Delaware State University

Delaware State University
Former names
 -State College for Colored Students (founding–1947)
-Delaware State College (1947–1993)
Motto "Making our mark on the world" and "Enter to Learn, Go forth and serve"
Established May 15, 1891
Type Public, Land Grant, HBCU
Endowment US$20.8 million[1]
President Dr. Harry Lee Williams
Academic staff
 600
Students 3,400[2]
Location Dover, Delaware, USA
Campus Suburban
Colors Columbia blue and Red
         
Athletics National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I
Nickname Hornet
Affiliations Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Website www.desu.edu

Delaware State University (also referred to as DSU, DESU, or Del State), is an American historically black, public university located in Dover, Delaware. DSU also has two satellite campuses located in Wilmington, Delaware, and Georgetown, Delaware. The university encompasses six colleges and a diverse population of undergraduate and advanced-degree students.

History

The State College for Colored Students was established on May 15, 1891, by the Delaware General Assembly. It first awarded degrees in 1898. In 1944, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education awarded the college provisional accreditation. Three years later, the institution became Delaware State College by legislative action. Although its accreditation was revoked in 1949, it was regained in 1957. On July 1, 1993, the institution changed its name yet again, this time to Delaware State University.[3]

Campus

The 400-acre (1.6 km2) main campus in Dover, the capital of Delaware, is an approximate two-hour motor drive from Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., and three hours from New York City. There are two satellite campuses in Wilmington and Georgetown.

The main campus in Dover contains thirty buildings, including:
  • The Mishoe Science Center
  • Price Building
  • Willam C. Jason Library
  • The Wellness and Recreation Center

There are seven campus residential halls: four for women, and three for men. There are also three apartment-style residence halls for upperclassmen. They include:
  • Medgar Evers Hall
  • University Courtyard Apartments
  • University Village Complex
  • Warren-Franklin Hall

Two dining halls serve the more than 1,500 on-campus students.

As a part of the Internet2 initiative, the university maintains several research computer laboratories including a high-performance computational cluster in its DESAC center. Almost every building has a computer lab and each student has a dedicated data port for internet access, their own phone, a campus email address, and cable television access in all residence hall rooms. Most campus buildings also offer wireless connectivity.

DSU is one of 148 schools in the country to receive Tree Campus USA recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation.[5] The university owns two farms near Kenton and Smyrna, and has an Airway Science Program based at Delaware Air Park in Cheswold.[6]

Administration

Presidents
Wesley P. Webb 1891–1895
William C. Jason 1895–1923
Richard S. Grossley 1923–1942
Howard D. Gregg 1942–1949
Maurice E. Thomasson (Acting president, twice) 1949-1950, 1951-1952
Oscard J. Chapman 1950–1951
Jerome H. Holland 1953–1960
Luna I. Mishoe 1960–1987
William B. DeLauder 1987–2003
Allen L. Sessoms 2003–2008
Claibourne D. Smith (Acting president) 2008-2010
Harry L. Williams 2010–Present

Harry Lee Williams became the 10th president of DSU on Jan. 10, 2010.[7]

The business and affairs of the university are governed by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees has all the powers accorded it by Title 14, Chapter 65 of the Delaware Code.[8] The Board consists of 15 members whose appointment or election is provided for in the Delaware Code, and the governor of the state and the president of the university, both of whom shall be members of the board, ex officio, with the right to vote.[9]

Academics

The university consists of six colleges:[10]

  • College of Agriculture & Related Sciences
  • College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
  • College of Business
  • College of Education, Health & Public Policy
  • College of Mathematics, Natural Sciences & Technology
  • School of Graduate Studies and Research

The university offers fifty-one undergraduate degrees, twenty-five graduate degrees, and five doctoral degrees (interdisciplinary applied mathematics and mathematical physics, applied chemistry, neuroscience and optics, and doctorate programs in education).[11] The university also offers several cooperative and dual degree programs.[12] Students receive instruction in classes with a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio. About 83 percent of undergraduates receive scholarships, grants, loans or work-study income. It has an Honors Program, an Honors Curriculum, and a Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Honor's Program to increase the number of students in science interested in pursuing biomedical research and obtaining doctor of philosophy degrees in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, and biopsychology.

In addition to satisfying the requirements for the major or majors and any minor, all undergraduates are required to complete the General Education Program, which includes: seven core courses, twelve foundation courses (across the curriculum), and the Senior Capstone Experience.

Accreditations include the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), the American Chemical Society (ACS), the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN), the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the Accreditation Council for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA), the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetic Education (CCDE).[13][14] The university’s College of Business is accredited nationally and internationally by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).[15]

Aviation program

DSU's Aviation Program provides students with education and experience in preparation for careers in the aviation industry. Curricula in the program lead to a B.Sc. degree with concentrations in Aviation Management or Professional Pilot. Professional Pilot graduates will complete their Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for Private Pilot, Instrument, Commercial, Multi-Engine and Certified Flight Instructor ratings while earning their Bachelor's Degree.[16]

Delaware State operates the only full-service, university-based flight school in the mid-Atlantic area. The Aviation program is approved by the State of Delaware Education Department for Veterans Flight Training.[17][18]

Research

The institution has greatly increased its research endeavors over the past several years, as it has developed the research infrastructure needed to attract federal grants for projects in the following DSU Research Centers and in the sciences and mathematics: 1) Applied Mathematics Research Center, numerical analysis of partial differential equations, analytical methods in solid mechanics, wavelet analysis, NURBS methods of computer geometric design, nonlinear PDEs, topology; 2) The Center for Applied Optics, as well as The Center for Research and Education in Optical Sciences and Applications (CREOSA) (a National Science Foundation-Center for Research Excellence (NSF-CREST)), optical science and laser physics (including Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy); 3) Center for Applied Optics for Space Science (CAOSS) (a National Aeronautics and Space Administration University Research Center (NASA-URC));[19] 4) additional physics, including mathematical physics, plasma physics, theoretical physics, fluid dynamics, high pressure materials, semiconductor materials and devices, geophysics; 4) Hydrogen storage and Fuel cell Chemistry Center, biochemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, synthetic chemistry, NMR spectroscopy, electrochemistry, phospholipases; 5) IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (NIH-INBRE), cell biology, microbiology, molecular mechanisms of neuronal function, neurobiology and behavior, nanobioscience, RNA sequencing; 6) biotechnology; 7) Delaware Center for Scientific and Applied Computation, computer science and bioinformatics, data mining and machine learning, combinatorics, spatial-temporal statistics, artificial neural networks); 8) neuroscience; and 9) environmental sciences; among others.[20][21]

Major grants are awarded through the U.S. Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration and other granting agencies.[22]

Rankings

University rankings
National
Global
Regional
U.S. News & World Report[23] 135 (North)
Master's University class
Washington Monthly[24] 303

DSU is ranked 9th among the Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the U.S. News & World Report (2014).[25]

The College of Business at DSU is one of the nation's most outstanding business schools, according to the Princeton Review. The Princeton Review and Random House have selected the college for their 2009 edition book to be recognized as one of "The 269 Best Business Schools" in the U.S. offering quality MBA programs. The college has dropped for the seventh year in a row in the ranking list (2009-2015).[26]

Global connections

The university has over thirty formal international partnerships with institutions in countries including China, Cuba, Egypt, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Poland and the UK which facilitate research and conference collaborations as well as student exchanges.[27]

Student activities

Athletics

The university fields teams, who are known as the Hornets, in:

Women's

Women's Cont.

The athletic programs participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA)'s Division I (FCS for football). The Hornets compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference as full members since the conference was founded in 1970.

The university's Department of Intramural Sports provides a wide variety of quality recreational programs for students, faculty and staff.

Notable alumni

Name Class year Notability Reference(s)
Reggie Barnes 1988 Canadian Football League running back, various teams, 1990–1996
Clyde Bishop U.S. Ambassador to the Marshall Islands, from 2006 to 2009
Clifford Brown trumpet virtuoso, composer, an influential and highly rated American jazz musician
George F. Budd president, St. Cloud State University, 1952–1965; president, Kansas State College of Pittsburg (since 1977, Pittsburg State University), 1965–1977
Emanual Davis 1991 Former NBA player for the Atlanta Hawks, and Seattle SuperSonics
Wayne Gilchrest 1973 U.S. Representative for Maryland's 1st congressional district, 1990–2009
Jamaal Jackson 2003 National Football League offensive lineman, Philadelphia Eagles, from 2003-2010
Maxine R. Lewis 1973 publicist, ABC television network
Robert London 1998 National Football League sports agent
Shaheer McBride 2008 National Football League wide receiver
Darnerien McCants 2001 National Football League wide receiver
Marlene Saunders 1967 2008 Delaware social worker of the year; also professor, scholar and historian
Sam Shepherd 1975 Represented Venezuela in basketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics [28][29]
Harley F. Taylor 1929 housing developer and creator of oldest African-American housing development in Dover, Delaware
John Taylor 1986 National Football League wide receiver, San Francisco 49ers, 1987–1995
Bonsu Thompson Editor-In-Chief, The Source magazine
Walter Tullis National Football League wide receiver, Green Bay Packers
David G. Turner 1986 executive, Bank of America, recognized by Fortune magazine in 2002 as one of the "50 most powerful black executives in America"
Ralph Wesley 2003 Public Address Announcer for the Washington Wizards [30]

September 21, 2007, campus shootings

Wikinews has related news: Two students shot at Delaware State University

On September 21, 2007, at approximately 1 am, two university students were shot on campus near Memorial Hall. One student, 17-year-old Shalita Middleton was fatally wounded and died 32 days later. The other student was hospitalized in stable condition, according to a news release on the university's web site.[31] Classes were cancelled and the campus was "locked down" with students confined to their dormitories and traffic blocked at the campus gate, through Sunday, September 23. On that day, a freshman student named Loyer D. Braden was arrested for attempted murder in connection with the incident, and was expelled from the university. The charges against Mr. Braden were dropped in 2009 because of prosecutorial misconduct.[32] The episode is significant because it marks the first test of a university's response to a campus shooting following the Virginia Tech shootings in April 2007.

April 18, 2015 campus shooting

At approximately 8 p.m., a shooting occurred on the DSU campus during an annual University-sanctioned student Greek cook-out event. There were three victims who were injured in the shooting. They were all transported to Kent General Hospital in Dover and are reported to be in stable condition. The identities of the victims are unknown at this time. The student residential population has been directed to stay in their residential halls. Non-DSU individuals are being directed off-campus. This is currently an active investigation. No arrest(s) have been made as of 11 p.m. on April 18. The safety of our students continues to be paramount and our police will aggressively continue their investigation until an arrest or arrests are made in this shooting incident. DSU campus police are the lead agency investigating the incident. The Dover Police Department, Delaware State Police and other agencies are providing assistance.

References

  1. ↑ "Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware". Petersons.com. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
  2. ↑ "DSU Breaks Enrollment Record Again". Delaware State University. 2014. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
  3. ↑ "Delaware State University History". Delaware State University. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
  4. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09.
  5. ↑ "Tree Campus USA Schools". Arbor Day Foundation. 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  6. ↑ "History". Delaware State University. 2009. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  7. ↑ "The Presidents of Delaware State University and the Highlights of their Tenures". Delaware State University. 2009. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  8. ↑ "CHAPTER 65. ORGANIZATION, ADMINISTRATION AND FUNCTIONS – Delaware State University". delcode.delaware.gov – the Online Delaware Code website. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  9. ↑ "Board of Trustees". Delaware State University. 2009. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  10. ↑ "Provost/Academic Affairs". Delaware State University. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  11. ↑ "About DSU". Delaware State University. 2009. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  12. ↑ "DTCC Dual Admission Program". Delaware State University. 2009. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  13. ↑ "NCATE INSTITUTION REPORT OVERVIEW". Delaware State University. 2009. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  14. ↑ "Graduate Catalog - ACCREDITATIONS AND INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIPS" (PDF). Delaware State University. 2009.
  15. ↑ "Schools Accredited in Business". The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. 2011. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  16. ↑ "The Aviation Program". Delaware State University. 2009. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  17. ↑ "The Professional Pilot Program". Delaware State University. 2009. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  18. ↑ "Delaware Flight Schools – Delaware State University". Best Aviation. 2011. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  19. ↑ "DSU Receives $5 million NASA research grant". Delaware State University. 2009-09-30. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
  20. ↑ "Delaware State University Receives $5M Grant From NASA for Optics Sciences Research" (Press release). Euroinvestor.fr. 2009-10-01. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  21. ↑ "PhD Program in Optics". Delaware State University. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
  22. ↑ "Office of the Associate Provost for Research". Delaware State University. 2009. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  23. ↑ "Regional Universities Rankings". America's Best Colleges 2012. U.S. News & World Report. September 13, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  24. ↑ "The Washington Monthly Master's University Rankings". The Washington Monthly. 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  25. ↑ "Delaware State University". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 2013-09-14.
  26. ↑ "Delaware State University College of Business – Rankings and Lists". The Princeton Review and Random House. Retrieved 2014-10-09.
  27. ↑ "Faculty Research Abroad". Delaware State University. 2009. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  28. ↑ Pucin, Diane (1992-07-03). "Venezuelans Bring Some Of Their Own Magic To The Fray". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2013-12-13.
  29. ↑ "Sam Shepherd bio, stats, and results". Sports Reference. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  30. ↑ "Delaware State Alum Ralph Wesley Named Washington Wizards’ P.A. Announcer". HBCU Digest. September 17, 2010. Archived from the original on September 19, 2010.
  31. ↑ Chase, Randall (2007-09-22). "2 Students Shot at Delaware State Univ.". The Washington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
  32. ↑ Mark Dye/The Star-Ledger. "Judge dismisses murder case against N.J. man charged in Delaware State campus shooting". NJ.com. Retrieved 2014-08-22.

Additional references

External links

Coordinates: 39°11′10″N 75°32′33″W / 39.1861°N 75.5426°W