Morehead State University


Morehead State University is a public university in Morehead, Kentucky.

History

The university began as Morehead Normal School, which opened its doors in 1887. One student appeared on the first day of class in October 1887, in a little, rented cottage where the Adron Doran University Center now stands. The private school closed in the spring of 1922 when the Kentucky General Assembly established Morehead State Normal School. The state institution accepted its first students in the fall of 1923 and graduated its first class in 1927. Name changes occurred in 1926 when "and Teachers College" was added, again in 1930 when it was shortened to Morehead State Teachers College, again in 1948 when "Teachers" was dropped and, finally, to university status in 1966. Fourteen men, starting with Frank C. Button, have served as president. Dr. Joseph A. Morgan assumed office as the 14th president on July 1, 2017.

Presidents

  1. Dr. Frank C. Button, 1923–29
  2. Dr. John Howard Payne, 1929–35
  3. Dr. Harvey A. Babb, 1935–40
  4. Dr. William H. Vaughan, 1940–46
  5. Dr. William J. Baird, 1946–51
  6. Dr. Charles R. Spain, 1951–54
  7. Dr. Adron Doran, 1954–77
  8. Dr. Morris L. Norfleet, 1977–84
  9. Dr. Herb. F. Reinhard Jr., 1984–86
  10. Dr. A.D. Albright, 1986–87
  11. Dr. C. Nelson Grote, 1987–92
  12. Dr. Ronald G. Eaglin, 1992–2004
  13. Dr. Wayne D. Andrews, 2005–2017
  14. Dr. Joseph A. Morgan, 2017–present

    Academics

Morehead State University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. 211 degree programs are available on the two-year, four-year and graduate levels through four colleges. The university offers a Doctoral degree in Education. 70% of the full-time faculty hold doctoral degrees. The average class size is 19. The student body represents 113 Kentucky counties, 45 states and 27 foreign countries. MSU supports its missions of teaching, applied research and public service through an annual budget of more than $140 million. Grants and contracts from external sources for research, service and academic/student support projects generate more than $17 million each year. Annual private gifts to the university average $3 million annually. It was the first institution in Kentucky to offer a complete degree program online, the Master of Business Administration. MSU is 1 of 5 institutions in the U.S. with a bachelor's degree in space science. The university has erected a space tracking system in partnership with NASA. The second component of the Space Science Center opened in 2009—a $16.6 million instruction and research support facility. MSU claims the state's best computer-student ratio in its computer laboratories, as well as offering students a program to lease university owned laptops while enrolled. 68,000 persons have received degrees from MSU.

Colleges

The most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings list Morehead State at 19th place among public regional universities in the South, and 43rd overall among all regional universities in the South.

'''Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics'''

The Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics was established in 2014. It is a two-year residential early college high school serving approximately 120 high school juniors and seniors at Morehead State University. Students live in Grote-Thompson Hall on campus and take MSU classes during their time at the Academy, graduating with a Craft Academy high school diploma as well as at least 60 hours of MSU college credit.

Campus

Morehead State University is located in the foothills of the Daniel Boone National Forest in Rowan County. The more than 700-acre main campus within the city limits of Morehead includes more than 50 major structures with a total replacement value of more than $650 million. Beyond the city, the university's real estate holdings include the 320-acre Derrickson Agricultural Complex, Eagle Trace, a par-72, 6,902-yard public golf course, and 166-acres of the Browning Orchard. The instructional plant includes 135 classrooms and 150 laboratories. Housing facilities include space for approximately 2,900 students in a variety of living styles, including traditional residence halls, suites and apartments. The university has erected a space tracking system in partnership with NASA. The second component of the Space Science Center opened in 2009—a $16.6 million instruction and research support facility.

Arts

The Morehead State University Arts and Humanities Council, established in 2003, encourages dialogue and partnerships in the arts. Part of a larger initiative within the Caudill College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the Council works to develop cultural opportunities both on and off campus. Morehead, long known for its patronage of the arts in Kentucky with such organizations as the Kentucky Folk Art Center and the Kentucky Center for Traditional Music, was the childhood home of philanthropist Lucille Caudill Little. Named after Lucille Little, MSU's Little Company is a touring troupe of students in the Theatre Department that performs plays and conducts workshops for up to 100 schools in the area each year. Along with theatre, Morehead State University has a well developed dance program under the direction of Ms. Natasha Davis. The Morehead Dance Ensemble, which you must audition for, presents a Spring Dance Concert, attends dance conferences and engages in many other projects.

Morehead State University Historic District

A portion of the campus was named as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. The contributing properties include the following buildings: the President's Home, Senff Natatorium, Button Auditorium, Fields Hall, Camden-Carroll Library, Allie Young Hall, Rader Hall, Grote-Thompson Hall, and the Breckenridge Training School.

Morehead State Public Radio

Morehead State Public Radio is governed by the Board of Regents at Morehead State University. MSPR is operated by its flagship station WMKY at 90.3 FM in Morehead. WMKY in Morehead is licensed for 50,000 watts and serves more than 20 counties in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. The WMKY studios are located in Breckinridge Hall on the campus of Morehead State University. Since 1965, WMKY has served the communities of eastern Kentucky, southern Ohio and western West Virginia. MSPR's mission to the region is to provide programming that is educational, informative and entertaining. Through the work provided by a staff consisting of full-time directors, student interns, work studies and community volunteers, MSPR offers regional news, public affairs and documentary programming, as well as a variety of regional music programs consisting of classical, jazz and Americana. MSPR produces regular daily newscasts and in-depth features on people, places and events in the region.

Athletics

MSU is a charter member of the Ohio Valley Conference in NCAA Division I and sponsors 18 intercollegiate sports for men and women. MSU competes at the NCAA Division I level including the Football Championship Subdivision. The MSU teams are the Eagles, the eagle mascot is named Beaker, and the school colors are blue and gold. The football Eagles compete as the only public university in the Pioneer Football League of the Football Championship Subdivision. The basketball Eagles won the 2009 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, sending them to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1984. At the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, 13th-seeded Morehead State upset Louisville 62-61. It was the second NCAA Tournament win for Morehead State in a three-year span. The Eagles also beat Alabama State in the 2009 Opening Round game. The Eagles then faced 12th-seeded Richmond in the third round, which was only the ninth time in tournament history that a 12–13 match-up occurred in the round of 32. The coed cheerleading squad has won 23 national championships and the all-girl squad has won 10 national titles. The baseball team has won 7 Ohio Valley Conference Titles and the women's volleyball team has won the conference title 5 times. The Eagles have appeared in the College Basketball Invitational three times. Their combined record is 5-4.
Famous Athletes

Greek life

FraternitiesSororities

  • Alpha Kappa Alpha
  • Chi Omega
  • Delta Gamma
  • Delta Zeta
  • Gamma Phi Beta
  • Kappa Delta
  • Sigma Alpha
  • Sigma Gamma Rho
  • Sigma Sigma Sigma
  • Zeta Phi Beta
  • Residence halls

  • Alumni Tower
  • Andrews Hall
  • Cartmell Hall
  • Cooper Hall
  • Eagle Lake Apartments
  • East Mignon Hall
  • Fields Hall
  • Mays Hall Apartments
  • Mignon Hall
  • Mignon Tower
  • Normal Hall Apartments
  • Nunn Hall
  • Grote-Thompson Hall
  • West Mignon Hall

    Campus buildings/Property

  • Academic Athletic Center
  • Adron Doran University Center
  • Alumni Relations and Development
  • Baird Music Hall
  • Bert Combs Building
  • Breckinridge Hall
  • Browning Orchard
  • Button Auditorium
  • Camden-Carroll Library
  • Center for Rural Development
  • Challenge Course
  • Chi Alpha Fellowship
  • Claypool-Young Art Building
  • Combs Building
  • Cora Wilson Stewart Moonlight School
  • Derrickson Agricultural Complex
  • Eagle Athletics Guided Learning & Enhancement Center
  • Eagle Lake
  • Eagle Trace Golf Course
  • East Parking Complex and Rocky Adkins Dining Commons
  • Education Services Building
  • Enrollment Services Center
  • Ginger Hall
  • Howell-McDowell Administration Building
  • Innovation Launchpad
  • Intramural/Soccer Practice Field
  • Jayne Stadium
  • Kentucky Center for Traditional Music
  • Kentucky Folk Art Center
  • Lappin Hall
  • Laughlin Health Building
  • Little Bell Tower
  • Lloyd Cassity Building
  • Lundergan Hall
  • Newman Center
  • President’s Home
  • Procurement Services
  • Padula Hall
  • Rader Hall
  • Recreation & Wellness Center
  • Reed Hall
  • Rice Service Building
  • Richardson Arena and Equine Health Education Center
  • Fazoli’s Breadstick Beach Volleyball Courts
  • Space Science Center
  • University Store
  • University Farm
  • University Softball Field
  • Water Testing Laboratory
  • Wesley Foundation
  • Wetherby Gymnasium
  • 21M Space Tracking Antenna
  • 342

    Notable alumni

  • Rocky Adkins – Kentucky State Representative and House Minority Floor Leader
  • Henry Akin – basketball player, drafted by New York Knicks, became one of "Original Sonics" in Seattle, played with ABA's Kentucky Colonels
  • Nelson Allen – former Kentucky State Senator
  • Chris Bailey – meteorologist at WKYT-TV
  • William E. Barber – Marine Corps colonel, recipient of Medal of Honor for actions during Korean War
  • Andy Douglas – professional wrestler
  • Denny Doyle – MLB second baseman 1970-77
  • Kenneth Faried - NBA player for Houston Rockets, selected 22nd overall in 2011 NBA Draft
  • Mike Gottfried – former head football coach at Kansas, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Murray State, current color commentator and analyst for ESPN
  • Steve Hamilton – former MLB pitcher and professional basketball player
  • Jimmy Higdon – Republican member of Kentucky State Senate since 2009, businessman from Marion County
  • David Hyland – defensive back for San Jose SaberCats of Arena Football League
  • Steve Inskeep – NPR Morning Edition host replacing Kentuckian Bob Edwards
  • Liz Johnson – professional bowler
  • Steve Kazee – Tony Award-winning actor for Best Musical
  • Kelly Kulick – professional bowler and first-ever female winner of regular PBA Tour event
  • Terry McBrayer – 1979 candidate for Governor of Kentucky, former Chairman of Kentucky Democratic Party, prominent attorney in Lexington, KY
  • Bob McCann – professional basketball player
  • Lori Menshouse – 1997 Miss Kentucky, 1999 Miss Kentucky USA
  • Chris Offutt – writer
  • Amber Philpott – news anchor at WKYT-TV
  • Jon Rauch – MLB pitcher 2002-13, Olympic gold medalist
  • Phil Simms – NFL quarterback for New York Giants, MVP of Super Bowl XXI, 15-year pro career, football analyst for CBS television
  • Janet Stumbo - first woman elected to Kentucky Supreme Court
  • Dan Swartz - former NBA player with Boston Celtics
  • David A. Tapp - Judge, United States Court of Federal Claims
  • Walt Terrell – MLB pitcher 1982-92
  • Donnie Tyndall – basketball head coach, Tennessee, Southern Miss, Morehead State
  • Robin L. Webb - former Kentucky State Representative and Current State Senator and attorney
  • Chuck Woolery – television game show host