College - Michigan State University

By Michael Russell

Michigan State University is a public college located in East Lansing, Michigan. It is a land-grant university and was the first agricultural college in the United States. Michigan State University (MSU) has a fantastic hospitality school and the study abroad program is the largest of any single-campus university in the nation, offering more than 200 programs in more than 60 countries on all continents. Following the introduction of the Morrill Act, "MSU" became co-educational and expanded its curriculum beyond just agriculture. "MSU" is currently listed as the six-largest university by enrollment. As a research university, Michigan State University is a member of the Association of American Universities.

In 1855, Governor Kinsley S. Bingham signed a bill to establish the nation's first agriculture college, the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan. Classes began in May of 1857 with three buildings, five faculty members and 63 students. The first designed curriculum was one that required more scientific study than any undergraduate institution of the era, balancing liberal arts, sciene and practical training. After the Reorganization Act of 1861 was passed, Colleges had a four-year curriculum and the power to grant master's degrees. That same year, the school changed its name to State Agricultural College and its first class graduated. However, there was not much for an elaborate graduation ceremony, most of the alumni were drafted into the American Civil War that followed soon after. The college first admitted women in 1870, although at that time there were no female dormitories. Females, even from the early days, took the same scientific agriculture courses as male students. In 1896, the faculty created a "Women Course" that melded liberal arts and sciences, with a home economics curriculum. That same year, the College turned the old Abbot Hall dorm into a women's dormitory. However, it was not until 1899 that the State Agricultural College admitted its first African American student. The first African American student, William I. Thompson, went on to teach at what is now Tuskegee University. In September 2005, current university president Lou Anna Simon called for "MSU" to become the global model leader for Land Grant institutions by the year 2012.

The Athletic teams, all 22 of them, are named the Spartans and dress in green and white colors. Michigan State offers 14 varsity sports for men and 15 for women. The men's basketball team has won the national championship twice, once in 1979 and another in 2000. The 1979 championship team was led by the well-known NBA great, Earvin "Magic" Johnson. Football has a long tradition at Michigan State, starting as a club sport in 1884, but football gained varsity status in 1896. The team won the Rose Bowl in 1954, 1956 and 1988. The basketball games are played at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center and the football games are played at Spartan Stadium, in the center of the campus.

Michigan State University is one of the many fine schools to attend after high school in the United States. The academic program and athletic program of the university meets the requirements to become successful beyond graduation.

Michael Russell

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