Ohio University – Zanesville

Ohio University Zanesville (OU Zanesville) is a regional campus of Ohio University located in Zanesville, Ohio, in Muskingum County.

In 1946, Ohio University Zanesville began a tradition of providing the education of a major research university, while maintaining the individualized attention associated with a small, liberal arts college.^[2] Students have access to more than 50 full-time faculty who are highly qualified in their fields and have active research projects. Ohio University Zanesville serves commuter students who seek associate, or bachelor's degrees, community education, or business and industry training. The campus practices open admissions.^[3]

With 85 faculty and staff, Ohio University Zanesville provides an educational experience complete with academic advising, tutoring, and specialized testing services. Campus facilities include wireless internet access, a cafeteria, a coffee café, bookstore, a 30,000 volume library with electronic databases and resources, the Collegial Woods network of walking trails and the Muskingum Recreation Center. Ohio University Zanesville offers flexibly scheduled classes in Zanesville and Cambridge.

The school mascot is a Tracer, a hunting dog.

History

Ohio University Zanesville was founded by Ohio University President John C. Baker in 1946 to accommodate returning World War II veterans seeking an education, many of whom took advantage of the GI Bill.

At first, Ohio University Zanesville had no campus. Zanesville City Schools allowed the first classes to be located in what was then Lash High School in downtown Zanesville. In 1954, Ohio University Zanesville classes moved to Zanesville High School on Blue Avenue. Though this worked for a while, the Zanesville Campus needed a more permanent site that would permit day and evening classes, as well as other important educational services. This need was met when the Muskingum County Commissioners deeded part of the County Home Farm on Newark Road to Ohio University to develop a campus. Elson Hall was then constructed on the southeast corner of the 179-acre tract. It housed all faculty and administrative offices, labs, classrooms, a lecture hall, a library, a student bookstore, a canteen, lounges, and student activity facilities.

Then in 1974, the library and Herrold Hall were built. During the same time, a new cooperative agreement with Muskingum Area Technical College (now Zane State College) led to the building of Zane State College's College Hall in 1975. This was the beginning of what is now the model in Ohio for two institutions sharing the same campus. Other buildings on the campus today include Health Science Hall, Littick Hall Gymnasium, and the Campus Center. As other buildings were constructed and sections such as the library moved out, Elson Hall was gradually renovated to accommodate the new needs.

Today, Elson Hall houses most Ohio University Zanesville classrooms and labs, most administrative and faculty offices, a lecture hall, lounges, several computer labs, several Ohio University Learning Network instructional studios, and music practice and art studios. Elson has had several renovations to stay update; this helps the building remain as an effective component of an institution moving into the 21st century.

Elson Hall was named after Henry William Elson (1857-1954), a Muskingum County native and a distinguished educator and historian. Elson began his career teaching in various Muskingum County public schools for four years. In 1878, he attended one term at Muskingum College (now Muskingum University). He later studied at Thiel College in Greenville, Pa., where he received a B.A. in 1886 and an M.A. in 1889. Following his graduation from Thiel, he attended Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia where he earned a Bachelor of Divinity.

In 1905, he was appointed Professor of History and Economics and head of the History Department at Ohio University in Athens, where he taught for 11 years. He was a member of the Ohio Constitutional Convention in 1912 and was President of Thiel College from 1916-1921. Elson was a prolific and successful writer of more than 20 books and volumes. His most successful work was Modem Times and the Living Past, 1921, which was reissued 13 times through 1942. The textbook was used by Zanesville High School for several years. Elson married Henna E. Smith in 1889 and they had three children. Upon Henna's death, he married Ida McMullen in 1898 and they had one child. Literature does not reveal specifically how Elson Hall came to be named. It is known that Ohio University named buildings after individuals recognized for benefiting education. Because Elson was a native of Muskingum County and taught here, he was a deserving recipient of the honor.

Campus

The 179-acre campus of Ohio University and Zane State College is made up of seven buildings including Elson Hall, Herrold Hall, the Cora E. Rogge Pavilion, and Littick Hall (Ohio University); College Hall, Health Science Hall, Campus Center and Advanced Science & Technology Center (Zane State College); and the Muskingum Recreation Center.

Academics

Degrees offered include Associate and Bachelor's in a variety of areas. Ohio University Zanesville offers thirteen complete Bachelor's degrees in Applied Management, Communication Studies, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Middle Childhood Education, Health Services Administration, History, Human Biology, Social Work, Specialized Studies, Sport & Lifestyle Studies, Technical and Applied Studies, and Nursing as well as five Associate degrees including Associate of Nursing (RN) and Electronic Media.^[6]

Ohio University Zanesville offers future and current students classes being viewed over the OULN program. OULN stands for Ohio University Learning Network. The program enables regional campus students to get degrees that are offered in Athens at Ohio University. OULN offers a variety of classes including: communications, history, marketing, management, and many more. The programs mission is to enable students to receive a higher-level of education at all of the regional campuses and to enable the student with all of the possible requirements with relation to their specific major. OULN is in the peak of development and will continue to grow as more technology becomes associated to all schools and institutions.

Student activities

Active student groups include Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, Communication club Student Senate, Students Nurses Association of Zanesville (SNAZ), the Green Bobcats (Environmental/Sustainability Club), Electronic Media Club, Future Educators of Ohio University Zanesville (FEOUZ), Psi Beta Psychology Honor Society, Sports & Recreation Club, Rotaract, intramural sports and cultural activities to round the student’s university experience. Ohio University Zanesville is part of the Ohio Regional Campus Conference and sports programs include baseball, women's volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, golf, and women’s softball.^[7]

Alumni

• Shane Tilton, Director of the Center for Society and Cyberstudies
• Michael A Massa, Author and designer of Belmont Country Seal

References

External links

• Ohio University Zanesville official site
• OU Zanesville Scholarship Information

Coordinates: 39°57′45″N 82°2′0″W / 39.96250°N 82.03333°W / 39.96250; -82.03333