Ferris State University is a
public universityA public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities. A national university may or may not be considered a public university, depending on regions...
with its main campus in
Big RapidsBig Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,849. It is the county seat of Mecosta County. The city is located within Big Rapids Township, but is politically independent.-Geography:...
,
MichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
,
USAThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 1884 as the Big Rapids Industrial School by
Woodbridge Nathan FerrisWoodbridge Nathan Ferris was an educator from New York, Illinois and Michigan, as well as Democratic statesman and the 28th Governor of Michigan .-Early life in New York, Michigan and Illinois:...
, an educator from
New EnglandNew England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
who later served as governor of the State of Michigan and finally in the US Senate where he remained until his death in 1928. The school was noteworthy at its time for accepting female students beginning with its first graduating class. It is also the only public university in Michigan to be founded by an individual.
Today Ferris is the ninth largest university in the state with 14,381 students studying on its main campus, at one of the 19 off-campus locations across the state, or online. The focus of education is on preparing students for successful careers. Two- and four-year degrees are offered through ten academic colleges and graduate degrees from six. Ferris grants professional
doctorateA doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
degrees via its optometry and pharmacy colleges and a doctorate of education in community college leadership through the College of Professional and Technological Studies.
The school is known for its high rate of employment amongst graduates, its faculty-student ratio of 1:15, and that classes are taught by professional instructors, not graduate assistants.
The founder
Woodbridge Nathan FerrisWoodbridge Nathan Ferris was an educator from New York, Illinois and Michigan, as well as Democratic statesman and the 28th Governor of Michigan .-Early life in New York, Michigan and Illinois:...
was born January 6, 1853 in a log cabin near
SpencerSpencer is a town in Tioga County, New York, USA. The population was 2,979 at the 2000 census. The town and its primary village is named after Ambrose Spencer.The Town of Spencer is on the western border of the county and is south of Ithaca, New York...
,
Tioga CountyAs of the census of 2010, there were 51,125 people residing in the county, with 22,203 housing units, of these 20,350 occupied, 1,853 vacant. The population density was 98 people per square mile...
,
New YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, the son of John Ferris, Jr. and Stella Reed Ferris.
As a child, Woodbridge attended a rural public school, which he claimed, was the horror of his life. He did learn to read fairly well there, however, and by the age of 10 was reading the
Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
news to his father. His father was slightly deaf, and Ferris had to learn to speak clearly in order for his father to hear, because his father objected to the practice of merely reading loudly. The practice of clear enunciation, learned at an early age, was a great help to Ferris in his later life as a speechmaker.
When he was 14 years old, Ferris entered the academy at Spencer, NY, where he spent nine months. At the age of 16, Ferris attended his first teaching institute at Waverly, NY, and shortly afterwards began his first teaching job. Later, in early spring of 1871, Ferris entered the Oswego Normal and Training School at Oswego, NY. At Oswego (now the
State University of New York at OswegoState University of New York at Oswego, also known as SUNY Oswego and Oswego State, is a public university in the City of Oswego and Town of Oswego, New York, on the shore of Lake Ontario...
) Ferris came under the tutelage of Hermann Krusi, instructor of drawing and geometry. Krusi was the son of the chief assistant to
Johann Heinrich PestalozziJohann Heinrich Pestalozzi was a Swiss pedagogue and educational reformer who exemplified Romanticism in his approach....
at Pestalozzi's school in Switzerland.
Oswego Normal during its formative years was pushing the Pestalozzian theory of learning by doing rather than through theory, and Ferris was considerably influenced by it. At Oswego, Ferris met Helen Gillespie, who later became his wife.
In early 1874, Ferris became the principal of Spencer Free Academy. He married Helen Gillespie who also served as a teacher at Spencer. At the end of the second year at Spencer, the Ferrises decided not to continue in public school work but rather to follow his dream of founding a private school. That dream led Mr. Ferris through several ventures involving private education. In 1879, Ferris once again entered public education as superintendent of schools in Pittsfield, IL. He held this position for five years, leaving it vowing never again to be involved in public education. In May 1884, he moved his family to Big Rapids, MI with the intention of opening a private school. The Big Rapids Industrial School, forerunner of Ferris State University, opened on September 1, 1884.
In addition to his role as an educator, Ferris ran for and was elected to the office of Governor of the State of Michigan in 1912. His overwhelming popularity also got him elected to the office of US Senator in 1922.Woodbridge Ferris died on March 23, 1928, eleven years to the day of Helen Ferris' death. A thousand Ferris students and townspeople gathered at the train station standing in the drizzling rain in silent tribute as the funeral train pulled in. All businesses and schools, including the Institute, were closed the day of the funeral. Many state elected officials attended the funeral, including Governor Fred W. Green. Six military companies and the 126th infantry band marched in the funeral cortege to Highland View Cemetery in Big Rapids, where Mr. and Mrs. Ferris are both interred.
The school
Big Rapids Industrial School, as it was originally named, opened on September 1, 1884 in temporary quarters in the Vandersluis Block (present location of J.C. Penney Co.) in Big Rapids. The goal of the school was to provide students with marketable skills for a changing society. By the beginning of the next semester in January 1885 the school changed its name to Ferris Industrial School. In January 1894, the School moved into and dedicated its new building, Old Main, on the corner of Oak and Ives Streets. At this same time, the school was incorporated with capital stock of $50,000.
In 1898 the institution was again renamed to Ferris Institute. In 1900, W. N. Ferris sold capital stock in Ferris Institute to the public, keeping a controlling interest in his own hands. It remained privately owned until August 25, 1931 when the Board of Incorporators, a group of 39 businessmen, purchased Ferris Institute from the old stockholders and selected a board of trustees from their number to govern the school.
The college
In February 1943, alumnus Colin Smith introduced a bill in the legislature for the state to purchase Ferris Institute. It passed both houses but was vetoed by Governor
Harry KellyHarry Kelly may refer to:* Harry Kelly , American anarchist* Harry Kelly , American Division I basketball player with over 3,000 career points and 1,000 rebounds* Harry Kelly , the Governor of Michigan...
. Six years later on May 17, 1949, Governor
G. Mennen WilliamsGerhard Mennen "Soapy" Williams, , was a politician from the US state of Michigan. An heir to a personal grooming products fortune, he was known as "Soapy," and wore a trademark green bow tie with white polka dots....
signed the bill accepting Ferris Institute as a gift to the State of Michigan, which took over its governance on July 1, 1950. But before the state took control, fire destroyed the Old Main and the Old Pharmacy Buildings on February 21, 1950. Only the Alumni Building and some minor buildings were left standing. Immediate rebuilding of the Institute began and on July 1, 1963 it was again renamed, this time as Ferris State College.
The university
In November 1987 the institution became Ferris State University. When Ferris became a state college in the fall of 1950, it consisted entirely of one permanent structure, the Alumni Building, and some surplus Army barracks. Fewer than 1,000 students were enrolled, and there were fewer than 50 faculty members. The campus itself covered less than 20 acres (8.1 ha). By contrast, current enrollment is more than 13,000 and the 880 acres (356.1 ha) campus contains 115 educational, administrative, and maintenance buildings, student activity facilities, and residence halls.
Campus
Ferris State University joined the state’s Higher Education System in 1950. The campus was all but destroyed by fire the same year. The only building to survive was the Alumni Building, built in 1929, at the north edge of campus. Since the fire, more than 117 buildings have been built on the main campus.
Main campus
Located on the southern edge of the
City of Big RapidsBig Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,849. It is the county seat of Mecosta County. The city is located within Big Rapids Township, but is politically independent.-Geography:...
, straddling the border between
Big Rapids TownshipBig Rapids Township is a charter township of Mecosta County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 3,249.The city of Big Rapids is located within the township, but is administratively autonomous.-Geography:...
and the city, the university has over 880 acres (3.6 km²) for its main campus. The campus begins about four blocks south of the historic
central business districtA central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
. It is bordered on the north by single-family homes built in the early to middle of the twentieth century. North of Perry Street, the university is bordered by strip commercial development. The university is bordered to the south and west by Big Rapids Township. The township is mostly undeveloped and rural.
The campus is within easy walking distance of downtown Big Rapids with its restaurants, shops, movie theater, art gallery and municipal park. Bicyclists, hikers and in-line skaters have easy access to the
White Pine TrailFred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park is a long linear state park in the U.S. state of Michigan.The trail extends from northern Grand Rapids to Cadillac, and it lies on the path graded for the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad. The White Pine Trail is a rail trail park...
, Michigan's longest "rails to trails" project.
The campus has undergone major changes since 1990. Several new and renovated buildings, reworked roads and parking areas, pedestrian walkways, and greenspace areas have contributed to the changes on campus.
- The National Elastomer Center was added in 1998 to house the Plastics Engineering and Rubber Engineering Technology programs, utilizing state-of-the-art laboratories and classrooms.
- The FLITE building (FSU Library for Information, Technology and Education), located at the termination of Perry Street, reintroduced the historic front entrance to the university, and defined the adjacent quad at the campus epicenter.
- The renovation of the Timme Library to the Timme Center for Student Services consolidated previously scattered student services in one location.
- The Granger Center for Construction and HVACR, stimulated redevelopment of the northern part of campus. The building was designed with an open layout that left most of the mechanical components open for viewing by the students as a working lab.
- The IRC Connector between the Business School and the Interdisciplinary Resource Center (IRC) created a collaborative meeting and lounge space which is heavily used by students at all hours.
- Opening of the new Michigan College of Optometry building in January, 2011.
The University has 3483298 square feet (323,609 m²) of building space on the Big Rapids campus, with 1764658 square feet (163,942.1 m²) in academic use.
Satellite locations
In addition to the main campus, Ferris State University has programs offered at 19 off-campus locations including Dowagiac, Grand Rapids, Flint, Lansing, Traverse City, and University Center. These locations are managed by the Extended and International Operations under the heading Ferris Statewide.
Administrative structure
Ferris State University is governed by a Board of Trustees which has general supervision of the institution and controls and directs institutional expenditures. Members of the Board serve eight-year, staggered terms as appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the
State SenateThe Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
.
The President of the University is appointed by the Board of Trustees as its principal executive officer and serves at its pleasure. The President is an ex-officio member of the Board without the right to vote.
Current leadership
At present, the University is led by its 18th president, Dr. David L. Eisler, who was in inaugurated on October 2, 2003.
Student government
The mission of the Student Government of Ferris State University is to represent student interests in all aspects of campus life as well as maintain open channels of communication between students, faculty, staff, administration, and the Big Rapids community.
The General Assembly of Student Government is composed of two voting bodies; a House of Representatives and a Senate. Each registered student organization (RSO) in good standing is eligible to hold one seat on the House of Representatives. Senators are elected by the students in their respective academic colleges.
The leadership rests in the Cabinet; president, executive vice president, treasurer, director of finance, and director of internal assessment.
Academic colleges
The University has 10 colleges offering more than 170 educational programs — Allied Health Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Services, Engineering Technology, Michigan College of Optometry, Pharmacy, College of Professional and Technological Studies, University College; and Kendall College of Art and Design. Program offerings lead to bachelor and associate degrees and certificates. Master degrees in Information Systems Management, Career and Technical Education, Criminal Justice, Business Administration, Curriculum and Instruction, Nursing, and Fine Arts are available. Ferris also offers doctorate degrees in Optometry and Pharmacy.
Each college encompasses a cluster of related programs that are targeted to prepare students for specific careers, responsible citizenship and lifelong learning. The colleges operate in facilities that have been specially designed and equipped to support their missions.
The College of Allied Health Sciences offers a wide range of degrees for future health care professionals. Students benefit from small class sizes, state-of-the-industry equipment, and clinical or internship experiences. Graduates are in high demand both locally and nationally.
The College of Arts and Sciences is noted for its graduates’ high rates of acceptance into prestigious medical, dental, law and graduate schools. In this college are the cultural programs and enrichment activities that Ferris offers in the arts and sciences disciplines.
The College of Business provides career-oriented business education. Responsive to the changing needs of the business world, the college’s curriculum focuses on preparing its graduates for dealing with real issues as members and leaders of tomorrow’s workforce.
The College of Education and Human Services is a leader in education, criminal justice, recreation, and television production. The college is unique in Michigan because of its leadership in a number of partnerships that foster specialized professional education for all it students within the community and state.
The College of Engineering Technology is one of the largest in the nation. The college has world-class labs and state-of-the-art equipment made possible by on-going financial support from industry. Some of Ferris’ technology programs are one of a kind in Michigan and the nation.
Kendall College of Arts and Design offers graduate and undergraduate fine arts degrees as well as a B.S. degree in Art History. Kendall’s campus is in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The Michigan College of Optometry is one of 16 schools or colleges of optometry in the United States and the only college of optometry in Michigan. MCO doctors and student interns deliver state-of-the-art eyecare to thousands of patients in the region. Graduates receive a Doctor of Optometry degree.
The College of Pharmacy graduates comprise more than half of Michigan’s practicing pharmacists. The college is equipped with exceptional facilities and resources. Graduates receive a
Doctor of PharmacyA Doctor of Pharmacy is a professional doctorate degree in pharmacy. In some countries, it is a first professional degree, and a prerequisite for licensing to exercise the profession of pharmacist.-Kenya :...
degree.
The College of Professional and Technological Studies extends the reach of the University beyond Big Rapids as it delivers academic programs that meet the rapidly evolving needs of education, business, industry and the state through a network of locations. Programs offered include associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees, professional development certificates and distance learning opportunities at sites that include Alpena, Clinton Township, Dowagiac, Flint, Garden City, Grand Rapids, Howell, Lansing, Midland, Muskegon, Port Huron, Scottville, Traverse City, Warren and online. In addition, CPTS provides conference and professional services to the University as well as outside businesses and organizations.
University College houses Ferris’ Honors Program and the Academic Support Center and assists students with instruction in study skills, reading and career exploration. It is also home of the Educational Career and Counseling Center and the Socio-Cultural Holistic Learning and Retention mentoring program.
Academic schools
Within the Colleges there exists some schools of specialized education. These Schools exist to provide focused education in for specific careers.
Housed in the College of Education and Human Services, the mission of the School of Criminal Justice is that "through partnerships with agencies within and related to the criminal justice field, creates the fundamental preparation for successful careers and responsible citizenship. The academic pursuit of excellence for both students and faculty is provided in a learning environment that combines the theoretical knowledge with the practical application.
There are three areas of concentration for undergraduate degrees:
CorrectionsIn criminal justice, particularly in North America, correction, corrections, and correctional, are umbrella terms describing a variety of functions typically carried out by government agencies and involving the punishment, treatment, and supervision of persons who have been convicted of crimes....
, Generalists, and
Law EnforcementIn North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
.
Housed in the College of Education and Human Services, the mission of the School of Education is to prepare students for careers as quality educators whose contributions will enrich lives through dedication to leadership, life-long learning, reflection, and collaboration in the classroom, school and greater community. There bachelor's degree programs in early childhood, elementary, and secondary education in addition to master's degrees with several concentrations.
Housed in the College of Allied Health Sciences, the School of Nursing offers BSN and MSN programs that are fully accredited by the
National League for NursingThe National League for Nursing is a national organization for faculty nurses and leaders in nurse education. It offers faculty development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to more than 25,000 individual and 1,200 education and...
Accreditation Commission.
Athletics
The
Ferris State Bulldogs are the athletic teams for the university. Ferris State offers an intercollegiate athletic program which includes 14 men’s and women’s sports at the NCAA Division II level, except for men's ice hockey which competes in NCAA Division I. Ferris States is a member of the
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceThe Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is a competitive intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division II. The GLIAC was founded in June 1972. Member institutions are located in the midwestern United States in the States of Michigan and Ohio, with affiliate...
(GLIAC) in all sports except ice hockey, in which the team is part of the
Central Collegiate Hockey AssociationThe Central Collegiate Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey college athletic conference that operates mostly in Michigan and Ohio, although it also has members in Alaska and Indiana. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. It holds its championship...
.
Year in and year out, nearly 400 student-athletes have the opportunity to compete for the Bulldogs on a regional and national level for conference titles and NCAA Championships. Ferris’ men’s club ice hockey won the
American Collegiate Hockey AssociationThe American Collegiate Hockey Association is the national governing body of non-varsity college ice hockey in the U.S. The organization provides structure, regulations, promotes the quality of play, sponsors National Awards and National Tournaments....
Division II national title in 1994.
Sports
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BasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
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BasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
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CheerleadingCheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
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CheerleadingCheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
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Cross CountryCross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
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Cross CountryCross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
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FootballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
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GolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
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GolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
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Ice HockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
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SoftballSoftball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
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TennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
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TennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
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VolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
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Ice Hockey
Ferris State's ice hockey program turned in its best season performance ever in the program's NCAA Division I history for the 2002-03 campaign with a school-best 31-10-1 overall record. The Bulldogs also claimed their first-ever CCHA Regular-Season Championship title with a first-place 22-5-1 league mark and advanced to the NCAA Championship Tournament's West Regional title game in their initial NCAA Tourney appearance. FSU also earned the distinction of being the nation's first team to reach the 30-win plateau in 2002-03 and also competed in the CCHA Super Six Championship Tourney for the first time since 1993.
Facilities
The Ferris Ice Arena and Sports Complex features basketball courts, volleyball courts, hockey rink and a general ice-skating rink located in the
Ewigleben ArenaThe Robert L. Ewigleben Ice Arena is a 2,493-seat hockey arena in Big Rapids, Michigan. It is home to the Ferris State University Bulldogs ice hockey team of the CCHA. The building is attached the FSU Sports Complex, which also includes Wink Arena, a volleyball court, a studio ice rink, offices,...
, named after former college president Robert Ewigleben. This sports complex hosts university and high school competitions as well as community sports programs.
Championships
National Runners-up:
- 1989 - Wrestling - NCAA Division II
- 2004 - Women's Golf - NCAA Division II
- 2006 - Women's Golf - NCAA Division II
Club Sports National Championships:
- 1994 - Men's Ice Hockey - ACHA Division II
Student life
Ferris State Torch
The Ferris State
Torch is a student run newspaper first published in 1931. It is a weekly publication between 16 and 28 pages in length with a circulation of just under 5,000. The
Torch has been completely student governed, with the exception of a faculty adviser and business manager. The Department of Languages and Literature acts as a liaison between the publication and the rest of the University.
Bulldog Radio
Bulldog Radio is a student organization on the Big Rapids campus. It operates via FSU Info 530, an AM radio channel, on Channel 21 through Mecosta County
Charter CommunicationsCharter Communications is an American company providing cable television, high-speed Internet, and telephone services to more than 4.7 million customers in 25 states. By revenues, it is the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States, behind Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Cox Communications...
, Channel 21 through the campus cable TV provider, and through a live webcast. Bulldog Radio broadcasts information about the campus to the general public. It also airs music and talk programming. Bulldog Radio is available free, 24 hours a day, to Ferris State University, Mecosta County, and the world.
Greek life
There are 28 Greek organizations on campus, subdivided into four different groups: Interfraternity Council fraternities, Black Greek Council Fraternities & Sororities, Panhellenic Council Sororities, and Professional Fraternities & Sororities.
Organizations in the Interfraternity Council include:
Alpha Chi RhoAlpha Chi Rho is a men's collegiate fraternity founded on June 4, 1895 at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut by the Reverend Paul Ziegler, his son Carl Ziegler, and Carl's friends William Rouse, Herbert T. Sherriff and William A.D. Eardeley. It is a charter member of the North-American...
,
Delta ChiDelta Chi or D-Chi is an international Greek letter college social fraternity formed on October 13, 1890,at Cornell University, initially as a professional fraternity for law students. On April 29, 1922, Delta Chi became a general membership social fraternity, eliminating the requirement for men...
,
Kappa PsiKappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, Incorporated, is both the oldest and largest professional pharmaceutical fraternity in the world. It was founded on May 30, 1879, by F. Harvey Smith on the campus of Russell Military Academy in New Haven, Connecticut. The Central Office of Kappa Psi is located...
,
Lambda Chi AlphaLambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men's secret general fraternities in North America, having initiated more than 280,000 members and held chapters at more than 300 universities. It is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a...
,
Phi Sigma Kappa-Phi Sigma Kappa's Creed and Cardinal Principles:The 1934 Convention in Ann Arbor brought more changes for the fraternity. Brother Stewart W. Herman of Gettysburg wrote and presented the Creed, and Brother Ralph Watts of Massachusetts drafted and presented the Cardinal Principles.-World War II:The...
,
Pi Kappa AlphaPi Kappa Alpha is a Greek social fraternity with over 230 chapters and colonies and over 250,000 lifetime initiates in the United States and Canada.-History:...
,
Pi Lambda PhiPi Lambda Phi International Fraternity Inc. is a college social fraternity with 35 active chapters and four colonies in the United States and Canada....
,
Sigma Alpha EpsilonSigma Alpha Epsilon is a North American Greek-letter social college fraternity founded at the University of Alabama on March 9, 1856. Of all existing national social fraternities today, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is the only one founded in the Antebellum South...
,
Sigma Phi EpsilonSigma Phi Epsilon , commonly nicknamed SigEp or SPE, is a social college fraternity for male college students in the United States. It was founded on November 1, 1901, at Richmond College , and its national headquarters remains in Richmond, Virginia. It was founded on three principles: Virtue,...
, and
Sigma PiSigma Pi is an international college secret and social fraternity founded in 1897 at Vincennes University. Sigma Pi International fraternity currently has 127 chapters and 4 colonies in the United States and Canada and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee...
. Black Greek Council fraternities and sororities on campus are:
Alpha Phi AlphaAlpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
,
Delta Sigma ThetaDelta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University...
,
Kappa Alpha PsiKappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
,
Omega Psi PhiOmega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...
,
Phi Beta SigmaPhi Beta Sigma is a predominantly African-American fraternity which was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. The founders A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I...
,
Phi Delta PsiPhi Delta Psi Fraternity was founded on March 21, 1977 on the campus of Western Michigan University.-Organizational philosophy:Phi Delta Psi was founded on the principles of eternal honor, perseverance, leadership, achievement and brotherhood...
, and
Zeta Phi BetaZeta Phi Beta is an international, historically black Greek-lettered sorority and a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.Zeta Phi Beta is organized into 800+ chapters, in eight intercontinental regions including the USA, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean...
. Panhellenic Council member organizations are:
Alpha Sigma TauAlpha Sigma Tau is a national Panhellenic sorority founded on November 4, 1899, at Michigan State Normal College...
,
Alpha Xi DeltaAlpha Xi Delta is a women's fraternity founded on April 17, 1893 at Lombard College, Galesburg, Illinois. Alpha Xi Delta is one of the oldest women's fraternities as well as one of the ten founding fraternities of the National Panhellenic Conference...
,
Delta ZetaDelta Zeta is an international college sorority founded on October 24, 1902, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Today, Delta Zeta has 158 collegiate chapters in the United States and over 200 alumnae chapters in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada...
,
Phi Sigma SigmaPhi Sigma Sigma , colloquially known as "Phi Sig," was the first collegiate nonsectarian fraternity, welcoming women of all faiths and backgrounds...
, and
Zeta Tau AlphaZeta Tau Alpha is a women's fraternity, founded October 15, 1898 at the State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia. The Executive office is located in Indianapolis, Indiana...
, and honorary member
Lambda Kappa SigmaΛKΣ headquartered in Muskego, Wisconsin is an international pharmacy fraternity founded in 1913 by Ethel J. Heath and eight other female students at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy...
. The profession fraternities and sororities include:
Delta Sigma PiΔΣΠ ' is one of the largest co-ed professional business fraternities. Delta Sigma Pi was founded on November 7, 1907 at the School of Commerce, Accounts and Finance, New York University, New York, New York and is currently headquartered in Oxford, Ohio...
,
Gamma Epsilon TauGamma Epsilon Tau is a co-ed national collegiate fraternity for members of the Graphic Arts. The fraternity has currently eight active chapters, with the national chapter located at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY.- About GET :...
,
Kappa PsiKappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, Incorporated, is both the oldest and largest professional pharmaceutical fraternity in the world. It was founded on May 30, 1879, by F. Harvey Smith on the campus of Russell Military Academy in New Haven, Connecticut. The Central Office of Kappa Psi is located...
, Lambda Alpha Epsilon,
Lambda Kappa SigmaΛKΣ headquartered in Muskego, Wisconsin is an international pharmacy fraternity founded in 1913 by Ethel J. Heath and eight other female students at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy...
,
Phi Alpha DeltaΦAΔ , or P.A.D., is the largest co-ed professional law fraternity in the United States of America. Phi Alpha Delta has members who are university students, law school students, lawyers, judges, senators, and even presidents. It was founded in 1902 and today has over 300,000 initiated members...
,
Kappa Kappa PsiKappa Kappa Psi is a fraternity for college and university band members. It was founded on November 27, 1919 at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College in Stillwater, Oklahoma. William Scroggs, now regarded as the "Founder," together with "Mr. Kappa Kappa Psi" A...
and
Alpha Psi OmegaAlpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society is an American recognition honor society recognizing participants in collegiate theatre. The Alpha Cast was founded at Fairmont State College on August 12, 1925 by professor Paul F...
.
Fight song
The first performance of the new fight song, "Fighting Bulldogs" was at Homecoming in 1958.
- Cheer those Bulldogs
- Watch them fight.
- Boost those Bulldogs
- They're all right.
- We'll stand by the Crimson and Gold
- Fight! Fight! Fight!
- Bulldogs of Ferris
- Cheer that Bulldog varsity
- Steer that team to victory.
- Fight you Ferris Bulldogs
- And gain another victory.
- Fight! Fight! Fight!
- Fight for Ferris
Alma mater
The adoption of the new Ferris alma mater song, "Ferris Fidelity" and its first performance under direction of composer Graham T. Overgard were at the Christmas concert in 1957.
- As constant as the Northern Star
- Our faith we pledge to thee.
- Our word, our bond, our oath, our trust to you fidelity.
- From promise of the crimson dawn
- To sunset's mellow gold,
- Thy spirit shall prevail
- We pledge allegiance as of old.
- Alma Mater, Hail!
- As changeless as the earth and sea
- Our faith shall fix our way.
- God's truth, our guide, confirms our will
- For steadfastness we pray.
- Forever in our soul enshrined
- These youthful learning days
- Our future to secure.
- To keep endeavor, strong and true,
- Life and purpose pure.
Notable alumni
- Jeff Hephner
Jeff Hephner is an American actor, known for his recurring role as Matt Ramsey during the third season of The O.C., and as the lead Morgan Stanley Buffkin in the 2008 television series Easy Money...
(B'99), actor, known for his recurring role as Matt Ramsey during the third season of The O.C.The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox television network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 21, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
, and as the lead Morgan Stanley Buffkin in the 2008 television series Easy MoneyEasy Money is a 1983 comedy film starring Rodney Dangerfield, Joe Pesci, Geraldine Fitzgerald and Jennifer Jason Leigh. It was directed by James Signorelli and written by Dangerfield, Michael Endler, P. J. O'Rourke and Dennis Blair...
. He currently plays the recurring role of football coach Red Raymond on The CW series HellcatsHellcats is an American cheerleading comedy-drama television series that originally aired on The CW in the United States from September 8, 2010 to May 17, 2011...
. (Alumni Success Story)
- Al Jardine
Alan Charles "Al" Jardine is a founding member of top-selling American music group The Beach Boys, a guitarist and occasional lead vocalist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.-Early life:...
, guitarist for The Beach BoysThe Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
- Dana King
Dana King, born in Cleveland, is an Emmy Award-winning American broadcast journalist currently serving as anchor for San Francisco CBS Affiliate KPIX....
, news anchor for CBS news affiliate in San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
CBS Affiliate KPIX.
- George Ryan
George Homer Ryan, Sr. was the 39th Governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1999 until 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. Ryan became nationally known when in 2000 he imposed a moratorium on executions and "raised the national debate on capital punishment"...
, was the 39th GovernorThe Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state....
of the U.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of IllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
from 1999 until 2003.
- Christopher Cushman, began his career in photography during the mid 80's; has had showings and has been published. He is currently working on three books including one of portraits. (Artist's Website)
- Karen McDougal
Karen McDougal is an American model and actress. She is known for her appearances in Playboy magazine as Playmate of the Month for December 1997 and Playmate of the Year of 1998. In 2001, the readers of Playboy voted McDougal "No...
, 1998 Playmate of the Year
- Harry Melling
Harry Melling was the team owner of Melling Racing, which won the 1988 NASCAR championship with Bill Elliott.- Background :...
, 1988 NASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
championship car owner (Melling RacingMelling Racing was a NASCAR team that ran from 1982 to 2002. The team won the 1988 championship with driver Bill Elliott.-History:Owner Harry Melling first became involved in NASCAR when his company Melling Tool sponsored Benny Parsons in 1979. The team began in 1982 with driver Bill Elliott by...
) and owner of Melling Tool
Bulldog athletics alumni
- Carlton Brewster
Carlton Brewster is an Arena football wide receiver for the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
, wide receiver and kickoff returner, Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League. Has also spent time spent time on NFL practice squads with the Green Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, San Diego ChargersThe San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Denver BroncosThe Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
- Monty Brown
Monty Brown is an American professional wrestler and former National Football League linebacker, also known as Marcus Cor Von. He is best known for his time with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment, where he wrestled on its ECW brand under the ring name Marcus Cor Von...
(1989–92), is an AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestler and former National 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...
linebacker. (Bulldog Hall of Fame Profile)
- Cody Chupp
Cody Chupp is a American professional ice hockey player who is currently playing with the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League....
, ice hockey player with Texas Stars (Ferris State Athletics Release)
- Allen Feigel, offensive lineman for Team Michigan, All-American Football League
- John Gruden
John D. Gruden is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman.-Playing career:Drafted 168th overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins, Gruden played for the Bruins, Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals playing a total of 92 regular season games, scoring one goal and...
, professional ice hockey player
- Butch Jones
-External links:*...
(B’90), is the current head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats footballThe Cincinnati Bearcats football program represents the University of Cincinnati in a college football. They compete at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level as members of the Big East Conference. The Bearcat football program is one of the nation's oldest, having fielded a team as...
team. Jones previously served as head coach at Central Michigan UniversityCentral Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
from 2007–2009. (Alumni Success Story)
- Dave Karpa
David James Karpa is a Canadian ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Quebec Nordiques, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers between 1993 and 2003...
, Former NHL defenseman
- Chris Kunitz
Christopher Kunitz is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . He has previously played for the Atlanta Thrashers and Anaheim Ducks, the latter with whom he won a Stanley Cup in 2007...
, professional ice hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player for the Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
- Andy Roach
Andrew Roach is an American ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the DEG Metro Stars of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.-Playing career:...
, professional ice hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player
- John W. Schroeder, professional golfer
- Jake Visser, a Coopersville, Michigan
Coopersville is a city located in north central Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,275 at the 2010 census. It is primarily a farming community....
native and former Ferris defensive tackle, agreed to a free-agent contract with the Houston TexansThe Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in April 2009.
- Gary Waters
-External links:****...
(1972–89), head basketball coach for Cleveland State UniversityCleveland State University is a public university located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was established in 1964 when the state of Ohio assumed control of Fenn College, and it absorbed the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1969...
(Bulldog Hall of Fame Profile)
External links