Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia : B : BL : BLO : Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, commonly referred to as Bloomsburg, Bloom, or BU, is an public university located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. It is one of the 14 state universities that compose the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE).
Bloomsburg University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACS).
History
The initial institution of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1839 as the Bloomsburg Literary Institute for the purpose of educating teachers. Founder C.P. Waller sold stock to raise the $15,000 needed for Institution Hall, now named Carver Hall. In 1866, Principal Henry Carver negotiated the purchase of the seven acres (28,000 m²) that lie directly behind the building that now bears his name in order to construct a dormitory and a teaching building.Eleven years later, the dormitory caught fire and burned to the ground within two hours. There were no injuries or deaths, but the residents lost all their possessions. Plans for reconstruction moved quickly and, within a year and a half, the dormitory, now called Waller Administration, was rebuilt. The physical growth of the campus in the later 19th century was unplanned, as buildings were put up to accommodate the growing student body's needs.
Approximately 50 years after Carver's planning, the state of Pennsylvania purchased the school and renamed it The Bloomsburg State Normal School. Even through World War I, the school continued to grow, despite losing about 20 students to the war (who are commemorated by a memorial). A planning group continued purchasing land, constructing classroom buildings and dormitories, and increasing student enrollment until the occurrence of World War II.
In the 1950s, the school assumed a new name, Bloomsburg State Teacher's College, and the planning group hoped to increase the student enrollment by 75%, from 1,200 to 2,000 by 1965. Carver Hall was renovated and the group decided to knock down all buildings east of the historic building to separate the school into three separate areas: living, learning and leisure. This is still the rough layout of the institution today.
By the 1970s, it was realized that the planning for the school had been far too conservative, as 4,800 students were expected by 1970 and 6,000 by 1975. This realization led to the construction of 17 new buildings between 1964 and 1976. They included six dormitories, two classroom buildings, two buildings for administrative use, the auditorium, library, commons, student union, and the parking garage. The school also moved all of its athletic fields to the upper half of the campus. The appearance of Bloomsburg State Teacher's College was now completely different from what it had been fifteen years earlier.
The rate of growth slowed somewhat in the 1980s, but the school was renamed Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in 1983. In 1989, the university began construction on its upper-campus to provide more university-regulated housing. The Community Government Association (CGA) recently purchased more land, upon which the Honeysuckle Apartments student housing complex was built. Honeysuckle opened to residents in August 2005.
Additionally, the school added the new Andruss Library in 1998. The campus now encompasses 282 acres (1.1 km²) and more than 50 buildings.
Most recently, the university received a huge technological upgrade, with renovations to both Centennial Hall, which houses the Anthropology and Audiology & Speech Pathology programs, and Monty's, an upper-campus eatery. An addition to the Hartline Science Center was completed and dedicated during the fall 2005 semester; the size of the building was more than doubled by the addition, which included laboratories, classroom space, and office space.
The school has also added wireless internet access facilities to all of its academic buildings.
Programs
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is most academically noted for its education programs, such as Elementary & Secondary Education and Audiology & Speech Pathology. As of 2004, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania offers 58 undergraduate programs and 16 graduate programs and a doctorate in audiology program, described in the university's academic catalog[link].Faculty
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania currently employs approximately 400 professors, roughly 85% of whom hold Ph.D. degrees. Likewise, classes are never taught by graduate students. The student-to-faculty ratio is roughly 18 to 1.Students
There are roughly 8,000 students enrolled at the university, which represents a more than 100% increase over the past 20 years. A majority of the students live off-campus within the town limits, with a similar number of students who commute. The students are comprised of about 85% Caucasian and 15% of other origins. The ratio of women to men is 60:40.Academically, students are slightly above average, with median SAT scores of 1070. Most incoming freshman are within the upper 25% of their graduating high school class.
The annual average tuition for a student at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in 2004 was about $10,000. Approximately 70% of the students receive at least some form of financial aid.
Extracurriculars
There are more than 20 sororities and fraternities, of which about 10% of the student population participate. The school also hosts several political clubs, including College Republicans, University Democrats, Democracy Matters and the Political Science Organization.Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania has an extensive sports program which features three-peat NCAA Division II Champions from the field hockey team, as well as 2001's NCAA Division II runner-up in football.
The student newspaper, BU Voice and college radio station, WBUQ (91.1 FM) serve the campus's media needs.
Alumni
Prominent alumni of Bloomsburg University include:- Chuck Daly – NBA coach, and head coach of the first USA Dream Team.
- Tim Holden – U.S. Representative for the 17th District of Pennsylvania (1993-current).
- Mark S. Schweiker – Former governor of Pennsylvania (2001-03).
- Irvin Sigler – Winner of the 1997 Harlon Hill Trophy (NCAA Division II).
External links
- [Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania official website]
- [History of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania]
- [Bloomsburg Through the Years] (edited by Marguerite W. Kehr, August 1951)
- [About Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania]
- [Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Admissions]
- [Today @ Bloomsburg]
- [Bloomsburg The Unofficial Web Site]
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