Mar 19, 2024  
Mansfield University 2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
Mansfield University 2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

History & Information


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History

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Mansfield University traces its heritage to 1857, when the Mansfield Classical Seminary opened. In 1862, Mansfield became a state normal school. In 1927, the institution was designated Mansfield State Teachers College, and in 1960, it broadened its degree offerings and became Mansfield State College. In 1983, the college became Mansfield University and a member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.  Offering a variety of two-year and four-year credentials in the arts and humanities, the natural and social sciences, and professional studies, Mansfield University is committed to helping our students achieve their educational and career goals in a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

MU Facts

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The campus consists of 174 acres and 42 buildings and features suite-style residence halls, multiple recreation areas and playing fields, an indoor swimming pool, two performing arts venues (Steadman Theater and Straughn Auditorium), a state-of-the-art library, a fitness center, a student union, and a child care center.

Student Enrollment

Overall enrollment in fall 2020 was 1,792.  Of these, 1,489 were full-time and 303 were part-time. Enrolled students represented 22 states, the District of Columbia, and six international countries.

Student-Faculty Ratio

As of fall 2020, the student-faculty ratio was 17:1. Approximately 86% of our classes have fewer than 30 students and 66% have fewer than 20 students.

Student Financial Aid

About 98% of freshmen students receive financial assistance in some form. This includes federal, state, and institutional grants, as well as a variety of loans and employment.

Faculty

As of fall 2020, the University had 85 regular full-time instructional faculty.  Of these, 98% have earned tenured or are on the tenure track.

Programs of Study

The University has nine associate degree programs, 27 baccalaureate programs, and two master’s degree programs. We also offer 36 minors.

Special Options

Many of our degree progams offer specialized concentrations.  We also offer a self-directed major (BA in Liberal Studies), an honors program, internship opportunities, independent study and individualized instruction options, study abroad opportunities, and online course options.

Accreditation

Mansfield University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267-284-5000). The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Other accreditations or recognitions of professional programs are identified in the section of the catalog that describes each program.

Location

With a population of 4,000, Mansfield borough is located in the mountains of northcentral Pennsylvania at the intersection of U.S. 15 and U.S. 6. It is an area noted for its quality of life, safety, and varied recreational opportunities. The University is 45 miles north of Williamsport, PA, and 30 miles south of Corning, NY. Driving time from Harrisburg, PA = 3 hours; Scranton, PA = 2 hours; Buffalo, NY = 3 hours; Binghamton, NY = 2 hours; Philadelphia, PA = 4 hours; Pittsburgh, PA = 5 hours; New York City= 5 hours. Daily bus service, north and south, connects to all points in the northeast U.S.

Region

The natural environment of the area provides numerous opportunities for outdoor recreation. These include hunting, fishing, skiing, camping, hiking, biking, and water sports. The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, located approximately 20 miles from campus, and other regional state parks provide many recreational opportunities for students. Nearby cultural attractions include The Corning Museum of Glass and The Rockwell Museum of Western Art in Corning, NY, and The Clemens Center for Performing Arts in Elmira, NY.

Cultural Activities

Mansfield University offers a variety of cultural activities during the academic year.  Guest lectures, music concerts, art exhibitions, film series, poetry readings, and cultural celebrations are traditions at Mansfield. Frequent recitals by music faculty and students highlight the academic year.

Library Facilities

Mansfield University’s North Hall Library is the academic center of the campus. The six-story building provides an elegant nineteenth-century setting where students can access information from around the world through our computers and high-speed wireless network. The library houses a special computer lab for graphic design, a virtual reality lab, a variety of specialized collections, and the University’s archives.

Housing and Dining

Suite-style residence halls have the capacity to house approximately 1,300 students on campus.  A wide variety of private-room and shared-room suite options are available.  There are also some special interest living areas offered.  When it comes to dining on campus, the Mountie Food Co. offers a variety of menu options and services. Our venues include an all-you-care-to-eat facility (Upper Manser Student Restaurant), a café (Mountie Coffee), two retail locations (Lower Manser and Mountie Munchies) and even a 24-7 convenience store (Mountie Market). In addition, there are programs and events that are offered during the academic year to meet the diversified needs of Mansfield University. On-campus dining offers convenience, flexibility, quality and value. Our meal plans give you flexibility to dine where and when you want.

Calendar

The regular academic calendar consists of a fall semester which ends before Christmas and a spring semester ending in early May. The University offers two summer sessions. Consult the online calendars for more detailed information about calendar dates and events.

Our Mission, Vision, and Values Statements

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Mission

Offering dynamic programs in the arts and humanities, natural and social sciences, and professional studies, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania prepares our students for successful lives and careers.  As an inclusive public institution, Mansfield University provides our students with a welcoming environment, individualized attention, and meaningful opportunities to learn and grow within and beyond the classroom. Through the Mansfield experience, our students develop the knowledge, skills, and character necessary to achieve their educational and career goals.

Vision

Mansfield University will be the leading higher education institution in the region.

We will strive to:

  • Provide students with the richest possible educational experience in a supportive environment.
  • Nurture the whole student through an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming community.
  • Develop academic programs that meet the needs of regional, state, and global communities.
  • Collaborate with other educational institutions to achieve mutual goals and expand student opportunities.

Values

In 1912, our student body adopted the following values statement: “Character as the essential, Scholarship as the means, Culture as the enrichment, and Service as the end of all worthy endeavors.”

Character

We believe in integrity. We act with honesty and respect toward others. We take responsibility for our actions and reflect on their impact on ourselves and others.

Scholarship

We believe in learning. We use rigorous, responsible, and critical inquiry to understand existing knowledge, acquire and share new knowledge, and apply what we learn. Each of us is both student and teacher.

Culture

We believe in celebrating humanity. We enrich ourselves and others by sharing and exploring our similarities and differences. We honor the past as we invent the future.

Service

We believe in helping others. We work with others to improve the communities in which we now live and will touch in the future. Knowledge invests us with the power to improve our world and the responsibility to act. 


 

Statement of Diversity

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Graduates of Mansfield University participate in a world that has been enriched by knowledge, insights, and traditions of diverse peoples who live and work together. An academic community that values diversity by words and actions provides the best environment in which students can learn the social skills necessary to participate and flourish in our multicultural environment.

The Mansfield University Council of Trustees reaffirms that the purpose of Mansfield University, as stated by President Simon B. Elliot in 1912, shall be “to strive to make education universal; that the rich and the poor, the child of those who have power and place, and of those who tread the lowly paths of life, shall receive alike the blessings of education … and invite equally and alike, without distinction of sex, or color, or race, or creed, or party, the children of all who may desire to participate in the opportunities here offered. That is the highest purpose for which Mansfield may be praised.”

 

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