Salem State University

Salem State University
Former names
 Salem Normal School, Salem Teachers College, Salem State College
Type Public
Established 1854
Endowment $18,203,193 (2014)[1]
President Patricia Maguire Meservey
Provost David J. Silva
Academic staff
 756 (full- and part-time)
Undergraduates 7,664 (5,894 full time)
Postgraduates 1,637 (343 full time)[2]
Location Salem, Mass., USA
42°30′11″N 70°53′34″W / 42.503113°N 70.892643°W / 42.503113; -70.892643Coordinates: 42°30′11″N 70°53′34″W / 42.503113°N 70.892643°W / 42.503113; -70.892643
Campus suburban, 115 acres
First-time degree seeking freshman 1,226
Colors Blue and Orange          
Nickname Vikings
Website www.salemstate.edu

Salem State University is a four-year public University located in Salem, Massachusetts. Salem State University, established in 1854 as Salem Normal School, is located approximately fifteen miles north of Boston, Massachusetts. Salem State enrolls under 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 27 states and 57 foreign countries. In 1932 the institution was renamed Salem Teachers College, and from 1968 to 2010 it was known as Salem State College. As of 2013, Salem State enrolled 7,664 undergraduate and 1,637 graduate, full- and part-time students. The university offers Bachelor and Masters Degrees in the Arts and Sciences, Masters of Business Administration, and Post Masters Certificates in more than 40 academic disciplines. In addition, the university also offers Continuing Education courses for credit and non-credit.

History

Salem State University was founded in 1854 as the Salem Normal School under the guidance of Horace Mann. The Salem Normal School holds the distinction of being the fourth normal school to open in Massachusetts, and only the tenth to open in the United States. Initially, the school was a two-year, post-secondary educational institution reserved for women. In 1892 the school became co-educational by enrolling its first group of male students that September.

In 1896 the school relocated to its current location in south Salem (to the building known today as the Sullivan Building). A few years later the Horace Mann Laboratory School was opened. With the construction of a more formal campus, the school was able to lengthen its curriculum to a four-year study program in 1921; allowing the institution to offer bachelor's degrees. The first bachelor's degree programs to be offered were in the fields of education, English, history and mathematics. In 1932, the school was renamed Salem Teachers College.

In 1960 the school was renamed State College at Salem, and shortly thereafter in 1968 the school was renamed to Salem State College. Under the leadership of President Frederick Meier, the physical campus developed quite rapidly during the 1960s with the construction of new academic buildings, the institution’s first residence halls and a student union. Throughout the 1970s the school continued to expand its physical campus by constructing a new library, the O’Keefe Athletic Center, and by purchasing the land for what is today known as south campus.

In the mid-1990s, under the leadership of President Nancy Harrington, the college moved forward with purchasing a 37.5 acre industrial site on Loring Avenue. That site, which is today known as central campus, houses the Bertolon School of Business and two residence complexes among many other prominent facilities at the university.

By the late-1990s, the college began moving forward in gaining the accreditation necessary to become a university. On July 26, 2010 Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed into law a bill that changed the name of institution to Salem State University. The name change became official on October 26, 2010. Currently, the university is in the process of constructing a new library and learning commons to be named in honor of State Senator Frederick E. Berry as well as a new fitness center at the O’Keefe Center.

Campus upgrades

Campus

Edward Sullivan Building at intersection of Lafayette Street and Loring Avenue.

Salem State University is divided into five unique campuses totaling a land-mass of 115 acres with approximately thirty-three buildings.[2] The main campus (north campus) is located about a mile south of downtown Salem at the intersection of Lafayette Street and Loring Avenue. Within short walking distance from north campus is central campus, south campus, and the Richard O'Keefe Athletic Center. The university also operates a maritime facility at Cat Cove on the Salem harbor; located a mile north of the main campus.

North Campus

North campus is the largest of the five campuses. The majority of the university's arts and science programs are housed within the two academic buildings on north campus; the Edward Sullivan Building and Frederick Meier Hall. A focal point of north campus is the George H. Ellison Campus Center which houses the career and counseling centers as well as a number of student organizations.[11] Freshman resident students are housed on north campus in two identical freshman residence halls. Other facilities on north campus include the university's main dining complex, the Mainstage Auditorium, the Horace Mann Laboratory School. In September 2013 the $74 million, 122,000-square-foot library is going to open on the Salem State University campus.[6] The new library will have more than 150 public computers and 1,000 seats of study space, from tables and desks to lounge chairs scattered throughout the building. Adjacent to the Library is the “James L. McKeown ’77 Memorial Plaza,” dedicated to the late “Jamie” McKeown, a magna cum laude graduate of Salem State University and former president of Cummings Properties.[12]

Central Campus

Central campus is the second largest of the five campuses. The Bertolon School of Business, the music department, and the communications department are all housed in the one academic building on central campus; the Classroom Building. Sophomore, junior and senior resident students are housed on central campus in two newly constructed residence halls. A focal point of central campus is the university's Enterprise Center (small business center). Other facilities on central campus included the campus bookstore, the admissions center, the recital hall, and the university's new baseball field and tennis courts.

South Campus

South campus houses the university's College of Health and Human Services. The School of Nursing, the School of Social Work, and the criminal justice department are housed in the two academic buildings on south campus; the Kevin B. Harrington Building and the Academic Building. Junior and senior resident students are housed on south campus in the Bates Residence Complex. Other facilities on south campus included the Alumni House and the Center for International Education.

Richard O'Keefe Athletic Center

The O'Keefe Center houses the university's athletic department. Facilities include Twohig Gymnasium, Rocket Ice Arena, Alumni Field, the wellness center and two swimming pools. The university is in the process of constructing a 40,000 square foot addition to the O'Keefe Center; new facilities will include a new gymnasium and wellness center. Construction is schedule for completion in September 2013.

Cat Cove Maritime Facility

Salem State operates a maritime facility at Cat Cove on the Salem harbor. The facility is used to provide interactive, hands-on educational experience for students majoring in marine biology. In the past, Cat Cove has been used to study local shellfish.

Athletics

Salem State University athletic teams participate as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division III. The Vikings are a member of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC).

Men's Athletics

  • baseball
  • basketball
  • cross country
  • golf
  • ice hockey
  • lacrosse
  • soccer
  • tennis

Women's Athletics

  • basketball
  • cross country
  • field hockey
  • ice hockey
  • lacrosse
  • soccer
  • softball
  • tennis
  • volleyball

Student life

Students have an opportunity to participate in more than sixty student organizations encompassing a range of different interests and topics. Student organizations are divided into distinct categories: academic affiliated groups, interest groups, performance groups, programming oriented groups, religiously affiliated groups, social and cultural groups, student governing groups, and student media groups. Student organizations are financially supported through a mandatory student fee of $30.00 per semester overseen by the Student Government Association, Inc. Undergraduate students are elected to the Student Government Association for one-year terms through an election process during the spring semester. The majority of student organizations are housed in the George H. Ellison Campus Center on north campus.

Academic affiliated groups

Accounting Association; American Advertising Federation; American Marketing Association; Biological Society; Chemistry Society; Computer Programming Club; Criminal Justice Academy; Earth Science Association; Economics Club; English Society; Finance Association; French Club; Future Educators of America; Historical Association; Honors Program Advisory Council; International Business Club; Italian Club; Philosophy Club; Political Science Academy; Pre-Law Society; Public Relations Student Society of American; Salem Geographical Society; Sociological Society; Student Action Resource Team; Spanish Club; Sport and Movement Science Club; Student Nurses Association

Greek Life

ΦΣΣ-Phi Sigma Sigma sorority; ΘΦΑ-Theta Phi Alpha sorority; ΣΑΕ-Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity; ΑΣΦ-Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity

Interest groups

College Democrats of Salem State University; Fitness and Nutrition Club; Grandma's Third Leg; Intercultural Leadership Program; Juggling Club; MassPIRG; Sci-Fi Fantasy Club; Students of Salem for Peace, College Republicans of Salem State University

Performance groups

Salem State SSockapella, Music Society; Repertory Dance Theater; Student Theater Ensemble; Urban Arts Theater

Programming oriented groups

Amnesty International; Campus Educators on Sexual Assault; Chess Club; Community Service Club; Game Club; Program Council; Scuba Club; Student Commuter Association; Ultimate Frisbee Team; Student Veteran Organization, Rugby Football Club

Religiously affiliated groups

Campus Hope; Catholic Student Community; Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru); Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life

Social and cultural groups

African Student Union; Asian Students Association; Florence Luscomb Women's Center; Hispanic-American Society; International Students Association; Multicultural Student Association; The Alliance

Student governing groups

Residence Hall Association; Student Government Association

Student media groups

The Log – student newspaper; WMWM 91.7 – student radio station; Red Skies – online literary magazine

Operations

The university is led by an eleven-member board of trustees. The governor appoints nine trustees to five-year terms, renewable once. The Alumni Association elects one trustee for a single five-year term and the student body elects one student trustee for a one-year term.[13]

The university's annual operating budget for fiscal year 2010 was approximately $130 million; 40% of this coming from state appropriations. The Salem State University Foundation's endowment market value is in excess of $16 million at the end of fiscal year 2010.[2] The university has an important economic impact on the city of Salem, being its second largest employer. The college generated more than $376 million in economic spending in Massachusetts in fiscal year 2006. Salem State University creates jobs for 3,459 Massachusetts residents, including 593 in Salem and 1,978 throughout Essex County.[2]

Speaker series

The Salem State University Speaker Series was established in 1982 as one of the first high profile speaker series in the country. Former President of the United States, Gerald Ford was invited to speak at the university as the series' first guest. Since the conception of the Speaker Series, the university has hosted renowned leaders, activists and celebrities to share their stories with Salem residents and the surrounding North Shore community. Recent past speakers have included former Presidents of the United States, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush; Congressman John F. Tierney; television host and comedian, Jay Leno; head coach of the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick; quarterback of the New England Patriots, Tom Brady; baseball legend, Cal Ripken Jr.; award-winning actor and director, Robert Redford; and poet, Maya Angelou.

Notable alumni

Creative and performing arts

Education

Government and politics

Sports

Other

References

  1. ↑ "Salem State University". U.S. News & World Report.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Facts & Figures". Retrieved 2010-01-10.
  3. ↑ "Salem State University: Construction on New Residence Hall Begins". Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  4. ↑ "New Dorm Coming to Salem State University". Salem, Massachusetts Patch. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "New dorm on tap at SSU". Salem News. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Coming soon: SSU's new library". Salem News. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  7. ↑ "Salem State University: Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies". Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "Salem State Awarded Grant for Holocaust and Genocide Studies". The Jewish Journal. Retrieved 2016-10-28.
  9. ↑ "Salem State University: In the News". Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  10. ↑ "College to build parking garage". Salem News. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  11. ↑ "Campus Center". Retrieved 2010-01-10.
  12. ↑ "Salem State University: James L. McKeown Memorial Plaza dedicated to 1977 alumnus". www.salemstate.edu. Retrieved 2016-10-28.
  13. ↑ "Board of Trustees". Retrieved 2010-01-10.
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