Wright State University facts for kids
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| Motto | Ad docendum, Investigandum, Serviendum (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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Teaching, Research, Service |
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | 1967 |
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Parent institution
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University System of Ohio |
| Accreditation | HLC |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $95.5 million (2020) |
| President | Susan Edwards |
| Provost | Amy Thompson |
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Academic staff
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1,139 |
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Administrative staff
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1,108 |
| Students | 10,264 (Dayton) 11,469 (all campuses) |
| Undergraduates | 7,415 (Dayton) 8,619 (all campuses) |
| Postgraduates | 2,849 (Dayton) 2,850 (all campuses) |
| Location |
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United States
39°47′06″N 84°03′32″W / 39.785°N 84.059°W |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Colors | Green and Gold |
| Nickname | Raiders |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I – Horizon League |
| Mascot | Gray Wolf, Raider personified as Rowdy Raider |
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Wright State University is a public research university located in Fairborn, Ohio, United States. It first opened in 1964 as a branch campus for two other universities. In 1967, it became its own independent university.
The university is named after the famous aviation pioneers, Orville and Wilbur Wright. They lived in nearby Dayton. Wright State offers many different degrees, including bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Its sports teams are called the Wright State Raiders. They compete in Division I college sports. The university also has another campus near Celina, Ohio, called Wright State University–Lake Campus.
Contents
History of Wright State University
How Wright State Began
Wright State University started in 1964. It was a small branch campus of Miami University and Ohio State University. At first, it only had one building. People in the area wanted a public university for higher education. So, they started working to create one in 1961.
In 1962, the community raised $3 million to help start the university. Much of the land for the campus was given by the United States Air Force. This land came from extra space at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Becoming an Independent University
In 1965, the state of Ohio passed a law to make the branch campus a separate school. On October 1, 1967, it officially became Wright State University. The name honors the Wright brothers, who invented the first successful airplane. They were well-known residents of Dayton.
In 1969, a branch campus opened near Grand Lake St. Marys in Celina, Ohio. This campus is known as the Lake Campus.
Recent Years at Wright State
Wright State University celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017. They had special events to mark this important milestone. In the same year, the university made its Dayton and Lake campuses completely tobacco-free.
In 2019, some of the university's teachers had a disagreement about their work contract. This led to a strike, which means they stopped working for a time. An agreement was reached the next month, and the teachers returned to work.
Susan Edwards became the university's president on January 1, 2020. She is one of several presidents who have led the university. The first female president of Wright State was Cheryl B. Schrader, who served from 2017 to 2019.
Political Events at Wright State
Wright State University has been a place for important political events.
Presidential Campaigns at Wright State
During the 2008 United States presidential election, Republican candidate John McCain announced his choice for vice president, Sarah Palin, at Wright State. The winner of that election, Barack Obama, also held a large rally at the university during his campaign.
In 2015, Wright State was chosen to host the first 2016 United States presidential debate. This debate was planned for September 26, 2016, at the Nutter Center. However, in July 2016, Wright State decided not to host the debate. They said they could not afford the high cost of security needed for such a big event.
Learning and Programs
Wright State University is approved by the Higher Learning Commission. This means it meets high standards for education. The university is organized into seven colleges and three schools.
Bachelor's Degree Programs
Wright State offers 106 different bachelor's degrees. These degrees are available through colleges like the Raj Soin College of Business and the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences. The Lake Campus also offers some bachelor's degrees and associate degrees.
Graduate Degree Programs
The university offers 136 graduate programs. These include master's and doctoral degrees. They are offered through the Wright State University Graduate School and other specialized schools.
Boonshoft School of Medicine
The Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine started in 1973. It is a medical school that trains future doctors. It also offers other health-related master's degrees. The school was named in 2005 to honor the Oscar Boonshoft family, who were major supporters.
Military Training Programs
Wright State University has programs for students interested in the military. These are called Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) and Army ROTC. Students in these programs learn leadership skills and prepare for careers as officers in the U.S. Air Force or Army.
Research in Computing (Kno.e.sis)
The Kno.e.sis center was created in 2007. It is a special center for research in computer science. Researchers here study topics like the Semantic Web, Machine Learning, and Data Mining. They also work on Bioinformatics and Cloud Computing.
The center has many researchers, including professors and graduate students. They have helped develop important technical guidelines for the World Wide Web.
Arts and Creativity (CELIA)
In 2009, Wright State's Art, Music, and Theatre departments started a new program called CELIA. This stands for Collaboration, Education, Leadership, and Innovation in the Arts. CELIA helps students and faculty work together on creative projects.
One of their first projects was a documentary film called The Last Truck. In 2011, the Music and Theatre departments worked with the Dayton Philharmonic orchestra on a big musical show. In October 2011, CELIA was recognized as an Ohio Center of Excellence. The famous actor Tom Hanks even sent a video message to congratulate them!
Student Life and Activities
Fraternities and Sororities
Wright State University has several fraternities and sororities. These are social organizations that students can join.
Wright State Athletics
The Wright State Raiders are the sports teams at Wright State University. They play in fifteen different sports in NCAA Division I. They are part of the Horizon League. The school's mascot is Rowdy Raider, who is a wolf.
Underground Tunnel System
Wright State University has a system of underground tunnels. These tunnels connect 20 of the 22 buildings on campus. They were first built in 1964 for maintenance workers. However, students and staff also started using them. Because of these tunnels, Wright State is known for being very accessible for people using wheelchairs.
Notable People from Wright State
See also
In Spanish: Universidad Estatal Wright para niños
