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Towson University

Towson University (TU or Towson) is a public university in Towson, Maryland. Founded in 1866 as Maryland's first training school for teachers, Towson University is a part of the University System of Maryland. Since its founding, the university has evolved into eight subsidiary colleges with over 20,000 students. Its 329-acre campus is situated in Baltimore County, Maryland eight miles north of downtown Baltimore. Towson is one of the largest public universities in Maryland and still produces the most teachers of any university in the state.

Towson University
Former name
Maryland State Normal School (1866–1935)
Maryland State Teachers College at Towson (1935–1963)
Towson State College (1963–1976)
Towson State University (1976–1997)[1]
TypePublic university
EstablishedDecember 8, 1866; 157 years ago (1866-12-08)[2]
Parent institution
University System of Maryland
Academic affiliations
Endowment$87.8 million (Towson University, 2019)[3]
Budget$540 million[4]
PresidentMark R. Ginsberg
ProvostMelanie Perreault
Academic staff
1,644[2]
Students22,294
Undergraduates18,807[2][5]
Postgraduates3,478[2]
Location, ,
United States

39°23′40″N 76°36′30″W / 39.39444°N 76.60833°W / 39.39444; -76.60833
CampusSuburban, 329 acres (1.33 km2)[6]
ColorsBlack and Gold[7]
   
NicknameTigers
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division ICAA
MascotDoc the Tiger
Websitewww.towson.edu

History edit

Maryland State Normal School edit

 
McFadden Alexander Newell

The General Assembly of Maryland established what would eventually become Towson University in 1865, with the allocation of funds directed toward Maryland's first teacher-training school, or then called "normal school" (term used from a new French tradition).[8] On January 15, 1866, this institution, known then as the "Maryland State Normal School" (M.S.N.S.), officially opened its doors as part of the substantial modern educational reforms prescribed by the Unionist/Radical Republican Party-dominated Maryland Constitution of 1864 of the Civil War-era state government, which provided for a new state superintendent of public instruction and a Board of Education to be appointed to advise and supervise the counties, in addition to the already progressive public educational system previously established in 1829 in Baltimore City.[9] Located then at Red Man's Hall on North Paca Street in Baltimore, the new teachers' school originally enrolled eleven students and fostered three faculty members.[10][11] McFadden Alexander Newell served as the school's first principal as well as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and oversaw the first graduating class of sixteen students in June 1866.[9]

As time passed, the enrollment in the school grew exponentially. The State Normal School soon quickly outgrew its temporary facilities in Red Man's Hall on Paca Street and moved to another temporary location in 1873 on the northeast corner of North Charles and East Franklin Streets, in the former William Howard Greek Revival mansion (son of famous American Revolutionary War Col. John Eager Howard of the famous "Maryland Line" in the Continental Army who owned most of the land north of Baltimore Town as his estate of "Belvidere" or "Howard's Woods"), and his family was now starting to develop and lay out city streets. The landmark mansion, (across the street from the First Unitarian Church of Baltimore), which later was known as the Union Club by 1863 and later became the Athenaeum Club.[12] The following year, the General Assembly appropriated money to construct an exclusive building to house the burgeoning school. In 1876, the Normal School moved its faculty and 206 students to this new landmark facility located in West Baltimore facing Lafayette Square on Carrollton and Lafayette Avenues.[10][11]

Move to Towson edit

 
Stephens Hall, under construction in 1914.
 
Newell Hall, 1916

The demand for qualified teachers became overwhelming by the turn of the century. The Maryland Department of Education reported an annual need for 350 new teachers, but the Maryland State Normal School was graduating fewer than 100.[9] The facilities in West Baltimore were now inadequate to meet state demands. Principal Sarah Richmond, one of the original eleven graduates, began a campaign to establish a campus where the school could function more appropriately. In 1910, the General Assembly formed a committee to oversee site selection, budget, and design plans for the new campus. John Charles Linthicum was appointed president of the committee, alongside State Superintendent M. Bates Stephens and Sarah Richmond. The committee surveyed locations at Roland Park, Lutherville-Timonium, Mount Washington, Pimlico, Glencoe, and many other areas.[11] Eventually, the committee settled on an 80-acre (320,000 m2) site in Towson and the General Assembly financed the $600,000 move in 1912.[8] Construction began in 1913 on the Administration Building, now known as Stephens Hall. In September 1915, the new campus, comprising Stephens Hall, Newell Hall, and the power plant, began classes.[12]

Expansions and name changes edit

In 1934, the state decreed that new public school teachers must have baccalaureate degrees instead of two-year teaching certificates, and the school retooled its curriculum to issue Bachelor of Science degrees.[8] The following year, the school changed its name to Maryland State Teachers College at Towson.[9][12] As the name implied, the college's single purpose was to train teachers. In 1946, however, the institution established a junior college to offer two years of college work on a transfer basis. This expansion laid the foundation of what was later to become the art and sciences program. In 1958, the college offered its first graduate program leading to a Master of Education degree. In 1960, the college expanded the art and science programs into four-year courses and began awarding bachelor's degrees in these fields. Due to this change in focus, the name changed once more to Towson State College.[8][9]

Beginning in 1964, the college enrollment rates began a dramatic increase as the baby boomer generation began applying to colleges.[9] Within a decade, Towson State's enrollment climbed from 3,537 to 13,399.[8] This expansion led to the construction of the Center for the Arts, University Union, Cook Library, and many other new facilities. Under the presidency of James L. Fisher, the college expanded the courses offered to meet the demands of the growing student body. In 1976, the school's name changed again to Towson State University.

Towson joined 10 other public institutions in 1988 in the newly created University System of Maryland. Previously, Towson had been a member of the State University and College System of Maryland with five other public institutions across the state.[13]

Towson dropped the designation "state" from its name and became Towson University on July 1, 1997. The new name recognized shifts in funding and the development and growth of Towson as a metropolitan university.[11]

Gallery edit

Academics edit

Towson University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education[18] and the Maryland State Department of Education.[19] For the Fall 2010 freshmen class, Towson accepted about 57% of their applicants.[20] The average grade point average was a 3.45 and the middle 50% of matriculating students had ACT composite scores between 21 and 25.[21] Towson educates undergraduate and graduate students in thirty academic departments which are subdivided into eight colleges:

  • College of Business and Economics
  • College of Education
  • College of Health Professions
  • College of Liberal Arts
  • Jess and Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics
  • Towson University Honors College
  • College of Graduate Studies and Research
  • Towson University College of Fine Arts and Communication
    • Includes departments for Art; Dance; Electronic Media and Film; Mass Communication; Communication Studies; and Performing Arts. The college's performing arts programs provide Music and Theatre Arts and dance performances on and off campus. The college is home to the Asian Arts & Culture Center.

Programs edit

The university provides 110 undergraduate majors, and more than 80 graduate degrees and certifications.[22][23] Once students have determined a program of study, they become a member of the academic college administering the program.

Towson's gerontology program is one of only 100 such undergraduate programs offered in the United States.[24]

Enrollment edit

More than 20,000 full-time and part-time students are enrolled in the university. Their numbers include over 800 international students from 100 nations. There are more than 17,000 undergraduates; approximately 32% are non-white. Also, in 2006 Towson achieved more enrollment in its business school than any other college in the state of Maryland.[25]

In terms of demographics, the student population of Towson University is 60% female; and 51% White and 25% Black or African American.

Student life edit

 
One of TU's high rise residence halls, the Residence Tower, pictured before it was renovated and re-opened in August 2018.[26]

Housing edit

Around 74% of the freshman class, and over 5,000 students among all four classes, reside on campus.[27] The university has 16 residence halls, which include apartment complexes, modern high-rise towers, and more traditional two- and three-story residential buildings.[28] Students can also choose from 10 Residential Learning Communities.[29] While on campus, students have access to a counseling center, an academic advising center, a health center, and a career center.

Transportation edit

TU has its own on campus shuttle system that operates free of charge to students. The on-campus shuttle travels to most sections of the school, while the off-campus shuttles travel to housing complexes (The Fairways at Towson, University Village, The Colony, Donnybrook) that students live in that are on the outskirts of the campus.[30] There is also direct access to the MTA Maryland buses with services connecting to the light rail.

Campus police edit

The Towson University Police Department (TUPD) is the primary law enforcement agency servicing the students, faculty, and visitors within the campus limits and adjacent streets and roadways. The TUPD is aided by the Baltimore County Police Department as directed by authority. The current chief of police is Charles "Joe" Herring.[31] The TUPD is divided into several units such as the Patrol Unit and the Community Crime Reduction Unit. It also includes emergency communications.[32]

Campus edit

Campus Master Plan edit

As a response to the University System of Maryland's (USM) desire for Towson University to grow its enrollment, a new Campus Master Plan was developed for the university and approved by the USM board of regents in December 2003. The university found that in the past, it has been guided by master plans that focused inward, resulting in disjointed campus development that was disconnected from the larger Towson community.

The resulting vision, called TU:2010.[33][34] addresses both University System of Maryland requirements and community concerns. It contains over 70 specific initiatives that range from growing diversity to increasing student involvement in service learning projects. Perhaps its most visible development is the creation of academic and student life buildings, as well as roads, parking, utilities, and landscapes to support those buildings.[35]

As part of this vision, Towson's campus is undergoing many construction projects set into different phases with staggered completion dates.

Completed Construction Projects
Name of Project Cost Completion Date Description
Union Third Floor Conference Rooms $760,000 August 2006 Conversion of existing patio space on the third floor of the University Union into conference rooms for use by student organizations.
Cook Library Lobby Renovation and Starbucks Cafe $1 million September 2006 Complete renovation of the lobby area to include new inner and outer storefronts with Starbucks Cafe replacing the vending area.
Burkshire Marriott Pub $1 million January 2007 The patio outside of Nathan T's at the Burkshire Marriott was enclosed and the interior of Pub Smedley was renovated and expanded to create the newly named University Club. The University Club boasts new interior finishes, bar, and bathrooms.
Childcare Center $4.5 million January 2007 Formerly housed in the Lida Lee Tall Education Building, TU's Childcare Center now has its own newly constructed building located on Auburn Drive.
Campus Memorial Garden $200,000 Summer 2007 Construction of a memorial garden between the University Union and the Glen Towers was completed 2007. The garden is open to all students, faculty and staff.
Towsontown Garage Expansion $10.6 million December 2007 Expansion of the garage to add 500 parking spaces for use by students, faculty, staff and visitors. Construction was completed in December 2007.
West Village Housing – Phase I $36 million Fall 2008 Delivery of 668 additional beds in the West Village sector was completed before the fall 2008 semester.
College of Liberal Arts – Phase I $51.5 million April 2009 Design and construction of the first 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2) of the 250,000 square feet (23,000 m2) academic building houses the College of Liberal Arts. The university broke ground on the building's construction in September 2007 completing the first phase in Fall of 2009.
College of Liberal Arts – Phase II $72 million Summer 2011 Design and construction of the second of the academic building that will house the remainder of the College of Liberal Arts. The university broke ground on the building's construction in 2009 with the building opening in the Fall of 2011.
West Village Housing – Phase II N/A Summer 2011 Phase II of the West Village housing project encompasses the construction of two residential facilities in the university's West Village precinct. The buildings consist of nearly 160,000 total gross square feet of space and contain 651 beds for freshman and sophomore students. They are a mirror images of Harris and Tubman Halls, located just west of these buildings which comprised phase one of the West Village housing project.
West Village Commons $30 million Summer 2011 The West Village Commons building is an 85,000 gross square foot mixed-use facility that supports the residential population of the campus's West Village precinct. The building offers dining, retail, meeting, office and other student service spaces.
West Village Parking Garage $27 million Summer 2011 The West Village Garage is a 489,000-square-foot (45,400 m2) parking facility west of Towson Run Apartments in the university's West Village precinct. Construction on the garage began in August 2010 and was completed in August 2011. The six-story garage contains 1,500 parking spaces for TU students, faculty/staff and visitors. It also features LED lighting.
Campus Gateway $11 million Winter 2012 The new gateway is located near Burdick Hall. Marked by brick pillars and a large, open plaza, the gateway serves as a major campus access route.
SECU Arena $65 million Summer 2013 A 5,200-plus seat multi-use arena facility complete with video screens, entertainment suites/boxes, and expanded lobbies. Towson University has the new arena with the added benefit of preserving the Towson Center and keeping it operational in a redeveloped form for a basketball/volleyball practice facility, gymnastics facility and newly developed areas for sports medicine, strength & conditioning and a comprehensive academic and life skills area. Construction was completed May 2013 and was opened in June 2013.

Campus sustainability edit

In 2007, the university signed onto the American College and Universities Presidents' Climate Commitment, pledging to become carbon neutral by 2050. The institution has achieved a 48% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The university boast a 44% recycling rate, trayless and strawless dining, 4000 solar panels, 36 E/V charging stations, three green roofs and two bikeshares.[36][37]

Athletics edit

 
A Tigers baseball player during a game in 2015

The Towson Tigers, formerly the Towson College Knights, are the athletics teams of Towson University. All of the major athletic teams compete in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) with 20 Division I athletic teams (13 in women's sports, 7 in men's sports).

Under the leadership of President Bob Caret the university placed a greater emphasis on the athletics program. In September 2010 Caret hired a new director of athletics, Michael P. Waddell, who had significant program building experience at the highest levels of college sports and led the Tigers to unprecedented success during his three years at the helm, including eleven (11) CAA Regular Season & Tournament Championships. Waddell left Towson in 2013 for the University of Arkansas and was replaced by Tim Leonard.

Towson University offers the most comprehensive sports program in the metropolitan Baltimore area, fielding 20 varsity teams that compete in the Colonial Athletic Association. Since joining the league in 2001–02, the Tigers have won CAA titles in men's and women's lacrosse, men's swimming, women's swimming, men's soccer, men's golf, baseball, track & field and football. During an athletics history that traces its roots to the 1920s, Towson has sent teams and individual student-athletes to NCAA post-season competition in baseball, basketball, football, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, track & field and volleyball.

Eleven Tigers have been named CAA Scholar-Athlete Award Winners for their respective sports, including the 2010 cross country recipient, Brandi Gervais, a senior Biology/Pre-Dentistry Major with a perfect 4.0 GPA. A number of student-athletes have gone on to enjoy professional careers, including Jermon Bushrod, the starting left offensive tackle for the 2009 Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints; former Major League Baseball outfielder Casper Wells; and former National Basketball Association shooting guard Gary Neal.

Towson Tiger edit

Before the 1960s, the name of the sports teams at Towson were known as the "Towson College Knights". Towson student John Schuerholz pushed for a new mascot, and the tiger was officially adopted in 1962. Schuerholz later became general manager and then president of the Atlanta Braves. The university's present baseball complex is named in his honor.[38]

According to school newspaper The Towerlight, when the Student Government Association first bought the tiger statue that sits outside Cook Library in 1996, the organization hoped to boost school spirit. Instead, it became subject to vandalism and disrepair. In March 2006, after several acts of vandalism, the statue was completely removed from in front of the library.

In September 2006, the Towerlight reported that a new bronze tiger statue had been unveiled as the centerpiece of the university's "Capital Campaign" to raise $50 million. The primary difference between the new statue and previous one is that the new one is made of bronze and all of the legs are on the ground and the tail is wrapped around its legs rather than raised, so it won't get damaged by vandals.[39]

The new statue is outside Stephens Hall and was unveiled on February 8, 2007, where Caret said it would be "visible to passersby on York Road as well as students".[40][41]

Traditions edit

Tigerfest edit

Tigerfest is TU's annual spring festival that features interactive activities for students, as well as live musical entertainment. Tigerfest, which is also open to the public (not just TU students), occurs in late April and was held in Johnny Unitas Stadium for most of the event's history. Starting in 2014, the event was moved to Towson's brand new basketball arena, SECU Arena. Also beginning in 2014 was the festival being held over two days. Day one features events and games on campus, while day two is centered around a concert. Artists such as Lil Yachty, Playboi Carti, Krewella, Kid Cudi,[42] The Used, and Yellowcard have appeared at Tigerfest in the past.

Community outreach edit

Division of Economic and Community Outreach edit

The Division of Economic and Community Outreach (DECO) was established in 2004 as an initiative of President Robert L. Caret. DECO's charge is to "provide a focus for engagement with the external community and to provide a path into the university's research and project talent."[43] DECO includes over 130 experts in the following areas: IT Solutions, Mapping Solutions (GIS), Technical Training, Applied Economics and Human Services, Information Assurance, and Business Growth.

Cherry Hill Learning Zone edit

The initiative is a partnership among the Baltimore City Public School System, Baltimore City government, Towson University and Cherry Hill's community organizations. Together, the programs are trying to rebuild the Cherry Hill neighborhood in southern Baltimore. The program interacts with Cherry Hill's civic leaders, community organizations and citizens, the Learning Zone hopes to serve as a resource for the academic progress of Cherry Hill's young residents and improvement of the overall environment in the community.[44][45]

Baltimore Urban Debate League edit

The Towson Speech and Debate team has close ties with the Baltimore Urban Debate League and often volunteers people from the team and the university to judge and facilitate the running of the tournaments.

The university often acts as a host for league tournaments at least once a year.

Towson also has what they call an Urban Debate Scholar award that they give to one graduating senior every year. The scholarship pays for full tuition and fees at TU. They also offer varying awards between $2,000 – $4,000 to other graduating seniors.[46]

Adopt-A-Campus edit

Former President Caret established a program called Adopt-A-Campus, which gives local businesses, organizations and others an opportunity to help beautify the TU campus. Every group is assigned a certain section of the campus, and will be encouraged to pick up litter and help keep the area clean of trash and debris.[47]

Media and publications edit

Television Radio Print
  • WMJF – The university's student-run TV station
  • WTMD – Alternative music FM public radio
  • XTSR – Student-run Internet radio station; also played on campus television (formerly WTSR).

Greek life edit

Towson has over 20 Greek letter organizations on campus. In 2022, 7% of undergraduate men and 6% of undergraduate women were active in Towson's Greek system.[49]

Notable people edit

Controversies edit

2014 Barry Freundel voyeurism edit

On October 14, 2014, Barry Freundel, a Jewish scholar, Rabbi, and religious studies and philosophy professor at Towson University, was suspended after being arrested in connection to allegations that he secretly videotaped women as they used a religious bath known as a mikvah near his Georgetown synagogue.[50] One victim was a student of Freundel's at Towson, and was encouraged by the professor to take “practice dunks” in the mikvah, though she was not Jewish and had no intention of converting.[51] Authorities reported dozens of students may have also been taken on these “dunking field trips.”

After serving a search warrant on Freundel's Towson office, police found a number of computer storage devices, hidden cameras concealed in items such as tissue boxes and a clock radio, and a list of handwritten names.[52] He ultimately pleaded guilty to 52 counts of voyeurism, and was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison.[53]

References edit

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  2. ^ a b c d . Archived from the original on 2008-01-06. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  3. ^ "Towson University school profile". colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com.
  4. ^ "Internal Operating Budget and Plan Fiscal Year 2020". University Budget Office. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
  5. ^ "Towson University school profile". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  6. ^ . Towson University. Archived from the original on 2008-01-06. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  7. ^ "Primary Color Use – Brand Standards – Design Center – Towson University". Towson University. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  8. ^ a b c d e . Towson University. Archived from the original on 2008-01-07. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Towson University". Maryland Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  10. ^ a b Bridge, James (April 2002). . The Towerlight. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  11. ^ a b c d "Employer Profile". Chronicle Careers. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
  12. ^ a b c . Towson University. Archived from the original on 2010-06-08. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  13. ^ "University System of Maryland Timeline". University System of Maryland. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  14. ^ "Forbes America's Top Colleges List 2023". Forbes. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  15. ^ "2024 Best Colleges in the U.S." The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  16. ^ "2023-2024 Best National Universities". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  17. ^ "2023 National University Rankings". Washington Monthly. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  18. ^ "Middle States Commission on Higher Education". Retrieved 2007-09-12.
  19. ^ "Towson University Facilities and Accreditation". Towson University. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
  20. ^ "Towson University – Facts & Figures". Peterson's. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  21. ^ "College Search – Towson University". College Board. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  22. ^ "Majors, Minors & Programs". towson.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  23. ^ "Graduate Programs". towson.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  24. ^ "Gerontology Major". towson.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  25. ^ Leff, Sharon (November 2006). . The Towerlight. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  26. ^ "Renovated Residence Tower ready to reopen". Towson University.
  27. ^ (PDF). p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-04-19.
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  29. ^ [1] Towson University. Retrieved on 2009-03-02.
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  31. ^ "University Police".
  32. ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2008-03-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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  36. ^ "The College Sustainability Report Card". Retrieved 2009-06-08.
  37. ^ . Archived from the original on 2009-10-20. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  38. ^ Caret, Robert. . President's Caret's Blog. Archived from the original on 2007-07-05. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  39. ^ Funderburk, Kristi (November 2006). "Tiger Statue Debuts". Archived from the original on 2007-12-02. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  40. ^ "The Future of Towson University". The Towerlight. December 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-12-02. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  41. ^ Scharper, Julie (December 2007). . Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on 2007-10-01. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  42. ^ Sun, By Wesley Case, The Baltimore (26 April 2012). "For Tigerfest weekend, an increased police presence in Towson". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2020-04-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  43. ^ "Division of Innovation & Applied Research – Towson University". towson.edu.
  44. ^ . Towson University. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  45. ^ . Towson University. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  46. ^ . Towson Speech and Debate. Archived from the original on 2007-08-10. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  47. ^ . Towson University. Archived from the original on 2007-06-22. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  48. ^ "The Towerlight's Super Survival Guide". thetowerlight.com.
  49. ^ https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/towson-university-2099/student-life
  50. ^ "Barry Freundel, Georgetown rabbi, is arrested on voyeurism charge". The Washington Post. 2014-10-14. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  51. ^ Reimer, Susan. "Towson student joins lawsuit involving rabbi". baltimoresun.com.
  52. ^ "Police find micro cameras, lists of names in search of rabbi's Towson University office". The Washington Post. 2014-10-24. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  53. ^ "D.C. rabbi sentenced to 6½ years in prison on voyeurism charges". The Washington Post. 2015-05-15. Retrieved 2019-03-02.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • Towson Athletics website

towson, university, towson, public, university, towson, maryland, founded, 1866, maryland, first, training, school, teachers, part, university, system, maryland, since, founding, university, evolved, into, eight, subsidiary, colleges, with, over, students, acr. Towson University TU or Towson is a public university in Towson Maryland Founded in 1866 as Maryland s first training school for teachers Towson University is a part of the University System of Maryland Since its founding the university has evolved into eight subsidiary colleges with over 20 000 students Its 329 acre campus is situated in Baltimore County Maryland eight miles north of downtown Baltimore Towson is one of the largest public universities in Maryland and still produces the most teachers of any university in the state Towson UniversityFormer nameMaryland State Normal School 1866 1935 Maryland State Teachers College at Towson 1935 1963 Towson State College 1963 1976 Towson State University 1976 1997 1 TypePublic universityEstablishedDecember 8 1866 157 years ago 1866 12 08 2 Parent institutionUniversity System of MarylandAcademic affiliationsCUMUSpace grantEndowment 87 8 million Towson University 2019 3 Budget 540 million 4 PresidentMark R GinsbergProvostMelanie PerreaultAcademic staff1 644 2 Students22 294Undergraduates18 807 2 5 Postgraduates3 478 2 LocationTowson Maryland United States39 23 40 N 76 36 30 W 39 39444 N 76 60833 W 39 39444 76 60833CampusSuburban 329 acres 1 33 km2 6 ColorsBlack and Gold 7 NicknameTigersSporting affiliationsNCAA Division I CAAMascotDoc the TigerWebsitewww wbr towson wbr edu Contents 1 History 1 1 Maryland State Normal School 1 2 Move to Towson 1 3 Expansions and name changes 2 Gallery 3 Academics 3 1 Programs 4 Enrollment 5 Student life 5 1 Housing 5 2 Transportation 5 3 Campus police 6 Campus 6 1 Campus Master Plan 6 2 Campus sustainability 7 Athletics 8 Towson Tiger 9 Traditions 9 1 Tigerfest 10 Community outreach 10 1 Division of Economic and Community Outreach 10 2 Cherry Hill Learning Zone 10 3 Baltimore Urban Debate League 10 4 Adopt A Campus 11 Media and publications 12 Greek life 13 Notable people 14 Controversies 14 1 2014 Barry Freundel voyeurism 15 References 16 External linksHistory editSee also Chronology of Towson University Maryland State Normal School edit nbsp McFadden Alexander NewellThe General Assembly of Maryland established what would eventually become Towson University in 1865 with the allocation of funds directed toward Maryland s first teacher training school or then called normal school term used from a new French tradition 8 On January 15 1866 this institution known then as the Maryland State Normal School M S N S officially opened its doors as part of the substantial modern educational reforms prescribed by the Unionist Radical Republican Party dominated Maryland Constitution of 1864 of the Civil War era state government which provided for a new state superintendent of public instruction and a Board of Education to be appointed to advise and supervise the counties in addition to the already progressive public educational system previously established in 1829 in Baltimore City 9 Located then at Red Man s Hall on North Paca Street in Baltimore the new teachers school originally enrolled eleven students and fostered three faculty members 10 11 McFadden Alexander Newell served as the school s first principal as well as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and oversaw the first graduating class of sixteen students in June 1866 9 As time passed the enrollment in the school grew exponentially The State Normal School soon quickly outgrew its temporary facilities in Red Man s Hall on Paca Street and moved to another temporary location in 1873 on the northeast corner of North Charles and East Franklin Streets in the former William Howard Greek Revival mansion son of famous American Revolutionary War Col John Eager Howard of the famous Maryland Line in the Continental Army who owned most of the land north of Baltimore Town as his estate of Belvidere or Howard s Woods and his family was now starting to develop and lay out city streets The landmark mansion across the street from the First Unitarian Church of Baltimore which later was known as the Union Club by 1863 and later became the Athenaeum Club 12 The following year the General Assembly appropriated money to construct an exclusive building to house the burgeoning school In 1876 the Normal School moved its faculty and 206 students to this new landmark facility located in West Baltimore facing Lafayette Square on Carrollton and Lafayette Avenues 10 11 Move to Towson edit nbsp Stephens Hall under construction in 1914 nbsp Newell Hall 1916The demand for qualified teachers became overwhelming by the turn of the century The Maryland Department of Education reported an annual need for 350 new teachers but the Maryland State Normal School was graduating fewer than 100 9 The facilities in West Baltimore were now inadequate to meet state demands Principal Sarah Richmond one of the original eleven graduates began a campaign to establish a campus where the school could function more appropriately In 1910 the General Assembly formed a committee to oversee site selection budget and design plans for the new campus John Charles Linthicum was appointed president of the committee alongside State Superintendent M Bates Stephens and Sarah Richmond The committee surveyed locations at Roland Park Lutherville Timonium Mount Washington Pimlico Glencoe and many other areas 11 Eventually the committee settled on an 80 acre 320 000 m2 site in Towson and the General Assembly financed the 600 000 move in 1912 8 Construction began in 1913 on the Administration Building now known as Stephens Hall In September 1915 the new campus comprising Stephens Hall Newell Hall and the power plant began classes 12 Expansions and name changes edit In 1934 the state decreed that new public school teachers must have baccalaureate degrees instead of two year teaching certificates and the school retooled its curriculum to issue Bachelor of Science degrees 8 The following year the school changed its name to Maryland State Teachers College at Towson 9 12 As the name implied the college s single purpose was to train teachers In 1946 however the institution established a junior college to offer two years of college work on a transfer basis This expansion laid the foundation of what was later to become the art and sciences program In 1958 the college offered its first graduate program leading to a Master of Education degree In 1960 the college expanded the art and science programs into four year courses and began awarding bachelor s degrees in these fields Due to this change in focus the name changed once more to Towson State College 8 9 Beginning in 1964 the college enrollment rates began a dramatic increase as the baby boomer generation began applying to colleges 9 Within a decade Towson State s enrollment climbed from 3 537 to 13 399 8 This expansion led to the construction of the Center for the Arts University Union Cook Library and many other new facilities Under the presidency of James L Fisher the college expanded the courses offered to meet the demands of the growing student body In 1976 the school s name changed again to Towson State University Towson joined 10 other public institutions in 1988 in the newly created University System of Maryland Previously Towson had been a member of the State University and College System of Maryland with five other public institutions across the state 13 Towson dropped the designation state from its name and became Towson University on July 1 1997 The new name recognized shifts in funding and the development and growth of Towson as a metropolitan university 11 Gallery edit nbsp Red Man s Hall nbsp The Athenueum Club nbsp Carrollton and Lafayette StreetAcademics editAcademic rankingsNationalForbes 14 320THE WSJ 15 394U S News amp World Report 16 197Washington Monthly 17 58Towson University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education 18 and the Maryland State Department of Education 19 For the Fall 2010 freshmen class Towson accepted about 57 of their applicants 20 The average grade point average was a 3 45 and the middle 50 of matriculating students had ACT composite scores between 21 and 25 21 Towson educates undergraduate and graduate students in thirty academic departments which are subdivided into eight colleges College of Business and Economics College of Education College of Health Professions College of Liberal Arts Jess and Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics Towson University Honors College College of Graduate Studies and Research Towson University College of Fine Arts and Communication Includes departments for Art Dance Electronic Media and Film Mass Communication Communication Studies and Performing Arts The college s performing arts programs provide Music and Theatre Arts and dance performances on and off campus The college is home to the Asian Arts amp Culture Center Programs edit The university provides 110 undergraduate majors and more than 80 graduate degrees and certifications 22 23 Once students have determined a program of study they become a member of the academic college administering the program Towson s gerontology program is one of only 100 such undergraduate programs offered in the United States 24 Enrollment editMore than 20 000 full time and part time students are enrolled in the university Their numbers include over 800 international students from 100 nations There are more than 17 000 undergraduates approximately 32 are non white Also in 2006 Towson achieved more enrollment in its business school than any other college in the state of Maryland 25 In terms of demographics the student population of Towson University is 60 female and 51 White and 25 Black or African American Student life edit nbsp One of TU s high rise residence halls the Residence Tower pictured before it was renovated and re opened in August 2018 26 Housing edit Around 74 of the freshman class and over 5 000 students among all four classes reside on campus 27 The university has 16 residence halls which include apartment complexes modern high rise towers and more traditional two and three story residential buildings 28 Students can also choose from 10 Residential Learning Communities 29 While on campus students have access to a counseling center an academic advising center a health center and a career center Transportation edit TU has its own on campus shuttle system that operates free of charge to students The on campus shuttle travels to most sections of the school while the off campus shuttles travel to housing complexes The Fairways at Towson University Village The Colony Donnybrook that students live in that are on the outskirts of the campus 30 There is also direct access to the MTA Maryland buses with services connecting to the light rail Campus police edit The Towson University Police Department TUPD is the primary law enforcement agency servicing the students faculty and visitors within the campus limits and adjacent streets and roadways The TUPD is aided by the Baltimore County Police Department as directed by authority The current chief of police is Charles Joe Herring 31 The TUPD is divided into several units such as the Patrol Unit and the Community Crime Reduction Unit It also includes emergency communications 32 Campus editMain article Towson University buildings and structures Campus Master Plan edit As a response to the University System of Maryland s USM desire for Towson University to grow its enrollment a new Campus Master Plan was developed for the university and approved by the USM board of regents in December 2003 The university found that in the past it has been guided by master plans that focused inward resulting in disjointed campus development that was disconnected from the larger Towson community The resulting vision called TU 2010 33 34 addresses both University System of Maryland requirements and community concerns It contains over 70 specific initiatives that range from growing diversity to increasing student involvement in service learning projects Perhaps its most visible development is the creation of academic and student life buildings as well as roads parking utilities and landscapes to support those buildings 35 As part of this vision Towson s campus is undergoing many construction projects set into different phases with staggered completion dates Completed Construction Projects Name of Project Cost Completion Date DescriptionUnion Third Floor Conference Rooms 760 000 August 2006 Conversion of existing patio space on the third floor of the University Union into conference rooms for use by student organizations Cook Library Lobby Renovation and Starbucks Cafe 1 million September 2006 Complete renovation of the lobby area to include new inner and outer storefronts with Starbucks Cafe replacing the vending area Burkshire Marriott Pub 1 million January 2007 The patio outside of Nathan T s at the Burkshire Marriott was enclosed and the interior of Pub Smedley was renovated and expanded to create the newly named University Club The University Club boasts new interior finishes bar and bathrooms Childcare Center 4 5 million January 2007 Formerly housed in the Lida Lee Tall Education Building TU s Childcare Center now has its own newly constructed building located on Auburn Drive Campus Memorial Garden 200 000 Summer 2007 Construction of a memorial garden between the University Union and the Glen Towers was completed 2007 The garden is open to all students faculty and staff Towsontown Garage Expansion 10 6 million December 2007 Expansion of the garage to add 500 parking spaces for use by students faculty staff and visitors Construction was completed in December 2007 West Village Housing Phase I 36 million Fall 2008 Delivery of 668 additional beds in the West Village sector was completed before the fall 2008 semester College of Liberal Arts Phase I 51 5 million April 2009 Design and construction of the first 100 000 square feet 9 300 m2 of the 250 000 square feet 23 000 m2 academic building houses the College of Liberal Arts The university broke ground on the building s construction in September 2007 completing the first phase in Fall of 2009 College of Liberal Arts Phase II 72 million Summer 2011 Design and construction of the second of the academic building that will house the remainder of the College of Liberal Arts The university broke ground on the building s construction in 2009 with the building opening in the Fall of 2011 West Village Housing Phase II N A Summer 2011 Phase II of the West Village housing project encompasses the construction of two residential facilities in the university s West Village precinct The buildings consist of nearly 160 000 total gross square feet of space and contain 651 beds for freshman and sophomore students They are a mirror images of Harris and Tubman Halls located just west of these buildings which comprised phase one of the West Village housing project West Village Commons 30 million Summer 2011 The West Village Commons building is an 85 000 gross square foot mixed use facility that supports the residential population of the campus s West Village precinct The building offers dining retail meeting office and other student service spaces West Village Parking Garage 27 million Summer 2011 The West Village Garage is a 489 000 square foot 45 400 m2 parking facility west of Towson Run Apartments in the university s West Village precinct Construction on the garage began in August 2010 and was completed in August 2011 The six story garage contains 1 500 parking spaces for TU students faculty staff and visitors It also features LED lighting Campus Gateway 11 million Winter 2012 The new gateway is located near Burdick Hall Marked by brick pillars and a large open plaza the gateway serves as a major campus access route SECU Arena 65 million Summer 2013 A 5 200 plus seat multi use arena facility complete with video screens entertainment suites boxes and expanded lobbies Towson University has the new arena with the added benefit of preserving the Towson Center and keeping it operational in a redeveloped form for a basketball volleyball practice facility gymnastics facility and newly developed areas for sports medicine strength amp conditioning and a comprehensive academic and life skills area Construction was completed May 2013 and was opened in June 2013 Campus sustainability edit In 2007 the university signed onto the American College and Universities Presidents Climate Commitment pledging to become carbon neutral by 2050 The institution has achieved a 48 reduction in greenhouse gas emissions The university boast a 44 recycling rate trayless and strawless dining 4000 solar panels 36 E V charging stations three green roofs and two bikeshares 36 37 Athletics editMain article Towson Tigers nbsp A Tigers baseball player during a game in 2015The Towson Tigers formerly the Towson College Knights are the athletics teams of Towson University All of the major athletic teams compete in the Colonial Athletic Association CAA with 20 Division I athletic teams 13 in women s sports 7 in men s sports Under the leadership of President Bob Caret the university placed a greater emphasis on the athletics program In September 2010 Caret hired a new director of athletics Michael P Waddell who had significant program building experience at the highest levels of college sports and led the Tigers to unprecedented success during his three years at the helm including eleven 11 CAA Regular Season amp Tournament Championships Waddell left Towson in 2013 for the University of Arkansas and was replaced by Tim Leonard Towson University offers the most comprehensive sports program in the metropolitan Baltimore area fielding 20 varsity teams that compete in the Colonial Athletic Association Since joining the league in 2001 02 the Tigers have won CAA titles in men s and women s lacrosse men s swimming women s swimming men s soccer men s golf baseball track amp field and football During an athletics history that traces its roots to the 1920s Towson has sent teams and individual student athletes to NCAA post season competition in baseball basketball football golf gymnastics lacrosse soccer swimming track amp field and volleyball Eleven Tigers have been named CAA Scholar Athlete Award Winners for their respective sports including the 2010 cross country recipient Brandi Gervais a senior Biology Pre Dentistry Major with a perfect 4 0 GPA A number of student athletes have gone on to enjoy professional careers including Jermon Bushrod the starting left offensive tackle for the 2009 Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints former Major League Baseball outfielder Casper Wells and former National Basketball Association shooting guard Gary Neal Towson Tiger editMain article Doc mascot Before the 1960s the name of the sports teams at Towson were known as the Towson College Knights Towson student John Schuerholz pushed for a new mascot and the tiger was officially adopted in 1962 Schuerholz later became general manager and then president of the Atlanta Braves The university s present baseball complex is named in his honor 38 According to school newspaper The Towerlight when the Student Government Association first bought the tiger statue that sits outside Cook Library in 1996 the organization hoped to boost school spirit Instead it became subject to vandalism and disrepair In March 2006 after several acts of vandalism the statue was completely removed from in front of the library In September 2006 the Towerlight reported that a new bronze tiger statue had been unveiled as the centerpiece of the university s Capital Campaign to raise 50 million The primary difference between the new statue and previous one is that the new one is made of bronze and all of the legs are on the ground and the tail is wrapped around its legs rather than raised so it won t get damaged by vandals 39 The new statue is outside Stephens Hall and was unveiled on February 8 2007 where Caret said it would be visible to passersby on York Road as well as students 40 41 Traditions editTigerfest edit Tigerfest is TU s annual spring festival that features interactive activities for students as well as live musical entertainment Tigerfest which is also open to the public not just TU students occurs in late April and was held in Johnny Unitas Stadium for most of the event s history Starting in 2014 the event was moved to Towson s brand new basketball arena SECU Arena Also beginning in 2014 was the festival being held over two days Day one features events and games on campus while day two is centered around a concert Artists such as Lil Yachty Playboi Carti Krewella Kid Cudi 42 The Used and Yellowcard have appeared at Tigerfest in the past Community outreach editDivision of Economic and Community Outreach edit The Division of Economic and Community Outreach DECO was established in 2004 as an initiative of President Robert L Caret DECO s charge is to provide a focus for engagement with the external community and to provide a path into the university s research and project talent 43 DECO includes over 130 experts in the following areas IT Solutions Mapping Solutions GIS Technical Training Applied Economics and Human Services Information Assurance and Business Growth Cherry Hill Learning Zone edit The initiative is a partnership among the Baltimore City Public School System Baltimore City government Towson University and Cherry Hill s community organizations Together the programs are trying to rebuild the Cherry Hill neighborhood in southern Baltimore The program interacts with Cherry Hill s civic leaders community organizations and citizens the Learning Zone hopes to serve as a resource for the academic progress of Cherry Hill s young residents and improvement of the overall environment in the community 44 45 Baltimore Urban Debate League edit See also Baltimore Urban Debate League The Towson Speech and Debate team has close ties with the Baltimore Urban Debate League and often volunteers people from the team and the university to judge and facilitate the running of the tournaments The university often acts as a host for league tournaments at least once a year Towson also has what they call an Urban Debate Scholar award that they give to one graduating senior every year The scholarship pays for full tuition and fees at TU They also offer varying awards between 2 000 4 000 to other graduating seniors 46 Adopt A Campus edit Former President Caret established a program called Adopt A Campus which gives local businesses organizations and others an opportunity to help beautify the TU campus Every group is assigned a certain section of the campus and will be encouraged to pick up litter and help keep the area clean of trash and debris 47 Media and publications editTelevision Radio PrintWMJF The university s student run TV station WTMD Alternative music FM public radio XTSR Student run Internet radio station also played on campus television formerly WTSR The Towerlight Weekly student newspaper 48 Grub Street Literary and Arts Magazine Journal of Philosophical Ideas The Philosophy Forum s Undergraduate Journal The Prelaw Society Journal Journal of Historical StudiesGreek life editTowson has over 20 Greek letter organizations on campus In 2022 7 of undergraduate men and 6 of undergraduate women were active in Towson s Greek system 49 Notable people editMain article List of Towson University people See also List of presidents of Towson UniversityControversies edit2014 Barry Freundel voyeurism edit On October 14 2014 Barry Freundel a Jewish scholar Rabbi and religious studies and philosophy professor at Towson University was suspended after being arrested in connection to allegations that he secretly videotaped women as they used a religious bath known as a mikvah near his Georgetown synagogue 50 One victim was a student of Freundel s at Towson and was encouraged by the professor to take practice dunks in the mikvah though she was not Jewish and had no intention of converting 51 Authorities reported dozens of students may have also been taken on these dunking field trips After serving a search warrant on Freundel s Towson office police found a number of computer storage devices hidden cameras concealed in items such as tissue boxes and a clock radio and a list of handwritten names 52 He ultimately pleaded guilty to 52 counts of voyeurism and was sentenced to six and a half years in prison 53 References edit Towson University Maryland Manual On Line State of Maryland Retrieved 13 July 2022 a b c d Towson At a Glance Archived from the original on 2008 01 06 Retrieved 2007 09 11 Towson University school profile colleges usnews rankingsandreviews com Internal Operating Budget and Plan Fiscal Year 2020 University Budget Office Retrieved 2020 07 15 Towson University school profile U S News amp World Report Retrieved 2011 03 17 Campus Towson At a Glance Towson University Archived from the original on 2008 01 06 Retrieved 2007 09 11 Primary Color Use Brand Standards Design Center Towson University Towson University Retrieved 26 September 2014 a b c d e History Towson At a Glance Towson University Archived from the original on 2008 01 07 Retrieved 2007 09 11 a b c d e f Towson University Maryland Online Encyclopedia Retrieved 2007 09 11 a b Bridge James April 2002 Renovations build on history of Towson University The Towerlight Archived from the original on 2007 09 27 Retrieved 2007 07 25 a b c d Employer Profile Chronicle Careers Retrieved 2007 08 02 a b c Chronology of Towson University History Towson University Archived from the original on 2010 06 08 Retrieved 2007 09 11 University System of Maryland Timeline University System of Maryland Retrieved May 27 2023 Forbes America s Top Colleges List 2023 Forbes Retrieved September 22 2023 2024 Best Colleges in the U S The Wall Street Journal Times Higher Education Retrieved January 27 2024 2023 2024 Best National Universities U S News amp World Report Retrieved September 22 2023 2023 National University Rankings Washington Monthly Retrieved February 10 2024 Middle States Commission on Higher Education Retrieved 2007 09 12 Towson University Facilities and Accreditation Towson University Retrieved 2007 09 12 Towson University Facts amp Figures Peterson s Retrieved 2011 03 17 College Search Towson University College Board Retrieved 2011 03 17 Majors Minors amp Programs towson edu Retrieved 2022 11 11 Graduate Programs towson edu Retrieved 2022 11 11 Gerontology Major towson edu Retrieved 2022 11 11 Leff Sharon November 2006 Increased enrollment results in 2 995 undergraduates in CBE for Fall 2006 The Towerlight Archived from the original on 2007 09 27 Retrieved 2007 07 25 Renovated Residence Tower ready to reopen Towson University Towson University Facts and Figures Fall 2016 PDF p 10 Archived from the original PDF on 2017 04 19 Housing and Residence Life Towson University Retrieved 2017 04 18 1 Towson University Retrieved on 2009 03 02 Shuttle Services Towson University Archived from the original on 2007 06 24 Retrieved 2007 07 25 University Police Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2008 04 10 Retrieved 2008 03 01 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Video of the campus master Plan Towson University Archived from the original on 2007 07 06 Retrieved 2007 07 25 TU 2010 Mapping the Future Towson University Archived from the original on 2007 09 30 Retrieved 2007 07 25 Campus Master Plan Towson University Archived from the original on 2007 09 30 Retrieved 2007 07 25 The College Sustainability Report Card Retrieved 2009 06 08 Go Green Archived from the original on 2009 10 20 Retrieved 2009 06 05 Caret Robert The Meaning of a Mascot President s Caret s Blog Archived from the original on 2007 07 05 Retrieved 2007 07 25 Funderburk Kristi November 2006 Tiger Statue Debuts Archived from the original on 2007 12 02 Retrieved 2007 07 25 The Future of Towson University The Towerlight December 2006 Archived from the original on 2007 12 02 Retrieved 2007 07 25 Scharper Julie December 2007 Towson s new Tiger built to last Baltimore Sun Archived from the original on 2007 10 01 Retrieved 2007 07 25 Sun By Wesley Case The Baltimore 26 April 2012 For Tigerfest weekend an increased police presence in Towson baltimoresun com Retrieved 2020 04 02 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Division of Innovation amp Applied Research Towson University towson edu The Cherry Hill Learning Zone Towson University Archived from the original on 2007 09 28 Retrieved 2007 07 25 Cherry Hill Learning Zone video Towson University Archived from the original on 2007 09 30 Retrieved 2007 07 25 Scholarship Opportunities Towson Speech and Debate Archived from the original on 2007 08 10 Retrieved 2007 07 25 Adopt A Campus Towson University Archived from the original on 2007 06 22 Retrieved 2007 07 25 The Towerlight s Super Survival Guide thetowerlight com https www usnews com best colleges towson university 2099 student life Barry Freundel Georgetown rabbi is arrested on voyeurism charge The Washington Post 2014 10 14 Retrieved 2019 03 02 Reimer Susan Towson student joins lawsuit involving rabbi baltimoresun com Police find micro cameras lists of names in search of rabbi s Towson University office The Washington Post 2014 10 24 Retrieved 2019 03 02 D C rabbi sentenced to 6 years in prison on voyeurism charges The Washington Post 2015 05 15 Retrieved 2019 03 02 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Towson University Official website Towson Athletics website College of Fine Arts and Communication Towson University Website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Towson University amp oldid 1200048111, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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