A question for state schoolers

Dionysus · #1 10-11-2007, 04:46 PM

Has your school ever changed names while you were attending or after you graduated? Has another school in your system changed names? Specifically, has any school (yours or another in your system) went from University of X-State at X-City to just University of X-State...or X-State University? How did you feel about this?

I guess a simple answer would be that whatever school decides to call themselves University of X-State will alienate the rest of the schools within the system. It kind of implies that they were the first established and/or the most important/prestigious university. Even if it is true (it pretty much is most of time), the other colleges within the system won't appreaciate the name change.

The above aside, what other advantages will a school gain if they change their name? What disadvantages will the name change effect the other schools within the system?

SWTXBelle · #2 10-11-2007, 05:05 PM

My alma mater went from Southwest Texas State University to Texas State University - San Marcos. I HATE IT. It has had some form of "Southwest Texas" in its name from the get-go (1899). The reasoning behind the name change was that "directional" school names don't have cachet. They alientated a great many alumni, including me, because the name change was seen as being at the behest of the athletic department, damn tradition. We were always "Southwest Texans". Now what are we - TSU-SM? S and M????? I don't wish to be "TSU" - in Texas, that is either Texas Southern University, a historically black school that has been plagued by a seemingly never-ending series of scandals, or Tarleton State University, the "cowboy" college. Both schools have produced some impressive alumni - but I don't wish to be associated with either. Southwest Texas was distinctive and unique. Texas State University - San Marcos already has to share the stage with Texas State University - Round Rock. We are reduced to being no better than a johnny come lately commuter school.
ARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH.

Cluey · #3 10-11-2007, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I don't wish to be "TSU" - in Texas, that is either Texas Southern University, a historically black school that has been plagued by a seemingly never-ending series of scandals, or Tarleton State University, the "cowboy" college.

I totally agree with this and thought the name change was silly. You, however, are cracking me up with the "cowboy" college reference. Thank you for making me smile!

33girl · #4 10-11-2007, 05:13 PM

Is this about that whole Southwest Missouri/Missouri State thing?

All the state schools in PA are [Town Name Where the School Is] University of PA...they started out as [Town Name] Normal School, to [Town Name] State Teachers College, to [Town Name] State College and now University.

A couple years ago, the president of California U of PA wanted to change their name to Eberly University (after a prominent donor) because he thought people got confused as to where the school was and it was "hurting their enrollment." Considering Indiana U of PA is the biggest school in the system, that was a really dumb argument.

He also talked about other names which would have made it, IMO, EVEN HARDER for people to understand where the school is.

http://www.postgazette.com/regionsta...erlyreg4p4.asp

Indiana U of PA mostly goes by IUP. I think they have it on their official stationary and such, rather than spelling it out. That's about as much of a "difference" as people are willing to put up with.

I can't see ANY of the state schools changing their name unless they completely leave the state system.

Dionysus · #5 10-12-2007, 10:39 AM

Yes, including Mizzou, UMR, and another school that I cannot remember right now. This is getting crazy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl

Is this about that whole Southwest Missouri/Missouri State thing?

All the state schools in PA are [Town Name Where the School Is] University of PA...they started out as [Town Name] Normal School, to [Town Name] State Teachers College, to [Town Name] State College and now University.

A couple years ago, the president of California U of PA wanted to change their name to Eberly University (after a prominent donor) because he thought people got confused as to where the school was and it was "hurting their enrollment." Considering Indiana U of PA is the biggest school in the system, that was a really dumb argument.

He also talked about other names which would have made it, IMO, EVEN HARDER for people to understand where the school is.

http://www.postgazette.com/regionsta...erlyreg4p4.asp

Indiana U of PA mostly goes by IUP. I think they have it on their official stationary and such, rather than spelling it out. That's about as much of a "difference" as people are willing to put up with.

I can't see ANY of the state schools changing their name unless they completely leave the state system.

alum · #6 10-11-2007, 06:43 PM

In the Commonwealth of Virginia sometime after we moved here in 2000, the College of Mary Washington became the University of Mary Washington in recognition of the number of graduate programs. There was much dissention about the decision.

Apparently GMU was originally named "George Mason College of the University of Virginia."

Longwood University was also founded under a different name as any member of the Farmville 4 would know. It was founded in 1839 as the Farmville Female Seminary Association, was designated as Farmville Female College in 1860. It became the State Normal School for Women in 1914, the State Teachers College at Farmville in 1924, and Longwood College in 1949.

IIRC, many of the old state teachers colleges in Massachusetts are now called UMass-Location.

Benzgirl · #7 10-11-2007, 06:59 PM

The Ohio State University was founded in 1870 under the name of the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College. In 1878, the college permanently changed its name to the now-familiar "The Ohio State University."

LPIDelta · #8 10-11-2007, 09:50 PM

I don't know anyone who calls it TSU--everyone I know calls it Texas State or "That school in San Marcos". And we rarely reference Round Rock.

honeychile · #9 10-11-2007, 10:45 PM

Laughing & remembering how frustrated my aunts were about me always confusing Pennsylvania State University and University of Pennsylvania as a kid - especially since two were professors at PSU!

Senusret I · #10 10-11-2007, 11:29 PM

More trivia:

The Normal School for Colored Girls was founded in 1851 in DC by Myrtilla Miner.
1861 - Became the Institution for Education of Colored Youth
1871 - Associated with Howard University as the Miner Normal School
1879 - Miner Normal School becomes part of the DC Public School system
1929 - accredited by congress as Miner Teacher's College
1955 - Merged with the all-white Wilson Teacher's College to become DC Teachers College
1977 - DC Teachers College merges with Federal City College and the Washington Technical Institute to become the University of the District of Columbia

I had teachers who went to the DC Teachers College.

DeltAlum · #11 10-16-2007, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

The Ohio State University was founded in 1870 under the name of the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College. In 1878, the college permanently changed its name to the now-familiar "The Ohio State University."

When I was growing up in Columbus, most people just called it Ohio State -- or just "State."

The "The" started a few years ago.

It think it sounds really pretentious.

While we don't use our "The," Ohio University was called The Ohio University when founded in 1804.

We're nice, though, and allow our younger sister to use it -- even though they tried to copyright the word "Ohio" a few years ago.

How crass.

ForeverRoses · #12 10-16-2007, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

When I was growing up in Columbus, most people just called it Ohio State -- or just "State."

The "The" started a few years ago.

It think it sounds really pretentious.

While we don't use our "The," Ohio University was called The Ohio University when founded in 1804.

We're nice, though, and allow our younger sister to use it -- even though they tried to copyright the word "Ohio" a few years ago.

How crass.

The copywriting of "Ohio" was completely stupid in MHO. I was annoyed when they tried to tell all the sports writers to stop calling us "Ohio University" and just call us "Ohio".

And I think the "The" thing started when in the late 80s/early 90s Ohio State tried to get people to stop calling the school "OSU" becuase it caused confusion with other OSUs. So the school started to really push it's offical name. I remember getting brochures from them in high school and one year it had "OSU" on it and the next it was "The Ohio State University".

Benzgirl · #13 10-16-2007, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

When I was growing up in Columbus, most people just called it Ohio State -- or just "State."

The "The" started a few years ago.

It think it sounds really pretentious.

While we don't use our "The," Ohio University was called The Ohio University when founded in 1804.

We're nice, though, and allow our younger sister to use it -- even though they tried to copyright the word "Ohio" a few years ago.

How crass.

Younger sister who is bigger, better and has a far higher reputation than the party school in the hills.

DeltAlum · #14 10-19-2007, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

...better and has a far higher reputation than the party school in the hills.

The nice thing about Greek Chat is that you're allowed to make unsubstantiated claims.

Bigger does not necessarily equal better.

Oh, and I have no problem with parties.

ForeverRoses · #15 10-19-2007, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

Younger sister who is bigger, better and has a far higher reputation than the party school in the hills.

I find the "party school" label really interesting. Most members of college administrations cringe when their school is called a "party school", however most alumni wear it as a badge of honor (and in some cases even vote online to make their alma mater win party school contests). This holds true for not just Ohio University, but Wisconsin, IU, Ball State and others (at least the alumni I know).

I have been to parties at both Ohio State and Ohio University and it is impossible to say one school parties any harder, it's just that OU students stay near campus while Ohio State students scatter throughout Columbus (which in my mind is much more dangerous in terms of drunk driving).

So if the fact that OU students love Athens enough to want to stay on the weekends and have a great time makes us a party school, then I proudly embrace the "Party School" label.

As for the "higher reputation", while I love Ohio State, I beg to differ. At least in 1992, OU's College of Communication (Now Scripps College of Communication) was ranked in the top 10 nationally for Telecommunications. I don't believe Ohio State even ranked.

I'm off my soapbox now.