Wright State University: A Comprehensive Overview of Locations, Programs, and History
Wright State University is a public research university with multiple locations and a rich history rooted in the Dayton, Ohio region. Named in honor of aviation pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright, the university has grown from a branch campus into an independent institution offering a wide array of academic programs and research opportunities. This article provides a comprehensive overview of Wright State University, including its campuses, academic offerings, history, and other key aspects.
Main Campus: Fairborn, Ohio
The main campus of Wright State University is located in Fairborn, Ohio. Originally opened in 1964 as a branch campus of Miami University and Ohio State University, it became an independent institution in 1967. The university offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Wright State University is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities - High research activity" and is a member of the University System of Ohio. The athletic teams, the Wright State Raiders, compete in Division I of the NCAA as members of the Horizon League.
History of the Main Campus
Groundwork on forming the institution began in 1961 during a time when the region lacked a public university for higher education. The Ohio General Assembly passed legislation in 1965 that transformed the branch campus into a separate institution with its own Advisory Committee on November 5, 1965. It was anticipated the campus would achieve full independent status by 1967 with its rapidly increasing enrollment of full-time students, projected to reach 5,000 within two years. On October 1, 1967, the campus officially became Wright State University following a decision by the Ohio Board of Regents. The name honors the Wright brothers, well-known Dayton residents who are credited with inventing the world's first successful airplane.
Campus Features
Wright State University has a system of underground tunnels that connect 20 out of 22 buildings together.
Academics and Research
Wright State is divided into seven colleges and three schools:
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- Raj Soin College of Business
- College of Health, Education and Human Services
- College of Engineering and Computer Science
- College of Liberal Arts
- College of Science and Mathematics
- Wright State University Graduate School
- Boonshoft School of Medicine
- School of Professional Psychology
Wright State offers 136 graduate programs (including doctoral programs) through the Wright State University Graduate School, the Boonshoft School of Medicine, and the School of Professional Psychology. The Boonshoft School of Medicine was established in 1973 and is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.
ROTC Programs
Wright State University offers Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) and Army ROTC programs on campus, known as Detachment 643 and the Raider Battalion, respectively.
Ohio Center of Excellence in Knowledge-Enabled Computing (Kno.e.sis)
The Ohio Center of Excellence in Knowledge-Enabled Computing (Kno.e.sis) was founded in 2007. In 2009, the Ohio Department of Higher Education established more than 50 Centers of Excellence representing key industrial areas with potential future growth. Kno.e.sis at the Wright State University was one of the selections in the area of Bio-Health Innovations. Research at the center focuses on multidisciplinary areas such as Web 3.0 (Semantic Web, Semantic Sensor Web), Network Science, Social Data Analysis, Machine Learning, Data Mining, Bioinformatics, Natural Language Processing, Visualization, Cloud Computing, High Performance Computing. In recent years, Kno.e.sis has had nearly 80-100 researchers, including 15 faculty and over 60 funded graduate (primarily PhD) students. Kno.e.sis researchers overtime have contributions in the areas related to Computer Science with focus on topics in World Wide Web, including Semantic web, Social Data Analysis, Semantic Sensor Web, and Linked Open Data.
Athletics
The Wright State Raiders are the athletics teams of Wright State University. The school participates in fifteen sports at the Division I level of the NCAA and are members of the Horizon League.
Wright State University-Lake Campus
Wright State University-Lake Campus is a branch campus of Wright State University located in Jefferson Township, between Celina, and St. Marys, Ohio. The 211 acres (85 ha) campus sits on the northern shore of Grand Lake St. Marys at 7600 Lake Campus Drive. The WSU-Lake Campus offers general education courses and certificate programs, associate degrees, bachelor's degrees and a Master of Business Administration degree. Campus housing consists of three apartment houses on the west end of campus with a capacity of 96 residents. Knapke Villa, East Villa, and West Villa contain townhouse-style apartments on the shores of Grand Lake St. The Wright State-Lake (WSULC) athletic teams are called the Lakers.
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Motto
The motto of Wright State University-Lake Campus is "Ad docendum, Investigandum, Serviendum" which is Latin for "Teaching, Research, Service".
Location and Setting
The Lake Campus is situated on the northern shore of Grand Lake St. Marys, providing a scenic environment for students and faculty.
Academic Programs
The WSU-Lake Campus offers a range of academic programs, including:
- General education courses
- Certificate programs
- Associate degrees
- Bachelor's degrees
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree
Campus Housing
Campus housing at the Lake Campus consists of three apartment houses on the west end of campus with a capacity of 96 residents. These include Knapke Villa, East Villa, and West Villa, which offer townhouse-style apartments on the shores of Grand Lake St. Marys.
Athletics
The athletic teams at the Wright State-Lake Campus are known as the Lakers.
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Key Historical Events and Developments
Wright State University has undergone several significant developments throughout its history:
- 1961: Groundwork begins for forming the institution.
- 1964: Wright State University first opened as a branch campus of Miami University and Ohio State University, occupying only a single building.
- 1965: The Ohio General Assembly passed legislation that transformed the branch campus into a separate institution.
- November 5, 1965: The branch campus gains its own Advisory Committee.
- October 1, 1967: The campus officially becomes Wright State University.
- 1969: A 173-acre (70 ha) branch campus opened on the shore of Grand Lake St. Marys (Lake Campus).
- 1973: The Boonshoft School of Medicine was established.
- 2019: Wright State's faculty went on strike following two years of failed contract negotiations.
- January 1, 2020: Susan Edwards became university's president.
Leadership
Wright State University has had several presidents throughout its history:
- Brage Golding (1966-1973)
- Robert J. Kegerreis (1973-1985)
- Paige E. Mulhollan (1985-1994)
- Harley E. Flack (1994-1998)
- Kim Goldenberg (1998-2006)
- David R. Hopkins (2007-2017)
- Cheryl B. Schrader (2017-2019)
- Susan Edwards (2020-Present)
Additional Points of Interest
- Wright State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission at the doctoral degree-granting level.
- The university has a strong focus on research, particularly through the Kno.e.sis center, which contributes to advancements in computer science and related fields.
- Wright State University is dedicated to providing resources and support for students with disabilities, ensuring an inclusive campus environment.
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