Bowling Green State University facts for kids
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Former name
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Bowling Green State Normal School (1914–1929) Bowling Green State College (1929–1935) |
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| Type | Public Research university |
| Established | September 27, 1910 |
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Parent institution
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University System of Ohio |
| Endowment | $155.7 million (2020) |
| President | Rodney K. Rogers |
| Provost | Joe B. Whitehead Jr. |
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Academic staff
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1,982 (1,109 faculty, 873 graduate assistants) |
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Administrative staff
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1,916 |
| Students | 20,395 (Bowling Green) 22,986 (all campuses) |
| Undergraduates | 19,183 (on campus) 2,500 (Firelands) |
| Postgraduates | 3,803 (all campuses) |
| Location |
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Ohio
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United States
41°23′N 83°38′W / 41.38°N 83.63°W |
| Campus | College town, 1,338 acres (5.41 km2) |
| Colors | Orange and brown |
| Nickname | Falcons |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I – MAC |
| Mascot | Freddie and Frieda Falcon |
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Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is a large public university in Bowling Green, Ohio, USA. It's known for its strong programs and research in science, education, arts, and business. The main campus is huge, covering 1,338-acre (541.5 ha) (about 5.4 square kilometers). It's located about 15 miles (24 km) south of Toledo, Ohio.
BGSU started in 1910 as a school to train teachers. Over time, it grew into a full university that offers many different degrees. It's part of the University System of Ohio. In 2019, BGSU offered over 200 different study programs for undergraduate students. It also has master's and doctoral degrees.
About 6,000 students live on the main campus. More than 19,000 students attend BGSU in total. The university also has a smaller campus called BGSU Firelands in Huron, Ohio, about 60 miles (97 km) east of the main campus. Most students are from Ohio.
Student life at BGSU is very active, with over 300 student clubs and groups. The university's sports teams are called the Bowling Green Falcons. They compete in NCAA Division I, which is the highest level of college sports. They are part of the Mid-American Conference for most sports. Their ice hockey team is in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
History
Early Years (1910s–1920s)
People in northwestern Ohio wanted a public school to train teachers. Existing universities were too far away. In 1910, the Ohio government passed a law to create two new teacher training schools. One was for northeastern Ohio, and the other for northwestern Ohio.
A special group looked at 40 towns to find the best spots. They checked things like population, transportation, and health conditions. Bowling Green was chosen on November 10, 1910. It had good land, nearby railroads, and was centrally located.
The school officially opened on September 15, 1914. It was called Bowling Green State Normal School. It started in temporary places. The first class had 304 students and 21 teachers. In 1915, the first 35 teachers graduated. The first two permanent buildings, University Hall and Williams Hall, opened that year.
In 1920, a tornado damaged three of the school's buildings.
Growing Up (1920s–1940s)
Over the next ten years, the school grew. More students joined, reaching over 900. In 1927, a sports editor named Ivan "Doc" Lake gave the sports teams their nickname: the "Falcons." He thought it matched the school's colors.
In 1929, the school became Bowling Green State College. It also added a new College of Liberal Arts. During the Great Depression in the 1930s, enrollment stayed strong. But in 1933, some people wanted to turn the college into a mental hospital. Students, teachers, and the community protested. They wrote letters and marched. Their efforts stopped the plan.
In May 1935, the college became Bowling Green State University. It added a College of Business Administration. Soon after, it started offering master's degrees. In 1939, the university began training pilots.
World War II and After (1940s–1960s)
During World War II, fewer men attended the university. BGSU joined programs to train Navy and Marine cadets. This helped keep enrollment up. Students helped with war efforts, like blood drives.
After the war, many veterans returned to college. BGSU built temporary housing, like trailers and steel buildings, to house them. The university also added new academic programs. In 1948, the Graduate School was created. By 1950, over 5,000 students were enrolled.
In 1951, Ralph W. McDonald became the new president. He focused on improving teacher education. BGSU also added an Air Force ROTC program. New dorms and a student center were built in the 1950s.
Busy Decades (1960s–1990s)
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The College of Education grew quickly in the 1960s. It added programs like special education and school psychology. The School of Music also became more important. By 1965, BGSU's College of Education was one of the largest in the U.S.
New buildings like Memorial Hall (for sports) and the Jerome Library opened. Student protests became common in the 1960s, reflecting social changes. BGSU was one of the few Ohio universities to reopen in spring 1970 after the Kent State shootings.
In the 1970s, BGSU added the College of Health and Human Services. The School of Music became the College of Musical Arts. The Popular Culture Center opened in 1970, one of the first in the U.S. Construction continued with new academic buildings and a student recreation center. In 1970, the university allowed beer to be served on campus.
In the 1980s, the School of Technology became a college. The university built new science facilities, including a Planetarium. In 1985, President Ronald Reagan visited BGSU.
Recent History (1990s–Present)
The 1990s saw many building renovations. In 1993, students in the College of Technology built an electric race car called the Electric Falcon. It could go up to 140 mph!
The Stroh Center, a large arena for sports and events, opened in 2011. The Wolfe Center for the Arts also opened in 2011. It's a big building for art, theater, and music studies. BGSU also built new dorms and The Oaks dining hall, which uses sustainable designs like solar and wind power.
In 2016 and 2017, three old campus buildings (Kuhlin Center, University Hall, and Moseley Hall) were fully renovated. They now have modern classrooms and labs. In 2019, the Computer Science Department celebrated its 50th anniversary.
In 2020, the College of Business was renamed the Allan and Carol Schmidthorst College of Business after a large donation. It moved into a new building called the Maurer Center.
Campuses
Bowling Green Main Campus
The main campus is on the northeast side of Bowling Green. It has over 116 buildings on 1,338 acres (5.41 km2) of land. The campus is bordered by main roads like Wooster Street and I-75.
Old Campus
The oldest part of campus is in the southwest corner. It has historic buildings from the early 1900s. These buildings hold administrative offices and classrooms. Founders Hall, a large dorm, is also in this area.
The Dorothy and Lillian Gish Film Theater and Gallery used to be in Hanna Hall. It showed old movie items and celebrated the careers of actresses Lillian Gish and Dorothy Gish. In 2019, the university decided to remove the Gish name from the theater.
Science Research Complex
The Science Research Complex is on the northwest side of campus. Its buildings were built in the mid-1960s. They include buildings for Mathematical Science, Life Science, Psychology, Physical Science, and Technology.
Student Life Facilities
Three large dorms are on the western edge of campus: Offenhauer Towers, McDonald Hall, and Falcon Heights. The Oaks, an eco-friendly dining hall, is also here.
The Bowen-Thompson Student Union opened in 2002. It has places to eat, a bookstore, computer labs, meeting rooms, a movie theater, and student lounges.
Central Campus has large lecture halls and classroom buildings. The Jerome Library is the main library and the second tallest building on campus. The Falcon Health Center opened in 2013. Kohl Hall is a dorm for specific learning communities. The southern edge of campus has on-campus fraternity and sorority houses.
The Kreischer Quadrangle has four connected dorms. It also has a late-night dining hall called The Sundial. Kreischer-Compton is home to the Arts Village Learning Community for students interested in dance, art, writing, theater, or music.
Arts Facilities
The Fine Arts Center is home to the School of Art. It has classrooms, studios, art galleries, and a glassblowing studio. BGSU is one of the few schools that offers degrees in glassblowing.
The Moore Musical Arts Center houses the College of Musical Arts. It has classrooms, recording studios, and a large theater called Kobacker Hall. The Wolfe Center for the Arts opened in 2011. It's a modern building for the School of Art, Department of Theatre and Film, and School of Musical Arts. It has classrooms, rehearsal spaces, and performance theaters.
Athletic and Recreational Facilities
Most sports facilities are on the eastern side of campus. The Student Recreation Center has swimming pools, weight rooms, a running track, and courts for various sports. Perry Field House is a large indoor athletic facility with a synthetic turf field.
The Slater Family Ice Arena is a 5,000-seat arena for ice hockey and public skating. Doyt Perry Stadium is a 28,600-seat football stadium. The Stroh Center is a modern venue for basketball, volleyball, concerts, and graduation ceremonies. It's also one of the most environmentally friendly buildings on campus.
Transportation and Safety
BGSU has a free bus system that runs around campus and nearby areas. In 2005, the university started using hybrid buses. There's a mobile app to track the buses.
The Orange Bike program started in 2008. It lets students rent bikes to help reduce pollution. The University Police Department provides 24-hour safety services for the campus.
BGSU Firelands Campus
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The BGSU Firelands campus is in Huron, Ohio, about 60 miles (97 km) east of Bowling Green. It's a campus where students live at home and commute to classes. It offers two-year associate degrees and helps students prepare to transfer to four-year bachelor's programs.
The Firelands campus started with extension programs in the 1940s. The first building opened in Huron. In 2003, the Cedar Point Center opened on the Firelands campus. It has meeting areas, classrooms, and distance learning rooms.
Academics and Rankings
Bowling Green State University offers over 200 undergraduate majors. It also has master's and doctoral degrees. BGSU is fully accredited, meaning its programs meet high quality standards. The university has eight main colleges:
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| USNWR National University | 249 |
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| Washington Monthly National University | 279 |
| Forbes | 481 |
U.S. News & World Report has ranked BGSU among the top public schools. It's also known for its teacher training programs. BGSU has one of the top programs in the U.S. for Industrial & Organizational Psychology. It has been called one of the most affordable colleges in Ohio.
BGSU was the first university to offer a Ph.D. program in photochemical science. It also has a strong graduate program in chemistry. BGSU is building a digital forensics lab to go with its courses in digital forensics and cybersecurity. BGSU is one of only two universities with an airport on its campus.
Tuition and Graduation Rates
In spring 2019, undergraduate tuition for Ohio residents was $379.00 per credit hour. For out-of-state students, it was $711.85 per credit hour.
The six-year graduation rate for BGSU's main campus was 61 percent. This rate was higher than expected for a university like BGSU.
Faculty and Research
BGSU has a student-faculty ratio of 18:1. This means there are 18 students for every teacher. The university has nearly 2,000 academic staff, including full-time teachers and graduate assistants.
BGSU is classified as a university with high research activity. In 2012, BGSU received about $8.1 million for research. Much of this funding came from important groups like the National Science Foundation.
The BGSU Center for Sustainability and the Environment studies renewable energy like solar energy and wind power. They also research how to use algae to make biofuel. The "Center of Excellence for Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan" focuses on research about physical and mental health.
Presidents
Here are the presidents who have led BGSU:
- Homer B. Williams (1912–1937)
- R. E. Offenhauer (1937–1938)
- Frank J. Prout (1938–1951)
- Ralph W. McDonald (1951–1961)
- Ralph G. Harshman (1961–1963)
- William Travers Jerome III (1963–1970)
- Hollis A. Moore Jr. (1970–1981)
- Paul J. Olscamp (1982–1995)
- Sidney A. Ribeau (1995–2008)
- Carol A. Cartwright (2008–2011)
- Mary Ellen Mazey (2011–2017)
- Rodney K. Rogers (2018–present)
Athletics
BGSU's sports teams are called the Falcons. They compete in NCAA Division I. They are part of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The ice hockey team is in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
The Falcons' main rivals are the Toledo Rockets from the University of Toledo. Their football game is called the Battle of I-75. The winner gets the Peace Pipe trophy. BGSU has 16 athletic teams, including basketball, football, ice hockey, soccer, and volleyball.
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The women's basketball team has won conference championships. In 2007, they reached the "Sweet Sixteen" in the NCAA tournament. The men's hockey team won the NCAA National Championship in 1984.
Many BGSU coaches have become very successful. Football coach Urban Meyer won national championships at other universities. Hockey coach Jerry York won four NCAA National Championships at Boston College.
Club Sports and Events
BGSU offers many club sports, like rugby, lacrosse, baseball, and soccer. The club rugby team has been very successful. BGSU also has an esports team.
Student Life
Student Body
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| White | 80% |
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| Black | 8% |
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| Other | 5% |
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| Hispanic | 4% |
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| Asian | 1% |
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| Foreign national | 1% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 30% |
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| Affluent | 70% |
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About 85% of undergraduate students are from Ohio. The rest come from all 50 U.S. states and 70 other countries. The student body is 54% women and 46% men. About 22% of students are from international backgrounds or are part of ethnic minority groups.
Activities
BGeXperience
In 2012, BGSU started a new program for undergraduate students called the BGeXperience (BGeX). It focuses on personal growth, social connections, critical thinking, and problem solving. First-year students start the program with a special weekend before classes begin.
Outdoor Program
The BGSU Outdoor Program offers outdoor trips, an indoor climbing wall, and equipment rentals. In 2008, they started the Freshman Wilderness Experience. This program combines a week-long backpacking trip with a monthly class to help new students adjust to college.
Student Organizations
BGSU has a very active student life with over 300 student organizations. These include sports clubs, living-learning communities, student media groups, and Greek organizations. In living-learning communities, students with similar interests live and study together.
Greek Life
BGSU has many fraternities and sororities. The first ones started in 1922. For many years, these groups had their own houses off-campus. Later, they moved into houses owned by the university on campus. In 2016, a new Greek Village was built with 10 buildings for these groups.
Media and Publications
Newspaper
The student newspaper, The BG News, has been published since 1920. It's available for free and also online. It prints twice a week during the school year.
The university's yearbook, The Key Magazine, started in 1918. It's now published twice a year.
Broadcasting
BGSU has two student-run radio stations and a public television station. WBGU-TV broadcasts to many counties in Ohio. It shows PBS programs and student-produced news.
The student radio stations are WBGU 88.1 FM and WFAL Falcon Radio. WBGU-FM plays independent music and broadcasts women's basketball and hockey games. WFAL Falcon Radio plays modern rock, Top 40, and hip hop music. Both stations have news and sports talk shows.
Traditions and Events
Mascots
BGSU's official mascots are Freddie and Frieda Falcon. Freddie first appeared in 1950, and Frieda joined in 1966. They appear at sports games and other university events. The students who play Freddie and Frieda keep their identities a secret until the end of the basketball and hockey seasons.
SICSIC is a secret spirit group at BGSU that started in 1946. They attend sports events and campus activities to promote school spirit. They wear gray jumpsuits and masks to hide who they are. Their identities are revealed at the last home basketball game of their senior year.
Events
BGSU hosts Ohio's largest student-run charity event, Dance Marathon. Students organize this event to raise money for local children's hospitals. Since it began, it has raised over $2.2 million for the Mercy Children's Hospital in Toledo.
Other events include Ohanami by the Japanese Club and Oktoberfest by the German Club.
Bowling Green also has an annual Winterfest in February. It celebrates winter activities like ice skating and ice hockey. Events are held at the Slater Family Ice Arena.
From 1978 to 2016, Bowling Green hosted Buckeye Boys State. This program brought high school juniors from Ohio to campus to learn about government.
Marching Band
The Falcon Marching Band is the largest student group at BGSU, with over 250 members. The band performs at home football games and other university events. They have also performed at various bowl games across the country.
The first band at BGSU was formed in 1923. The Falcon Marching Band is known for its symphonic sound and unique marching style. Membership is open to students of all majors who pass an audition.
Notable Alumni
Many BGSU alumni have become famous in different areas like politics, business, science, arts, and sports.
Some notable athletes include: Kevin Bieksa, Rob Blake, Dan Bylsma, Scott Hamilton, Dave Wottle, Orel Hershiser, and Nate Thurmond.
Alumni in government and politics include: former Israeli ambassador Daniel Ayalon, Ohio state senator Theresa Gavarone, and Ohio congressman Bob Latta.
Other notable alumni include: actor Tim Conway, former ESPN sportscaster Jay Crawford, Adobe Systems CEO Shantanu Narayen, actress Eva Marie Saint, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Jennifer Higdon.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad Estatal de Bowling Green para niños
