Ferris State University
 Latin: '
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| Motto | Imagine More. |
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| Established | 1884 |
| Type | Public university |
| Endowment | |
| Staff | 510 |
| Rector | |
| Chancellor | |
| President | David Eisler |
| Principal | |
| Vice-Chancellor | |
| Dean | |
| Faculty | |
| Students | 12,547 |
| Undergraduates | >11,000 |
| Postgraduates | >1,000 |
| Doctoral students | |
| Location | Big Rapids, Grand Rapids, Michigan United States |
| Campus setting | Rural, Urban |
| Sports | Bulldogs |
| Colours | |
| Mascot | |
| Nickname | |
| Affiliations | |
| Website | www.ferris.edu |
Ferris State University is an institute of higher learning whose main campus is located in Big Rapids, Michigan, in Mecosta County, with a secondary campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and smaller programs located throughout the region.
Ferris State University consists of eight colleges: Allied Health Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Services, Optometry, Pharmacy, Technology, and Kendall College of Art and Design. Ferris grants doctorate degrees via its Optometry and Pharmacy colleges. Via a partnership arrangement, Ferris also grants Bachelor's degrees to graduates of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy at Northwestern Michigan College.
As of the Fall 2005 semester, 12,547 students were enrolled at Ferris State University, approximately 85% of whom attend class on the main campus in Big Rapids. The majority of the remainder are at its locations in downtown Grand Rapids: Kendall and the Applied Technology Center. The university's faculty-student ratio is 1:15, and all classes are taught by professional instructors, not graduate assistants.
As of 2003, Ferris State University was the largest employer in Mecosta County.
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Points of interest
The Ferris Ice Arena and Sports Complex features basketball courts, volleyball courts, hockey and general ice-skating rinks, hosting university competitions and community sports programs.
The university is home to the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia, an extensive collection of everyday items that promote racial segregation or present racial stereotypes of African Americans, for the purpose of academic research and education about their cultural influence.
The Card Wildlife Education Center has a museum, library, and computer facility for students doing wildlife research.
In conjunction with its Professional Golf Management program, the university operates the Katke Golf Course, an 18-hole course adjacent to the Big Rapids campus.
The John and Rhea Smith Greenhouse serves as a resource for the general biology and biotechnology programs at the university, as well as the golf management program.
The Rankin Art Gallery presents exhibits throughout the academic year, and the university hosts the Michigan Art Walk, a growing campus-wide exhibit of works by Michigan sculptors. The university houses the Canadian Collection, a $20 million collection of prints and photographs.
History
The school was founded in 1884 by Woodbridge Nathan Ferris, an educator from New England who later served as governor of the state of Michigan. The school was noteworthy for accepting female students beginning with its first graduating class.
Originally named Ferris Industrial School, it became Ferris Institute in 1899 and remained privately owned until 1931. Ferris became a state school in 1949 and was renamed Ferris State College. The school became a university and assumed its current name, Ferris State University, in 1987.
The first classes at Ferris Industrial School were held on the location of the Fifth Third Bank building on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Maple Street. The original building, known as Old Main, was destroyed by a fire in 1950.
Student Government
The Student Government of Ferris State University consists of an Executive Board (president, executive vice-president, vice president of academic affairs, and parliamentarian), Cabinet (each member supervising a committee), Senate (representing the various colleges), House of Representatives (all other registered student organizations), and a few standing committees.
SGFSU follows Robert's Rules of Order and is governed by its Constitution, a Mandate of Internal Assessments, Rules of Appropriation and Allocation, and a Governing Document written at the beginning of each presidential term by the president.
Bulldog Radio
Bulldog Radio is a student organization on the Big Rapids campus. It operates two stations: FSU Info 530, which broadcasts information about the campus to the general public via AM radio, and Bulldog Radio, which airs music and talk programming to the Mecosta County, Michigan area via radio-television broadcasting, and webcasts on the internet.
External links
| Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
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| Ashland • Ferris State • Findlay • Gannon • Grand Valley State • Hillsdale • Lake Superior State • Mercyhurst Michigan Tech • Northern Michigan • Northwood • Saginaw Valley State • Wayne State Associate Member: Indianapolis |
| Public universities in Michigan | ||
|---|---|---|
| Central • Eastern • Ferris • Grand Valley • Lake State • Michigan State Michigan Tech • Northern • Oakland • Saginaw Valley • U-M Ann Arbor U-M Dearborn • U-M Flint • Wayne State • Western |
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