Fort Hays State University facts for kids
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Former names
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Western Branch of the Kansas Normal School (1902–1914) Fort Hays Kansas State Normal School (1914–1923) Kansas State Teachers College of Hays (1923–1931) Fort Hays State College (1931–1977) |
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| Motto | "Forward thinking. World ready." |
| Type | Public university |
| Established | 1902 |
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Parent institution
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Kansas Board of Regents |
| Accreditation | HLC |
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Academic affiliations
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Space-grant |
| Endowment | $116.5 million (2020) |
| Budget | $155.5 million |
| President | Tisa Mason |
| Provost | Jill Arensdorf |
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Academic staff
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851 |
| Students | 12,878 (fall 2024) |
| Location |
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Kansas
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United States
38°52′24″N 99°20′36″W / 38.87333°N 99.34333°W |
| Campus | Remote town, 200 acres (0.81 km2) |
| Media | Tiger Media Network |
| Colors | Black and Gold |
| Nickname | Tigers |
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Sporting affiliations
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| Mascot | Victor E. Tiger |
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Fort Hays State University (FHSU) is a public university located in Hays, Kansas, USA. It is the biggest university in western Kansas. FHSU is also the fourth largest of the six state universities managed by the Kansas Board of Regents. About 15,100 students attend FHSU, either on campus or online.
Discovering Fort Hays State University's Past
Fort Hays State University started in 1902. It was first called the Western Branch of Kansas State Normal School. This school is now known as Emporia State University.
The university was built on the land of Fort Hays. This was an old military outpost that closed in 1889. The school helped early settlers in the area get an education. The first building closer to Hays was finished in 1904. That is when the university moved to its current spot. Today's campus is still on part of the old military land.
FHSU was first meant to be an agricultural school. But it became a "normal school," which trained teachers. It was also supported by an agricultural experiment station. For many years, the university's dairy farm provided fresh milk for the school cafeteria.
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Leaders of FHSU: University Presidents
Many leaders have guided Fort Hays State University over the years. Here are the people who have served as president:
- William S. Picken (1902–1913)
- William A. Lewis (1913–1933)
- Clarence E. Rarick (1933–1941)
- Lyman D. Wooster (1941–1949)
- Morton C. Cunningham (1949–1969)
- John W. Gustad (1969–1975)
- Gerald W. Tomanek (1975–1987)
- Edward H. Hammond (1987–2014)
- Mirta M. Martin (2014–2016)
- Mike Barnett (acting) (2016)
- Andy Tompkins (interim) (2016–2017)
- Tisa Mason (2017–present)
A Plan for Growth: The Dodge City College Idea
In 2014, there was a plan for Dodge City Community College to join Fort Hays State University. This would have created a new four-year college in southwest Kansas. It would have been called Fort Hays State University at Dodge City.
The idea was that Fort Hays teachers could offer more four-year programs in Dodge City. Courses for first and second-year college students would stay the same. The plan needed approval from the Kansas Board of Regents, the state Legislature, and the governor. However, the plan did not go through.
As of 2019, the university had about 15,100 students. About 4,648 students attended classes on campus. Another 6,882 students took classes online. Also, 3,570 students were part of a special program in China.
Exploring the FHSU Campus
The main campus of FHSU covers 200 acres (0.81 km2). The university owns a total of 4,160 acres (16.8 km2) of state land. The campus has more than 40 buildings made of limestone.
Big Creek is a stream that flows through the campus. It makes the campus beautiful and is also a natural lab for science students. The campus is just west of the Hays business area. It is about 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Interstate 70. Many businesses in downtown Hays serve FHSU students.
The buildings at Fort Hays State University are often named after important people or events in the school's history.
Sternberg Museum of Natural History
The university has a cool place called the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. It has fun science exhibits, including many that travel or change. There is also a Discovery Room and a gift shop.
The museum holds over 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2) of fossils. These include dinosaurs, mosasaurs (giant sea reptiles), pterosaurs (flying reptiles), and fish. These creatures lived in Kansas 70 to 80 million years ago.
The Sternberg Museum also has more than 3.7 million specimens. These collections cover paleontology (fossils), geology (rocks), history, archaeology (old human cultures), ethnology (cultures), botany (plants), entomology (insects), ichthyology (fish), herpetology (reptiles and amphibians), ornithology (birds), and mammalogy (mammals). You will find that many exhibits have a creature or plant named after George F. Sternberg. He was a famous fossil hunter who helped build the museum.
The university's museum was renamed the Sternberg Memorial Museum after George F. Sternberg passed away in 1969. The current museum was created in 1991. This happened when the university's museum joined with the Museum of the High Plains.
In 2010, museum researchers found that plankton-eating fish lived in the ocean at the same time as dinosaurs. This discovery filled a 106-million-year gap in the fossil record. Mike Everhart, a fossil curator at the museum, was one of the authors of the paper about this finding.
Academic Programs at FHSU
FHSU has five colleges. These are Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Business and Entrepreneurship; Education; Health and Behavioral Sciences; and Science, Technology and Mathematics. Together, they have 31 departments. They offer over 60 different study programs for undergraduate students. They also have 20 programs for graduate students.
Docking Institute: Research and Community Help
The Docking Institute is a research center that focuses on public policy. Its goal is to help government and non-profit leaders make good decisions. The institute works in six main areas:
- Research on surveys, program reviews, public policy, and community growth.
- Planning and advice for organizations.
- Helping with grant applications.
- Advice for economic and community development.
- Training programs for public administration.
- Events like conferences, speakers, and forums about public affairs.
The university also hosts the Sebelius Lecture Series every year. This series is named after Keith Sebelius, who was a US Representative and graduated from FHSU in 1941. Each semester, FHSU invites well-known leaders to speak on campus.
FHSU Sports: The Tigers!
The sports teams at Fort Hays State are called the Tigers. The university is part of NCAA Division II. Most of its sports teams compete in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). The men's soccer team plays in the Great American Conference (GAC).
Fort Hays State has 18 different sports teams. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, track & field, and wrestling. Women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.
Basketball Success
The Fort Hays State basketball teams have won four national championships! The men's team won national titles in 1984 and 1985 (NAIA). They also won in 1996 (NCAA Division II) with an amazing 34–0 record. The women's team won a national title in 1991 (NAIA).
Cross Country Victories
The men's cross country team has won four national championships. All of these were when they were part of the NAIA. They won in 1963, 1965, 1968, and 1969.
Baseball Achievements
The baseball team was the NCAA Division II national runner-up in 2000.
Shooting Sports
The FHSU shooting team earned third place in 2009. This was in the American Trap event at the National ACUI competition.
Victor E. Tiger: The FHSU Mascot
The tiger has been the mascot for FHSU since 1914. No one is quite sure how it started. It might have been the idea of W. A. Lewis, who was the president of the school back then. Many different tiger images have represented FHSU. But on April 3, 2000, the current mascot was shown for the first time. This is now the only official image of the FHSU Tiger.
At an event called TailGreat on September 9, 2000, the mascot was officially named Victor E. Tiger. The person who wears the Victor E. Tiger costume appears at sports games and university events.
Fun Events: Oktoberfest and Homecoming
Every year, Fort Hays State celebrates Oktoberfest. This event celebrates the German heritage of Ellis County. It takes place at Frontier Park in downtown Hays on the Friday before FHSU's homecoming.
There is polka music and booths that serve German food and beer. The first keg of beer is tapped around 11:00 a.m., which starts Oktoberfest. There is also a homecoming parade on Saturday morning. Student groups decorate floats or walk in the parade to show FHSU spirit. The homecoming football game is played on Saturday afternoon.
Student Media
Students at Fort Hays create their own media under the name Tiger Media Network. This includes radio and TV programs. You can find their work on their website, tigermedianet.com.
Famous People from FHSU
Many talented people have attended Fort Hays State University. Here are a few:
- Vashone Adams, an NFL player
- Steve Crosby, an NFL player, scout, and coach
- Sheila Frahm, a former Lieutenant Governor of Kansas and former United States senator
- Kris Kuksi, a visual artist
- Lynn Lashbrook, who started SMWW
- Kathryn McCarthy, a U.S. Representative from Kansas
- Mike McCarthy, an NFL head coach
- Nola Ochs, who became the world's oldest college graduate at 95 in 2007
- Pillar, a music band that formed at the university
- Scott Schwab, the 32nd Secretary of State of Kansas
- Nathan Shepherd, an NFL player
- Mickey Spillane, a detective novelist (attended for one year)
Images for kids
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Albertson Hall
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Gross Memorial Coliseum
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Malloy Hall
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Pickens Hall
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Plymouth Schoolhouse
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Sternberg Museum of Natural History
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Tomanek Hall
