Mississippi State University: A Legacy of Education and Innovation

Mississippi State University (MSU) stands as a beacon of education in the heart of Mississippi, offering a welcoming environment where students, faculty, and staff can thrive and address emerging challenges. Chartered as Mississippi Agricultural & Mechanical College on February 28, 1878, the university opened its doors to its first students in 1880. With a rich history and a forward-looking approach, MSU provides over 180 baccalaureate, graduate, and professional degree programs across 12 colleges and schools.

A Foundation of Land-Grant Principles

MSU's origins trace back to the Morrill Act of 1862, which established national land-grant colleges. The Mississippi Legislature established The Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi to provide training in agriculture, horticulture, and the mechanical arts, while also incorporating scientific, classical studies, and military tactics. The Hatch Act of 1887 led to the establishment of the Agricultural Experiment Station in 1888, followed by the Cooperative Extension Service in 1914 through the Smith-Lever Act.

Evolution and Expansion

Over time, Mississippi State University has evolved to meet the changing needs of the state and the nation. In 1958, the Legislature recognized the university's academic development and the addition of graduate programs by renaming it Mississippi State University. The university took a significant step towards inclusivity in July 1965, when Richard E. Holmes became the first African-American student to enroll.

The university continued to expand its academic offerings, with the School of Architecture admitting its first students in 1973, and the College of Veterinary Medicine welcoming its inaugural class in 1977. Notably, the MSU Vet school is the largest veterinary school under one roof in the nation. The School of Accountancy was established in 1979, and the University Honors Program, founded in 1968, provides rigorous curricula and support for guest speakers. MSU also initiated a joint Ph.D. program with other universities.

Campus and Facilities

Mississippi State's campus is centered around the Drill Field, a quadrangle that once served as a training ground for the Corps of Cadets. Lee Hall and Swalm Hall, mirror-image buildings, define the north and south ends of the Drill Field. The original dormitory, Old Main, was located west of Lee Hall but was destroyed by fire and replaced by the Colvard Student Union.

Beyond the main campus lie the North and South Farms, which are still used for agricultural research and also house newer facilities like the astronomical observatory and Veterinary College (South Farm) and the High Performance Computing Collaboratory (North Farm). The fraternity and sorority houses are located to the far west of campus, along with the Cotton District and downtown Starkville.

The Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park is home to many of the university's research centers, including the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS) and the Social Science Research Center. The Williams Building houses the MSU Police Department.

MSU also operates an off-campus, degree-granting center in Meridian, Mississippi, offering undergraduate and graduate programs.

A Hub for Research and Scholarship

Mississippi State University is committed to advancing knowledge and fostering innovation through its various research centers and programs. As a participant in the National Sea Grant College Program and the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, MSU contributes to research in marine and space-related fields.

Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library

Mississippi State is one of the few universities to house presidential papers. In May 2012, MSU was selected as the permanent location for Ulysses S. Grant's Presidential Library on the 50th anniversary of the Ulysses S. Grant Association's founding. President Grant's artifacts, including letters and photographs from his presidency (1869-1877), are permanently housed at the Mitchell Memorial Library on the MSU campus. The MSU library catalogued and cross-referenced 15,000 linear feet of material. Grant's letters have been edited and published in 32 volumes by the Ulysses S.

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Congressional and Political Research Center

The library also houses the Congressional and Political Research Center, which includes the collections of U.S. Senator John C. Stennis and Congressman G. V. Montgomery, nicknamed "Sonny". Their careers spanned a total of 72 years of service as Congressional leaders.

John Grisham Collection

Among the library's premier collections is that of internationally known author John Grisham, an MSU alumnus who donated his papers to the university in 1989. The Grisham collection, now consisting of over 42 cubic feet, has attracted national attention to the library. Materials from the Grisham papers are on display in Mitchell Memorial Library's John Grisham Room.

Charles H. Templeton Collection

In 2000, the Charles H. Templeton Collection, which includes over 200 nineteenth- and twentieth-century music instruments, 22,000 pieces of sheet music, and 13,000 records, was transferred to the Libraries. According to author and musicologist David A. Jasen, the Templeton Collection contains the most complete collection of Victor Talking Machines from their debut in 1897 to 1930. Items from the collection are on display at the Templeton Music Museum on the 4th floor of Mitchell Memorial Library. In 2001, a digitization project was established to digitize and provide access to the entire sheet music collection. The library hosts the Charles Templeton Ragtime Jazz Festival, an annual event including lectures and live performance of historic and contemporary ragtime. The festival debuted in March 2007, the first of its kind in Mississippi.

Campus Life and Traditions

Mississippi State University offers a vibrant campus life with a variety of activities and organizations for students to get involved in.

The Junction

The Junction is a central gathering place for students, alumni, and visitors. Formerly a convergence of roadways and a rail line, this student-inspired concept is anchored by Davis Wade Stadium, Barnes & Noble Bookstore, and the University Welcome Center.

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Student Organizations

MSU boasts over 300 student organizations, including the Student Association, Famous Maroon Band, MSU Road Runners, Alumni Delegates, Maroon VIP, Lambda Sigma, Orientation Leaders, fraternities and sororities, the Residence Hall Association, the Black Student Alliance, the Mississippi State University College Democrats and Republicans, Music Maker Productions, the Baptist Student Union, the Engineering Student Council, Arnold Air Society, the Stennis-Montgomery Association, and ChallengeX. The University Recreation department oversees the intramural sports program. There are many international student organizations active on campus.

Media and Publications

The student newspaper, The Reflector, is published twice per week. Mississippi State is also home to WMSV, the campus radio station. Prior to WMSV, Mississippi State had a student-run radio station, WMSB, which went off the air permanently at the end of the spring semester of 1986.

Speakers and Events

The city of Starkville and the Mississippi State campus have been a tour stop for many artists, including a visit in 1965 by Johnny Cash. Every semester Mississippi State has several distinguished speakers including best selling authors Greg Mortenson and Mississippi State alumnus John Grisham, former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Academy Award-nominated Spike Lee, television science show hosts Jeff Lieberman and Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson. Nobel laureates including Sir Harry Kroto (1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry), J. M. G.

Greek Life

Mississippi State's Greek system comprises fraternities and sororities.

Athletics

Mississippi State University's athletic teams, known as the Bulldogs, compete in NCAA Division I athletics as members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Mississippi State was a founding member of the SEC in 1932. Bulldogs athletic teams have won a total of 28 conference championships (14 SEC). Mississippi State's most successful sport is baseball. The Diamond Dogs have won 17 conference championships (11 SEC) and 6 SEC tournament championships, while making 28 NCAA Tournament appearances and 12 College World Series appearances. The Diamond Dogs play home games at Dudy Noble Field, Polk-DeMent Stadium, which holds the NCAA record for the largest single-game on-campus baseball attendance at 16,423 fans (April 15, 2023, vs. Ole Miss).

Accreditation and Recognition

Mississippi State University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master's, specialist, and doctoral degrees.

Enrollment and Campus Size

As of fall 2021, Mississippi State's enrollment was 23,086. The university has 160 buildings, and the grounds comprise about 4,200 acres (17 km2), including farms, pastures, and woodlands of the Experiment Station.

A Welcoming and Supportive Environment

At Mississippi State University, the focus is on creating a welcoming and supportive environment where students, faculty, and staff can thrive. The university is committed to diversity, open-mindedness, and providing an exciting atmosphere where everyone can enjoy the present while preparing for the future. Mississippi State is another home for many, filled with supportive and welcoming people who rally behind you.

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