Southern Connecticut State University facts for kids
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Former names
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New Haven State Normal School (1893–1937) New Haven State Teacher's College (1937–1959) Southern Connecticut State College (1959–1983) |
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| Type | Public University |
| Established | 1893 |
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Parent institution
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Connecticut State Colleges & Universities |
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Academic affiliation
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Space-grant |
| Endowment | $30.6 million (2020) |
| President | Dwayne Smith (interim) |
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Administrative staff
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403 |
| Students | 8,155 (Spring 2022) |
| Undergraduates | 6,242 (Spring 2022) |
| Postgraduates | 1,913 (Spring 2022) |
| Location |
,
U.S.
41°19′57″N 72°56′51″W / 41.33250°N 72.94750°W |
| Campus | Urban, 168 acres (68 ha) |
| Colors | Reflex Blue and White |
| Nickname | Owls |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division II – NE-10 ECAC |
| Mascot | Otus the Owl |
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Southern Connecticut State University (also called Southern Connecticut, SCSU, or just Southern) is a public university located in New Haven, Connecticut. It is part of the Connecticut State University System. The school first opened its doors in 1893 and is overseen by the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education.
Contents
How Southern Connecticut State University Started
Southern Connecticut State University began on September 11, 1893. It was first known as the New Haven State Normal School. This school was created to train teachers. Students would study for two years to become teachers.
The very first campus was in a two-story building called the Skinner School. It was located on State Street in New Haven. Arthur Boothby Morrill was the first principal, leading the school from 1893 to 1924. He worked with two other female teachers. To join, students had to be at least 16 years old. They usually had a high school degree or some teaching experience. The first class had 85 women.
It was free to attend if you promised to finish your studies. You also had to agree to teach in Connecticut. The school even provided all the textbooks. Most students lived in New Haven and traveled to school each day.
The school quickly grew too big for the Skinner School. In 1896, it moved to a new, larger building. This new spot was also close to elementary schools. This was great because students could get hands-on training there. At this time, graduates only received a certificate to teach.
By 1937, the school could offer four-year bachelor's degrees. So, its name changed to New Haven State Teacher's College. Later, in 1954, the school started offering advanced degrees. This was just one year after it moved to its current campus on Crescent Street.
In 1959, New Haven State Teacher's College became Southern Connecticut State College. Then, in March 1983, it was renamed Southern Connecticut State University. It officially became part of the Connecticut State University System.
Exploring the Campus
Southern Connecticut State University has one main campus. It is located at 501 Crescent Street in New Haven. Part of the campus also borders Hamden, Connecticut. A street called Fitch Street divides the campus. One side has academic buildings, and the other has student housing.
In 2015, a new laboratory science building opened. This was part of a plan to improve the university's science programs. This four-story building is used for cancer research, physics, and other science fields.
The School of Business moved into a brand new building in Summer 2023. This building is special because it uses Net Zero Energy. This means it produces as much energy as it uses. It has many meeting rooms and a large community room. There are also offices for teachers and special trading rooms. Students can use many study rooms.
What You Can Study
Southern Connecticut State University is still a top place for teacher education. It is the only school in Connecticut to offer a master's degree. This degree focuses on helping students with autism spectrum disorders. The university also has a special doctoral program. It is called an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership.
Nursing
Students in Southern's nursing program do very well. Almost all of them pass the NCLEX exam. This is the test needed to become a registered nurse. Their passing rates have been between 90 and 100 percent for many years.
Liberal Education Program
Southern has a program called the Liberal Education Program (LEP). All students must take these classes. The LEP helps students explore different subjects. It makes sure they learn about more than just their major. This program is made up of 42 credits.
The LEP has three levels of classes. The first level is for new students. It includes basic classes like Inquiry 101 and Writing 102. Students also need to take a language course. They can choose from 10 languages, including American Sign Language.
The second level has nine different categories. Students must take one class from each category. These categories include topics like American history, art, and science. The third level is a "Capstone" class. This is usually a higher-level course in a student's major. It helps them bring together everything they have learned. All students must also take three writing-focused courses before they graduate.
Student Life and Fun
There are many clubs and groups at Southern. These include Greek-lettered organizations. These groups help students grow and make friends. Each group has its own special traditions and beliefs.
Here are some of the fraternities and sororities at Southern:
| Sororities | Fraternities |
|---|---|
| Alpha Sigma Alpha | Alpha Phi Delta |
| Delta Phi Epsilon | Beta Mu Sigma |
| Lambda Pi Upsilon, Latinas Poderosas Unidas, Inc. | Lambda Alpha Upsilon, Latino America Unida, Inc. |
| Omega Zeta Pi | Phi Beta Sigma |
| Zeta Phi Beta | Tau Kappa Epsilon |
| Sigma Gamma Rho | |
| Sigma Iota Alpha |
The University Library
Southern Connecticut State University has a large library. It is named the Hilton C. Buley Library. It is named after Hilton C. Buley. He was the president of the school from 1954 to 1971. Before that, he was an educator in other states.
The first library was in a building on Howe Street. It was a small reading room with bookshelves. When the school opened in 1893, the library had only 500 books. By 1950, it had over 28,000 books. It also had 200 magazines, which was a lot for the small space.
In 1954, the library moved to the main building on Crescent Street. This was Engleman Hall. By 1969, the library had over 200,000 books. It was growing too big again.
A new Hilton C. Buley Library building opened on October 31, 1970. This was just before President Buley retired. The new library could hold 500,000 books. It also had space to add even more. But the collection kept growing. So, in 1999, plans were made for a new addition. The new library building finally opened in March 2014.
The current library has four beautiful Tiffany Windows. Louis Comfort Tiffany was a famous American artist. He was known for his amazing stained glass work. Three of these windows are in the Learning Commons area. They are called "Angel of Praise", "Water Brooks", and "Hector". You can see them with natural light behind them. These windows were given to the university in the 1960s. A fourth window, the "Congregational window", was given in the 1990s. It is on the second floor. The windows were carefully moved and restored before being displayed in the new library.
The Water Brooks window was made between 1898 and 1904. It is very large, about 54 inches wide and 98 inches high. The Hector window was designed in 1898. It shows the ship that brought early settlers to New Haven in 1638.
The library has many special collections. These include children's literature and historical textbooks. There are also collections of postcards and sound recordings. The university also has digital collections. These include old book bindings and newsletters.
Caring for Our Planet
On May 30, 2019, Southern Connecticut State University made an important announcement. They officially declared a "Climate Emergency." This happened because students and teachers pushed for it. They wanted the university to do more to help with climate change. Southern was the first university in the U.S. to make this kind of declaration.
Athletics
Famous People Who Went Here
Many successful people have studied at Southern Connecticut State University. Here are some of them:
- Timothy I. Ahern – A general in the U.S. Air Force
- Tony Amendola – An actor
- Joe Andruzzi – A professional American football player
- Lynn Austin – An award-winning author
- Brian Bliss – A professional soccer player
- Steve Bush – A professional American football player
- Jacques Cesaire – A professional American football player
- Jerome Cunningham - A professional American football player
- John DeBrito – A professional soccer player
- Anthony Fantano – A famous music critic and YouTuber
- Kaliegh Garris – Miss Teen USA 2019
- Dave Gettleman – A professional American football general manager
- Kevin Gilbride – A football coach
- Rep. Jahana Hayes – A Congresswoman
- Mike Katz – A professional bodybuilder and NFL player
- Dan Lauria – An actor
- James Marshall – An author and illustrator
- Nangolo Mbumba – The fourth president of Namibia
- Scott Mersereau – A former NFL defensive end
- Olivier Occéan – A professional soccer player
- Chris Palmer – A professional American football coach
- Henry E. Parker – A former Connecticut State Treasurer
- Rob Parker – A professional television journalist
- Mike Petke – A professional soccer player
- John Searles – An author and editor
- Victoria Leigh Soto – A teacher
- Erik Stocklin – An American actor
- Jeff Stoutland – A professional American football coach
- Heidi Voight - A news anchor and former Miss Connecticut
- Norby Williamson – An ESPN vice president
