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Governors State University (GSU) is a public university located in University Park, Illinois. The 750 acre (3.0 km²) campus is located 30 miles 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 five colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and Public Administration, the College of Education, the College of Health Professions and the University College, which includes the School of Interdisciplinary Learning, the School of Extended Learning and the Division of Digital Learning and Media Design.
[edit] History
Founded on July 17, 1969, Governors State University was founded with deliberate efforts to veer from the traditionally established 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 instead. In place of departments, it had "interdisciplinary studies," and all professors shared the same 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, Springfield, founded in 1969 as Sangamon State University. GSU is the only remaining public university in Illinois with this structure.
GSU has recently developed into a more traditional University, with Divisions and Departments, professors with rank (Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor), and classrooms with walls and smart technology. GSU also recently began offering doctoral degrees. The first doctoral program was created in 2007 as a professional doctoral degree in Physical Therapy.[1]
[edit] Statistics
- GSU offers 22 baccalaureate degrees, 27 graduate degrees, and 22 certificate programs.
- Over 38% of Governors State's students are racial minorities.
- The average age of a student at Governors State is 33.
- 71% of Governors State students are women — many are single working mothers.
- Approximately 90% of GSU faculty hold a Ph.D. or the highest degree in their discipline.
- Governors State's faculty are diverse, with 28% of faculty having racial minority status. This is double the national average.
[edit] Points of interest
- 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.[2]
Center for Performing Arts
- 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 holds monthly concerts on a fall through spring seasonal schedule.[3]
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