Southern Connecticut State University (alternately SCSU or Southern) is one of four state universities in Connecticut, and is located in the West Rock neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut. Founded in 1893, it is the third-oldest campus in the Connecticut State University System.
SCSU is part of the Connecticut State University System. Its sister schools are Central Connecticut State University, Eastern Connecticut State University, and Western Connecticut State University. The state universities are governed by the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education.
Life began for Southern Connecticut State University on September 11, 1893, when three teachers and 84 students met at the old Skinner School in New Haven to create a two-year teacher training school, New Haven State Normal School. By 1937, Southern had grown into a four-year college with the power to grant bachelor's degrees.
Ten years later, Southern teamed up with Yale University's Department of Education to offer a master of science degree. In 1954, the State Board of Education authorized the institution—then known as New Haven State Teachers College—to assume complete responsibility for this graduate program.
In 1959, six years after the institution had moved to its present location on Crescent Street, state legislation expanded Southern's offerings to include liberal arts programs leading to bachelor's degrees in the arts and sciences. At the same time, New Haven State Teachers College became Southern Connecticut State College.
For the next 24 years, Southern grew, modernized, and diversified, expanding its undergraduate and graduate programs and opening up entirely new fields of study and research. But March 1983 brought even greater changes: Southern Connecticut State College was rechristened Southern Connecticut State University, and made part of the Connecticut State University System, along with Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, and Western Connecticut State University in Danbury.[4]
Present[]
Southern hosts lectures, workshops in literature and dance, art exhibits, performances by professional and student artists, conferences, and institutes on a variety of topics. Figures that have given lectures on Southern's campus include astronaut Mark Kelly,[5] husband of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, comedian and educator Bill Cosby,[6] and writer Jeffrey Zaslow, a co-author of the The Last Lecture and columnist for the Wall Street Journal before his death.[7]
Michael J. Adanti Student Center as seen from Fitch Street
Southern has one campus in New Haven, bordering parts of Hamden, Connecticut. Fitch Street separates the academic and residential parts of campus.
Founders Gate, between Lyman Center and Engleman Hall, is a physical link to Southern's early Howe Street campus. The gate was restored and moved to the Crescent Street campus, and dedicated during Homecoming in 1987.
Recent construction[]
During the summer of 2013 two new construction projects broke ground on the campus. The renovation of the old Buley Library building began, and a new Academic Science building started in what was the parking lot in front of Jennings Hall. Both projects are on track to be completed in 2015.
Buildings[]
Academic[]
Engleman Hall (Administration, classrooms and offices)
Morrill Hall (Earth Science, Geography, Journalism, classrooms)
Jennings Hall (Science Building)
Davis Hall (School of Education)
The School of Business
Buley Library (School of Information and Library Science)
Freshman and sophomore traditional residence halls:[8]
Chase Hall
Farnham Hall
Hickerson Hall
Neff Hall
Wilkinson Hall
West Campus Residence Complex offers double or triple rooms and single rooms in suites.
Upperclassmen halls:
Brownell Hall is a blend of traditional residence hall and upperclassman housing.
Schwartz Hall offers 2, 4 or six person apartments for sophomore and junior students.
North Campus Midrise Complex and Townhouses for seniors with 100+ credits and graduate students.
Administrative[]
Wintergreen Building (offices)
Ethnic Heritage Center
Admissions House
Lang Social Work House
Orlando Public Health Building
Other[]
Lyman Center for the Arts
Michael J. Adanti Student Center
Connecticut Hall (food service)
Granoff Student Health Center (campus police and health center)
Moore Fieldhouse (athletics)
Jess Dow Field (athletics)
Facilities and Operations Building
Academic programs[]
Teacher education[]
In keeping with its origins as a teachers' college, Southern Connecticut State University remains a center for teacher education. It produces more teachers, principals, and school superintendents than any other Connecticut institution.[citation needed] Southern is the only school in Connecticut to offer a master's degree concentration in autism spectrum disorders.[9] The university received approval for its first doctoral program, an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership.
Nursing[]
NCLEX passing rates for Southern students hover between 90 and 100 percent in the past three decades.[10]
Student activities[]
Athletics[]
SCSU's sports teams are nicknamed The Owls.
There have been 10 NCAA National Championship Teams at Southern, as well as 75 NCAA Individual Champions in the sports of Track and Field, Swimming and Gymnastics.
Soccer[]
SCSU's men's soccer team won titles in 1987, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1998, 1999. The six titles are the most for any Division II men's soccer team in the country.[11] The program has appeared in 32 NCAA Division II Tournaments, 17 NCAA Final Four appearances, and has produced 52 All-Americans, 15 Senior Bowl Players, 4 National Player of the Year Award Winners, and 1 Golden Boot Award (Top Goalkeeper in any NCAA Division) winner.[12]
Basketball[]
On March 24, 2007, the women's basketball team won the NCAADivision II championships. In a 61–45 victory, SCSU beat the previously undefeated Florida Gulf Coast.
Gymnastics[]
The street circle in front of the Moore Fieldhouse is named in honor of former Olympian Abie Grossfeld, former head gymnastics coach at the university.
Swimming[]
The swimming and diving team scored their highest at the NCAA championship meet in March for the years 2007 and 2008.[citation needed]
Football[]
SCSU's football program has produced coaches and players who went on to the National Football League.
Media[]
WSIN1590 AM radio station[]
WSIN1590 AM is formerly known as WOWL and WSCB. A student-run radio station, WSIN can be streamed online from its website. WSIN stands for "Southern Independent Network." Shows are broadcast live from the Michael J. Adanti Student Center. All SCSU students are allowed to sign-up for a time slot to broadcast over the airwaves. Diverse news, music, and talk shows compose SCSU's current programming. In 2007 a group of students from WSIN traveled to the NCAA DII Championchips to broadcast the games when the Women's Basketball team was in the final rounds of the tournament.
Southern News student newspaper[]
The Southern News is a weekly newspaper covering news, opinions, arts, entertainment and sports. The publication consists of 14 paid staff members. The Southern prints work from staff members, journalism students, and non-journalism majors.
Stephen L. White – Author, former Episcopal Chaplain at Princeton University; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, graduated 1971
Norby Williamson – ESPN vice president of studio and remote production, graduated in 1984
Daniel Trust - Rwandan Genocide survivor, motivational speaker and founder of The Daniel Trust Foundation, graduated in 2013
