| For three-quarters
of a century Murray State University has served students from the region,
the nation and the world. Founded in 1922, the university has grown from
an enrollment of 202 students to nearly 10,000 today. Students receive
individual attention from a teaching faculty which numbers 375. Murray
State University has consistently been ranked among the top 25 percent
of Southern regional and liberal arts colleges in U.S. News & World
Report’s annual publication, America’s Best Colleges. Kaplan, Inc. and
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine have also highlighted Murray State’s
positive attributes. Recognition of the quality of MSU programs is reflected
in accreditations. Murray State has been continuously accredited by the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) since 1928. Program
accreditations have also been attained in art, business, counseling, several
engineering technology programs, animal health technology, chemistry, journalism,
radio-television, music, nursing, occupational safety and health, social
work, special education, teacher education, and veterinary laboratory diagnostics.
Located in the Jackson
Purchase lake area of west Kentucky, Murray State is a tax-supported university
with five academic colleges and one school. The university’s 232-acre main
campus is in Murray, a city of 17,000.
The main campus comprises
70 major buildings, including classroom and office buildings and two libraries.
Waterfield Library houses the circulating collection, reference sources,
government documents, microforms, and periodicals. Historic Pogue Library
contains special materials relating to the history and culture of west
Kentucky and the region.
Other notable campus
facilities and programs providing high-quality instruction and regional
service include:
• The Martha Layne
Collins Center for Industry and Technology, housing programs in industrial
and engineering technology and occupational safety and health, and providing
regional industries and businesses with training, consulting services,
and research opportunities.
• The Center of Excellence
for Reservoir Research, conducting interdisciplinary long-term studies
of rivers and reservoirs and assisting with management and protection of
waterways and natural ecosystems.
• The Mid-America
Remote Sensing Center (MARC), a component of the Center of Excellence,
studying satellite-generated data for resource management and developing
a geographic information system for Kentucky Lake and its surrounding environments.
• The Chemical Services
Laboratory, another component of the Center of Excellence, equipped with
sophisticated instrumentation for environmental analytical chemistry as
well as regional laboratory service for industries, institutions and individuals.
• The Diagnostic and
Remediation Center, providing diagnostic, remedial and consultative services
for persons with reading, learning, behavioral, speech, language and/or
hearing disorders.
• The Price Doyle
Fine Arts Center, offering excellent facilities for fine arts programming
and featuring year-round art exhibitions, a variety of musical performances,
and a season of full-scale theatre productions.
• Flourishing business
administration programs, offering classes on campus, via the Internet,
and at three off-campus sites and at several others through interactive
television, and training a significant number of international students.
• The Interactive
Telecommunications Network, operated by the Center for Continuing Education
and Academic Outreach, linking several sites with full duplex video and
audio capability to deliver both credit and noncredit programs among several
locations simultaneously.
• WKMS-FM, a National
Public Radio-affiliated 100,000-watt station with a listening audience
in five states.
• Listed with the
National Registry of Historic Sites, the Wrather West Kentucky Museum,
offers programs, exhibits and collections of west Kentucky history, as
well as, traveling exhibits.
Three agricultural
laboratory farms totalling 356 acres, an animal health technology facility,
and the West Kentucky Exposition Center are all within a mile of campus.
Regional veterinarians and animal owners benefit from the animal disease
diagnostic services provided at the university’s Breathitt Veterinary Center
in nearby Hopkinsville, Kentucky; in addition, animal health technology
students receive instruction, conduct research, and perform field service
investigations at the accredited facility.
Ten miles east of campus,
on Kentucky Lake, is the Hancock Biological Station (HBS), one of the finest
centers of its kind in the Midwest. HBS is the field research home for
the Center of Excellence for Reservoir Research and the Ecological Consortium
of Mid-America; its facilities (including housing) are available year-round
to ecosystem scientists.
Other off-campus facilities
include:
• Murphy’s Pond, a
279-acre primitive wildlife habitat 30 miles west of campus, preserved
in its natural state and used as both a biological laboratory and a public
outdoor recreational area.
• Wickliffe Mounds
Research Center in Wickliffe, Kentucky, an archaeological study area and
museum situated on a village site of a prehistoric mound-building culture
of the Mississippi River Valley.
Murray State University
has a commitment to extend its educational programs throughout the region.
Off-campus courses are available at a number of sites including Paducah,
Fort Campbell, Henderson, Hopkinsville, and Madisonville. In addition to
teaching courses on-site at these locations, the university provides a
variety of distance learning alternatives for students who may not be able
to attend classes on the main campus, including Internet courses, interactive
television courses, correspondence study, and Kentucky Educational Television
telecourses.
The international dimension
of the university’s offerings has been dramatically broadened in recent
years. In addition to summer study-abroad programs in several countries,
direct exchange programs have been developed for students and faculty with
universities on five continents — Africa, Asia, Australia, Central America,
and Europe. On campus, the English Language Institute prepares nonnative
speakers of English for full-time study and for future professional careers.
In its ninth decade
of service, Murray State University’s mission focuses on undergraduate,
graduate and professional instruction, and continuing education programs
as well as enhancement of the educational, economic, and cultural opportunities
of the people of west Kentucky.
Visiting the Campus
Visitors are enthusiastically
welcomed at Murray State. They are encouraged to tour the campus, visit
the residence halls, and talk with faculty members and students. Overnight
accommodations, special tours, or specific appointments with faculty or
administrators may be arranged by calling the School Relations Office at
1-800-272-4MSU. Correspondence may be mailed to the School Relations Office,
Murray State University, PO Box 9, Murray KY 42071-0009. During the fall
and spring semesters, office hours Monday through Friday are 8:00 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m., and on selected Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. During
the summer sessions, office hours vary.
Mission
The following mission
statement was adopted by the Murray State University Board of Regents
on September 26, 2003.
Murray State University
serves as a nationally recognized residential comprehensive university,
offering high-quality baccalaureate and master’s degree programs. Academic
programs are offered in the core areas of arts and sciences, agriculture,
business, health and human services, teacher education, communications,
engineering, and applied technologies. Teaching, research, and service
excellence are core values and guiding principles that promote economic
development and the well-being of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
and the region.
Murray State University
places a high premium on academic outreach, collaborative relationships
with alumni, the public schools, business and industry, governmental agencies,
and other colleges and universities at home and abroad.
Murray State University
prepares graduates to function in a culturally diverse, technologically
oriented society and increasingly interdependent world. The university
is committed to international education as an integral dimension of the
university experience.
Murray State University
emphasizes student-centered learning and educational experiences that include
first year experience, the honors program, internships, study-abroad programs,
service learning, research and creative projects, residential colleges,
and student organizations.
In sum, Murray State
University fosters an exciting and challenging learning environment.
Values
• Accessibility
Murray State
values broad, equal, and affordable educational access for all.
• Academic Freedom
Murray State
values the generation and free exchange of ideas in a peaceful and orderly
environment that encourages communication and the resolution of differences.
• Accountability
Murray State
values a comprehensive accountability system through outcomes assessment
and institutional effectiveness, supporting our primary mission as a university.
• Diversity
Murray State
values attracting, developing, and maintaining a diverse, high-quality
faculty, staff, and student body.
• Excellence
Murray State
values a sustained commitment to teaching, research, and service excellence.
• Integrity
Murray State
values an environment that demands high levels of professional and academic
ethics.
• Nurturing Environment
Murray State
values a safe, friendly, and supportive campus and community environment.
• Shared Governance
Murray State
values a culture of shared governance, open communication, and understanding
among administration, faculty, staff, and students.
• Student-Centered
Learning
Murray State
values an environment that fosters the engagement of the student in the
learning process both in and beyond the classroom.
Characteristics
of the Murray State University Graduate
The excellence of
a university’s baccalaureate program is ultimately best demonstrated by
the qualities, characteristics, and performance of its graduates. Murray
State University sets as its goal a baccalaureate experience that ensures
graduates who:
·Engage in mature,
independent, and creative thought and express that thought effectively
in oral and written communication;
·Understand
and apply the critical and scientific methodologies that academic disciplines
employ to discover knowledge and ascertain its validity;
·Apply sound
standards of information gathering, analysis, and evaluation to reach logical
decisions;
·Understand
the roles and applications of science and technology in the solution of
the problems of a changing world;
·Demonstrate
a critical understanding of the world’s historical, literary, philosophical,
and artistic traditions;
·Understand
the dynamics of cultural diversity, of competing economic and political
systems, and of complex moral and ethical issues;
·Understand
the importance of and engage in ethical behavior and responsible citizenship;
·Understand
the importance of the behaviors necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle;
·Demonstrate
mastery of a chosen field of study, and
·Value intellectual
pursuit and continuous learning in a changing world.
Organization
of the University
The government of
the university is vested in the Board of Regents of Murray State University,
a corporate body established by statute and enjoying all immunities, rights,
privileges and franchises of an educational governing body.
The president serves
as the chief executive officer of the university and as such is ultimately
responsible to the Board of Regents for all matters pertaining to the institution.
The president reports directly to the board.
Following the organizational
structure established by the Board of Regents, responsibility for most
operational units of the university is divided among four executive officers
who report to the president: the provost and vice president for academic
affairs, the vice president for student affairs, the vice president for
administrative services, and the vice president for institutional advancement.
These four vice presidents serve as the president’s management team, advising
the president on the operation of the university, making recommendations
on the establishment of administrative policy, and executing responsibilities,
both individually and collectively, within the university governance system.
The provost and vice president for academic affairs is the senior vice
president.
Academic
Units
Murray State University
is comprised of five colleges and one school. The colleges are Business
and Public Affairs, Education, Health Sciences and Human Services, Humanities
and Fine Arts, and Science, Engineering and Technology. The School of Agriculture
completes the academic structure. Each college offers a unique program
of human endeavor with interdisciplinary study among the colleges to provide
students with broad educational perspectives.
The College of Business
and Public Affairs offers graduate programs in accounting, business administration,
economics, mass communications, organizational communication, and telecommunications
systems management.
The College of Education
offers graduate programs in early elementary education, middle school education,
secondary education, school administration, guidance and counseling, human
development and leadership, career and technical education, reading and
writing, and special education.
The College of Health
Sciences and Human Services offers graduate programs in exercise and leisure
studies, nursing, occupational safety and health, and speech-language pathology.
The College of Humanities
and Fine Arts offers graduate programs in English, history, music education,
clinical psychology, general psychology, public administration, and teaching
English to speakers of other languages.
The College of Science,
Engineering and Technology offers graduate programs in biology, chemistry,
geosciences, management of technology, mathematics, telecommunications
systems management, and water science.
A master of science
degree in agriculture is offered by the School of Agriculture.
Murray State University
maintains high academic standards in a wide variety of programs, offers
close student/faculty relationships, and provides career and job placement
counseling.
Graduate Administration
and Organization
Graduate programs
are under the administration of the president of the university, the provost
and vice president for academic affairs, the coordinator of graduate studies,
the deans and graduate coordinators of the colleges and departments, and
the Graduate Studies Committee of the Academic Council.
Review and supervision
of all graduate programs are administered by the provost and vice president
for academic affairs through the coordinator of graduate studies. Collegiate
graduate coordinators assign students to advisors or advisory committees.
Graduate student representatives
from each college serve on a graduate advisory committee convened by the
coordinator of graduate studies to discuss and make recommendations about
issues of graduate education at Murray State. Two members of the committee
are elected to represent graduate students on the Academic Council, which
also includes members from academic administration, faculty senate, collegiate
faculty, libraries, extended education, and undergraduate students.
Graduate
Degrees Conferred
Graduate degrees conferred
by Murray State University are:
• Master of Arts (M.A.)
in clinical psychology; English; general psychology; geosciences; history;
mass communications; mathematics; organizational communication; and
teaching English to speakers of other languages;
• Master of Arts in
Education (M.A.Ed.) in early elementary education; guidance and counseling;
middle school education; reading and writing; school administration; secondary
education; and special education;
• Master of Arts in
Teaching (M.A.T.) in mathematics;
• Master of Business
Administration (M.B.A.);
• Master of Music
Education (M.M.E.);
• Master of Professional
Accountancy (M.P.Ac.);
• Master of Public
Administration (M.P.A.);
• Master of Science
(M.S.) in agriculture; biology; career and technical education; chemistry;
clinical psychology; economics; exercise and leisure studies; general psychology;
geosciences; human development and leadership; management of technology;
mass communications; mathematics; occupational safety and health; organizational
communication; speech-language pathology; telecommunications systems management;
and water science.
• Master of Science
in Nursing (M.S.N.);
• Specialist in Education
(Ed.S.) in early elementary education; guidance and counseling; middle
school education; school administration; and secondary education.
Courses leading to
the following degrees are also offered:
• Doctor of Education
(Ed.D.) or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in cooperation with the University
of Kentucky, the University of Reading, and the University of Memphis;
• Doctor of Philosophy
(Ph.D.) in biology in cooperation with the University of Louisville.
University
Libraries
The university libraries
– the Harry Lee Waterfield Library and Forrest C. Pogue Library – contain
over 928, 000 resource materials, including 505,960 bound volumes and 2,238
current subscriptions.
The Waterfield Library
houses the entire circulating collection, reference sources, government
documents, microforms, and periodicals. All classified materials of the
libraries’ holdings are listed in the online catalog “Racernet”. The libraries
also provide access to numerous electronic resources and databases. A centralized
interlibrary loan service for faculty and students is maintained for the
borrowing of research materials from other libraries. Photocopying services
are available for self-service use at a minimum rate. Informal and formal
seating areas combined with individual carrels allow for a diversified
study atmosphere.
The Forrest C. Pogue
Library houses special collections and the law library. Holdings include
books, periodicals, newspapers, state documents, manuscripts, rare books,
prints and paintings, tape recordings, maps, and microforms. Noteworthy
are collections of TVA materials, Civil War materials, political
papers of Harry Lee Waterfield, Robert A. Everett, Noble J. Gregory, Edward
T. Breathitt, and Frank Albert Stubblefield, and materials relating to
Kentucky authors Irvin S. Cobb and Jesse Stuart. The Forrest C. Pogue War
and Diplomacy Collection consists of personal papers, books and other materials
donated by noted historian and Murray State University graduate Dr. Forrest
C. Pogue. The James O. Overby Law Library, located on the lower level of
the Pogue Library, consists of basic legal materials governing the United
States and selected individual states. Included are codes, statutes, digests,
reports, debates, citations, regulations, encyclopedias, dictionaries,
forms, and standard treatise works covering major areas of law.
Instruction in the
Use of Library Resources. For students who desire directed instruction,
Library Research for Information Literacy (LOR 101) is taught by library
faculty. This two-credit-hour course is taught in multiple sections each
eight-week session in the fall and spring. One section is also offered
during the summer.
International
Student Services
International
students are welcome at Murray State University. Currently, the university
enrolls more than 300 students from over 50 countries throughout the world.
Two full-time advisors are available at the Institute for International
Studies to assist international students with their special concerns. The
international student advisors provide orientation, acculturation, and
immigration workshops and classes, help students adjust to life on campus
and in the U.S., and are Designated School Officials and Alternate Responsible
Officers for all student immigration matters.
International students
are required to show proof of English ability by providing a recent official
TOEFL score. International students who do not provide a TOEFL score that
meets the admission requirements of the program they are applying for will
be referred to our intensive English program to apply and gain the English
proficiency necessary to enter their chosen university program. This program
also has a full time advisor and fully qualified professional staff.
International students
who are unsure of whom to contact for help with personal, employment, immigration
or academic concerns will receive assistance at the Institute for International
Studies, 165 Woods Hall, telephone 270-762-4152 or by email at: <iis@murraystate.edu>.
Institute
for International Studies. The Institute for International Studies
(IIS) was designated in 1998 for the unified coordination of international
programs and activities at Murray State University. Evolving from the separately
created Center for International Programs (1981) and the English Language
Institute (1993), IIS supports Murray State’s commitment to international
education as an integral dimension of the university experience. IIS provides
the following services to students, faculty and the community:
• Assistance to International
Students and Scholars. The International Student Advisor(s) provide assistance
in addressing the academic, personal, intercultural, and immigration needs
of international students. Additionally, IIS provides students, research
scholars and visiting faculty with orientation programs, immigration advising;
and cultural enrichment activities. International students have also organized
to offer an active, caring community of support for both degree and ESL
students.
• Information Clearinghouse.
The institute maintains a library of materials on study, work, research,
teaching and travel abroad. IIS publishes brochures and announcements of
study and teaching abroad opportunities, and newsletters on international
programs. An international speakers bureau serves as a resource to regional
public schools in support of KERA, while events are publicized by press
releases and the web site’s calendar.
• Special Program
Development. IIS is involved in initiating special programs with an international
emphasis. Internal and external groups can work to develop programs to
support their specific interests. These have ranged from lecture series
to longer curricular programs designed for language study, ESL training,
or professional development emphasizing administration, education, training,
and other topics.
• Curriculum Support.
With IIS support, the university has also developed and refined a Global
Studies curriculum on campus, initiated an English-as-a-Second-Language
Program, created professional development seminars abroad, supported the
development of a graduate TESOL program, and worked toward the creation
of degree programs abroad.
• English-as-a-Second
Language Program. The ESL Program prepares nonnative speakers of English
for full-time study at Murray State or other North American schools. Through
careful assessment, intensive instruction, and out-of-class activities
such as field trips, seminars, and a mentoring program, international students
receive the personal attention they need to advance their English skills.
For more information, see the section on International Student Admission
in Chapter 2.
• Study Abroad. Through
IIS, Murray State University maintains cooperative agreements with institutions
in 10 countries as well as consortial membership with five organizations,
which provide international experience and education for its students.
Each year, through these various venues, MSU students may select from over
50 study abroad program sites. Because new programs are always being reviewed
and added, students interested in study abroad may inquire at any time
at IIS for information (169 Woods Hall), or they may visit the Study Abroad
Resource Center (171 Woods Hall) at their leisure.
Exchange Programs
are available through the Institute for International Studies. These programs
offer students the ability to be more fully integrated into a university
overseas, taking courses taught by the natives, adjusting to a new university
system, and living with people of multiple cultures.
Cooperative Center
for Study Abroad (CCSA). As a member of CCSA, MSU provides several
options for study in English-speaking countries including winter break,
summer, and fall semester programs. These programs involve formal academic
coursework, excursions and independent travel.
International Business
Seminars (IBS). Business students may participate in one of several
multi-country business seminars in Europe. The seminars, offered during
winter and summer academic breaks, focus on marketing and management for
both graduate and undergraduate students.
Kentucky Institute
for International Studies (KIIS). Murray State is headquarters of the
Kentucky Institute for International Studies. KIIS provides students with
several options for study in non-English speaking countries including summer
sessions and semester sessions in both the fall and spring. These programs
involve formal academic course work, independent study, travel and the
option for language study.
AustraLearn.
Students can choose from 22 universities in Australia and New Zealand through
the AustraLearn program. The academic range of the AustraLearn universities
spans the entire MSU curriculum, thus offering at least one option for
every MSU student. AustraLearn offers semester or full academic year programs
in which students are fully integrated into a university overseas.
Cultural Experiences
Abroad (CEA). As a CEA affiliate, MSU students have the opportunity
to study for a semester or full academic year in several different countries.
Many CEA programs offer intensive language options in addition to courses
taught in English. On CEA programs, students are fully integrated into
universities and/or language programs overseas.
Student
Affairs
The primary concern
of Student Affairs is the student. This concern encompasses retention,
welfare, and growth and development in all dimensions of student life including
educational, vocational, social-cultural, civility and tolerance, psychological,
values clarification and physical. Student Affairs provides a variety of
educational and administrative services, programs and activities in support
of the Strategic Plan of the university. It is committed to excellence
in and the integration of curricular and co-curricular activities to ensure
a supportive living-learning environment.
Student Affairs offices
include School Relations; Student Financial Aid; Career Services; Counseling
and Testing; Services for Students with Learning Disabilities; Health Services;
Curris Center; University Store; Student Activities; Student Organizations;
Student Government; Greek Affairs; Campus Recreation; African-American
Student Services/Ethnic Programs; Veterans Affairs; Judicial Affairs; Upward
Bound; Educational Talent Search; Student Support Services; Governor’s
Minority Student College Preparation Program; Housing; Food Services; and
University Scholarships. These units are coordinated through the Office
of Student Affairs, located on the first floor of Ordway Hall, 270-762-6831.
Students, their families, and the public are encouraged to contact any
of these offices for information and assistance with any student-related
concern.
•African-American
Student Services and Ethnic Programs
The Office of African-American
Student Services & Ethnic Programs was established to provide ongoing
assistance and support to Murray State’s ethnic student population prior
to and following their enrollment The office serves as a clearinghouse,
a referral service, and a liaison among administration, academic units
and the community. For additional information contact the Office of African-American
Student Services/Ethnic Programs in Room 110B, Curris Center, or call 270-762-6836.
•Career Services
The Career Services
office provides Murray State graduate students with a variety of services
that are designed to enhance the student’s ability to find a career upon
graduation. Career Services provides resources for students to investigate
cooperative education and internship opportunities that will provide valuable
insight into their career path.
Updated information
about permanent full-time or part-time jobs are located on the Career Services
website in addition to information on the development of the resume, cover
letter, and other job search techniques. On-campus interviews are scheduled
regularly and career fairs hosting an average of 85 companies each semester
are also provided through the Career Services office.
For more information,
visit the Career Services Office, 210 Ordway Hall or call (270) 762-3735.
•Counseling and
Testing Center
Located in the east
wing of Ordway Hall, the center has a full-time staff available for educational,
career and personal counseling. Students with concerns of a personal or
emotional nature should feel free to contact the Counseling and Testing
Center for confidential assistance. Appropriate referrals to additional
mental health services will also be provided to students. The Counseling
Center also extends its counseling and referral services to faculty and
staff through an employee assistance program. Interested faculty and staff
should call the Counseling and Testing Center for more information.
A wide range of admissions
tests used nationally are available to students through the testing service,
as well as appropriate tests to assist students with career exploration
and self-understanding. A computer based testing lab is available to students
needing to take the GRE and similar graduate admissions and professional
qualification tests. The Counseling Center also offers computer-assisted
career guidance through the use of the DISCOVER computer system.
•Food Services
The university operates
eight dining facilities, and university catering. Winslow Dining Hall,
and Fast Track are located in the center of the residence hall complex
on the north end of campus. Board plans and declining balance are used
in these facilities located in Winslow Dining Hall. The Curris Center is
the home of the T’Room (Thoroughbred Room), Sugar Cube, Sunset Strips,
and Subway. Depending on the operation, limited board plan use and declining
balance may be used in the Curris Center facilities. Food service also
provides food carts which are located in Waterfield Library, the Business
Building and Faculty Hall. Meal Plans, Declining Balance and cash are welcome
at all three carts. Information on meal plans is available from the Food
Services Office on the first floor of the Curris Center, 270-762-4600.
Also located on the first floor is the Racer Card (university ID) office
270-762-3003.
•Health Services
Health Services is
located at ground level in the north wing of Wells Hall. The clinic is
open for student visits from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:00 p.m.
to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays when classes are in session. However, the clinic
is closed after 11:30 a.m. each Wednesday for health education presentations
at other sites on campus.
Primary health care
is offered on a drop-in basis. Students are screened and assessed by professional
nurses. They may be treated by or referred to the physician, depending
on the nature of the visit. The local hospital provides physician services
on a 24-hour basis for emergencies.
All enrolled students
are eligible for free services at the clinic. During the summer, students
must be enrolled in the current session to be eligible for services. All
services with other health care providers or agencies are at the student’s
own expense.
•Housing
Residential College
System. The residential college system at Murray State University redefines
collegiate living and educational experiences for undergraduate students.
Every undergraduate student belongs to one of the residential colleges.
At the heart of each residential college is the residence hall. The residence
hall provides the focal point for all residential college activities.
Each residential college
is comprised of students from a variety of academic majors, grade classifications,
ethnic backgrounds and extracurricular interests. Residential colleges
are designed to celebrate the rich diversity of Murray State University
students, staff and faculty. Each residential college offers a stimulating
living-learning environment for students.
Residential colleges
provide students with opportunities to interact with faculty on a daily
basis outside of the classroom. The small community atmosphere allows students
the chance to establish a sense of pride and common purpose. After being
assigned to a residential college, students are connected with that community
throughout their undergraduate years. Students, staff and faculty establish
enduring friendships through the experience. The residential college develops
traditions and lasting bonds that remain with students years after graduation.
Murray State has nine
residence halls for students, all well equipped. The residence halls house
approximately 3,000 students. Each residence hall is equipped with computer
rooms or labs, a television lobby, study room, coin-operated laundry facilities,
vending machines, and kitchenettes with microwaves.
Students living in
residence halls are permitted to have automobiles, and parking is available
in areas adjacent to the halls. Individual student rooms are equipped with
telephone jacks, two cable outlets, two Internet ports, beds, desks, desk
chairs, closet and drawer space. Cable television is available in rooms
from the local cable company for an additional charge. Basic cable and
Internet access are provided.
The Housing Office
staff seeks to make residence hall living a unique experience. Murray State’s
living and learning program includes academic assistance, counseling, social
and educational programs. The nature and extent of academic assistance
and counseling is limited by budgetary constraints, and the university
makes no representation as to the success or failure of such efforts.
College Courts are
144 furnished apartment units available for married, non-traditional, and
graduate students, or older students who are 21 years of age by the first
day of registration. All apartments are furnished, air-conditioned, and
equipped with a telephone jack, two cable outlets, and two Internet ports.
Laundry facilities are located in each building. Basic cable and Internet
service are provided. Cable television is available from a local cable
company for an additional charge. Most units are one-bedroom apartments,
though a limited number of two-bedroom apartments are available.
Applications and information
concerning the residence halls and apartments may be obtained by writing
the Director of Housing, Murray State University, PO Box 9, Murray KY 42071-0009.
•University Store
Located in the Curris
Center, the University Store is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00
a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday from 9:00
a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. During final
exams, the store also operates a book buy-back service. School supplies,
both new and used textbooks, paperback books, a large selection of bargain
books, computer hardware, computer software, commencement caps and gowns,
magazines, 15 newspapers, novelties, tapes, CDs, greeting cards, souvenirs,
softgoods (T-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets and more for adults as well as
a children’s line), and personal items can be purchased at the University
Store. Visit the University Store or place an order by E-mail or telephone
(books@murraystate.edu; 1-800-749-8580).
•Veterans Affairs
Veterans Affairs,
a unit of Student Affairs, is located in Ordway Hall. The primary mission
of the office is to assist the veteran student with the successful transition
from military to university campus life. Eligible candidates should contact
the office immediately concerning general procedures and documents required
to complete enrollment certification with the VA regional office. This
will help ensure prompt payment of education benefits.
Veterans under the
Vietnam era Montgomery G.I. Bill (Chapter 34) should be aware that this
program was terminated on December 31, 1989. Active-duty personnel (Chapter
34) entering the service after June 1, 1988, and those who entered after
July 1, 1985, will qualify for educational assistance under the new Montgomery
G.I. Bill (Chapter 30). A six-year commitment is required with the National
Guard or Selected Reserve for the Montgomery G.I. Bill (Chapter 106). People
who have a disability rating will receive funding through the rehabilitation
program (Chapter 31). Those who have served between January 1, 1977, and
July 1, 1985, and participated in the matching funds program (Chapter 32
VEAP) also have educational benefits. Children, spouses and widow(er)s
of veterans who, while serving in the armed forces, were killed on active
duty, or have died as a result of a service-connected disability, or are
permanently and totally disabled, or were prisoners of war, or are missing
in action qualify for benefits under the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational
Assistance Program (Chapter 35).
Tuition fees may be
waived at any state-supported institution of higher education in Kentucky
for those children, spouses and widow(er)s of Kentucky residents who, while
serving in the armed forces or the Kentucky National Guard, were killed
on active duty, or who have died as a result of a service-connected disability,
or who are permanently and totally disabled, or who were prisoners of war,
or who have been declared missing in action. Dependents of living qualifying
veterans must be between the ages of 17 and 23. Tuition fees are waived
for up to 36 months, or until age 23, whichever comes first. Neither the
age restriction nor the 36-month limitation applies to dependents of deceased
veterans.
For more information
on these programs, please visit the Veterans Affairs Office on campus or
call 270-762-6837 or 6838.
Other
Campus Activities, Organizations and Services
Alumni activities.
Membership privileges of the Murray State University Alumni Association
are extended automatically to all graduates and any individual attending
MSU for two consecutive semesters who did not graduate. Activities sponsored
by the Alumni Association include chapter meetings and receptions, events
during Alumni Weekend and Homecoming, and recognition programs such as
Distinguished Professor, Golden Horseshoe and Distinguished Alumnus. Affiliated
with the Alumni Association is the Student Alumni Association, a service-oriented
organization with open membership which provides students an opportunity
to make a positive contribution to the university. Inquiries and suggestions
are always welcome. Interested individuals may telephone 270-762-3737 or
3001, or visit the Development and Alumni Affairs Center.
Arts and cultural
opportunities. Cultural offerings abound on campus and in the community,
including art exhibits, concerts, recitals, musical theatre and drama productions
as well as lectures, readings and film festivals. The university publishes
a calendar of events each semester and weekly events are listed in the
Murray State News, the campus newspaper.
Intercollegiate
athletics. Murray State is a charter member of the Ohio Valley Conference
and is a Division I member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
The Racer athletic teams are perennial challengers for major honors in
the sponsored nine men’s sports and ten women’s sports.
Intramural and
recreational sports. Over 60 separate sporting events are programmed
by the Campus Recreation Office each year. These range from traditional
sports such as football, basketball, softball and soccer to non-traditional
just-for-fun sports and individual activities such as racquetball, tennis
and golf. In many of the activities, students may choose between a competitive
and a recreational division.
Outdoor recreation.
Murray State students can spend many hours in the vast recreational area
of Kentucky and Barkley Lakes and the Land Between the Lakes national recreational
area, all located within a short drive from campus. Here students enjoy
swimming, fishing, water skiing, golfing, camping, horseback riding, hiking
and just soaking up the sun on the beaches. The Leisure Connection is a
service at Murray State that allows students to check out tents, sleeping
bags, stoves, coolers and other recreational equipment at very low rates.
Travel information and maps are also available for help in planning a weekend
or vacation trip.
Murray State University,
its officers, agents and employees disclaim any responsibility for injury
to a student engaged in an activity not directly supervised by university
personnel, and if supervised, only to the extent permitted by law.
Sport clubs.
Sport clubs at Murray State are student-initiated teams that compete with
other colleges and universities. Students can gain valuable organizational
and coaching experiences as well as just healthy fun through participation
in a sport club. Soccer, fencing, chess, bowling, cycling, swimming, rodeo,
karate, rugby and crew are examples of sport clubs active on the MSU campus.
Murray State University,
its officers, agents and employees disclaim any responsibility for injury
sustained by a student participating in a sport club unless the sport is
directly supervised by university personnel, and then only to the extent
of the law.
Sports and physical
fitness facilities. Murray State has several facilities to meet the
sporting and fitness needs of faculty, staff and students. In the Carr
Health Building/Racer Arena, there are four racquetball courts, three multipurpose
gymnasiums, a gymnastics room, an indoor jogging track, a swimming pool,
and dressing rooms. Outdoor facilities include four basketball courts,
16 lighted tennis courts, two sand volleyball courts, and numerous athletic
fields for team sports. The Regional Special Events Center houses a jogging
track and numerous courts for basketball, volleyball, and other indoor
activities. The Miller Memorial Golf Course is available to Murray State
students, faculty, and staff as well as the community. The Curris Center
and Hart Residential College each have fitness centers consisting of cardio-equipment,
weight machines and free weights.
Student organizations.
Well over 170 campus organizations exist through which students can participate
in widely diversified activities. Some of the organizations are an extension
of the classroom and others are special interest, recreational, political
or religious groups. Special qualifications are required for membership
in some of the societies, while others are open to all interested students.
For individual interest
there are numerous departmental clubs and special interest organizations.
Several honorary societies provide recognition to outstanding students.
Eight national social sororities and 12 national fraternities have chapters
at Murray State.
For more information
on student organizations, see Chapter 1 of the university’s Undergraduate
Bulletin. A current list of student organizations may be obtained from
the Student Organizations Office in the Curris Center.
Directory Information
Murray State University
considers the following information to be “directory information” as defined
in the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act as amended, and to be available
for public release unless the student has indicated that any of or all
of the items are not to be released: name, address, e-mail address,
telephone number, date of birth, place of birth, major field of study,
participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and
height of members of athletic teams, degrees and awards received, classification,
dates of attendance, and most recent previous educational institution attended.
The student may register his/her objection to the release of this information
by coming to the Registrar’s Office during the first five days of classes
and signing a form indicating the items to be withheld. This form must
be completed each semester during which a student wishes that information
to be withheld.
Public
Safety
Located in the Public
Safety and Information Center at the corner of 16th and Olive Streets,
the Public Safety Department makes every reasonable effort to provide campus
security, emergency assistance, escort services after dark, guest and visitor
information, enforcement of traffic and parking regulations, and lost and
found. Public Safety also complies with the Student Right-to-Know Act by
making available security policies and campus crime statistics upon request.
Public Safety is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Telephone:
270-762-2222. EMERGENCIES: DIAL 911.
Statement
on Research Involving Human Subjects
Murray State University
faculty and students must adhere to strict rules regarding the use of human
subjects in research. All research involving human subjects (including,
but not limited to the use of existing records as well as the collection
of new data) must be reviewed and approved in advance by the University
Institutional Review Board (IRB). Failure to obtain IRB approval or to
follow IRB approved research protocols can result in serious penalties
as well as restrictions on the use and dissemination of research findings.
Faculty and students should consult the IRB Procedures and Guidelines for
information on this subject.
Policy
on Academic Honesty
Cheating, plagiarism
(submitting another person’s material as one’s own), or doing work for
another person which will receive academic credit are all impermissible.
This includes the use of unauthorized books, notebooks, or other sources
in order to secure or give help during an examination; the unauthorized
copying of examinations, assignments, reports, or term papers; or the presentation
of unacknowledged material as if it were the student’s own work. Disciplinary
action may be taken beyond the academic discipline administered by the
faculty member who teaches the course in which the cheating took place.
Note:
Faculty reserve the right to invalidate any examination or other evaluative
measures if substantial evidence exists that the integrity of the examination
has been compromised.
Policy
Against Sexual Harassment
It is the policy of
Murray State University to maintain the university community as a place
of work and study for faculty, staff and students, free from sexual harassment
and all forms of sexual intimidation and exploitation. All faculty, staff
and students should be aware that the university is concerned and prepared
to take action to prevent and correct such behavior, and that individuals
who engage in such behavior are subject to discipline.
Behaviors which constitute
sexual harassment can be classified in three categories: (1) repeated
and unwanted sexual behavior involving physical contact; (2) verbal comments
or suggestions of a sexual nature which adversely affect the working or
learning environment; (3) coercive behavior, including suggestions that
academic or employment reprisals or rewards will follow the refusal or
granting of sexual favors. These constitute gross misconduct and will not
be tolerated. In such cases, a single incident would establish grounds
for action.
Misconduct involving
students in a nonemployment setting is governed by the University Codes
of Conduct, and complaints about such behavior should be referred to the
Office of Student Affairs. Anyone who is subject to offensive sexual behavior
in the employment setting is encouraged to pursue the matter through the
Office of Equal Opportunity.
Policy
on Attendance
Students are
expected to attend all classes in which they are enrolled for credit or
audit purposes. An instructor may establish attendance policies for each
class so long as they : (1) are clearly published in the course syllabus,
(2) distinguish between excused and unexcused absences and (3) are consistent
with university policies as outlined in this Bulletin.
Excused absences fall
into two broad categories:
1. Absence due
to personal illness or death in the immediate family or other extraordinary
personal circumstance. Faculty may require appropriate authentication or
documentation.
2. Absence due
to student participation in a University Sanctioned Event in which the
student serves as a representative of the institution.
University Sanctioned
Events shall include those officially scheduled activities (practice and
training sessions NOT included) related to intercollegiate athletics, performing
groups, and teams who represent the university in debate, forensics or
other academic competitions. Other activities and events may be added to
this listing upon recommendation of the Sanctioned Events Committee and
approval by the Provost. This committee shall consist of the Vice President
for Student Affairs, the Director of Athletics, the Faculty Senate President,
a student appointed by the President of the Student Government Association,
and the Provost or his designee. The official list of approved, sanctioned
activities and events shall be maintained in the Office of the Provost.
Attendance and
participation in class activities is essential to success in college. Absences,
for whatever purposes, can potentially undermine the shared goal of student
learning. In cases where student absences are clearly unavoidable, it is
essential that students and faculty alike approach the resolution of the
difficulty with a clear commitment to the mutual goal of student learning.
Responsibilities
of Students: Students missing class(es) as a result of activities covered
above shall notify the instructor in writing at the beginning of the semester
and, in the case of scheduled events, this notification shall not be less
than one week prior to the absence. Students with excused absences are
excused from class attendance but are not excused from work assigned or
expected as a part of that class period. Students, in conjunction with
each course instructor, are required to develop a plan for alternative
assignments or the make-up of all work missed and must complete this work
within a time frame mutually agreed upon with the instructor.
Responsibilities
of Faculty: Faculty are expected to plan with students who have
excused absences to develop alternatives and make-up assignments. Such
alternatives are not expected to diminish faculty expectations of students,
nor may they reduce opportunities for students to demonstrate performance.
Responsibilities
of Others: Deans and department chairs share the responsibility for
insuring proper orientation of all full and part-time faculty regarding
the provisions of this policy. Administrators, sponsors and coaches of
various student activities share an important role in ensuring that students
understand their responsibilities with respect to this aspect of student
performance. Specific guidelines and procedures should be developed for
each sport or activity to ensure timely communication between students
and faculty. Advance lists of varsity/participating students along with
schedules of away or off-campus activities or matches should be provided
to students so that they, in turn, can share this information with faculty
at the beginning of the semester.
Questions
and Appeals: In the event of questions or concerns regarding
the implementation of this policy in specific classroom situations, students
and faculty should be guided by the following:
1. If there
is a question regarding whether a specific activity is an officially sanctioned
event for which terms of this policy might apply, the inquiry should be
addressed to the Office of the Provost.
2. In the event
a student is concerned with the implementation of this policy in a specific
course, the student should try to resolve the matter by discussing it first
with the instructor, then with the department chair, and if resolution
is still not reached, then with the collegiate dean. If the matter is not
settled through this process, the student may seek resolution through the
appropriate collegiate grievance/appeal process.
3. Instances
of student abuse or violation of the terms of this policy should be reported
to the dean or director responsible for the sanctioned event and to the
Vice President for Student Affairs.
Policy
on Hazing
Murray State University
recognizes that student organizations exist for the purpose of extending
opportunities for education, social interaction, leadership and skill development,
and personal growth beyond the classroom. Therefore, the practice of hazing
pledges, associate members, initiates or members is antithetical to the
purposes of registered student organizations at Murray State University
and is strictly prohibited by the university. Furthermore, as of July 1986,
hazing is a violation of Chapter 164 of Kentucky Revised Statutes. In pertinent
part, the statute reads as follows:
“(This statute) prohibits
any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers mental
or physical health or involves the forced consumption of liquor or drugs
for the purpose of initiation or affiliation with any organization. . .
. In the case of a student or faculty violator, (violation of this statute
shall result in) his suspension, expulsion, or other appropriate disciplinary
action and, in the case of an organization which authorizes such conduct,
(violation shall result in) recision of permission for that organization
to operate on campus property. Such penalties shall be in addition to any
penalty pursuant to the penal law or any other chapter (of Kentucky Revised
Statutes) to which a violator or organization may be subject.”
Specifically, on the
campus of Murray State University, hazing is defined as any on-campus or
off-campus activity which results in mental or physical harassment, humiliation,
degradation, ridicule, shock, endangerment, physical disfigurement, excessive
fatigue, danger to health, or the involuntary consumption of alcohol or
drugs.
This prohibition against
hazing applies equally to student organizations, individual students, faculty,
and staff members, visitors to the campus, and licensees and invitees on
the campus.
Any student who participates
in hazing as defined above has violated the Murray State University Code
of Conduct and will be subject to disciplinary action as described in the
Standards in Disciplinary Proceedings of the Student Life Policies. Any
organization which authorizes or permits hazing to occur has violated the
policy statement on Regulation of Student Groups and will be subject to
group disciplinary action as outlined in that policy.
Policy
on Intolerance
The university is
committed to creating an educational environment which is free from intolerance
directed toward individuals or groups and strives to create and maintain
an environment that fosters respect for others. As an educational institution,
the university has a mandate to address problems of a society deeply ingrained
with bias and prejudice. Toward that end, the university provides educational
programs and activities to create an environment in which diversity and
understanding of other cultures are valued.
Intolerance refers
to an attitude, feeling or belief wherein an individual shows contempt
for other individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race,
color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or political or religious
belief.
Actions motivated by
intolerance violate the principles upon which American society is built
and serve to destroy the fabric of the society we share. Such actions do
untold and unjust harm to those who experience this kind of discrimination
and threaten the reputation of the university.
The expression of diverse
views and opinions is encouraged in the university community. Further,
the First Amendment of the United States Constitution assures the right
of free expression. In a community which recognizes the rights of its members
to hold divergent views and to express those views, sometimes ideas are
expressed which are contrary to university values and objectives. Nevertheless,
the university cannot impose disciplinary sanctions upon such expression
when it is otherwise in compliance with university regulations.
When any violation
of a university policy, rule or regulation is motivated by intolerance
toward an individual or group based on characteristics such as race, color,
national origin, gender, sexual orientation or political or religious beliefs,
the sanction will be increased in severity and may include separation from
the university.
Policy
on Racial Harassment
It is the policy of
Murray State University to conduct and provide programs, activities and
services to students, faculty and staff in an atmosphere free from racial
harassment. Racial harassment is any behavior that would verbally or physically
threaten, torment, badger, heckle or persecute an individual because of
his/her race. Isolated instances of misconduct, although never condoned,
do not necessarily constitute racial harassment, nor a hostile environment.
Racial harassment of
university faculty, staff, students or visitors is prohibited and shall
subject the offender to appropriate disciplinary action ranging from disciplinary
warning to expulsion.
The administration
has an open-door policy for any student who feels he or she has been subjected
to racial harassment or discrimination. Students are urged to contact the
Office of Student Affairs, Ordway Hall, in the event that racial harassment
arises outside of the employment setting. All others should contact the
Office of Equal Opportunity, Wells Hall.
Policy
on Use of University Facilities
The intent of this
policy is to permit appropriate use of university facilities. Murray State
University is committed to both the practice and the philosophy of equal
opportunity. The principles contained in these guidelines will be followed
without regard to and in a non-discriminatory manner as to race, religion,
and/or political affiliation. The guidelines shall also be applicable to
all faculty, staff, students, and non-university persons or groups. In
addition, persons who are not students or employees of the university are
expected, while on university property, to adhere to the standards of usage
and conduct applicable to faculty, staff, and students. The facilities
of the university shall mean buildings and structures, land, equipment,
utilities, walks, streets and recreational areas. The following applies
to all university facilities.
The basic requisite
for granting the use of university facilities is relevancy to the educational
purpose as determined by the university. Facilities may be used for non-educational
activities when it is considered to be in the best interest of the university.
However, the university reserves the right to make final determination
as to the true educational value or appropriateness of the event being
scheduled and whether or not the university will make its facilities available.
University facilities may not be used for non-educational programs unrelated
to the university when adequate private facilities are available. Generally
speaking, facilities will be made available on a “first come, first served”
basis.
The order of classification
of requesting groups will be determined by the university. The order of
classification to be followed in scheduling facilities is as follows:
(a) academic departments,
administrative departments and registered student organizations scheduling
non-revenue-producing1 programs, except grant programs that are funded
for facility expense;
(b) academic departments,
administrative departments and registered student organizations scheduling
facilities for university-sponsored, revenue-producing1 programs (requests
must be approved by appropriate dean, vice-president, department chairman,
director or organization advisor);
(c) university faculty,
staff or students scheduling facilities for non-university-sponsored, revenue-producing1
programs;
(d) non-university
groups requesting facilities for non-revenue-producing programs;
(e) non-university
groups scheduling facilities for revenue-producing1 groups.
Only registered organizations
are eligible to schedule university facilities. A non-registered group
may schedule a meeting for the purpose of organization. Additional meetings
or functions shall not be allowed until the group has registered with the
Office of Student Activities.
Minimal charges are
necessary to offset operational care of facilities. In addition, any additional
necessary charges are the responsibility of the individual or group using
the facility.
Guidelines for the
use of university facilities, schedule of rental charges and appropriate
applications are available from the Scheduling Coordinator, Administrative
Services, General Services Building.
1Revenue-producing
shall include any program having entrance fees or generating income. Any
event at which voluntary offerings are collected shall be considered revenue-producing. |
