Southern Oregon University

Southern Oregon University
Former names
Ashland Academy (1872–1878)
Ashland Academy and Commercial College (1878–1882)
Ashland College and Normal School (1882–1886)
Ashland State Normal School (1886–1895)
Southern Oregon State Normal School (1895–1909; 1925–1932)
Southern Oregon Normal School (1932–1939)
Southern Oregon College of Education (1939–1956)
Southern Oregon College (1956–1975)
Southern Oregon State College (1975–1997)
TypePublic university
Established1872; 152 years ago (1872)
AccreditationNWCCU
Academic affiliations
Endowment$38 million (2021)[1]
PresidentRick Bailey
ProvostSusan Walsh
Academic staff
320
Administrative staff
474
Students6,114 (fall 2018)[2]
Undergraduates5,260 (fall 2018)
Postgraduates854 (fall 2018)
Location
Ashland
,
Oregon
,
United States

42°11′10″N 122°41′38″W / 42.186°N 122.694°W / 42.186; -122.694
CampusMidsize suburb[3], 175 acres (0.71 km2)
NewspaperThe Siskiyou
ColorsRed and black
   
NicknameRaiders
Sporting affiliations
MascotRed Tailed Hawk
Websitewww.sou.edu

Southern Oregon University (SOU) is a public university in Ashland, Oregon. It was founded in 1872 as the Ashland Academy, has been in its current location since 1926, and was known by nine other names before assuming its current name in 1997.[4] Its Ashland campus – just 14 miles from Oregon's border with California – encompasses 175 acres. Five of SOU's newest facilities have achieved LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.[5] SOU is headquarters for Jefferson Public Radio and public access station Rogue Valley Community Television. The university has been governed since 2015 by the SOU Board of Trustees.[6]

Southern Oregon University is organized into seven academic divisions: the Oregon Center for the Arts at SOU; Business, Communication and the Environment; Education, Health and Leadership; Humanities and Culture; Social Sciences; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; and Undergraduate Studies. About 90 bachelor's degree, graduate and certificate programs are offered. Most of SOU's academic programs are on the 10-week quarter system. The university's Oregon Center for the Arts enjoys a collaborative relationship with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, located in downtown Ashland.[7]

Southern Oregon University is a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.[8]

  1. ^ "SOU Foundation".
  2. ^ "Fact Book 2018" (PDF). SOU Office of Institutional Research.
  3. ^ "IPEDS-Southern Oregon University".
  4. ^ Kreisman, Authur. Remembering: A History of Southern Oregon University . Eugene, Ore.: University of Oregon Press, 2002.
  5. ^ Fowlkes, Caitlin (22 October 2019). "A deeper shade of green". Ashland Daily Tidings. Archived from the original on 12 December 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  6. ^ Thomas, Teresa (29 September 2014). "SOU's first governing board appointed". Mail Tribune. Archived from the original on 12 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  7. ^ "Community Arts Partners". Oregon Center for the Arts: Community Arts Partners. 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  8. ^ "Gmsn Members by State & Territories". American Association of State Colleges and Universities. 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.