UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY

The 'University of Nebraska at Kearney' (also known informally as 'UNK'), founded in 1905 as the 'Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney', is the Kearney campus of the University of Nebraska system.

Contents

History

Campus

Residence Halls

Classroom Buildings

Other Facilities

Noted alumni

References

External links

History

In March 1903, the Nebraska State Legislature appropriated $50,000 to build a normal school in western Nebraska. In September of that same year, after 111 ballots, the State Board of Education accepted the city of Kearney's offer of twenty acres and Green Terrace Hall at the western edge of the city to become the site. On October 18, 1904, the cornerstone of the first building was laid; in the summer of 1905, offered its first classes in Kearney public school facilities. The first classes on campus were held that fall as the building was being completed around them.
In 1921, the name of the institution was changed to 'Nebraska State Teachers College'. In 1963, it became 'Kearney State College'. Both name changes were a part of system-wide changes for the state colleges.
In 1989, a legislative act moved the institution from the Nebraska State College System to the University of Nebraska system. After a Nebraska Supreme Court review, 'Kearney State College' became the University of Nebraska at Kearney on July 1, 1991. Before the affiliation with the University of Nebraska, Kearney State was often referred to as "K State", which is the same informal name as Kansas State University.
State Representative C.J. Warner of Waverly introduced the 1903 bill creating the institution; his son, State Senator Jerome Warner, introduced the bill making UNK a part of the University.
The school mascot is the "loper," as in "antelope," the standard American name for the animal more specifically called a pronghorn. UNK competes in NCAA Division II and is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. It is also home to the annual Nebraska state speech meet and state one-act competitions.

Campus

The UNK campus comprises 32 buildings on a 258 acre campus. Not all of the buildings are part of the contiguous campus, and many are used for non-academic purposes.

Residence Halls

''Centennial Towers West'' and ''Centennial Towers East'' were named in honor of the centennial of Nebraska statehood. Each building is seven stories tall, tying them for the tallest buildings in Kearney, and between them they house approximately 750 students.
''Jennie M. Conrad Hall'' is home to about 75 students, the smallest residence hall on campus. The building is also home to the Office of Residential and Greek Life, the administrative office of campus housing. Third floor of Conrad is supposedly haunted by a ghost.
''Lyle E. Mantor Hall'' houses approximately 320 students with a number of lounge areas, each equipped with pool tables, televisions, and computer facilities.
''George E. Martin Hall'' has the largest rooms on campus, and its spacious lounge area hosts inter-hall band competitions and other events.
''Men's Hall'' was built as a WPA project in the late Depression, and its distinctive Art-Deco design has netted it a place on the National Register of Historic Places. At various times it has contained faculty offices, the campus library, and a cafeteria, but it has been returned to its original use as a residence hall. Despite the name, residence is co-educational.
''Everett L. Randall Hall'' is conveniently located near the center of campus and has a well-maintained main floor piano for student use.
''H.G. Stout Hall'' is a small residence, home to only about 85 students. To be a resident in Stout Hall students must be members of the Honors Program or have permission from the Honors Program Director.
''University Heights'' is an off-campus apartment complex comprised of one-bedroom and studio apartments. Often referred to as "U-Heights," this facility comprises three buildings about a mile from campus. Space in University Heights is reserved for upperclass students, married students, non-traditional-aged students, and students with children.
''University Residence North'' and ''University Residence South'', known respectively as "URN" and "URS," are homes to the university fraternity and sorority chapters. These buildings between house about 400 students between them and have on-site dining facilities.
In addition to all these buildings, three new state-of-the-art residence halls are currently under construction. The first will be available for occupancy in the Fall of 2007, while the second and third will be completed in Fall of 2008.

Classroom Buildings

The ''William E. Bruner Hall of Science'' is home to the departments of Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Health Sciences.
The ''College of Education Building'' is the newest classroom building on campus. It is home to the departments of Teacher Education, Educational Administration, Counseling and School Psychology, and Communications Disorders. It is also the site of the office of the Dean of the College of Education.
The ''Communications Center Building'' is utilized by the University Communications and eCampus. Originally part of the Nebraska State Tubercular Hospital, it was expanded in 1995 and is now home to the eCampus department/Rural Health Education Network.
''Copeland Hall'', formerly the campus gymnasium, was refitted in 1961 and is now the seat of the departments of History, Psychology, and Sociology, Geography and Earth Sciences as well as the Dean of Natural & Social Sciences.
The ''Fine Arts Building'' is home to the department of Music and the Performing Arts, which includes programs in music, theatre, and dance. The building contains a music recital hall, a proscenium theater, and a black box theater. A wing added to this building houses the department of Art.
''Founders Hall'' is a multi-purpose building and one of the most visible structures on campus. It is home to classrooms and offices for the departments of Mathematics and Statistics, Political Science, Criminal Justice, and Social Work. It also houses administrative offices for the Institutional Research, General Studies, Assessment, and Graduate Studies programs, and numerous university administration offices, including the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor Offices, Finance, Registrar, Human Resources, Business Services, Budget, and AA/EEO.
The ''Health and Sports Center'' houses indoor spectator sports for UNK, including locker facilities, equipment rooms, athletic weight area, athletic training facilities, wrestling and martial arts rooms and concession and rest room facilities for the benefit of spectators utilizing the 6000-seat arena. It is also the site of graduation ceremonies every semester.
The ''Ockinga Seminar Center'' provides two large seminar rooms used by classes and campus events, as well as office space for International Education.
''Otto Olsen Hall'' is another multi-purpose building, near the center of campus. It houses Information Technology Services, including the Helpdesk and UNKConnections, the campus computer store. The Child Development Center, a child-care facility available for employees and students, is also located in Otto Olsen. Finally, Otto Olsen houses classrooms and offices for the departments of Computer Science & Information Systems, Family Studies & Interior Design, and Industrial Technology.
The ''Ron & Carol Cope Center for Safety Education and Research'' includes a driving range and provides space for services offered by the Nebraska Safety Center.
''A.O. Thomas Hall'' was a campus elementary school from 1926-1963, providing an opportunity for Education students to practice teaching in a campus environment. It now houses the departments of English, Modern Languages, and Philosophy.
''Roland B Welch Hall'' was another part of the Nebraska State Tubercular Hospital. The building now houses International Education and the English Language Institute.
''West Center'' was the main building for the old Nebraska State Tubercular Hospital. It now houses the departments of Accounting/Finance, Management, Marketing, Economics, the Safety Center, and UNMC's College of Nursing, Kearney Division.

Other Facilities

The ''Nebraskan Student Union'' contains the dining hall, campus bookstore, several fast-food counters and snack shops, rooms for music, TV and study, pool tables, a ballroom used for University activities, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
The ''Calvin T. Ryan Library'' contains the library and some of the campus computer facilities, and is attached to the Mitchell Communications Center.
''Cushing Coliseum'', connected to the Health and Sports Center, is the arena for indoor intercollegiate athletics. It is also used for student and faculty fitness and provides locker and exercise space for members of the university community. The building also contains classroom facilities which are used by the Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Leisure Studies programs.
The ''Facilities Building'' houses offices for the physical plant operations.
The ''General Services Building'' was originally built as the Military Science building in 1969. Since the ROTC left campus in 1995, this building has housed some of the physical plant operations, as well as Public Safety.
The ''Memorial Student Affairs Building'' houses Admissions, Honors, Campus Post Office, Career Services, Counseling and Health Care, Student Support Services, Financial Aid, and Academic Advising Center.
The ''Museum of Nebraska Art'', founded by the state legislature and located in Kearney since 1986, is administered as a department of the University.
The ''Frank House'' is a Victorian mansion on the western edge of campus, formerly the residence of the administrator of the Nebraska State Tubercular Hospital. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Frank House is maintained as a museum and is open to the public, as well as being used for University functions. Also noted for it's hauntings.

Noted alumni

★ Richard G. Kopf - Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska

★ Stephen Lawhead - noted author of several fantasy and science-fiction novels

★ Randy Rasmussen - former New York Jets player

★ Don Welch - poet

★ Joba Chamberlain - New York Yankee's pitcher

References

★ UNK At-A-Glance

External links

★ University of Nebraska at Kearney