Facts

Brief History

• Founded in 1911 as one of three state normal schools for teacher training.
• Became State Teachers College in 1925 and Bachelor of Science degree was offered.
• In 1936, Bachelor of Arts was added.
• Became State College in 1943. Graduate school added in 1951. Advanced to university status in 1965.
• MTSU is a Tennessee Board of Regents Institution.
• Detailed history (pdf)

Size/Location

• 137 permanent buildings (not including rentals, farm buildings, airport buildings, foundation buildings, farm manager home, and housing home.)
• 4.1 Million square feet
• 504 acres
• one mile from the geographic center of Tennessee

Administration

• Sidney A. McPhee, Ph.D., president

Academics

Kaylene Gebert, Ph.D., executive vice president and provost

• Seven University Colleges: Basic and Applied Sciences, Business, Education and Behavioral Science, Honors, Liberal Arts, Mass Communication, and Graduate Studies
• Eight Bachelor degrees offered: Arts, Business Administration, Fine Arts, Music, Science, Science in Nursing, Social Work, and University Studies
• College of Graduate Studies confers Master's degrees in ten areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree , and the Doctor of Philosophy degree.
• 800 full-time faculty

Enrollment (Fall 2007)

• 23,246

Famous Alumni

• James M. Buchanan, Ph.D. ('40)
  1986 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences
  George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
• Rep. Bart Gordon ('71)
  Washington, DC
• Terry Weeks ('72, '74)
  National Teacher of the Year, 1988
  Currently an MTSU faculty member
• The late, former Sen. Albert Gore Sr. ('32)
  Carthage, TN

Special Programs

Nine Chairs of Excellence, funded with a mix of state and private monies to bring leaders in their fields to MTSU.

• Internationally known reading expert, Dr. Diane J. Sawyer, Katherine Davis Murfree Chair of Excellence in Dyslexic Studies, for the Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia at MTSU
• James E. Burton, Jennings Jones Chair in Free Enterprise
• Beverly Keel, John Seigenthaler Chair in First Amendment Studies
• Jo Edwards, The Dr. Carl Adams Chair in Health Services
• Dr. Suzanne Prevost, National Health Care Chair in Nursing
• Charles E. Perry, The Robert E. and Georgianna West Russell Chair in Manufacturing Excellence
• John C. Miller Chair in Equine Reproductive Physiology
• Mary E. Miller Chair in Equine Health
• James E. Burton, The Jennings and Rebecca Jones Chair in Urban and Regional Planning

Chairs endowed by the MTSU Foundation:

• William F. Ford, Jack Weatherford Chair of Finance
• Kenneth W. Hollman, Tommy Martin Chair of Insurance

Two "accomplished" Centers of Excellence:

• Historic Preservation
• Popular Music

Nickname

• Blue Raiders
  

Mascot

• Lightning
  
  

  Athletics

  • Member of Sun Belt Conference
  • Chris Massaro, Athletic Director
  • Mark Owens, Athletic Media Relations
  • Diane Turnham, Senior Women's Administrator
  • Rick Stockstill , Football
  • Kermit Davis, Men's Basketball
  • Rick Insell , Women's Basketball
  • Matt Peck, Head Coach Volleyball
  • Steve Peterson, Baseball
  • Dean Hayes, Track
  • Whit Turnbow, Men's Golf
  • Chris Adams, Women's Golf
  • David McNamara, Men's Tennis
  • Alison Ojeda , Women's Tennis
  • Aston Rhoden, Women's Soccer
  • Sue Nevar, Head Coach Softball

  Student Life

  • Robert K. Glenn, Ph.D., vice president for Student Affairs and vice provost for enrollment management
  • Jay Cash, SGA president

  Business

  • John W. Cothern, vice president, Business and Finance

  Advancement

  • William J. "Joe" Bales, vice president Development and University Relations

  Media Contacts

  • Tom Tozer, director, News and Public Affairs
  • Gina Fann, editor, The Record
  • Randy Weiler, The Alumni Record
  • Lisa L. Rollins, Special Media Projects
  • Gina Logue, Media Representative
  • News and Public Affairs, (615) 898-2919