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.)
• 4.2 Million square feet
• 515 acres
• one mile from the geographic center of Tennessee

Administration

• Dr. Sidney A. McPhee, President

Academics

Brad Bartel, Ph.D., University Provost

• Nine University Colleges: Basic and Applied Sciences, Behavioral and Health Sciences, Jennings A. Jones College of Business, Education, Honors, Liberal Arts, Mass Communication, University College 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, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree.
• 962 full-time faculty

Enrollment (Fall 2011)

• 26,442

Famous Alumni

• Albert Gore, Sr. ('32) - U.S. Senator (1953-1971)
• James M. Buchanan, Ph.D. ('40) - 1986 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences
• Bill Boner ('67) - Mayor of Nashville (1987-1991) and U.S. Congressman (1979-1987)
• George S. Clinton ('69) - Hollywood composer (Austin Powers trilogy)
• Terry Weeks ('72, '74) - National Teacher of the Year, 1988 (Current MTSU faculty)
• Kelly Holcomb ('94) - 15-year NFL veteran quarterback
• Mardy Scales ('03) - United States sprinter
• Ashley Eicher ('04) - Miss Tennessee 2004
• Lauren Grissom ('06) - Miss Tennessee USA 2006
• Hillary Scott ('06) - Grammy winning singer/songwriter, Lady Antebellum
• Amber Holt ('08) - Women's National Basketball Association forward
• Erik Walden ('08) - NFL linebacker (2011 Super Bowl Champions Green Bay Packers)

Special Programs

Centers of Excellence:

• Center of Historic Preservation
• Center for Popular Music

Nine Chairs of Excellence (funded with a mix of state and private monies to bring leaders in their fields to MTSU):

• The Jennings Jones Chair in Free Enterprise
  James E. Burton, dean, College of Business
• The Jennings Jones Chair in Urban and Regional Planning
  James E. Burton, dean, College of Business
• The John Seigenthaler Chair in First Amendment Studies
  Wendell Rawls, director, College of Mass Communication
• The Dr. Carl Adams Chair in HealthCare Services
  M. Jo Edwards, chairholder
• The National HealthCare Chair in Nursing
  Karen Ward, interim director, School of Nursing
• The Robert E. and Georgianna West Russell Chair in Manufacturing Excellence
  Charles H. Perry, chairholder, Department of Engineering Technology
• The Katherine Davis Murfree Chair in Dyslexic Studies
  Lana Seivers, dean, College of Education
• John C. Miller Chair in Equine Reproductive Physiology
  Warren Gill, Director, School of Agribusiness and Agriscience
• Mary E. Miller Chair in Equine Health
  Warren Gill, Director, School of Agribusiness and Agriscience

Chairs endowed by the MTSU Foundation:

• Wright Travel Chair in Entrepreneurship
• Tommy Martin Chair of Insurance
  Kenneth W. Hollman, chairholder
• Jack Weatherford Chair of Finance
  William F. Ford, chairholder

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
• Jimmy Borendame, Men's Tennis
• Melissa Schaub , Women's Tennis
• Aston Rhoden, Women's Soccer
• Sue Nevar, Head Coach Softball

Student Life

• Dr. Debra Sells., Vice President for Student Affairs and Vice Provost for Enrollment and Academic Services
• Coby Sherlock, SGA president

Business

• John W. Cothern, Senior Vice President

Advancement

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

Media Contacts

• Jimmy Hart, director, News and Public Affairs
• Gina Fann, editor, The Record
• Randy Weiler, The Alumni Record
• Gina Logue, Media Representative
• News and Media Relations, (615) 898-2919