Millersville has garnered recognition for enrolling and challenging a bright and diverse student body, attracting and retaining a distinguished faculty, serving as an intellectual and cultural resource for its region, and managing its resources with responsible stewardship

History

Millersville University began as the Lancaster County Academy, a normal school for teachers, in 1855. For more than 100 years, its sole function was to train outstanding teachers. In 1859, Millersville was approved as Pennsylvania's first state normal school for teachers. In 1927 it became a State Teachers' College and was empowered to grant the Bachelor of Science in Education degree. In 1959, it became Millersville State College and was authorized to award graduate degrees. In 1962, the college was authorized to grant degrees in the liberal arts. On July 1, 1983, Act 188 established the State System of Higher Education, and Millersville State College became Millersville University of Pennsylvania.

Location

The Borough of Millersville, in historic Lancaster County in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, is a suburb of the City of Lancaster, an exceptionally beautiful and prosperous area. Lancaster County is the fastest-growing county in Pennsylvania, and its sound and diverse economy yields one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state. Sixty percent of Millersville graduates settle within the county, attesting to its opportunities and appeal.

Governance

Millersville is one of fourteen state-owned institutions of higher education comprising the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The system is headed by a Chancellor and governed by a 20-member Board of Governors. Millersville's chief executive officer is the University President, guided by an eleven-member Council of Trustees.

Academic Programs

Our baccalaureate degree programs have three common curricular elements: the General Education curriculum; the major field of study; and elective courses if needed to meet the minimum of 120 credits for graduation. Within this framework, students have many choices in developing programs of study.

We place a strong emphasis on the liberal arts through our General Education curriculum, which comprises approximately half the courses required for all undergraduate degrees, including those with technical or professional majors. The general education curriculum has four major components: communications requirements, which address writing and speaking skills; the liberal arts core; the perspectives component, which focuses on interdisciplinary and/or multicultural study; and a wellness component. The curriculum prepares students for a lifetime of learning by giving them a background in writing, speaking, analysis, and critical thinking across a broad range of subjects reflecting the accumulated knowledge and achievements of humankind.

Millersville offers 51 baccalaureate programs, four associate degree programs, 22 master's degree programs, and 38 educational certifications. The most popular majors (in terms of number of student majors) are Elementary Education, Business Administration, Biology, Special Education, Psychology, Computer Science, and Speech Communication. Thirty-eight minors are available, along with 3-2 engineering programs for chemistry and physics majors and special advisement and affiliations for students interested in health professions, pre-medicine, and pre-law.

Special academic opportunities include the University Honors Program, departmental honors programs, a January winter session, independent study, developmental courses, and special advisement for students undecided about a major. Millersville has study abroad programs in England, Scotland, Germany, and Japan, and qualified students who wish to study abroad elsewhere may do so through affiliations with other colleges and universities. Other off-campus study opportunities include cooperative education, internships, an exchange agreement with Franklin & Marshall College, an urban education program, and a marine station in Virginia.

Non-traditional learners may participate in the Adult & Continuing Education (ACE) program, which offers on- and off-campus classes at times convenient to adult learners. They may also participate in the Virtual University, an alliance of Millersville, Shippensburg, and West Chester University that offers courses via the World Wide Web.

Faculty

Millersville University faculty members are dedicated to teaching and to offering individual attention to our students. They take a personal interest in their students' lives and provide academic and career mentoring. The University keeps a somewhat low student/faculty ratio of 17:1 and an average class size of 25 (although class sizes vary considerably by program and level). Millersville faculty members teach all classes; none is taught by graduate assistants. Eighty-three percent of the 323 full-time faculty members hold a doctorate. There are also 123 part-time faculty members.

Facilities

Surrounded by suburbs and picturesque farmland, Millersville University offers a serene environment conducive to learning. In the center of campus is a lovely, tree-lined lake with a pair of resident swans, a favorite spot for conversation, study and quiet contemplation. The Conestoga River flows next to the campus, and the surrounding countryside offers ample opportunities for walking, jogging or bicycle riding. The University community is proud of the campus's green and flowered landscape and its clean and well-maintained facilities. The campus reflects Millersville's long history, with the bell from "Old Main" preserved in a scenic park and Biemesderfer Executive Center housed in the richly refurbished original library. New and renovated classroom buildings contrast with renovated Victorian homes serving as University offices.

The campus includes 220 acres of land and 76 buildings. Newly constructed facilities include Science & Technology Building and Brossman Hall (supporting the natural science programs) and The Inn at Millersville, a Best Western franchise. These are joined by several facilities recently transformed through extensive renovations into state-of-the-art facilities: McCollough Communications Complex, the 704-seat Lyte Auditorium, Lyle Student Services Building, Chryst Hall (supporting the English Department), the Student Memorial Center, Wickersham Hall (supporting the Mathematics Department), Myers Auditorium in McComsey Hall (supporting the social sciences), Gordinier Dining and Conference Center, and Lyle Dining Hall. An 11-story library houses over one million items. Other University facilities include industrial technology laboratories, art studios, a small theater, a language laboratory, two gymnasiums and swimming pools, a stadium, and several athletic fields and tennis courts.

Students may avail themselves of 16 computer laboratories. Another computer laboratory serves as a training facility for faculty and staff, and an additional 650 personal computers are in faculty and administrative offices. Virtually all University-owned personal computers are connected to the campus network. Students may access the network from their residence hall rooms.

Students

Millersville University is a selective institution, admitting less than 60% of its freshman applicants. The two reasons students most frequently cite for choosing Millersville are its academic reputation and low tuition. A third of our freshmen rank in the top fifth of their high school classes, and three quarters rank in the top two-fifths. Because of its mission of access and because an important part of the college experience is meeting people with different backgrounds and interests from one's own, Millersville is committed to recruiting a diverse student body. It therefore considers diversity status and evidence of special talents as well as academic records and SAT or ACT scores in admissions decisions.

Over three quarters of the Millersville's 7,300 students are full-time undergraduates; the balance are evenly divided between part-time undergraduates and graduate students. One in ten Millersville students is a person of color, and one in seven undergraduates is at least 25 years old. Thirty-five percent of Millersville students are from Lancaster County, 96% are from Pennsylvania, 2% are from other states, and 2% are from foreign countries. Roughly a third of undergraduates live in campus residence halls; the rest commute from home or live in nearby apartments.

About 76% of Millersville undergraduates receive financial aid through grants, scholarships, employment, and loans. Scholarships are available based on academic performance, racial/ethnic status, athletic potential, and need.

Student Life

Believing that participation in activities outside the classroom enriches students and develops self-sufficiency and leadership skills, the University offers a wide range of co-curricular activities, programs, and services. These include tutoring, career services, personal counseling, health services, wellness activities, child care, special services for commuters, sports, special interest clubs, fraternities and sororities, and an extensive selection of programs and activities designed to encourage appreciation of diversity. Millersville also offers a broad program of cultural and intellectual events such as lectures and concerts.