Cameron University
Encyclopedia
Cameron University is a four-year, state-funded university
located in Lawton
, Oklahoma
, that offers more than 50 degrees through two-year, four-year and graduate programs. The degree programs emphasize the liberal arts, science and technology and graduate and professional studies. Cameron is the only Oklahoma university which offers associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs at one site.
Cameron added junior college work in 1927 when local higher education needs exceeded what was available in Southwest Oklahoma. With this changed function came a new name — Cameron State Agricultural College. High school courses were dropped and Cameron became solely a junior college in 1941 when the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education
was formed and joined the group of institutions governed by the Board of Regents of Oklahoma A&M Colleges.
Baccalaureate degrees were authorized in 1966 by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, following action by the Legislature. The institution’s name was shortened to Cameron College in 1971, then changed to Cameron University in 1974. As the 1970s continued, Cameron demonstrated its dedication to expanded academic offerings through the construction of a fine arts facility designed to serve students in theatre, music, broadcasting and speech communication.
Dr. Donald J. Owen served as Cameron's President from 1969-1980. A Cameron graduate himself, Owen worked to build academic programs and develop relationships with the Lawton community, as well as the Oklahoma State University system, under which CU fell during his tenure. Cameron's sports teams, particularly football and basketball, excelled during that time, and a new President's home was constructed on Gore Blvd west of the campus.
In 1988, State Regents expanded Cameron’s functions to include offerings at the master's degree level. This change in function was the first granted to an Oklahoma institution since Cameron was given the authority to offer bachelor's degrees more than 20 years earlier. In the 1990s Cameron University came under the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma.
Don Davis was President of Cameron University from 1980 to 2002. His father, Clarence L. Davis was President of Cameron from 1957-1960. As a child, Davis lived in the President's house on campus with his mother, father and sister. Where this house once stood now stands a state of the art science center. As a former legislator from Lawton, Davis was able to secure funding for Cameron that allowed it to grow into the premier institute for higher education in southwestern Oklahoma. Also During Davis' tenure a classical radio station, KCCU 89.3, was founded. Numerous renowned scholars, including Richard Leakey
, Cornel West
, and James Burke
have spoken at Cameron's annual Academic Festival.
In May 2004, Cameron took over the Duncan Higher Education Center in Duncan, Oklahoma and renamed it Cameron University - Duncan.
In June 2005 the State Regents approved the first Masters of Science in Entrepreneurial Studies in the state and the first graduate certificate program in the state. The Entrepreneurial Studies program was rated by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the top 10 limited curriculum programs in the nation. In 2006 the Masters of Science in Entrepreneurial Studies program was the first runner-up behind the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill for the Model graduate program in Entrepreneurship by the U.S. Association for Small Business & Entrepreneurship. In 2008 the program was named the model graduate program in entrepreneurship with the Small Business Institute international program. At the core of the program is the SBI model and the academic research process. Program is headed by Dr. Shawn M. Carraher [Endowed Chair, Professor of Business (Management & Global Entrepreneurship) native American, and Director of the academic portions of the Center for Emerging Technology & Entrepreneurial Studies] whose research focuses on international strategic issues in entrepreneurial healthcare and hospitality organizations. Over 300 student outreach projects have been completed and over 100 academic presentations coauthored by students.
A wide range of organizations and interest groups are located on campus, including departmental, minority, professional, political and religious organizations, and various honorary and recognition societies. Students can also become involved in student government, choral groups, a jazz ensemble, theater, or Greek life.
of the NCAA’s Division II.
In 1987, Cameron defeated Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 30-2 to win the NAIA
Division I Football National Championship. Cameron had previously won a national championship as a junior college as well, but the university discontinued football in 1993 due to the costs of maintaining the program, particularly the need to replace the artificial turf at the stadium, even though the stadium plays host to local high school football still today. Cameron has also won NAIA national championships in men's basketball (1980) and men's golf (1983).
As part of the Centennial Observance, Cameron launched an ambitious $8,500,000 Changing Lives Campaign, the first comprehensive campaign in Cameron's history. Campaign goals include:
Cameron increased the goal to $10,000,000 with a Dig Deeper Challenge to meet the goals for the Student Activities Complex, a state-of-the-art student center, and the Centennial Gardens, a beautiful place to study, relax, play and interact.
2 years into the 3-year campaign, over $9 million had been raised. At the completion of the campaign over $11 million was raised with endowed faculty positions surpassing its goal of $650K by more than 100% even though the money does not support actual faculty positions.
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
located in Lawton
Lawton, Oklahoma
The city of Lawton is the county seat of Comanche County, in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Located in the southwestern region of Oklahoma approximately southwest of Oklahoma City, it is the principal city of the Lawton Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, that offers more than 50 degrees through two-year, four-year and graduate programs. The degree programs emphasize the liberal arts, science and technology and graduate and professional studies. Cameron is the only Oklahoma university which offers associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs at one site.
History
Oklahoma Legislature created six agricultural high schools in each judicial district just a year after statehood in 1908. Lawton was chosen to receive a high school over Anadarko in April, 1909, due to their having already set aside a portion of land for a higher educational institution. The University Improvement Association, under the auspices of the Lawton Chamber of Commerce, organized the effort to acquire 220 acre (0.8903092 km²) of land two miles west of the town. Its original goal was to secure a private Baptist college. Arrangements with the Baptists fell through in the summer of 1908. The Catholic Church approached the Association with an offer to form an all-male institution on the site. This plan was not acceptable to the town leaders. Cameron State School of Agriculture was named for the Rev. E. D. Cameron, a Baptist minister and Oklahoma’s first State Superintendent of Schools. The first classes were held on Statehood Day, November 16, 1909, in the basement of a bank building while a new campus building was constructed.Cameron added junior college work in 1927 when local higher education needs exceeded what was available in Southwest Oklahoma. With this changed function came a new name — Cameron State Agricultural College. High school courses were dropped and Cameron became solely a junior college in 1941 when the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education
Oklahoma State System of Higher Education
The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education is the state’s legal structure for providing public education at the collegiate level. It is a coordinated system of colleges and universities located throughout the state.-State System Overview:...
was formed and joined the group of institutions governed by the Board of Regents of Oklahoma A&M Colleges.
Baccalaureate degrees were authorized in 1966 by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, following action by the Legislature. The institution’s name was shortened to Cameron College in 1971, then changed to Cameron University in 1974. As the 1970s continued, Cameron demonstrated its dedication to expanded academic offerings through the construction of a fine arts facility designed to serve students in theatre, music, broadcasting and speech communication.
Dr. Donald J. Owen served as Cameron's President from 1969-1980. A Cameron graduate himself, Owen worked to build academic programs and develop relationships with the Lawton community, as well as the Oklahoma State University system, under which CU fell during his tenure. Cameron's sports teams, particularly football and basketball, excelled during that time, and a new President's home was constructed on Gore Blvd west of the campus.
In 1988, State Regents expanded Cameron’s functions to include offerings at the master's degree level. This change in function was the first granted to an Oklahoma institution since Cameron was given the authority to offer bachelor's degrees more than 20 years earlier. In the 1990s Cameron University came under the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma.
Don Davis was President of Cameron University from 1980 to 2002. His father, Clarence L. Davis was President of Cameron from 1957-1960. As a child, Davis lived in the President's house on campus with his mother, father and sister. Where this house once stood now stands a state of the art science center. As a former legislator from Lawton, Davis was able to secure funding for Cameron that allowed it to grow into the premier institute for higher education in southwestern Oklahoma. Also During Davis' tenure a classical radio station, KCCU 89.3, was founded. Numerous renowned scholars, including Richard Leakey
Richard Leakey
Richard Erskine Frere Leakey is a politician, paleoanthropologist and conservationist. He is second of the three sons of the archaeologists Louis Leakey and Mary Leakey, and is the younger brother of Colin Leakey...
, Cornel West
Cornel West
Cornel Ronald West is an American philosopher, author, critic, actor, civil rights activist and prominent member of the Democratic Socialists of America....
, and James Burke
James Burke
- Politics :*James F. Burke , United States Representative from Pennsylvania*Séamus Burke , Irish politician and Minister for Local Government 1923 to 1927 in the Government of the 4th Dáil...
have spoken at Cameron's annual Academic Festival.
In May 2004, Cameron took over the Duncan Higher Education Center in Duncan, Oklahoma and renamed it Cameron University - Duncan.
In June 2005 the State Regents approved the first Masters of Science in Entrepreneurial Studies in the state and the first graduate certificate program in the state. The Entrepreneurial Studies program was rated by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the top 10 limited curriculum programs in the nation. In 2006 the Masters of Science in Entrepreneurial Studies program was the first runner-up behind the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill for the Model graduate program in Entrepreneurship by the U.S. Association for Small Business & Entrepreneurship. In 2008 the program was named the model graduate program in entrepreneurship with the Small Business Institute international program. At the core of the program is the SBI model and the academic research process. Program is headed by Dr. Shawn M. Carraher [Endowed Chair, Professor of Business (Management & Global Entrepreneurship) native American, and Director of the academic portions of the Center for Emerging Technology & Entrepreneurial Studies] whose research focuses on international strategic issues in entrepreneurial healthcare and hospitality organizations. Over 300 student outreach projects have been completed and over 100 academic presentations coauthored by students.
Campus life
Most courses are offered weekdays and evenings. Cameron utilizes television, the Internet, and a statewide fiber-optics network to deliver classes around the world. Students may participate in independent study, cooperative education, pre-professional studies, teacher certification, and the Army ROTC program. In addition, Cameron offers an honors program, early admission, advanced standing, and college-level examination programs although 58% of entering students require remedial work with median ACT scores at the 9th percentile. Entry into the honors program requires that one be average based upon national standards.A wide range of organizations and interest groups are located on campus, including departmental, minority, professional, political and religious organizations, and various honorary and recognition societies. Students can also become involved in student government, choral groups, a jazz ensemble, theater, or Greek life.
Athletics
Intercollegiate sports play an important role in Cameron’s campus life. University men play basketball coached by Wade Alexander, baseball coached by Todd Holland, golf coached by Jerry Hrnciar, cross country coached by Matt Aguero, and tennis coached by James Helvey, while Cameron women participate in basketball coached by Tom Webb, volleyball coached by Doug Tabbert, softball coached by Beth Watson, golf coached by Rick Goodwin, cheerleading coached by Korie Brox and Brooke Wojcik, and tennis coached by James Helvey. The athletic department is run by Jim Jackson the Athletic Director and Kim Vinson the Associate Athletic Director. Sports imformation is run by Jacob Russell the Sports Imformation Director. Cameron competes in the Lone Star ConferenceLone Star Conference
The Lone Star Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II. Member institutions are located in the southwestern United States, with schools in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico...
of the NCAA’s Division II.
In 1987, Cameron defeated Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 30-2 to win the NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
Division I Football National Championship. Cameron had previously won a national championship as a junior college as well, but the university discontinued football in 1993 due to the costs of maintaining the program, particularly the need to replace the artificial turf at the stadium, even though the stadium plays host to local high school football still today. Cameron has also won NAIA national championships in men's basketball (1980) and men's golf (1983).
Centennial Campaign
Cameron celebrated its 100th birthday in 2008-09 with an observance entitled Cameron University: Changing Lives for 100 Years, 1908-2008.As part of the Centennial Observance, Cameron launched an ambitious $8,500,000 Changing Lives Campaign, the first comprehensive campaign in Cameron's history. Campaign goals include:
| Student Activities Complex | $6,500,000 |
| Centennial Gardens | $500,000 |
| Endowed Faculty Positions | $650,000 |
| Student Scholarships | $600,000 |
| University Advancement | $250,000 |
Cameron increased the goal to $10,000,000 with a Dig Deeper Challenge to meet the goals for the Student Activities Complex, a state-of-the-art student center, and the Centennial Gardens, a beautiful place to study, relax, play and interact.
2 years into the 3-year campaign, over $9 million had been raised. At the completion of the campaign over $11 million was raised with endowed faculty positions surpassing its goal of $650K by more than 100% even though the money does not support actual faculty positions.
Notable alumni
- Jason ChristiansenJason ChristiansenJason Samuel Christiansen is a former Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher. He is an alumnus of Cameron University....
- Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher - John BrandesJohn BrandesJohn Wesley Brandes is a former American football tight end and long snapper in the National Football League for the Indianapolis Colts, Washington Redskins, New York Giants, and the San Francisco 49ers. He played college football at Cameron University....
— former National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
special teams player - Mark CotneyMark CotneyMark Cotney , is a former professional American football player who played in 10 NFL seasons from 1975-1984 for the Houston Oilers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Selected by the Buccaneers in the 1976 NFL Expansion Draft, he was a member of the original winless 1976 team and the 1979 team that played in...
— former Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
defensive back - Avery JohnsonAvery JohnsonAvery Johnson is a former American professional basketball player and current head coach of the National Basketball Association team New Jersey Nets. He has also coached the Dallas Mavericks, leading them to their first NBA Finals appearance and four consecutive 50+ win seasons...
, Basketball Player and NBA Coach currently of the New Jersey Nets and formerly of the Dallas Mavericks. - Adrian WigginsAdrian WigginsAdrian Wiggins is the head women's basketball coach at Fresno State University. He has coached at Fresno State since the 2004 season, and has coached two full seasons in 2005 and 2006. On February 9, 2005, he was appointed interim basketball coach, where he finished 7-4...
- Fresno State Women's Basketball Coach - Gen. Bryan Brown, former Commanding General, U.S. Special Operations Command
External links
- Cameron University Website
- Cameron University Aggie Central
- Aggie Sports
- Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Cameron University
- Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity - Gamma Rho ChapterSigma Tau GammaSigma Tau Gamma Fraternity also named "Sig Tau" or "the Knights" is a U.S. all-male college secret-social fraternity founded on June 28, 1920 at University of Central Missouri...