Emporia State University
Encyclopedia
Emporia State University (ESU) is a university in the city of Emporia
in Lyon County
, Kansas
, just east of the Flint Hills
.
In 1876, the Kansas Legislature passed the "Miscellaneous appropriations bill of 1876". The end result was that Leavenworth Normal
and Concordia Normal
were closed so the state funding for normal schools could be directed to Emporia.
In February 1923, the name of the school was changed to the Kansas State Teachers College. In July 1974, the name was changed to Emporia Kansas State College. On April 21, 1977, the college became Emporia State University. The Kansas Board of Regents
is the governing body for ESU. Since 1863 more than 150,000 students have studied at ESU.
On January 25, 2006, then ESU president Kay Schallenkamp, Ph.D
, resigned to serve as president of Black Hills State University
starting July 1, 2006. On September 22, 2006 the Kansas Board of Regents announced the hiring of Michael R. Lane (BS
in finance
, University of Massachusetts Lowell
, 1975; MS
in financial accounting
, Northeastern University, 1976; Ph.D in financial accounting, Texas A&M University
, 1980) as University President effective November 1, 2006. Lane was previously provost at University of Arkansas - Fort Smith
.
The Center for Great Plains Studies, headed by Jim Hoy, an inductee of the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame, is located at Emporia State University.
, Alverno College
, and the University of Virginia
. In 2011, The Teachers College was featured in a video produced by the U.S. Department of Education highlighting the use of professional development schools.
The Department of Instructional Design and Technology (IDT) offers the only instructional design
and technology Master of Science degree in Kansas. IDT's Master of Science degree is offered entirely online. The Master's of Science degree in Business Education
is also offered entirely online for the nation's business teachers. The University is the home of the William Allen White
library and the National Teachers Hall of Fame
. The university's newspaper, The Bulletin, has existed since 1901.
The Registrar's office is the official custodian of the transcripts for the former College of Emporia
which closed in 1973.
Men's Sports
Women's Sports
The ESU mascot
is Corky the Hornet
.
(Colorado) Skyhawks.
In 1998, Emporia State's women's basketball team played in the NCAA Women's Division II Basketball Championship
. The head coach for that team was Cindy Stein
, who left to coach at the University of Missouri
.
Women's basketball was second in the nation in attendance in 2010-11; it led the nation in 2004-05 and has been in the top six nationally for 14 years.
at Emporia State is played at Welch Stadium
. Past football coaches include Homer Woodson Hargiss
, Jerry Kill
, and Harold Elliott
. The current football coach is Garin Higgins
.
Emporia, Kansas
Emporia is a city in and the county seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,916. Emporia lies between Topeka and Wichita at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 with Interstates 335 and 35 on the Kansas Turnpike...
in Lyon County
Lyon County, Kansas
Lyon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. The county was named for General Nathaniel Lyon, who was killed at the Battle of Wilson's Creek in the Civil War. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 33,690. Emporia is the largest city and county seat...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, just east of the Flint Hills
Flint Hills
The Flint Hills, historically known as Bluestem Pastures or Blue Stem Hills, are a band of hills in eastern Kansas stretching into north-central Oklahoma, extending from Marshall County, Kansas and Washington County, Kansas in the north to Cowley County, Kansas and Osage County, Oklahoma in the south...
.
History
The university was founded in March 1863 when the Kansas Legislature passed the enabling act to establish the Kansas State Normal School. The school's first graduating class consisted of two women in 1867, the year the first permanent building was completed.In 1876, the Kansas Legislature passed the "Miscellaneous appropriations bill of 1876". The end result was that Leavenworth Normal
Leavenworth Normal School
Leavenworth Normal School located in Leavenworth, Kansas was a state-funded normal school operated by the Kansas state government from 1870 until 1876....
and Concordia Normal
Concordia Normal School
Concordia Normal School located in Concordia, Kansas was a state-funded normal school operated by the Kansas state government from 1874 until 1876....
were closed so the state funding for normal schools could be directed to Emporia.
In February 1923, the name of the school was changed to the Kansas State Teachers College. In July 1974, the name was changed to Emporia Kansas State College. On April 21, 1977, the college became Emporia State University. The Kansas Board of Regents
Kansas Board of Regents
The Kansas Board of Regents is a body consisting of nine members which governs six state universities in the U.S. state of Kansas. In addition to these six universities, it also supervises and coordinates nineteen community colleges, five technical colleges, six technical schools and a municipal...
is the governing body for ESU. Since 1863 more than 150,000 students have studied at ESU.
On January 25, 2006, then ESU president Kay Schallenkamp, Ph.D
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
, resigned to serve as president of Black Hills State University
Black Hills State University
Black Hills State University, South Dakota's third largest comprehensive public university, offering both undergraduate and graduate programs. The campus is located in Spearfish, South Dakota. Close to 5,000 students attend classes at the Spearfish campus, at sites in Rapid City, Pierre, Yankton,...
starting July 1, 2006. On September 22, 2006 the Kansas Board of Regents announced the hiring of Michael R. Lane (BS
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in finance
Finance
"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...
, University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Massachusetts Lowell
The University of Massachusetts Lowell is a public university in Lowell, Massachusetts, and part of the University of Massachusetts system...
, 1975; MS
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in financial accounting
Financial accountancy
Financial accountancy is the field of accountancy concerned with the preparation of financial statements for decision makers, such as stockholders, suppliers, banks, employees, government agencies, owners, and other stakeholders...
, Northeastern University, 1976; Ph.D in financial accounting, Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, 1980) as University President effective November 1, 2006. Lane was previously provost at University of Arkansas - Fort Smith
University of Arkansas - Fort Smith
The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith, known also as UAFS, is a public, co-educational, four-year university. It is one of 11 campuses that make up the University of Arkansas System and is located in Fort Smith, Arkansas...
.
The Center for Great Plains Studies, headed by Jim Hoy, an inductee of the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame, is located at Emporia State University.
Academics
Emporia State University comprises four colleges: the school of business, college of liberal arts and sciences, school of library and information management, and the Teachers College. The latter is the university's college of education. In September 2006, the Teacher's College was cited by The Education Schools Project as one of the top four model teacher preparation programs in the United States along with Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, Alverno College
Alverno College
Alverno College is a Roman Catholic, four-year, independent, liberal arts college, historically and still primarily a women's college located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin....
, and the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. In 2011, The Teachers College was featured in a video produced by the U.S. Department of Education highlighting the use of professional development schools.
The Department of Instructional Design and Technology (IDT) offers the only instructional design
Instructional design
Instructional Design is the practice of creating "instructional experiences which make the acquisition of knowledge and skill more efficient, effective, and appealing." The process consists broadly of determining the current state and needs of the learner, defining the end goal of instruction, and...
and technology Master of Science degree in Kansas. IDT's Master of Science degree is offered entirely online. The Master's of Science degree in Business Education
Business education
Business education involves teaching students the fundamentals, theories, and processes of business. Education in this field occurs at several levels, including secondary education and higher education or university education. Approximately 38% of student enroll in one or more business courses...
is also offered entirely online for the nation's business teachers. The University is the home of the William Allen White
William Allen White
William Allen White was a renowned American newspaper editor, politician, author, and leader of the Progressive movement...
library and the National Teachers Hall of Fame
National Teachers Hall of Fame
The National Teachers Hall of Fame is an American non-profit organization honoring exceptional school teachers. It was founded in 1989 by Emporia State University, the ESU Alumni Association, the City of Emporia, USD 253, and the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce...
. The university's newspaper, The Bulletin, has existed since 1901.
The Registrar's office is the official custodian of the transcripts for the former College of Emporia
College of Emporia
The College of Emporia was established in 1882 in Emporia, Kansas, and was associated with the Presbyterian church. The college officially closed in 1974. The college campus was purchased by The Way International for $694,000 and was operated as the Way College of Emporia from 1975 until 1989...
which closed in 1973.
Jones Institute for Educational Excellence (JIEE)
A department of The Teachers College, JIEE provides educational leadership and service, strives to improve the quality of instruction and teaching, conducts policy studies on emerging issues, promotes excellence in all areas of learning, and contributes to the educational dialogue on national trends and issues. It's programs include:- Center for Innovative School Leadership
- Kansas Future Teacher Academy
- Kansas Migrant & English Language Learners Academy
- Partnerships for Excellence in Mathematics Instruction
- Great Plains Center for National Teacher Certification
- Kansas Regional Reading Recovery University Training Center
Athletics
The school competes in Division II of the NCAA and became a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) in 1991. ESU Athletics currently fields teams in 15 sports, including:Men's Sports
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Tennis
- Track & Field
Women's Sports
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track & Field
- Volleyball
The ESU mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
is Corky the Hornet
Hornet
Hornets are the largest eusocial wasps; some species can reach up to in length. The true hornets make up the genus Vespa and are distinguished from other vespines by the width of the vertex , which is proportionally larger in Vespa and by the anteriorly rounded gasters .- Life cycle :In...
.
Overview
- ESU Athletics has had four top four finishes in four sports over last four years (Women's Basketball, 1st in 2010; Baseball, 2nd in 2009; Softball, 2nd in 2008; Men's Track and Field, 4th in 2011).
- ESU has produced 17 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans since 2000 to rank in the top 25 nationally.
- In 2003-04, ESU became the first school to have their football, men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball and softball teams all advance to NCAA play in the same school year.
- ESU is the only school in the MIAA to have both their baseball and softball teams earn NCAA Tournament berths in each of the last nine years.
- ESU has averaged over 100,000 fans a year at home events over the last eight years.
- ESU has placed in the top 50 out of over 300 Division II schools nationally in the Learfield Sports Director's Cup for seven straight years with a high of 11th in 2007-08.
Women's Basketball
In March 2010, the Lady Hornets basketball team won the NCAA Division II National Championship, defeating the Fort Lewis CollegeFort Lewis College
Fort Lewis College is a public liberal arts college in Durango, Colorado.-History:Military FortThe original site of Fort Lewis College began southwest of its present location back in 1880. Set up originally as a Military Fort for the 22nd Regimental Infantry which occupied the land from...
(Colorado) Skyhawks.
In 1998, Emporia State's women's basketball team played in the NCAA Women's Division II Basketball Championship
NCAA Women's Division II Basketball Championship
Division II women's basketball champions for the NCAA The finals are played at St. Joseph Civic Arena in St. Joseph, Missouri.-Championships:- Schools ranked by titles :-See also:*NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship...
. The head coach for that team was Cindy Stein
Cindy Stein
Cindy Stein is a former coach of the Missouri Tigers women's basketball team at the University of Missouri. She was the head coach for the Tigers from 1998 to 2010...
, who left to coach at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
.
Women's basketball was second in the nation in attendance in 2010-11; it led the nation in 2004-05 and has been in the top six nationally for 14 years.
Football
FootballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Emporia State is played at Welch Stadium
Welch Stadium
Welch Stadium is a sport stadium in Emporia, Kansas. The facility is primarily used by the Emporia State University football and track & field teams. It is named to honor long-time Emporia State coach and athletic director Fran Welch...
. Past football coaches include Homer Woodson Hargiss
Homer Woodson Hargiss
Homer Woodson "Bill" Hargiss was an American football and basketball player, and track and field athlete, and coach in Kansas and Oregon...
, Jerry Kill
Jerry Kill
Jerry Kill is the head football coach at the University of Minnesota. Before assuming this position with the Golden Gophers in December 2010, Kill served as the head coach at Saginaw Valley State University , Emporia State University , Southern Illinois University Carbondale , and Northern...
, and Harold Elliott
Harold Elliott
Harold "Bud" Elliott was an American football coach. He served as the head coach at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas , Washburn University , Emporia State University , the University of Texas at Arlington , Northwest Missouri State University , and...
. The current football coach is Garin Higgins
Garin Higgins
Garin Higgins is the head football coach for Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. He was named to the position on December 15, 2006, replacing David Wiemers...
.
Notable alumni
- Frank AndersonFrank Anderson (baseball coach)Frank Anderson is the current head baseball coach at Oklahoma State University. His team won the 2004 Big 12 Baseball Tournament. In 2005, his team went 34–25, including an upset over the top ranked Texas Longhorns. In 2006, OSU went 41–20, and earned a number 1 seed in the NCAA tournament...
, head baseball coach for the Oklahoma State CowboysOklahoma State CowboysOklahoma State Cowboys are the athletic teams that represent Oklahoma State University. Their mascot is a cowboy named Pistol Pete. Oklahoma State participates in the NCAA's Division I-A and in the Big 12 Conference's South Division. The university's current athletic director is Mike Holder... - Al FeuerbachAl FeuerbachAllan Dean Feuerbach is a former track and field athlete from the United States, who competed for his native country in the men's shot put event at two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1972. On...
, former Olympian and world record holder in the shot putShot putThe shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action.... - L. M. GensmanL. M. GensmanLorraine Michael Gensman was a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma.Born near Wichita, Kansas, Gensman attended the public schools, the Garden Plains Graded School, Wichita Commercial College, Lewis Academy, and the Kansas State Normal School at Emporia. Gensman was Principal of the Andale, Kansas...
, former U.S. Representative from Oklahoma - Homer Woodson HargissHomer Woodson HargissHomer Woodson "Bill" Hargiss was an American football and basketball player, and track and field athlete, and coach in Kansas and Oregon...
former head football coach for ESU and University of KansasUniversity of KansasThe University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The... - Hall HibbardHall HibbardHall Livingstone Hibbard was an engineer and administrator of the Lockheed Corporation beginning with the company's purchase by a board of investors led by Robert E. Gross in 1932. Born in Kansas, he received a bachelor's degree in mathematics and physics at the College of Emporia in 1925...
, former chief design engineer for Lockheed CorporationLockheed CorporationThe Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace company. Lockheed was founded in 1912 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995.-Origins:... - Brad Hill, current head baseball coach at Kansas State UniversityKansas State UniversityKansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
- Leon LettLeon LettLeon Lett, Jr. , nicknamed The Big Cat, is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League who played for the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos , after playing college football at Emporia State University. Lett was a two-time Pro Bowler, with selections in 1994 and...
, pro football player (attended but did not graduate. Later completed studies at UNLV) - Bill Martin, Jr.Bill Martin, Jr.William Ivan Martin, was an educator, publishing executive, and author of more than 300 children's books including Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?, Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?, and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What...
, children's book author - John Conover NicholsJohn Conover NicholsJohn Conover Nichols was a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma.-Biography:Born in Joplin, Missouri, Nichols attended the public schools in Joplin, Missouri, and Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the teachers college at Emporia, Kansas.He studied law in the office of his brother in Eufaula, Oklahoma.He...
, former U.S. Representative from Oklahoma - Kathy PatrickKathy PatrickKathy L. Patrick is an author, hairdresser, founder of Pulpwood Queens Book Club, and owner of the Jefferson, Texas, hair salon/bookstore, Beauty and the Book. She was born and raised in Kansas.-Personal background:...
, author, founder of the Pulpwood QueensPulpwood QueensThe Pulpwood Queens is a meet-and-greet book club with a large following. It was founded in early 2000 in Jefferson, Texas, by Kathy L. Patrick in her combined beauty salon and book store, Beauty and the Book...
Book Club (attended, did not graduate) - Deborah RaneyDeborah RaneyDeborah Teeter Raney is an American author of Christian fiction who specializes in the inspirational contemporary women's fiction genre. She is best known for her novel, A Vow to Cherish , that drew national attention to the pervasive impact of Alzheimer's disease on a traditional American family...
, women's fiction author - W. Ann ReynoldsW. Ann ReynoldsWynetka Ann Reynolds is a zoologist and university administrator who has served as provost of the Ohio State University , chancellor of the California State University system , chancellor of the City University of New York , and president of the University of Alabama at Birmingham...
, chancellor of the California State UniversityCalifornia State UniversityThe California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the...
and City University of New YorkCity University of New YorkThe City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E... - Dale Emerson SaffelsDale Emerson SaffelsDale Emerson Saffels was a United States federal judge.Born in Moline, Kansas, Saffels was a Major in the United States Army Signal Corps during World War II, from 1942 to 1946. He then received a B.A. from Emporia State University in 1947 and a J.D. from Washburn University School of Law in 1949...
, former federal judge of the United States District Court for the District of KansasUnited States District Court for the District of KansasThe United States District Court for the District of Kansas is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Kansas. The Court operates out of the Robert J. Dole United States Courthouse in Kansas City, the Frank Carlson Federal Building in Topeka, and the United States Courthouse... - Harold SeeHarold SeeHarold Frend See, Jr. is a legal scholar and was an Associate Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court from 1997 to 2009. The son of Harold F. See, Sr., and Corinne See, he was born at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Illinois while his father was serving with the United States Navy in the...
, Associate Justice of the Alabama Supreme CourtAlabama Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court of Alabama is the highest court in the state of Alabama. The court consists of an elected Chief Justice and eight elected Associate Justices. Each justice is elected in partisan elections for staggered six year terms. The Governor of Alabama may fill vacancies when they occur... - Jack SinagraJack SinagraJack G. Sinagra is an American Republican Party politician who was the Mayor of East Brunswick, New Jersey and served in the New Jersey Senate from 1992 to 2002, where he represented the 18th Legislative District.-Biography:...
(born 1950), New Jersey State SenatorNew Jersey SenateThe New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947... - Randall J. StephensRandall J. StephensRandall J. Stephens is a noted author, editor, and historian of American religion.-Career:Stephens is the editor of the Journal of Southern Religion, for Florida State University, and of Historically Speaking from the Johns Hopkins University Press, for Boston University...
, author and historian - Sam V. StewartSam V. StewartSamuel Vernon Stewart was an attorney, former Montana Supreme Court Justice and the sixth Governor of Montana....
, former Governor of Montana - Grant F. TimmermanGrant F. TimmermanGrant Frederick Timmerman was a United States Marine who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during World War II.-Early years:...
. Awarded Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
postumously for heroism during Battle of SaipanBattle of SaipanThe Battle of Saipan was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the island of Saipan in the Mariana Islands from 15 June-9 July 1944. The Allied invasion fleet embarking the expeditionary forces left Pearl Harbor on 5 June 1944, the day before Operation Overlord in Europe was...
. - Caleb J. RossCaleb J. RossCaleb J. Ross is an American writer of literary noir fiction and literary grotesque fiction.. He is most well known for his novel Stranger Will. He currently lives in the Kansas City, KS suburb of Olathe....
, author