Murray State College, is a public, co-educational community college located in southeastern Oklahoma with the main campus located in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. The college is named in honor of former Oklahoma Governor William H. "Alfalfa Bill" Murray.
Murray State College also maintains a smaller campus in Ardmore, Oklahoma as one of four state higher education institutions that participate at the University Center of Southern Oklahoma (the other three are Oklahoma State University, Southeastern State University, and East Central University).
College history and mission
Murray State College was established as the Murray State School of Agriculture in accordance with a law passed by the first Oklahoma Legislature (approved May 20, 1908). Its first students, numbering about 100, were primarily Chickasaw and Choctaw. Federal funding paid for two dormitories opened in 1916 for Native American students. On March 17, 1924, the Oklahoma Legislature approved a measure to enable the institution to teach the first two years of higher educational instruction, and it become a community college, granting its first associate degrees in 1924.
Alfalfa Bill Murray's nephew, Clive Murray, became president of the school in 1931 and remained until 1961. The school was renamed Murray State Agricultural College in 1955, and then Murray State College of Agriculture and Applied Science in 1967.
In 1972, the school was removed from the authority of the Board of Regents for Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges and given its own board of regents; in connection with this, the school was renamed Murray State College (not to be confused with Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky). Within the last 13 years many reports of apparitions have occurred relating to the death of the son of William H. "Alfalfa Bill" Murray in what is now McKee Hall on the third floor. Reports of sounds coming from nowhere and many strange objects being seen. Most reports come from the room 4320 on the third floor but also in the commons area. It was said that the death of the student was very gruesome and hard to understand.
Murray State College's mission statement is to provide "opportunities to maximize student learning and personal growth." The college enrollment is approximately 2,500 students annually.
Academic programs
Murray State College offers 3 two-year degree programs, 1 two-year certificate program, and 3 one-year certificate programs (for a total of 35 individual fields of study). The following is a detailed listing of each:
Two-year degrees
Associate of Arts Degree - includes academic programs in Art, Child Development, English/Language Arts, History, and Pre-Law.
Associate of Science Degree - includes academic programs in Agriculture, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Conservation and Wildlife Management, Criminal Justice, Elementary Education, General Studies Degree Program, Mathematics, Physical Education, Pre-Professional Education (areas of Dentistry, Law, Medicine, Optometry, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medicine), Psychology, Science, and Sociology.
Associate of Applied Science Degree - includes academic programs in Applied Technology, Business Management, Computer Science and Information Systems, Engineering, Gunsmithing, Registered Nurse Program, Physical Therapist Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant and Veterinary Technology.
Two-year certificate program
The Gunsmithing Technology two-year certificate program provides training in custom gunsmithing and gun repair, and develops the basic knowledge and skills needed to become a professional gunsmith. Students who complete the program are considered ready to enter the work force.
One-year certificates
One-year certificate programs - Medical Office Coding, Medical Office Transcription, and Secretarial/Office Administration.
Methods of Instruction
Murray State College uses both traditional methods of instruction (lecture/discussion, lab work, educational field trips, clinical rotations for allied health and veterinary medicine students) and more modern methods (including Web-based classes and the use of ITVâ€"Interactive Televisionâ€"technology).
Alumni
- Bill Anoatubby, Governor of the Chickasaw Nation
- R. Perry Beaver, principal chief of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation from 1996 until 2003, football coach
- Johnston Murray, 14th Governor of Oklahoma
- Miranda Lough, AID's activist. Creator of the "pajamas" filter on Snapchat. Placed 2nd at the World Dog Sledding Championships (WDSC).
See also
- William H. "Alfalfa Bill" Murray
- community college
- List of colleges and universities in Oklahoma
- Digital History
References
External links
- Murray State College Home Page
- University Center of Southern Oklahoma Home Page
- Murray State College Catalog for 2006-2007
- Physical Therapist Assistant Program
