Susquehanna University

The Missionary Institute’s first building. It is now known as Selinsgrove Hall.

Susquehanna University was founded in 1858 as The Missionary Institute of the Evangelical Lutheran Church by Benjamin Kurtz. Having already assisted in the founding of Gettysburg Seminary, Kurtz wanted to create another institution to expand the form of American Lutheranism that he and his contemporaries Samuel Simon Schmucker, founder and first president of Gettysburg College, and Samuel Sprecher, second president of Wittenberg College, advocated.

His mission was to “educate men for the gospel ministry … who cannot take a full course of training adapted to their age and circumstances; a course so thorough in Theology as will qualify them to be able and faithful ministers of Christ.” The American Lutherans of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania pledged $22,000, 50 students and the provisional use of its church facilities.[6] However, they stipulated that the Missionary Institute be expanded to a junior college and that a sister college, Susquehanna Female College, also be formed. Kurtz’s own personal mission was the foundation of the institute’s theology department, which he led as the first professor of theology. The school’s official description, as read in the official founding charter, was “An American and Lutheran College".[7]

Drawing of the Missionary Institute sister college Susquehanna Female College.

On Wednesday, September 1, 1858, the Missionary Institute of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and its sister college Susquehanna Female College were born and legally recognized 23 days later. Benjamin Kurtz was officially recognized as the first president. It had two departments, the theology department headed by Benjamin Kurtz and Henry Ziegler, and the classical department. By 1873, the sister college disbanded and the Institute became coeducational. In 1895, the institute officially became known as Susquehanna University.[8]

The 20th century brought many changes. The school had just recently transitioned into a full four-year college, offering bachelor degrees and changing its name to Susquehanna University in 1895. Notable benefactors of the university during the turn of the century were Samuel Seibert and Charles Steele, both of whom would have buildings named after them.[9] In 1903, the board approved Susquehanna’s colors, orange and maroon.[10]

By the 1920s, student enrollment skyrocketed, accommodations were refurbished and the campus expanded, academic departments and offerings enhanced, and new benefactors such as Charles Fischer and Martin Hassinger emerged, both of whom also have buildings named after them.[11]

Susquehanna University is split into two main academic departments, the School of Arts and Sciences and the Sigmund Weis School of Business. The School of Arts and Sciences offers the majority of majors, putting an emphasis on a more traditional liberal arts education including science and the humanities.[17] The Sigmund Weis School of Business is geared towards a more technical degree.[18]

Susquehanna University is governed by the president, a governing body of 56 members and a team of administrators.[19]

Selinsgrove Hall in October 2009, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It is the oldest building on campus.

The GO Program, as part of a school policy adopted in 2009, requires all Susquehanna students go off-campus for cross-cultural learning. Students have a choice between GO Short programs of 2–3 weeks or semester-long GO Long programs.[29] In 2013, the GO Program was awarded the Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in International Education[30]

The total cost of attendance for the 2016-17 year is $57,650 ($43,160 in tuition and fees plus $14,490 for room and meal plan).[31] More than 99% of students receive some form of financial aid. The total amount awarded for the 2016-17 year numbered more than $83 million, and was handed out in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and Federal Work-Study Program.[32]

Selinsgrove Hall is a ​3 ¹⁄₂-story brick structure constructed in 1858 in the Italianate style. The roof features a wooden cupola and the structure was previously featured on the university logo. Seibert Hall is a ​2 ¹⁄₂-story brick structure constructed in 1902 in a restrained Colonial Revival style.[35] Both buildings were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.[33]

The newest addition to the Susquehanna campus is a $32-million complex that houses Susquehanna’s biology, chemistry, and earth and environmental science programs.[36] The building received Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.[36] The 75,000-square-foot (7,000 m²) building was dedicated on October 23, 2010.[37]

First-Year Students' Move In Day welcomes first-year students by sending orientation team members out to carry all new students' belongings into their dorm rooms. Many faculty and staff will also assist with the move-in process.[39]

Thanksgiving Dinner is held prior to students leaving for Thanksgiving vacation. Students are served a turkey dinner by faculty, staff, and the University President.[40]

Christmas Candlelight Service is one of Susquehanna's most cherished traditions. Held in Weber Auditorium in early December, the service includes songs, readings, and prayers and finishes with everyone in attendance holding a lit candle.[41]

Twas the Night Before Christmas Students come to the campus center dressed in their pajamas and indulge in cookies and cocoa while enjoying a reading of the classic Christmas tale.[42]

There are a variety of academic interest clubs and organizations in the fields of business, education, music, sciences, foreign languages, and communications.[43]

• Writing majors have publication opportunities in the student-run Essay Magazine (for non-fiction)[44] and Rivercraft (for fiction, poetry, and art)[45] in addition to the writing departments' annual magazine, The Susquehanna Review, which seeks submissions from undergraduate writing majors internationally.[46]
• Topic specific student publications include Sanctuary, a literary magazine that features sci-fi and fantasy; Flagship, a publication that features creative work and photography that focuses on students' GO program experiences; and The Squirrel, a student-run newspaper that offers a humorous, critical, and constructive perspective on the news.[47]
• The university's student-run newspaper, The Quill, covers campus events, activities, and athletics, and provides a forum for the opinions of members of the campus community.[48]
• WQSU, The Pulse, is the college's 12,000-watt radio station, making it the third most powerful college radio station and the tenth most powerful non-commercial radio station in Pennsylvania. Broadcasts can be heard at a 70-mile radius, which is approximately one-third of the state of Pennsylvania. The station is operated by students, faculty and staff as well as community volunteers, and features a wide variety of music and talk programs including regularly scheduled Associated Press news broadcasts.[49]
• The Lanthorn is Susquehanna's yearbook that is available to students in hard copy in addition to being archived online.[50]

In addition to the student-run clubs and organizations that focused on music and dance, many ensembles are university sponsored and count toward major or elective credit requirements.[51]

The University Choir, Chorale, and Chamber Singers are the three vocal performance groups open to all students by audition, and the instrumental offerings (many of which are also open to all students through an audition process) range from small ensembles to pep bands to the University Symphonic Band.[52]

The theatre department also holds performances throughout the year with four large and several small productions a year.[53]

There are eight religious life organizations at Susquehanna. In addition, students as well as the general public have the opportunity to attend Lutheran services held Sunday mornings on campus.[54]

There are 10 clubs and organizations that focus on volunteering or service.[55]

Susquehanna's on-campus, student-run night club is TRAX. The facility offers a stage for live bands, comedians and other performers as well as a dance floor, bar, pool tables, an outside patio, and a DJ booth.[56]

Susquehanna University also has Charlie's Coffeehouse, a student-run café on campus named after the university's benefactor, Charles Degenstein. Students work as baristas, while the management team consists of five students who are responsible for the coffee shop's finances, marketing, programming, stocking, and managerial duties. This non-alcoholic venue offers a variety of programming every night of the week. Charlie's also works in partnership with the student activities committee to bring in outside entertainers and host movies before they are released to the general public.[57]

There are four NPC sororities: (Alpha Delta Pi, Kappa Delta, Sigma Kappa and Zeta Tau Alpha); five NIC fraternities: (Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Theta Chi, Pi Kappa Phi and Phi Mu Delta); and two NPHC organizations: (Sigma Gamma Rho and Phi Beta Sigma).[58]

College Prowler gives Susquehanna University a B- for health and safety.[59] The University's 2013 Clery Report lists one stalking incident, seven burglaries, two robbery incidents and two sex offenses.