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Murray
Time & Temp
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by Aaron
W. Hughey
“Murray State University is known for its personal approach to living
and learning,” notes John McDonald, the school’s director of
marketing and public relations. “If you’re looking for small
classes and high quality teaching, this attractive campus is your kind
of setting.”
Murray State University is situated on a 236-acre main campus in Western
Kentucky. Its current enrollment is about 9,600 students.
Murray State University is a comprehensive institution of higher education.
Academics obviously come first at Murray State, as it has been consistently
ranked as one of the leading universities in the nation by U.S. News and
World Report.
Murray is ranked as a “top public school” and “a great
school at a great price” by U.S. News. “Their college rating
guide, America’s Best Colleges, takes into account information on
academic reputation, class size, retention rates, faculty resources, student
selectivity, financial resources, graduation rate, and alumni giving,”
McDonald explains. “Murray is currently the only Kentucky public
university to hold such high rank.”
In a recent Council on Postsecondary Education survey of recent college
graduates, Murray topped all of Kentucky’s public universities in
“graduate satisfaction”. Murray finished first in 13 of the
23 categories.
The institution offers a wide variety of different degree programs in
several major areas: Business and Public Affairs, Education, Health Sciences
and Human Services, Humanities and Fine Arts, Science, Engineering and
Technology, and Agriculture.
Both regional as well as national employers routinely recruit graduates
from Murray State University. And although many alumni do take jobs throughout
the world, the local community also benefits immensely from having a quality
institution in its own backyard.
“Your Murray education will also offer opportunities to expand your
classroom activities to include real-world experiences,” McDonald
continues. “Internships and co-op programs will allow you to gain
valuable work experiences with top-rated companies and agencies.”
In fact, if you read carefully, you’ll note that many of the individuals
quoted for the various stories in this magazine talk favorably about the
ways Murray State University has enhanced their lives and livelihoods.
In addition to its emphasis on academics, Murray State University is aware
that it is located in an area that is very appealing to many students
and their parents. Murray, Kentucky has been ranked by the national publication
Crime at College as the safest college town in Kentucky.
“In fact, research indicates that there are only ten campus locations
in the entire country rated safer than Murray, Kentucky,” McDonald
observes. “Personal safety is important to everyone.”
Murray State University is one of only two public universities in the
nation with a residential college system. Its 9,600 students are assigned
to one of nine different colleges. Once assigned to a particular college,
a student remains a member of that college through his or her undergraduate
career.
“Murray puts a heavy emphasis on personalized learning and first-name
conversations,” McDonald says. “This friendly approach to education
is found in the residential college program, which improves both living
and learning at Murray.”
The residential college system allows students to develop potentially
lifelong friendships and form a relationship with the institution that
will last long after graduation.
Murray State University is also known for the quality of out-of-classroom
experiences that it provides. Mention Murray State, and an entire array
of other activities immediately come to mind: the topnotch guest lecturers
that routinely visit the institution, the first-rate recitals, concerts,
and plays that are routinely staged on campus, the art galleries and shows,
and the excellent recreational facilities and competitive sports events.
“Fraternities, sororities and over 150 clubs and organizations also
make for an interesting M.S.U. social life,” McDonald notes.
Murray State University also realizes that not everyone can attend college
in the traditional way and has therefore developed an extensive distance
education program that allows students who may not be in a position to
attend the physical campus to pursue a degree. Online courses lead to
associates, bachelors, or masters degrees.
Increasingly, getting a virtual education is a more desirable route for
many students - especially older, nontraditional students who cannot afford
to stop their lives and “go to” college full-time. Students
who are involved in distance education can take courses at a time that
is convenient for them. These are typically highly interactive with an
almost constant flow of information with the instructor and the other
students in the class. Finally, assignments and required readings are
available electronically.
Employers are increasingly recognizing the value of a virtual education.
As computers continue to permeate every aspect of our society, the skills
that are acquired through these online experiences serve to make many
students much more marketable.
Finally, Murray State University is interested in making a college education
a reality for everyone who wants the opportunity to better themselves.
“Approximately 70 percent of our students receive some form of financial
aid,” McDonald observes. “Moreover, on-campus jobs help approximately
2,600 students each year.”
Dr. F. King Alexander, new Murray State president, sees higher education
as essential to individual and community growth. “Education is an
investment. Studies show that for every dollar spent on education, the
return is 12-fold,” he says. “That’s just the economic
impact. That doesn’t take into account the improved quality of life
for those students. College graduates read more, give more, and volunteer
more. They also have greater job satisfaction.”
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