Youngstown State University


Youngstown State University is a public university in Youngstown, Ohio. Founded in 1908, it became known as Youngstown College in 1931 and sought accreditation through the North Central Association in 1944. As educational needs in the Mahoning Valley changed, Youngstown College grew significantly. In 1955, Youngstown College became Youngstown University; later designated Youngstown State University in 1967 and now joins the University System of Ohio.
The university is composed of 6 undergraduate colleges including the Beeghly College of Education, Cliffe College of Creative Arts and Communication, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Dr. Dominic A. and Helen M. Bitonte College of Health and Human Services, College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, and the Warren P. Williamson, Jr. College of Business Administration. Youngstown State University boasts 170 undergraduate degree programs and over 50 graduate degree programs serving over 12,000 students in studies up to the doctoral level. Beyond its current student body, the university has more than 105,000 alumni across the country and around the world.
Collectively known as the Penguins, Youngstown State's athletic teams compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The university is a member of the Horizon League in all varsity sports, with the football team part of an alliance where the Horizon, The Summit League, and Missouri Valley Conference, FCS scholarship schools compete as the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

History

Founding

The university's origins trace back to 1908, when the local branch of the YMCA established a school of law within the Youngstown Association School. In 1921, the school became known as the Youngstown Institute of Technology and offered its first evening courses. In 1928, a year after establishing a College of Arts and Sciences, the institute once again changed its name to Youngstown College. In 1955, the name was changed again to Youngstown University to reflect the school's broadening curriculum. A private, for profit Youngstown College was formed in 1987 and had no affiliation with YSU. It closed its doors in mid 2000 due to financial issues.)
On September 1, 1967, after becoming a public institution, Youngstown University became officially known as Youngstown State University. The following spring, YSU opened a Graduate School and College of Applied Science and Technology. In 1974, the College of Fine and Performing Arts was established.

Campus

YSU lies on a campus just north of downtown Youngstown. Although it is not located near any outstanding geographical features, that has not stopped Youngstown State's campus from being noted for its landscaping, which is dissimilar from that of many other urban universities. YSU's geographical center has a park-like atmosphere, featuring a rather-hilly terrain and a variety of trees and plant life, as well as tables and chairs that surround a campus fountain.
Most buildings on campus have been built within the last half-century, making them newer than most buildings in downtown Youngstown, where most buildings were constructed before the Great Depression.
Kilcawley Center is primarily a student-resource and community-center on campus. It features reading and study rooms, computer labs, a copying center, a variety of restaurants, and many student-affairs offices. There are also many meeting and seminar rooms, which can be rented out for community events.

Historic buildings

Jones Hall, often the building that welcomes those coming onto YSU's campus, is one of the campus' oldest buildings, having been built in 1931, when YSU was still known as Youngstown College. Its history as the "main building" of the campus continues today, as it is perhaps the best-known and most photographed building of the whole campus. The building was renamed Jones Hall in honor of the institutions first president, Dr. Howard Jones. Today, the building is used as administrative office space.
In 2013, the former Wick Pollock Inn – located on Wick Avenue, next to Bliss Hall – was converted into The University President's House. The three-year project to renovate the mansion cost YSU over $4 million.

Administrative

The planetarium is the location of the introductory astronomy courses at YSU, which registers almost 1,000 students every year. It has housed over 500,000 students, as well as 750,000 visitors as of 2007. Organized shows are available for groups during the week, and scheduled shows available Friday and Saturday evenings. All shows are free of charge.

Museums

The McDonough Museum of Art is one of two art museums located in Youngstown, Ohio. The McDonough Museum of Art is closely affiliated with the University, acting as an outreach for the Department of Art. The 14,000 sq. ft. space serves as a showing facility for art students and faculty alike, as well as local and regional talents.
The Butler Institute of American Art is located on Wick Avenue in Youngstown, Ohio. Falling directly on YSU's campus, it is the flagship art museum of the city.

Academics

The University comprises the following colleges, as of the summer 2007 academic reorganization:
YSU offers doctoral degrees in educational leadership and physical therapy, as well as a doctorate in mathematics in cooperation with Rhodes University. Together with the University of Akron and Kent State University, YSU sponsors the Northeast Ohio Medical University, a BS-MD program. YSU engineering students may pursue doctoral studies in cooperation with the University of Akron and Cleveland State University. In addition, YSU has 35 masters programs and over 100 undergraduate majors.
The Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University was deemed an "All-Steinway" school in 2004. The Dana School of Music is one of the oldest non-conservatory schools of music in the United States. Additionally, the Youngstown State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble performed at New York City's Carnegie Hall in March 2005 and again in November 2015.
The Williamson College of Business holds an AACSB accreditation, the most recognized form of professional accreditation an institution can earn. As of 2018, this accreditation is held by less than five percent of the worlds business schools.

Administration

Labor relations

Labor unions are very active at YSU and include most non-administrative faculty and staff on campus. In August 2005, just before the start of the 2005–06 academic year, two of four campus unions were on strike. Following the conclusion of the strike, relations remained strained, with some faculty and staff calling for the resignation of YSU President David Sweet in May 2007. Others on campus thought some individuals on both sides were engaged in less than professional behaviors. Due to the animosity between the parties, a special committee was set up to examine labor relations. This committee recommended that the negotiations teams for all sides be replaced before the next round of contract negotiations. After the committee's recommendations, the Vice President for Administration was replaced, as well as the Executive Director of Human Resources.
Relations have improved since that time and are now typical of what one would expect of a unionized campus in a region that has always been at the center of US union activism.

Student life

Housing

The university has been looking to increase the amount of available student housing on campus. As of September 2015, there were less than 1,500 student beds available for the more than 12,200 students enrolled. In June 2015, it was announced that a $7.8 million, 162-bed, four-story, privately owned, student housing complex named University Edge YSU would be built on West Rayen Avenue between Fifth and Belmont avenues by Hallmark Campus Communities of Columbus and Fortress Real Estate Co. of Atlanta. Construction started in late September 2015. In December 2015, it was announced that another apartment complex would be coming to YSU. LRC Realty announced the $10 million, 163-bed, five story, privately, owned retail/student housing complex, called The Enclave, was built on nearly 2 acres between Lincoln and Wick avenues in Youngstown. A Representative for LRC Realty said that the building includes a fitness center and an outdoor patio for student residents. The complex opened for occupancy in August 2018.
Youngstown State University is home to three Greek councils; Interfraternity Council, National Panhellenic Conference, and the National Pan-Hellenic Council.

Fraternities and sororities

Fraternities:
Sororities:
As of fall 2019, the student body totaled approximately 12,155, 10% of whom were dual-enrolled high school students. YSU has approximately 2,100 full and part-time employees, and 426 full-time faculty with 543 part-time faculty. 165 faculty members boast full-professor rank, with 79% of the instructors holding doctorates or terminal degrees. The university boasts a student to faculty ratio of 14:1.
Tuition for in-state undergraduate students is $7,712, $7,922 for undergraduate students in YSU's "Affordable Tuition Advantage" coming from western Pennsylvania, $9,891 for undergraduate students from the regional service area, and $13,669 for all other out-of-state undergraduate students, including international students. Graduate tuition is $7,337/academic year for Ohio residents, while all other graduate students pay just $150 per academic year in addition to the in-state tuition. Room and board cost an additional $7,600. YSU will often note that these tuitions are the lowest of any public university in Ohio.
Once seen as primarily a commuter school, Youngstown State University has a growing number of student housing available both on and off campus. About 1.5% of the student body are international students from approximately 45 countries.
YSU has participated in the Youngstown Early College program, through which students from the Youngstown City School District can take courses for college credit while in high school. Youngstown Early college has had their first graduating class in Spring 2008. YSU is no longer affiliated with Youngstown Early College, while Eastern Gateway Community College has taken over full operations away from YSU in 2013.

Centers and institutes

YSU operates several Centers of Excellence and designated research and economic development programs, including the Center for Transportation and Materials Engineering, the Center of Excellence in Materials Science and Engineering, the Center of Excellence in International Business, the Center for Applied Chemical Biology, the Institute for Applied Topology, and effective in 2012, the Natural Gas and Water Resources Institute.
Youngstown State University is also home to the Center for Working Class Studies and offers a Regional and American Studies program, which was the first of its kind in the United States. The school assisted the University of Chicago in developing a similar program. The center is operated by John Russo and Sherry Lee Linkon.

Athletics

Youngstown State has a number of men's and women's sports teams, including baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, swimming, diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, and bowling.

Football

The Youngstown State Penguins Football team represents Youngstown State University in college football. Youngstown State currently plays as a member of the NCAA at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision and are a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Penguins have played their home games in Stambaugh Stadium, more commonly called "The Ice Castle," since 1982.
YSU football has been one of the leading programs in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, winning four national championships under former head coach Jim Tressel, which is third behind North Dakota State's seven titles and Georgia Southern's six. Overall, YSU has made 11 playoff appearances since Division I FCS was formed in 1978.

Basketball

The Youngstown State Penguins Men's Basketball team represents Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio. The school's team currently competes in the Horizon League, of which it has been a member since 2001. The Penguins have appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament nine times. Their combined record is 8–11.

Facilities

The Youngstown State Penguins is the name given to the athletic teams of YSU. The university is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I, and the Penguins compete in football as members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Most other sports compete as members of the Horizon League.

Stambaugh Stadium

The Arnold D. Stambaugh Stadium is an on-campus, multi-purpose stadium. Built in 1982, the stadium is primarily used as a home for the Youngstown State Penguins football team. Between 1996 and 2013, the stadium also was home to the YSU Women's soccer team. At present, the total capacity of the stadium is 20,630 people. The structure also houses the university's ROTC branch, as well as the DeBartolo Stadium Club, which overlooks the city of Youngstown and is available for events.

Beeghly Center

The Beeghly Physical Education Center, commonly called "Beeghly Center," is a 6,300-seat, multi-purpose arena built in 1972. Home of the department of kinesiology and sports sciences, it includes an olympic-sized swimming pool, racquetball and squash courts, as well as administrative offices. The center hosted a Barack Obama campaign rally in February 2008.Softball Complex
Completed in 2014, this complex houses the softball team and seats more than 200 spectators.

Andrews Student Recreation and Wellness Center

The Andrews Student Recreation and Wellness Center is the main recreational facility on campus, and is available to all students and staff members. The building boasts Ohio's tallest rock wall, as well as free-weight and cardio gyms, meditation and aerobics studios, four indoor multi-purpose courts, and an indoor track. The AWRC is also hosts intramural sports, as well as training and exercise classes.

Watson and Tressel Training Site

The Watson and Tressel Training Site, completed in 2011, is one of the largest and newest buildings of its kind in the Horizon league. Facilities at WATTS include a turf football field, track, long-jump and high-jump pits as well as practice sites for baseball, football, track, softball, golf, and soccer.

Eastwood Field

Eastwood Field is an off-campus, minor-league baseball stadium, that hosts the Youngstown State Penguins Baseball team. The stadium is located in the Eastwood Mall complex in Niles, Ohio.

People

Alumni