Southwest Minnesota State University facts for kids
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Former names
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Southwest Minnesota State College (1964–1975) Southwest State University (1975–2003) |
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| Motto | Discover. Engage. Lead. |
| Type | Public university |
| Established | 1964 |
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Parent institution
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Minnesota State system |
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Academic affiliations
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Space-grant |
| Budget | million (2019) |
| President | Kumara Jayasuriya |
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Academic staff
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148 |
| Students | 8,718 |
| Location |
,
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United States
44°27′16″N 95°45′34″W / 44.45444°N 95.75944°W |
| Campus | Small city (rural), 216 acres (87 ha) |
| Colors | Brown and gold |
| Nickname | Mustangs |
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Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) is a public university in Marshall, Minnesota, United States. It is part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. This means it's one of many public colleges in Minnesota. About 8,700 students go to SMSU, and there are 148 teachers and professors. The university is split into two main groups of studies: the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences, and the College of Business, Education, and Professional Studies.
Contents
History of SMSU
The university first opened in 1964 as Southwest Minnesota State College (SMSC). The very first students started classes on September 19, 1967. The college later changed its name to Southwest State University (SSU) on August 1, 1975. It kept that name for almost 30 years. Then, on July 1, 2003, it became Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU), which is its name today.
The student newspaper has also changed its name a few times! It was first called The Impact in 1968. Then it became The Reader in 1974, and went back to The Impact in 1980. In 2003, it changed to The Spur. This new name fits with the university's mascot, the Mustangs, and also means to "spur" or encourage students to take action.
In 1996, the R/A (Recreation/Athletic) Facility was built. This is a large building that can hold 4,000 people. It's used for many different events.
On January 2, 2002, a fire sadly destroyed the Student Center. But the university rebuilt it! The strong concrete frame of the old dome was used in the new building. You can still see it in the food court area. The new student and conference center was finished in 2005. It even has a copy of the original dome with the words "Student Center Dome: 1972–2002" written on it.
In 2005, SMSU became the first university in the country to offer a bachelor's degree in culinology. This program teaches students how to combine cooking with food science.
A new Regional Event Center opened on September 6, 2008. It's on the west side of the campus. The sports field inside is called Mattke Field, named after a past athletic director, Glenn Mattke. This center is used by the university's football and soccer teams. Even teams from Marshall High School use it. It's also a place for other big events, like concerts. It took two years and $16 million to build.
What Students Learn at SMSU
Southwest Minnesota State University offers many different study programs for students. You can study subjects like liberal arts, which helps you learn about many different topics, or professional studies, which prepares you for specific jobs. The most popular subjects for students are business administration and education.
SMSU also has special programs for students who want to continue their education after their first degree. These are called graduate programs. They focus on education, special education, and business administration. The MBA (Master of Business Administration) program has options like marketing and leadership. Students can take classes at the university or online.
The Southwest Marketing Advisory Center is a cool place where business students can work with real companies. They do research and help businesses, which gives them great experience.
SMSU's programs are officially recognized by several groups. This means the university meets high standards for teaching and learning.
Life on Campus
Most of the buildings at SMSU were built between 1965 and 1973. They were all designed to fit together. The brick and concrete buildings are connected by tunnels and covered walkways. This makes it easy to get around, even when the weather is bad. The dorms, where students live, are not connected by tunnels. There are also many pretty courtyards with gardens between the buildings. The campus is also very easy for students in wheelchairs to move around.
Some buildings on campus are named after famous people. Armstrong Hall was named after astronaut Neil Armstrong because he was the first person to walk on the moon in 1969. Manchester Hall was named after pop singer Melissa Manchester after she performed a concert at the university.
In 2009, a new dorm called Sweetland Hall opened. It was named after a past university president, Douglas Sweetland.
Here are the types of places students can live:
- Traditional Halls: These are older dorms with a shared bathroom on each floor.
- Sweetland Hall: This is a newer dorm with about 250 beds. Students share a bathroom with two to four people.
- Foundation Apartments: These are like apartments with their own laundry and kitchen in each unit.
SMSU does not have fraternities or sororities on campus.
Student Groups
The Southwest Marketing Advisory Center (SMAC) helps businesses in southwestern Minnesota. It also gives students real-world experience in marketing and research. Students who work here are usually in their third or fourth year of college, or in graduate school.
Every student at SMSU pays a small fee to support the Minnesota State University Student Association. This is a group led by students that works to help all students in the Minnesota State system.
Sports at SMSU
The sports teams at SMSU are called the Mustangs. Their team colors are brown and gold, which are like the colors of the prairie.
The Mustangs compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). This is part of NCAA Division II, which means they play against other universities in their division.
Here are some of the sports offered:
- For men: basketball, wheelchair basketball, baseball, cross country, track, football, and wrestling.
- For women: basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball, and swimming.
Fun Places to Visit
SMSU has several cool places that are open to everyone, including school groups!
- The SMSU Museum of Natural History shows off the plants and animals that live in Minnesota.
- The SMSU Art Museum has two art galleries. They are called the William Whipple Art Gallery I and II, named after a former dean of arts at the university. Gallery I is in the SMSU library, and Gallery II is in Founders Hall. You can also find art displayed in other places around campus.
- The SMSU Museum of Indigenous Americans has amazing Native American items. These include pottery, artwork, baskets, and old tools.
- The SMSU Planetarium is in the Science and Math Building. It has awesome laser shows and multi-media presentations about space. There's also a rooftop deck with telescopes where you can look at the sky at night!
- The Greenhouse is open during school hours. It has a collection of many different plants, like cacti, aloes, bananas, and palms. You can learn about the plants from the information displays. Students who study biology and environmental science also do experiments here.
- The ADM & SMSU Environmental Learning Area is a 22-acre outdoor space on the northwest side of campus, near Mattke Field. It has trails that go through different natural areas like prairies, woodlands, ponds, and marshes. It's a great place to explore nature!
Famous People Who Went to SMSU
Many interesting people have studied at Southwest Minnesota State University. Here are a few:
- Alvin Ashley, a former player in the Arena Football League.
- Chuck Brown, who used to be a State Representative.
- Leland Bush, a Judge for the District Court of Minnesota.
- Kory Kath, a State Representative.
- Jeff Loots, a former player in the Arena Football League.
- Bill Northey, who was the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.
- Marty Seifert, who used to be a leader in the State House.
- Barton Sutter, a poet and playwright from Minnesota.
- Isiah Whitlock, Jr., a well-known actor.
