Governors State University
Encyclopedia
Governors State University (GSU) is a public university located in University Park, Illinois
University Park, Illinois
University Park is a village in Will County, Illinois. A very small parcel is in Cook County. University Park has been the home of Governors State University since 1969...

. The 750 acre campus is located 30 miles (48 km) south of Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1969, GSU is an upper-division university, offering undergraduate courses at the junior and senior levels as well as graduate level coursework at the masters and doctoral level. GSU has four colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and Public Administration, the College of Education, and the College of Health and Human Services.

History

Founded on July 17, 1969, Governors State University was founded with deliberate efforts to veer from traditional ways of providing higher education. GSU was one of the original "Universities without Walls" as well as a university that did not offer grades, but competencies. In place of departments, it had interdisciplinary studies, and all professors hold the rank of University Professor. GSU is one of the two initial upper-division and graduate universities in Illinois. The other was the University of Illinois at Springfield
University of Illinois at Springfield
The University of Illinois at Springfield is a public university in Springfield, Illinois. The University was established in 1969 as Sangamon State University by the Illinois General Assembly and became a part of the University of Illinois system on July 1, 1995.The University of Illinois at...

, founded in 1969 as Sangamon State University.

GSU has developed into a more traditional university, with divisions and departments, professors with rank (Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor), and classrooms with smart technology. GSU recently began offering doctoral degrees. The first doctoral program was created in 2007 as a professional doctoral degree in Physical Therapy.
GSU has the following colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business and Public Administration, Education, and Health and Human Services. The University as a whole is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The business programs are accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and the public administration program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).The University is also a member of the Illinois Council of Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Programs.

The Family Development Center (FDC) provides university-quality programs for children and their parents.





Awards and Rankings

Governors State University is ranked 14th among universities nationwide in the number of graduates from its Master of Science in Analytical Chemistry program, according to the August 23, 2010 Chemical & Engineering News
Chemical & Engineering News
Chemical & Engineering News is a weekly magazine published by the American Chemical Society, providing professional and technical information in the fields of chemistry and chemical engineering...

. It is placed ahead of institutions like Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...

 and Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...

. The University received the 2010 Governor's Sustainability Award for significant achievements in protecting the environment, helping sustain the future, and improving the economy. The awards were presented by the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) during a luncheon in Champaign.

Ranked 67th among the best Health Administration Schools (US News 2008).
Ranked 90th among the Best Occupational Therapy Schools (US News 2009).
Ranked 158th among the best Physical Therapy Schools (US News 2009).
Ranked 175th among best Speech-Language Pathology Schools (US News 2009).

Graduate Degrees

  • Master of Arts
    • Art
    • Communications and Training
    • Criminal Justice
    • English
    • Political and Justice Studies
  • Master of Fine Arts
    • Independent Film and Digital Imaging
  • Master of Science
    • Analytical Chemistry
    • Computer Science
    • Environmental Biology

Undergraduate Degrees

  • Bachelor of Arts
    • Communications
    • Criminal Justice
    • English
    • English with a Teacher
    • Education Sequence
    • Interdisciplinary Studies
    • Mathematics
    • Mathematics with a Teacher Education Sequence
    • Social Sciences
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts
    • Art
  • Bachelor of Science
    • Biology
    • Biology with a Teacher
    • Education Sequence
    • Chemistry
    • Chemistry with a Teacher
    • Education Sequence
    • Computer Science

Graduate Degrees

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • Master of Public Administration (MPA)
  • Master of Science in Accounting
  • Master of Science in Management Information Systems

Undergraduate Degrees

  • Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with concentrations in
    • Finance
    • Human Resource Management
    • Management Information Systems
    • International Business
    • Management
    • Marketing
    • Operations Management
    • Public Administration
  • Bachelor of Arts in Business and Applied Science
  • Bachelor of Science in Accounting

Graduate Degrees

  • Master of Arts in Counseling
    • Community Counseling
    • Marriage and Family Counseling
    • School Counseling
  • Post-MA School Counselor Certificate Program
  • Master of Arts Education
    • Computer Education Specialization
    • Mathematics Education Specialization
    • Science Education Specialization
    • Curriculum & Instruction Specialization
  • Master of Arts Educational Administration
    • Option I: General Administrative
    • Option II: Chief School Business Official
    • Option III: Higher Education Administration
  • Master of Arts Early Childhood Education
  • Master of Arts Multicategorical Special Education
  • Master of Arts Psychology
    • Theoretical Psychology
    • Clinical Psychology
  • Master of Arts Reading
    • Reading Teacher Endorsement (this is a non-degree program)
    • Supervisory Endorsement in Reading (this is a non-degree program)
  • Master of Health Science in Communication Disorders

Undergraduate Degrees

  • Bachelor of Arts Early Childhood Education
  • Post-BA Alternative Route to Elementary Certification
  • Bachelor of Arts Elementary Education
  • Bachelor of Science Secondary Biology Education
  • Bachelor of Science Secondary Chemistry Education
  • Bachelor of Arts Secondary English Education
  • Bachelor of Arts Secondary Mathematics Education
  • Bachelor of Arts Psychology
    • Pre-Clinical Concentration
    • Mental Health Concentration

Graduate Degrees

  • Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
  • Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (t-DPT)
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
  • Doctor of Occupational Therapy (DrOT)
  • Master of Health Science in Addictions Studies
  • Master of Health Science in Communication Disorders
  • Master of Health Administration (MHA)
  • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
  • Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)
  • Master of Social Work (MSW)

Undergraduate Degrees

  • Bachelor of Health Science in Communication Disorders (BHS)
  • Bachelor of Health Science (BHS) in Community Health
  • Bachelor of Health Administration (BHA)
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
  • Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)

Statistics

  • GSU offers 22 baccalaureate degrees, 27 graduate degrees, and 22 certificate programs.
  • Over 38% of Governors State's students are minorities.
  • The average student 33 years old.
  • 71% of Governors State students are women — many are single working mothers.
  • Approximately 90% of GSU faculty hold a doctorate or the highest degree in their discipline.
  • Governors State's faculty are diverse (28% racial minority), double the national average.

Points of interest

  • GSU is also home to the Center for Performing Arts, which draws entertainers and artists from around the world, as well as the local community. The Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra
    Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra
    The Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra also known as IPO, is a 75-member orchestra led by Carmon DeLeone. It is the largest performing arts organization in the Chicago Southland, with administrative offices in Park Forest. It draws audiences from over 68 south and southwest suburbs including Chicago,...

     held monthly concerts on a fall through spring seasonal schedule through the 2007-2008 season.
  • GSU is home to the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park (named for an area developer), which began with one piece in 1969 and has since become one of the nation's most significant outdoor collections.




Sustainability

In 2008, GSU renovated several parking lots, replacing asphalt with permeable pavers-interlocking bricks that allow rainwater to seep down, trapping heavy metals and pollutants before they enter storm sewers.GSU is also home to one of the state’s largest solar-thermal systems, which pre-heats water for the campus swimming pool and provides about one-third of the domestic hot water for the university’s main building.

In October 21, 2010 Warren Ribley, director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, announced a $153,000 grant for the 50 kilowatt turbine, to be located on the University Park campus.With the installation of an on campus wind turbine, Governors State University will continue reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, and move toward its goal of becoming Illinois’ greenest university. The wind turbine will give Governors State a clean, renewable source of energy, and also be incorporated into the university’s academic programs.

Governors State University will kick off a new era in science education on October 18, 2011 with the groundbreaking ceremony celebrating the start of the renovation of the university’s science facilities. The $22.6 million, three year renovation project will create state-of-the-art education facilities while providing more than 130 construction jobs. In addition to the positive impact the renovation project will have on the region’s economy, the building renovation will better equip GSU to educate students for regional jobs in healthcare, computer science, scientific and mathematics research, and science and math education.The area to be renovated comprises approximately 76,000 square feet of space. During the renovation, crews will replace HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and lighting systems. Outmoded infrastructure and equipment will be replaced with up-to-date facilities and equipment that will be energy-efficient and meet current codes and regulations. The project design calls for structural infill of existing atrium space, adding about 9,000 square feet of additional usable space.The renovated facilities will serve students and faculty in biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, nursing, communication disorders, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.

Notable alumni

  • Debbie Halvorson
    Debbie Halvorson
    Deborah L. "Debbie" Halvorson is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. She is a member of the Democratic Party...

    , former Illinois State Senator and member of the US House of Representatives (11th District - IL).
  • Brian Middleton, noted Chicago radio DJ.
  • Curtis J. Crawford, is an American computer systems engineer, who has been a director of DuPont since 1998. Crawford is President and Chief Executive Officer of XCEO, Inc.
  • Melody A.O'Neal, founder, president and CEO of Melmedica Children's Healthcare Inc., a pediatric private duty home care agency specializing in the care of medically complex, technology-dependent children in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. She later served as chairman of the board and director of the Office of Strategic Planning for the Melmedica Children's Healthcare. She is a frequent presenter and has several published works. She has received many awards and honors, and sits on the boards of several prominent organizations.

Honorary degrees

  • Marca Bristo, gained honorary degree from Governors State University, Bristo was integral in the creation and passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 for which she received the Distinguished Service Award of the President of the United States.




External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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