Rogers State University

Last updated

Rogers State University
Rogers State University seal.svg
Former names
Eastern University Preparatory School (1909–1917)
Oklahoma Military Academy (1919–1971)
Claremore Junior College (1971–1982)
Rogers State College (1982–1996)
Rogers University (1996–1998)
MottoTradition Innovation Excellence
Type Public university
Established1909
AffiliationBoard of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
President Mark Rasor (Interim) [1]
Academic staff
196 [2]
Students4,300 [3]
Location
Claremore, Oklahoma
,
U.S.
CampusSuburban
Colors Navy and red [4]
   
Nickname Hillcats
Sporting affiliations
 NCAA Division II – The MIAA
MascotHunter the Hillcat
Website www.rsu.edu
Rogers State University logo.svg

Rogers State University (RSU) is a public university in Claremore, Oklahoma, United States. It also has branch campuses in Bartlesville and Pryor Creek.

Contents

History

A statue of a soldier dating from RSU's time as Oklahoma Military Academy overlooks Claremore from the school's entrance. RSUsoldierstatue.JPG
A statue of a soldier dating from RSU's time as Oklahoma Military Academy overlooks Claremore from the school's entrance.

The institution that is now RSU has gone through several stages, from its foundation as a state-sponsored preparatory school to its transition to a military academy, and finally to its current incarnation as a four-year regional university.

It has its roots in the Eastern University Preparatory School, which was founded in 1909. During the construction of the famous "Preparatory Hall", Eastern University Preparatory School held its classes in the old Claremont building until 1911. The institution was closed in 1917.

In 1919 it was restarted as the Oklahoma Military Academy (OMA), to meet the growing educational and training needs of the United States armed forces. In 1923 it became a six-year program, providing a high school and junior college education. The school received an Army ROTC Honor School rating in 1932, and the junior college division became fully accredited in 1950. Graduates of the program became second lieutenants in the United States Army Reserve; more than 2,500 OMA graduates served in the military, and more than 100 alumni died serving their country during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. [5] [6]

OMA's enrollment declined during the later 1960s, due in part to the unpopularity of the Vietnam War, [5] and in 1971, the Oklahoma Legislature replaced OMA with an institution to grant two-year associate degrees to the public known as Claremore Junior College. In 1982, it became Rogers State College, named after Rogers County where the main campus is located; [7] the county in turn is named in honor of Clement Vann Rogers, not Clem's son, Will Rogers. [8] [9] In 1996, Rogers State College and the University Center at Tulsa (UCAT)–an extension center operated by the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Northeastern State University and Langston University–merged to form Rogers University, with campuses in Claremore and Tulsa. The merged school operated for two years before being separated by the state Legislature. The Tulsa campus–the former University Center–became Oklahoma State University–Tulsa. The Claremore campus–the former Rogers State College–became a member of the OU Board of Regents and was renamed Rogers State University. RSU was given permission to seek accreditation as a four-year, bachelor's-degree-granting university. In 2000, RSU became the institution it is today, a public four-year, residential university.

On August 16, 2006, Rogers State's Stratton Taylor Library was named a Federal depository library, the 20th in the state of Oklahoma.

The university celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2009 with a series of special events, lectures and celebrations, culminating with the dedication of the Centennial Center building that serves as a student services center. In 2005, RSU acquired a historic nine-story building to serve as its campus in downtown Bartlesville and the facility is a major anchor in the downtown Bartlesville redevelopment. In 2014, RSU celebrated the opening of its new Pryor campus at the MidAmerica Industrial Park in Mayes County, Oklahoma. The $10 million construction project and 83-acre site were provided to the university by the Oklahoma Ordnance Works Authority, which operates the park as a public trust. The donation represents the largest gift in the university's history.

Academics

Stratton Taylor Library Rogersstate-strattontaylorlibrary.JPG
Stratton Taylor Library

RSU currently offers Master's degrees in 2 disciplines, bachelor's degrees in 22 disciplines, and associate degrees in 12 disciplines. In conjunction with Cameron University, RSU also offers a "2+2" program in Elementary Education, in which students can earn an associate degree in elementary education from RSU and then transition to the final two years of a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Cameron, with all classes taught at RSU's campus in Claremore. Three bachelor's degrees, in Applied Technology, Business Information Technology and Liberal Arts, and four associate degrees are available completely online.

Athletics

The Rogers State athletic teams are called the Hillcats. The university is a member of the NCAA Division II ranks, primarily competing in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) for most of its sports as an associate member since the 2019–20 academic year (before achieving full member status in 2022–23); while its men's soccer team competes in the Great American Conference (GAC). The Hillcats previously competed in the D-II Heartland Conference from 2013–14 to 2018–19; and in the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 2007–08 to 2012–13.

Rogers State competes in 14 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer and track & field (indoor and outdoor); women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball and track & field (indoor and outdoor).

Mascot

Their mascot, a fictional animal based on a bobcat and named for the hill that the school sits upon, was chosen in 2005 by a group of students. [10]

Athletic director

Wren Baker, current vice president and director of athletics for North Texas Mean Green, served as the first director of athletics at RSU. After his departure to Northwest Missouri State for a similar position Baker was replaced by Ryan Bradley, previously the associate athletic director for external relations. Bradley departed for the University of Memphis to work for Baker, then deputy athletic director for the Tigers.

In 2013, Ryan Erwin joined Rogers State as the director of athletics from Dallas Baptist University. On August 1, 2016, Erwin announced his resignation to accept the vice president and director of athletics position at East Texas Baptist University (NCAA D-III). [11] On November 18, 2016, President Dr. Larry Rice announced that Chris Ratcliff, director of athletics at the University of Arkansas - Monticello, would assume the role of director of athletics. [12]

Accomplishments

Media

A sculpture of George Washington is part of a collection of statues depicting U.S. Presidents on RSU's grounds. RSUGeogreWashingtonstatue.JPG
A sculpture of George Washington is part of a collection of statues depicting U.S. Presidents on RSU's grounds.

RSU's radio station, KRSC, is broadcast on 91.3 FM and over the Internet. It began in 1980 as a 10-watt station, and is now 3000 watts, reaching an audience of more than 1.2 million in northeastern Oklahoma. The station's programming consists mainly of indie rock and pop, with specialty rock, blues, punk and Native American music shows. KRSC also provides coverage of Hillcat basketball, baseball and softball. The station is staffed by students, faculty and area media personalities. KRSC broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The facilities are in Markham Hall.

RSU's television station, KRSU-TV 35, is the only full-powered public station licensed to a public university in the state. It broadcasts cultural and educational programming 24 hours a day. The station is also carried on local cable systems and is available on Cox Cable Channel 19 in Claremore and Tulsa. The station is home to many telecourses and interactive courses, part of RSU's distance-learning programs. It also produces in-house documentaries and regular programming. [15] It is operated by a paid staff, with assistance from RSU students. The station reaches an audience of 1.2 million in the northeastern Oklahoma and southeastern Kansas areas.

The independent student newspaper The Hillpost was originally established as a print newspaper in 2009 and re-established as an online news publication in 2020. It was produced in collaboration with the Claremore Daily Progress which allowed the student editors to print their newspaper for distribution on all three of Rogers State University's campuses and allowed for the newspaper to be inserted within regular issues of the Claremore Daily Progress. [16] [17]

Greek life

Rogers State University hosts two sororities: the Epsilon Delta chapter of Alpha Sigma Tau, initiated in November 2005, and the Theta Eta chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha.

In early 2023, the Oklahoma Epsilon chapter of Phi Delta Theta was inducted, marking the establishment of the first official fraternity at Rogers State University.

Although there were emerging chapters of Kappa Sigma and Tau Kappa Epsilon on campus, they are presently inactive.

Controversy

In 2003, then Rogers State University President Joe Wiley was sued by a former university employee. Former university controller Ryan Parris alleged he was terminated for not approving travel claims. [18] In the lawsuit, Parris claimed he was pressured to approve non-business travel as university expenses and refused to do so. Parris alleged that both Wiley and the university's vice president for business affairs attempted to coerce him. Parris later claimed that falsified documents were submitted. [19]

In 2004, a student club at Rogers State University encountered issues in organizing on campus. According to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, the Organization for Advocating the Rights of Students experienced "administrative restrictions" while attempting to organize and promote itself on campus. [20] Former RSU student and club member Renee Morse-Heenan established the club after observing what she called a "culture of fear" at the institution. [21] The student club was later officially recognized by the university and an administrator left from their position. [22]

Previously, Rogers State University operated an equine-assisted therapy program on its campus. In 2004, the university stated its intentions to begin a $2 million capital campaign to support the program. [23] That year, a local resident, Wanda Sanders, donated 20 acres to support the program and later gave an additional 40 acres four years later. [24] In a lawsuit filed in 2017, Sanders alleged that the land donations were not used to their donated intent and that university transferred the land to another organization in 2013. The land was then sold, again, to the university's foundation, a separate, tax-exempt organization. [25] The university later attempted to mediate the lawsuit in 2017. [26]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rogers County, Oklahoma</span> County in Oklahoma, United States

Rogers County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 95,240, making it the sixth-most populous county in Oklahoma. The county seat is Claremore. Rogers County is included in the Tulsa, OK metropolitan statistical area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claremore, Oklahoma</span> American city

Claremore is a city in and the county seat of Rogers County in Green Country, northeastern Oklahoma, United States. The population was 19,580 at the 2020 census, a 5.4 percent increase over the figure of 18,581 recorded in 2010. Located in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. It is home of Rogers State University and is part of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Langston University</span> Historically Black college in Langston, Oklahoma, US

Langston University (LU) is a public land-grant historically black university in Langston, Oklahoma. It is the only historically black college in the state and the westernmost four-year public HBCU in the United States. The main campus in Langston is a rural setting 10 miles (16 km) east of Guthrie. The university also serves an urban mission with centers in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. The university is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Oklahoma</span> Public university in Norman, Oklahoma, US

The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a public research university in Norman, Oklahoma, United States. Founded in 1890, it had existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two territories became the state of Oklahoma. In Fall 2023, the university had 32,676 students enrolled, most at its main campus in Norman. Employing nearly 4,000 faculty members, the university offers 174 baccalaureate programs, 199 master's programs, 101 doctoral programs, and 88 certificate programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heartland Conference</span> Defunct US collegiate athletic conference

The Heartland Conference was a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)'s Division II level, which was founded in 1999. The majority of members were in Texas, with additional members in Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. The conference office was located in Waco, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northeastern State University</span> Public university in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, US

Northeastern State University (NSU) is a public university with its main campus in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The university also has two other campuses in Muskogee and Broken Arrow as well as online. Northeastern is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of Oklahoma as well as one of the oldest institutions of higher learning west of the Mississippi River. Tahlequah is home to the capital of the Cherokee Nation and about 25 percent of the students at NSU identify themselves as American Indian. The university has many courses focused on Native American linguistics, and offers Cherokee language Education as a major. Cherokee can be studied as a second language, and some classes are taught in Cherokee for first language speakers as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Wesleyan University</span> Private university in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, US

Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OKWU) is a private university of the Wesleyan church in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, United States. OKWU offers over 30 undergraduate degrees to students at its Bartlesville campus, and it also offers six graduate degree programs as part of its online offerings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of St. Francis</span> Private university in Joliet, Illinois, U.S.

The University of St. Francis (USF) is a private Franciscan university with its main campus in Joliet, Illinois. It enrolls nearly 3,200 students at locations throughout the country with about 1,300 students at its main campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Houston–Victoria</span> Public university in Victoria, Texas, U.S.

The University of Houston–Victoria (UHV) is a public university in Victoria, Texas. It is part of the University of Houston System. Its campus spans 20 acres (8.1 ha) in Victoria with a satellite location in Katy, Texas. Founded in 1971, UHV has an enrollment of over 4,300 students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Gregory's University</span> Catholic university in Shawnee, Oklahoma, US

St. Gregory's University was a private Catholic university. It was one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It had its main campus in Shawnee and an additional campus in Tulsa. The university closed its operations at the end of the fall 2017 semester.

KRSU-TV is an educational independent television station in Claremore, Oklahoma, United States, serving the Tulsa area. Owned by Rogers State University, the station maintains studios on the university's campus on West Will Rogers Boulevard in Claremore, and its transmitter is located to the adjacent southeast of Oologah Lake in northern Rogers County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tulsa metropolitan area</span> Metropolitan area in northeastern Oklahoma

The Tulsa metropolitan area, officially defined as the Tulsa metropolitan statistical area is a metropolis in northeastern Oklahoma centered around the city of Tulsa and encompassing Tulsa, Rogers, Wagoner, Osage, Creek, Okmulgee and Pawnee counties. It had a population of 1,044,757 according to the 2023 U.S. census estimates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Oklahoma College</span> Community college in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, US

Northern Oklahoma College (NOC) is a public community college in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, with additional campuses located in Enid, Oklahoma and Stillwater, Oklahoma. Student enrollment is approximately 2,700. NOC bought the former Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma, in 1999 and it became the NOC Enid campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rogers State Hillcats</span> Athletic teams representing Rogers State University

The Rogers State Hillcats are the athletic teams that represent Rogers State University in Claremore, Oklahoma, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the NCAA Division II ranks, primarily competing in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) for most of its sports as an associate member since the 2019–20 academic year ; while its men's soccer team competes in the Great American Conference (GAC). The Hillcats previously competed in the D-II Heartland Conference from 2013–14 to 2018–19; and in the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 2007–08 to 2012–13.

KRSC-FM is a student-run college radio station at Rogers State University licensed to Claremore, Oklahoma serving the Tulsa, Oklahoma, area. It broadcasts 24 hours a day at 2200 watts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Oklahoma Bronchos</span> Athletic teams representing University of Central Oklahoma

The Central Oklahoma Bronchos, are the intercollegiate athletic teams representing University of Central Oklahoma, located in Edmond, Oklahoma. The five men's and nine women's varsity teams are called the "Bronchos". The school's identification as Bronchos dates back to 1922, when the wife of football coach Charles W. Wantland suggested it for the school's mascot. The official colors of the teams are bronze and blue, which the institution adopted in 1895. The Bronchos compete in the NCAA's Division II and in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association in all sports except women's rowing, which competes in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Bronchos have won 22 national championships, with the most recent coming in 2024 as the wrestling program won the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships. The university's current athletic director is Stan Wagnon, who has served in the position since 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carolyn Thompson Taylor</span> American politician

Carolyn Thompson Taylor is an American academic and politician who served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1984 to 1992. Before running for office, Taylor taught AP government at Norman High School from 1979 to 1984. While in the House, she was chair of the Education Committee and Appropriations Sub-Committee on Education. She was a principal author of numerous landmark education bills involving both higher education and public schools. She also authored legislation concerning health care for children and family leave. While in office she was an adjunct professor at Oklahoma Baptist University and the University of Oklahoma. After leaving office, Taylor was vice president of academic affairs at the University Center of Tulsa and later a distinguished professor of political science at Rogers State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amy Williams (basketball)</span> American basketball coach

Amy Michelle Williams is the current head coach of the Nebraska women's basketball team. She was previously the head coach at the University of South Dakota, and led the Coyotes to the 2016 WNIT championship.

Eva Silva Madarang is a footballer who plays as a right back. Born in the United States, she represents the Philippines at international level.

Austin Wormell is an American soccer player who currently plays for Las Vegas Lights in the USL Championship.

References

  1. ↑ "Mark Rasor Named Interim President of Rogers State University". Rogers State University. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  2. ↑ "Rogers State University Faculty & List". Rogers State University. Archived from the original on March 9, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2008.
  3. ↑ RSU Fact Book 2013
  4. ↑ "Logo Samples & Usage - Rogers State University". September 30, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  5. 1 2 Paul B. Hatley, "Oklahoma Military Academy" Archived October 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine at Oklahoma Historical Society Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Archived January 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine (accessed October 18, 2010).
  6. ↑ Manny Gamallo, "Oklahoma Military Academy reunion set", Tulsa World , May 16, 2010.
  7. ↑ "History of Rogers State University". Rogers State University. Archived from the original on March 15, 2008. Retrieved April 2, 2008.
  8. ↑ "Clem Rogers". Will Rogers Memorial Museums. Archived from the original on May 20, 2007. Retrieved January 10, 2008.
  9. ↑ "RSU and Will Rogers Museum to Discuss Possible Merger". Rogers State University. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved April 2, 2008.
  10. ↑ "Hillcat". Rogers State University. Archived from the original on October 13, 2008.
  11. ↑ "Erwin Accepts Athletics Position at East Texas Baptist University". Rogers State University. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  12. ↑ "RSU Names Chris Ratcliff as New Director of Athletics". Rogers State University. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  13. ↑ "NAIA Softball Rating No. 2 :: Cal Baptist Hangs on to No. 1 With 12 First-Place Votes". National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved April 2, 2008.
  14. ↑ "Rogers State (Okla.) Becomes Sixth New No. 1 Team in 2008-09 Division I MBB Coaches' Top 25 Poll". National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  15. ↑ "RSU Public Television - Programming Spotlight". RSU Public Television. Archived from the original on December 10, 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2009.
  16. ↑ Tulsa World. "Learning from Scratch: A Print Newspaper Debuts".
  17. ↑ Rogers State University. "RSU Announces New Student Newspaper".
  18. ↑ "Former RSU controller files suit over his firing | Archive | tulsaworld.com".
  19. ↑ "Rogers State ex-official files lawsuit over firing".
  20. ↑ "Rogers State University: First Amendment Violations".
  21. ↑ "Student whistleblower keeps testing limits".
  22. ↑ "RSU official gone after student rights controversy".
  23. ↑ "RSU Launches Equestrian Center, Bit by Bit Fundraising Campaign". January 27, 2004.
  24. ↑ "Nonprofit charges fraud in sale of donated land".
  25. ↑ "Nonprofit accuses Rogers State University Foundation of fraud".
  26. ↑ "Mediation set for Bit by Bit Riding Center lawsuit".

36°19′09″N95°38′21″W / 36.31917°N 95.63917°W / 36.31917; -95.63917

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.