Stetson University facts for kids
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Former names
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DeLand Academy (1883–1885); DeLand College (1885–1886); DeLand University (1886–1889); John B. Stetson University (1889–1994) |
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| Motto | Pro Deo et Veritate (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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"For God and Truth" |
| Type | Private university |
| Established | 1883 |
| Founder | Henry Addison DeLand |
| Accreditation | SACS |
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Religious affiliation
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Protestant (Southern Baptist) (1885–1907; 1919–1995) No affiliation (1995–present) |
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Academic affiliations
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ICUF |
| Endowment | $387 million (2022) |
| President | Chris Roellke |
| Provost | Elizabeth A. Skomp |
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Academic staff
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265 |
| Students | 3,670 |
| Undergraduates | 2,339 |
| Postgraduates | 1,331 |
| Location |
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Florida
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United States
29°02′06″N 81°18′09″W / 29.0350°N 81.3026°W |
| Campus | Small city, 185 acres (75 ha) |
| Other campuses | |
| Colors | Green and white |
| Nickname | Hatters |
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Sporting affiliations
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| Mascot | John B. |
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Stetson University is a private university located in DeLand, Florida. This means it is not funded by the government. It was founded in 1883 as the DeLand Academy. Later, it was renamed to honor John B. Stetson, a famous hat maker who gave a lot of money to the school.
The university's main campus in DeLand is 175 acres. It has four main parts: the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Music, the School of Business Administration, and the College of Law.
Contents
History of the University
Stetson University started in 1883. It was first called DeLand Academy, named after Henry Addison DeLand, who founded the town of DeLand.
In 1889, the school's name was changed to John B. Stetson University. John B. Stetson was a hat manufacturer who became a major supporter of the university. He worked with Henry DeLand to help the school grow.
For many years, the university was connected with the Baptist church. However, since 1995, it has not had a religious affiliation.
Campus and Buildings
Stetson's main campus is in DeLand, Florida, which is about halfway between Orlando and Daytona Beach. This campus is home to most of the university's programs. The campus is so historic that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
DeLand Hall
DeLand Hall was the first building on campus, opening in 1884. It cost $4,000 to build. Today, it is the oldest building in Florida that has been continuously used for higher education. The university president's office is located here.
Lynn Business Center
This building is home to the School of Business. It was built in 2003 and was the first "green building" on campus. A green building is designed to be environmentally friendly. It was also the first green building at any university in Florida.
Lee Chapel
Lee Chapel is a beautiful performance hall inside another historic building called Elizabeth Hall. It was built in 1897 and can seat almost 800 people. The chapel is known for its amazing sound, which is perfect for classical music.
The chapel was dedicated to the memory of John B. Stetson's son, Ben. It is now named after H. Douglas Lee, a former president of the university. An art professor named William Sharp designed all the stained glass windows. The chapel also has a huge pipe organ from Germany with over 2,500 pipes.
What You Can Study
Stetson University offers over 55 different subjects, called majors, for students to study. Students can earn degrees like a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science. The university also offers graduate programs for students who want to continue their education after their first degree.
The university is officially recognized for its quality education by an organization called the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. For every 12 students, there is one teacher, which means classes are small.
College of Arts and Sciences
This is the largest college at Stetson. It has 19 different departments, including subjects like history, science, art, and education.
School of Music
Students in the School of Music can perform in an orchestra, band, or choir. They can also be in operas and musicals. Students can study performance, music education, or how to write music. The school has been a member of the National Association of Schools of Music since 1938.
School of Business Administration
The business school started in 1897. It is a top-ranked school for studying business and accounting. Students can create their own special area of study within business.
College of Law
The College of Law was founded in 1900. In 1954, it moved to Gulfport, Florida, which is near St. Petersburg. It is a well-respected law school and has been a member of the Association of American Law Schools since 1931.
Libraries
The university started collecting books even before it had a library. In 1887, the collection had about 1,300 books. In 1908, the Sampson Library opened. It was built with money from the famous businessman Andrew Carnegie.
Today, the main library is the duPont-Ball Library, which opened in 1964. It has access to 50,000 online journals and newspapers. The library also holds over 900,000 physical items, like books and magazines.
Student Life
Stetson has over 100 student clubs and organizations. About 30 percent of students are part of Greek life, which includes fraternities and sororities.
Students at Stetson come from many different backgrounds. The university hosts a Model United States Senate program every year, where college students can pretend to be U.S. senators and debate issues.
Sports at Stetson
Stetson's sports teams are called the Hatters, and their mascot is named "John B." after John B. Stetson. The university has 18 men's and women's teams that compete in Division I, the highest level of college sports.
- Baseball: The baseball team is very successful. It has won seven conference championships and has played in the NCAA tournament 16 times.
- Basketball: The women's basketball team has played in the NCAA tournament three times.
- Football: Stetson had a football team from 1901 to 1956. The team returned in 2013.
- Other Sports: Stetson also has teams for soccer, tennis, golf, softball, and sand volleyball. The women's lacrosse team also started in 2013.
Famous Graduates
Many well-known people have graduated from Stetson University. Here are a few:
- Pam Bondi: A lawyer who served as the Attorney General of Florida.
- Jacob deGrom: A famous professional baseball pitcher.
- Louis DeJoy: The Postmaster General, who is in charge of the United States Postal Service.
- Corey Kluber: Another well-known professional baseball pitcher.
- Suzanne Kosmas: A former member of the U.S. Congress.
- Ashley Moody: The current Attorney General of Florida.
