
Wichita State University
Wichita State University is a public research university in Wichita, Kansas, United States. It is the third largest university governed by the Kansas Board of Regents.
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College History
Wichita State University began in 1886 as Fairmount College, a private Congregational preparatory school, founded by Rev. Joseph Homer Parker. Initially it was referred to as "Young Ladies College", "Wichita Ladies College", and "Congregational Female College". It was to admit women twelve years and older who were "able to read, write, spell and recite the parts of speech." Support came mainly from the Plymouth Congregational Church to build it, but the school never opened its doors. In 1892, a corporation bought the property and named the preparatory school Fairmount Institute. It opened in September to men and women, with an emphasis on training in preaching or teaching. It closed because of financial difficulties. In 1895, on the same site, Fairmount College opened collegiate classes for men and women with funding by the Congregational Education Society. Amid growing financial troubles, the college's supporters tried to get the city of Wichita to buy it in 1925, but failed. A second referendum passed in 1926, and that fall 569-student Fairmount College became the Municipal University of Wichita (popularly known as "Wichita University" or "WU"). It was the first municipal university west of the Mississippi, and catered to students of limited means. On July 1, 1964, it officially entered the state system of higher education as Wichita State University (WSU). WSU is one of three research institutions in Kansas, along with Kansas State University (KSU) and the University of Kansas (KU).
College Specialty
The mission of Wichita State University is to be an essential educational, cultural, and economic driver for Kansas and the greater public good.
Alumni
Casey Blake � Major League Baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers Joe Carter � retired Major League Baseball player Andy Dirks � Current MLB Player Major League Baseball's Detroit Tigers Darren Dreifort � retired Major League Baseball player with the Los Angeles Dodgers Mike Lansing � retired Major League Baseball player Koyie Hill � Major League Baseball player for the Chicago Cubs Braden Looper � Major League Baseball player for the Milwaukee Brewers and Saint Louis Cardinals Pat Meares � retired Major League Baseball player Doug Mirabelli � Retired Major League Baseball player with the Boston Red Sox Michael Pelfrey � Major League Baseball player for the New York Mets Nate Robertson � Major League Baseball player for the Florida Marlins Eric Wedge � Current Manager of Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners Conor Gillaspie � Major League Baseball player for the Chicago White Sox
Campus
Urban 330 acres (1.3 km2)