Established:	1928
Type:	State university
Endowment:	$88,283,499[1]
President:	Dr. Joseph C. Rallo
Faculty:	325
Undergraduates:	6,156
Postgraduates:	527
Location:	San Angelo, Texas, USA
Campus:	Urban, 268 acre (1.1 km²)
Colors:	Blue and gold
Mascot:	Ram, "Dominic"
Affiliations:	Lone Star Conference
Website:	www.angelo.edu

Angelo State University is a public, coeducational university located in San Angelo, Texas. It is a member of the Texas Tech University System and, for athletics, the Lone Star Conference. Angelo State University offers approximately 100 undergraduate programs and 21 graduate programs. 2006 enrollment stands at about 6,200 with plans to increase to 10,000 by 2028.^[2]

Contents 1 History 1.1 Graduate program 1.2 Re-alignment with the Texas Tech University System 2 Campus 3 Academics 4 Athletics 4.1 Mascots 5 Student Life 5.1 Student media 6 Traditions 6.1 Homecoming 6.2 Ring Ceremony 6.3 Ram’s Head 6.4 Gum Tree 7 Facts and figures 8 Notable alumni 9 References 10 External links

[edit] History

The history of the university can be traced to 1928 when San Angelo College was established, following a municipal election held in 1926. Organized as part of the city school system, the two-year college for many years occupied a site on North Oakes Street near the commercial center of the city. The voters of Tom Green County in 1945 created a County Junior College District and elected the first board of trustees. In 1947, the first building was constructed on the present university site.

The university has experienced a rapid transition from the status of a regional junior college to that of an accredited senior institution of higher learning. Angelo State was created as Angelo State College in 1965 by an act of the 58th Session of the Texas Legislature in 1963. The transfer of authority from the Board of Trustees of the junior college to the Board of Regents, State Senior Colleges, became effective on September 1, 1965. In May 1967, the first baccalaureate degrees were awarded. The name of the institution was changed to Angelo State University in May 1969.

Angelo State University was designated as a member of the Texas State University System in 1975, along with Sam Houston State University, Southwest Texas State University, and Sul Ross State University, when the 64th Texas Legislature changed the name of the governing board to Board of Regents, Texas State University System. In September 1967, Dr. Lloyd Drexel Vincent became the second president of Angelo State College, succeeding Dr. Raymond M. Cavness who first held that post. Dr. Vincent served as president until his death on August 5, 1994.

Following the death of President Vincent, Michael P. Ryan was named Interim President by the Board of Regents, Texas State University System, on August 9, 1994. On January 25, 1995, Dr. E. James Hindman became the third president of Angelo State University. Dr. Joseph C. Rallo, previously the Provost and Academic Vice President at Western Illinois University became the university's fourth President on June 1, 2007.

[edit] Graduate program

The graduate school at Angelo State was authorized by the Board of Regents, State Senior Colleges, on May 15, 1970, and approved by The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on October 19, 1970. The first graduate students were enrolled in the fall semester of 1971. Over 6,606 students have been admitted to the graduate program since it was initiated. The baccalaureate degrees of these graduate students were awarded by 617 different colleges and universities from every region of the nation and several foreign countries.

[edit] Re-alignment with the Texas Tech University System

In March 2007, Rep. Drew Darby and Sen. Robert Duncan co-sponsored House Bill 3564 which sought to align Angelo State University with the Texas Tech University System.^[3] The merger received widespread support in Lubbock where Texas Tech University is located and in San Angelo.^[4][5] The bill was approved by the full House on April 24, 2007, and by the Senate in a unanimous vote on May 15, 2007.^[6] On May 23, 2007, Gov. Rick Perry signed the bill.^[7] It then went before voters on November 6, 2007, as Proposition 1, which passed 66.28 percent in favor to 33.72 percent against, thus amending the Texas Constitution^[8]

[edit] Campus

The 268 acre (1.1 km²) campus has changed significantly since 1965 as a result of the development of an ultramodern physical plant now valued at over $350 million. The Porter Henderson Library was completed in the fall of 1967, and in the spring of 1968 the Raymond M. Cavness Science Building was opened. An academic building and a ten-story women's high rise residence hall and accompanying food service center were opened in September 1968. A second ten-story residence hall for men opened in September 1969. The modernization and expansion of the Houston Harte University Center was completed during the summer of 1971, and a physical education complex was opened in the summer of 1972.

The Robert and Nona Carr Education-Fine Arts Building, completed during the spring of 1976, provides ultramodern facilities for the Departments of Education, Art and Music, and Communications, Drama, and Journalism. In addition to an extensive array of teaching facilities, many special use areas are incorporated in the building, including the theatre, recital hall, band hall, and an area for art design and ceramics. Construction was completed during the summer of 1975 on a facility at the University's Management,

Instruction, and Research Center operated at the O.C. Fisher Lake on 4,643 acres (19 km²) of property which Angelo State has under long-term lease from the US Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army. These facilities support the programs in animal science and biology and a wide range of management and research activities. A multipurpose sports complex for men and women was completed in 1979 which includes an all-weather Tartan track, two regulation softball fields, tennis courts, improved practice fields for football, and ultramodern facilities for dressing and training. The 60,000 square foot (5,600 m²) Emil C. Rassman Building, completed during the summer of 1983, houses the Department of Business Administration, the Department of Accounting, Economics, and Finance, and Department of Aerospace Studies, as well as the office of the Dean of the College of Professional Studies.

The $8 million Lloyd D. and Johnell S. Vincent Nursing-Physical Science Building was completed during the 1985 Spring Semester. Located across the mall from the Physical Education Building and the Emil C. Rassman Building, the building contains approximately 73,000 square feet (6,800 m²) arranged over two floors. The building houses the University's nursing program, the Physics Department, and offices for the Dean of the College of Sciences and the Dean of the Graduate School. Specialized teaching and laboratory facilities are included for physics, physical science, geology, nursing, and mathematics. A highlight of the building is a planetarium featuring a 50 foot (15 m) dome and seating for 114. The facility is used as a lecture hall and for other special programs. It is also used in conjunction with academic courses in astronomy and for public shows.

The 86,000 square foot (8,000 m²) Mathematics-Computer Science Building, completed in 1996, houses the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Computer Science as well as facilities to support the University's mainframe computing services. Other recent additions include expansion of the Cavness Science Building, construction of the new Texan Hall residences, and adding an additional floor to the Porter Henderson Library to accommodate the Communications, Drama & Journalism department and Honors Program. Also the university is in the process of constructing a new $25 million dollar dorm hall Centennial Village which will hold over 500 new students. Its expected completion date is fall 2008. The $12 million dollar renovation to the new Multi-cultural One Stop Center will be completed in 2009.

In addition to the rapid progress in the development of the physical plant and the expansion of the academic programs at Angelo State, significant steps have been taken in the development of a first-rank faculty. Approximately 61 percent of the faculty in the undergraduate baccalaureate degree programs now hold the doctoral degree granted by 55 different universities, representing all regions of the nation.

[edit] Academics

Angelo State University offers 97 bachelors, 23 masters, and 1 doctoral degree program. Angelo State University is divided into five colleges:

• College of Business
• College of Education
• College of Liberal and Fine Arts
• College of Nursing and Allied Health
• College of Sciences
• College of Graduate Studies

Angelo State University has been recognized as one of the top 10 up and coming regional universities by U.S. News & World Report^[9].

[edit] Athletics

Angelo State University's sports teams participate in the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference. As of 2007, Angelo State University students compete in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, and volleyball.

The Rams football team plays it's home games in San Angelo Stadium, which holds over 17,500 people and is the third largest facility in all of NCAA Division II American football.^[10]

The Rams' and Rambelles' basketball teams, as well as the Rambelles' volleyball team, play at the Stephens Arena, located in Angelo State's Junell Center. The arena accommodates audiences of up to 6,500, the fourth largest in all NCAA Division II athletics, and features a 9x12 foot video screen, the largest of its kind in the Lone Star Conference. ^[11]

The Rams baseball team plays at Foster Field. Built in 1999 The field features 4,200 permanent seats, a Triple-A lighting system, and a Daktronics inning-by-inning scoreboard with video display.^{[12] [13]}

The Rams track and field team compete at the Multipurpose Sports Complex. The facility has been the site for the 1988, 1991, 1992, 2002 and 2009 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The complex features a 400-meter all-weather track with 200-meter straightaway, throwing areas, full press box facilities and seating for 3,000 people.^[14]

[edit] Mascots

A purebred Rambouillet ram, Dominic, stands as a symbol of Angelo State University and the institution's ties to the region and its people. The first Rambouillet ram, named "Shorty," was donated to the college in 1940 by area rancher D.T. Jones, who had two daughters attending the school at the time.

The ram was an appropriate symbol for the institution and the region because San Angelo has long been the center of the Texas wool and mohair industry, and was the home of the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association. Angelo State's ram went by a variety of names until 1964, when the student body held an election to decide on a permanent moniker and "Dominic" won out.

Today Dominic is a regular fixture at ASU activities, ranging from the ring ceremony to outdoor athletic events. He is typically kept close to the end zone at Angelo State football games.

A costumed mascot named Roscoe appears at most athletic events and many community activities, where he leads cheers and interacts with students and fans.^[15]

[edit] Student Life

There are over 100 student organizations that play an important role in the social scene at Angelo State. Some of these include academic and professional organizations, boards and councils, honor societies, religious organizations, special interest organizations, and intramural sports, as well as many National Greek Sororities and Fraternities such as Lambda Chi Alpha, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Kappa, and Delta Zeta.

The University Center for Human Performance features indoor basketball courts, racquetball courts, a gym and an indoor swimming pool. Students voted in 2008 for a 12 million dollar expansion & renovaton of the CHP to be started that Spring and completed in the fall of 2010.^[16] The Junnel Center also has a large gym available for students and student athletes. For tennis players there are 12 tennis courts available on campus.

Angelo State University maintains a lake house at nearby Lake Nasworthy. The Lake House features community recreational rooms as well as cooking facilities. It provides lake & beach access, a basketball court, playground, and several sand volleyball courts. San Angelo's warm climate allows for seasonal use of the lake house for many student activities.

[edit] Student media

The university operates Ram TV available locally on SuddenLink Cable Channel 6. The channel operates 24 hours a day, featuring new original programing Monday through Thursday during prime time.^[17] The Ram Page is the university's official student-run newspaper.^[18] The Ramdiculous Page is a widely published satirical newspaper independently produced on campus by Angelo State students.^[19] Ram Radio is an Internet station broadcasting 24 hours a day; the university is currently in the process of obtaining a broadcast license for this station.^[20]

[edit] Traditions

[edit] Homecoming

Homecoming is a historic ritual jointly run by the Alumni Association, the university and the students. Activities include the annual Alumni Awards Banquet, honoring alumni; a pep rally followed by a torch parade to light the bonfire; a homecoming parade; and the football game. The crowning of the Homecoming Queen and King is held during the game's halftime.

All during the week leading up to the game, student organizations compete for the Spirit Stick, given to the group who has shown the most spirit and contributed the most to the many tasks required to make the event a success.

Since 1975, ASU's Air Force ROTC Detachment 847 has built the bonfire.

[edit] Ring Ceremony

Though Angelo State rings have existed since the beginning of the University a new official ASU ring was introduced by the ASU Alumni Society in 2003.^[21]

Prior to each commencement, the ASU Alumni Association hosts a ring ceremony where the university president presents class rings to recipients.

Appearing at each ceremony is ASU's mascot, Dominic. After receiving their rings, recipients touch their rings to Dominic's horns for strength, or rub them through his wool for luck.

The top of the Angelo State class ring presents the ASU seal. One side of the ring shows the State of Texas with a star marking San Angelo; below that, an oak branch. On the other side is an image of the mascot, Dominic.

[edit] Ram’s Head

The Ram's Head sign is made by bending the middle and ring fingers down over the palm and covering them with the thumb. The extended index and pinky fingers are then bent halfway to represent the curve of the horns.

The sign is used at various times during athletic events and typically during the playing of the Alma Mater.

[edit] Gum Tree

The gum tree is a mesquite tree located at the southwest corner of the Porter Henderson Library, where students stick used pieces of chewing gum for good luck on exams.

ASU legend is than a gum-chewing suitor placed his chaw there prior to asking his girlfriend to marry him. When she said yes, the happy young man attributed his good luck to his gum deposit. Since then, hundreds of students have left their chewing gum on the tree for good luck.^[22]

[edit] Facts and figures

• Of over 3,000 universities nationally, Angelo State University ranked 85th in endowment per student according to the National Association of College and University Business Officers.^[23]
• The ASU Physics Department is ranked as one of the top 20 undergraduate programs in the nation by Physics Today.^[24]
• The ASU Planetarium is the 4th largest among the nation's colleges and universities. ^[25]
• The Carr Academic Scholarship provides scholarships for one in every six ASU students.
• Ranked 7th in the nation in Air Force Enlisted-Friendly Schools.^[26]
• All graduates of ASU's young Honors Program who have applied to graduate programs or professional schools, including medicine, have been accepted.
• ASU has a student acceptance rate of 55 percent for medical school, compared to the statewide average of 35 percent.
• Since 1998 ASU students have maintained a 100 percent passing rate on the Texas Examination of Educator Standards (TExES) teacher certification test.
• ASU was the first university in Texas to offer a degree in Computer Science.
• Home to the Texas State Data Center, ASU houses one of the most sophisticated computer systems in the nation which through a contract with IBM provides backup and storage for electronic records for the State of Texas.^[27]

[edit] Notable alumni

Arts and entertainment

• Bill Erwin, actor (The Andy Griffith Show, The West Wing, Seinfeld, My Name Is Earl)
• Ilan Mitchell-Smith, actor (The Wild Life, Weird Science); Angelo State professor
• David Trevino, 2008 Grammy Award winning musician with the band Little Joe y La Familia^[28]

Athletics

• Gary Gaines, head football coach of Permian High School football team, which was the focus of the book Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream and the film Friday Night Lights
• Alvin Garrett, NFL receiver for the Washington Redskins; played in Super Bowl XVII
• Tranel Hawkins, Olympic hurdler^[29]
• Pierce Holt, NFL defensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers; played in Super Bowl XXIII, Super Bowl XXIV, and NFL Pro Bowl
• Jim Morris, MLB player for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays; inspiration for the film The Rookie
• Grant Teaff, football coach at Angelo State and Baylor; ranked 33rd all time winnigest coach in NCAA Division I
• Clayton Weishuhn, NFL linebacker for the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers^[30]
• Charlie West, NFL safety for the Minnesota Vikings; played in Super Bowl IV

Business

• Houston Harte, Founder, Harte-Hanks, Consultant, President Lyndon B. Johnson
• Landel Hobbs, CFO, Time Warner Cable^[31]
• Oscar Gomez , Senior Vice President, Verizon^[32]
• Terry Stokes, CEO, National Cattleman's Beef Association^[33]

Government

• Ronnie Hawkins, Brigadier General, Deputy Director, Policy and Resources, Office of Warfighting Integration and Chief Information Officer, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force at The Pentagon^[34]
• Mark Homer, Texas House of Representatives, District 3^[35]
• Robert Junell, Texas House of Representatives, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee^[36]
• Lester T.Kearney, Major General, Vice Director, Plans and Policy Directorate, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff^[37]
• Dr. Billy Mullins, Director, Air Force Nuclear Weapons and Counter-proliferation Agency
• J.T. Rutherford, United States Representative, Texas's 16th congressional district

Journalism

• Arnold Garcia, Editorial Editor, Austin American-Statesman; served as both a juror and as a chair of a jury for the Pulitzer Prize^[32]
• Rena Pederson, Editorial Editor ,The Dallas Morning News; served nine years on the Pulitzer Prize board^[32]
• Satcha Pretto, Correspondent, CNN, Anchor, Primer Impacto on Univision Television Network - Miami^[32]
• Renay San Miguel, Anchor, Headline News^[32][38]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Angelo State University is at coordinates 31°26′15″N 100°27′30″W / 31.437610, -100.458410 (Angelo State University)Coordinates: 31°26′15″N 100°27′30″W / 31.437610, -100.458410 (Angelo State University)
• Angelo State University
• Angelo State Alumni Association
• Angelo State Sports Official site
• ASU Ram Page - The student newspaper of Angelo State.
• Ram Radio - Streaming online radio broadcast during the regular fall and spring semesters.
• Ramdiculous Page - A satirical newspaper independently produced on campus by Angelo State students.

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