he University of Memphis is a comprehensive urban university committed to scholarly accomplishments of our students and faculty and to the enhancement of our community. The Uni- versity of Memphis offers 15 bachelor's degrees in more than 50 Tmajors and 70 concentrations, master's degrees in 45 subjects and doctoral degrees in 18 disciplines, in addition to the Juris Doctor (law) and a specialist degree in education. The University of Memphis campus is located on 1,160 acres with nearly 200 buildings at more than four sites. During a typical semester, students come from almost every state and many foreign countries. The average age of full-time undergraduates is 23. The average ACT score for entering freshman is 22. ` Memphis he University of Memphis was founded under the auspices of the General Education Bill, enacted by the Tennessee Legislature in 1909. Known origi- nally as West Tennessee Normal School, the institution opened its doors Sept. 10, 1912, with Dr. Seymour A. Mynders as president. TStudents in the first classes selected blue and gray as the school colors and the Tiger as the mascot. (Tradition holds that the colors, those of the opposing armies during the Civil War, were chosen in commemoration of the reuniting of the country after that divisive conflict.) Over the next decade, The Desoto yearbook was created, the first library was opened in the Administration Building, the first dining hall was built and the first men's dorm was built; today that dorm, Scates Hall, houses the academic counseling offices. In 1925 the name of the college changed to West Tennessee State Teachers Col- lege. Three years later, the Brister Library was built, named after two-term president John W. Brister. In 1931 the students created a campus newspaper, The Tiger Rag; and in 1935 the school's agriculture department was discontinued. The college changed names again in 1941, becoming Memphis State College, and in 1946 the first alumnus was named president, J. Millard "Jack" Smith. In 1950 graduate studies were initiated, and in 1954 the school switched from a quarter to a semester system. In 1957 the state legislature designated Memphis State full university status. In 1959 the university admitted its first black students, and the first doctoral programs began in 1966. The 1970s, under President Cecil C. Humphreys, saw new buildings constructed across the campus, including a University Center and a 12-story library. In 1983 MSU became the first public university in Tennessee to gain accreditation of its entire curriculum. The 1990s were characterized by another name change and another building boom. In 1994 MSU became The University of Memphis, and the Ned R. McWherter Library was completed. As the century closed, a 1,200-seat theater was being completed, and plans were underway for the FedEx Emerging Technology Center adjacent to the Fogelman College of Business and Economics and a full-service hotel and hospitality training facil- ity, a $15 million gift from Holiday Inns founder Kemmons Wilson. Today, The University of Memphis is one of Tennessee's two comprehensive institu- tions of higher learning. Situated on an urban campus in the state's largest city, it is the flagship of the Tennessee Board of Regents system. It awards more than 3,000 degrees annually. With an enrollment of approximately 20,000 students, The University of Memphis has 24 Chairs of Excellence, more than any other Tennessee university, and five state- approved centers of excellence. Mission: The University of Memphis is a doctoral degree-granting urban research univer- sity committed to excellence in undergraduate, graduate, and professional education; in the discovery and dissemination of knowledge; in service to the metropolitan commu- nity, state, and nation; and in the preparation of a diverse student population for success- ful careers and meaningful participation in a global society. The University of Memphis remains committed to the education of a non-racially identifiable student body and promotes diversity and access without regard to race, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status. U of M Fall 2000 Enrollment Data • Total Enrollment: 19,986 58% Female 61% White 66% Full-time 2% law school 9% other 77% undergraduate 42% 21% 34% part-time Male 30% black graduate Campus Quick Facts Accreditation: The University of Memphis is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor's, first professional, master's, educational specialist's and doctoral degrees. Campus Size: 1,160 acres and nearly 200 buildings at four sites. Operating Budget: $220 million Local Economic Impact: More than $1 billion University Focus: Opened in 1912 as a teacher training college, The University of Memphis has grown into one of the largest comprehensive universities in the southeast United States. Still offering the teaching, research and service functions it was founded to provide, The University of Memphis has established five destination areas: informa- tion technology, international studies, performing arts, public health and undergradu- ate education. Campus Location: Located in a suburban, residential section of Memphis - the 18th largest U.S. city - our beautifully landscaped campus is easily accessible to shopping, recreation and entertainment. The University also has teaching sites throughout Shelby County and West Tennessee. Major Divisions of the University: College of Arts and Sciences, Fogelman College of Business and Economics, College of Communication and Fine Arts, College of Educa- tion, Herff College of Engineering, University College, Loewenberg School of Nursing, School of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and the Graduate School. Degrees: The University of Memphis offers 15 bachelor's degrees in more than 50 majors and 70 concentrations, master's degrees in 45 subjects and doctoral degrees in 18 disciplines in addition to the Juris Doctor (law) and a specialist degree in education. More than 3,000 degrees are awarded annually. Library: The University's Ned R. McWherter Library provides one of the most elec- tronically up-to-date information repositories within hundreds of miles. Students are able to tap into information stored in libraries around the world. Library collections contain more than 13 million items, which include monographs, periodical volumes, federal and state documents, maps and manuscripts. Holdings include nearly 3.1 mil- lion microformat materials and more than a million bound volumes. Information Technology: The U of M provides state-of-the-art computing facilities for student and faculty use, including a 24-hour TigerLAN lab. Thirty-five additional labs with more than 700 PC and Macintosh workstations and eight "smart" classrooms complement the teaching and research activities of the University. Center and Chairs of Excellence: The University of Average entering ACT Score Memphis has five state-approved Centers of Excellence: 22 Center for Applied Psychological Research, Center 21 for Earthquake Research and Information, Center for 20 Research Initiatives and Strategies for the Communi- catively Impaired, Center for Research in Educational Policy, and the Institute of Egyptian Art and Archae- ology. There are 24 endowed Chairs of Excellence, which boast some of this country's top scholars and researchers. National Average University of Memphis State of Tennessee Memphis PERFORMING ARTS CENTER The University and surrounding community is extremely deficient in respect to a facility that will adequately accomodate major cultural events. Teaching and interpre- tation through exhibition experience benefits the students of the University and the general community. The pro- posed structure would provide a performing arts theater seating 1,200 to allow opera, ballet, musical and theatrical productions to be conducted in a world class atmosphere. The Performing Arts Center is envisioned as the focal point of the campus entry and a hub for community-related ac- tivities. BOOKSTORE The bookstore will complete the walkway from the newly constructed parking garage to the Unviersity Center, and will include service functions such as a post office, copy center, bank and convenience store. The main floor of the facility will replace the current bookstore, which is located in the lower level of the University Center. Construction is expected to be complete during the summer of 2002. Building a FEDEX EMERGING TECHNOLOGY COMPLEX This jointly-funded project will represent the most advanced and evolving methods in teaching and learning the technology skills of today and tomorrow. The idea behind the facility is that students will be better prepared for the fast-paced, rapidly-changing busi- ness world. The facility will provide a technologically equipped 200-seat forum, computer labs, training room, collaboration suites, and hardware and software development labs as well as a cyber café and exhibit area. The University of Mem- phis is already established in the area of tech- nology and research with over 17 doctoral pro- grams as well as an advanced masters program in e-commerce, opportunities in cycle time re- search and participation in its highly recognized, Institute for the Management of Emerging Technology. As an Internet2 campus and a Carnegie Classification of Extensive Doctoral Research University, The U of M has made a commitment to move to the next level with the FedEx Emerging Technology Complex. There was a ground-breaking ceremony on May 2, 2001 and construction is expected to be complete in spring of 2003. KEMMONS WILSON SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY AND RESORT MANAGEMENT The site construction for this exciting new facility has begun. The hotel will include 82 suites, a full- service restaurant, meeting and ballroom facilities. Accomodations for the academic program includes offices, a computer lab, service rooms, classrooms, demonstration kitchen and other associated space. STUDENT PLAZA The Student Plaza project is funded and construction is expected to begin in the near future with a projected completion in the fall or winter of 2001.