Lamar University

Introduction

Founded on September 17, 1923 as South Park Junior College; Lamar University underwent several name and status changes till it was officially renamed Lamar University in 1971. Also referred to as LU, it is a comprehensive co-educational public research University located in Beaumont, Texas. The institute is named after Mirabeau B. Lamar, the honorable second president of the Republic of Texas, also known as the Father of Education in Texas. Since 1995, Lamar has been a member of the Texas State University System.

The LU campus spans over 250 acres off the Martin Luther King Boulevard. Some of the easily accessible places of interest are Southeast Texas Regional Airport, Downtown Beaumont, Big Thicket National Preserve, Village Creek State Park, and the Gulf of Mexico.

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Information Summary

Ranks 41st in Texas and 1064th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about) 79.5
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance $22,641
Admission Success rate N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores 23 / 1120
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty 14 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time) 64% / 51%
Enrollment Total (all students) 14,783

Academics

Lamar University is fully accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to confer associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. Lamar is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education. The University offers more than 60 bachelor’s, over 45 master’s and over 7 doctoral degrees in diverse areas of study. LU is composed of the following five academic divisions: College of Engineering; College of Education and Human Development; College of Business; College of Fine Arts and Communications; and the College of Arts and Sciences.

Lamar University also has several academic units that fall outside of the main colleges. The College of Graduate Studies provides academic programs for the graduate students. The Center for Teaching and Learning Enhancement provides support and training to faculty members and operates the universities Active and Collaborative Engagement for Students (ACES) Program. The ACES program is tailored to offer assistance to high-risk students and incorporate the active learning methods into core courses.

The Division of Continuing Education at LU promotes life-long education by extending the resources of the University to the people in Southeast Texas region, the state, the country and the world at large. Some of the adult education programs include Bachelor of Applied Arts & Sciences (BAAS); Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology (BSIT); and Bachelor of Business Administration in General Business (BBA-GB).

LU Online:

Lamar offers online (web-based) courses for students who are geographically apart or unable to attend regular college due to various reasons. The biggest advantage of pursuing online degree programs is the convenience it offers. Students can continue their jobs and earn an online degree at the same time. The courses can be completed through the Internet. Some of the online programs offered at LU include Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences; Bachelor of General Studies; Bachelor of Science in Computer Science; Master of Science in Health Promotions; and Master of Science in Nursing. LU offers a variety of online study tools to make online education enjoyable for the students. Online degree students can connect with the campus and professors through the LUOnline portal.

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Admissions

Each year, Lamar University enrolls more than 14,000 students in its undergraduate and graduate courses. Freshman students seeking admission in Lamar must have graduated from a well-accredited high school. They must also take either SAT or ACT entrance test. All students enrolling at the University must have their reading, writing and math skills assessed at the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) or the Accuplacer. Lamar welcomes transfer students from well-accredited institutes.

Lamar enrolls international students from more than 40 countries. All students must send their ACT or SAT scores, along with other official transcripts. Students whose native language is not English must take either one of the following: IELTS, PET or TOEFL test. The Lamar Language Institute (LLI) offers an all-inclusive program to increase English language proficiency for applicants with TOEFL scores slightly lower than minimum.

Financial Aid

Lamar University offers different forms of financial aid to needy and deserving students. The funds are not disbursed until all students have been admitted into the degree seeking programs. All financial aid applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Grants are the type of financial assistance that students don’t have to return. Several grants available at LU include Federal Pell Grant Program, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG), and Texas Grant.

Loans are the form of financial assistance that students must be returned with interest. The types of loans available at LU are Federal Stafford Loans and B On Time Loan Program. The Work-Study Program (Federal & State) allows students to earn while their study to meet their own education costs.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 3285th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Texas.

Students

Lamar University promotes an active and vibrant student life to enrich the University experience of the students. Apart from the academics, the University also pays attention to the involvement of students in the various campus events and activities. The Student Government Association (SGA) provides an official representative organization to act as the voice of the students. Their main function is to investigate students’ problems, issues and take the suitable action.

There are several registered student organizations on the campus. Students can either join an existing organization or create a new one. Some of the student organizations include Black Student Association, Cardinals for Life, College Democrats, Hispanic Student Association, Lamar Baseball Sweethearts, Lamar Health & Environment Education Crops, Lamar Recycling Project Group (LRPG), and Students With Alternative Abilities.

Lamar has a strong Greek presence with more than 15 national fraternities and sororities that are governed by College Panhellenic Council (CPC), National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), and the Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC). Some of the Greek fraternities and sororities include Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Tau Omega, Sigma Phi Delta, Kappa Sigma, Zeta Tau Alpha, Kappa Delta Chi, and Alpha Kappa Alpha.

The office of Services for Students with Disabilities (SFSWD) at Lamar offers an array of services specially designed to make sure that qualified and deserving students with disabilities have access to all LU academic activities, resources, programs, and services. Some of the services offered by SFSWD are academic adjustments, assistive technology, physical access, priority registration, and sign language interpreters.

Media and Publications:

The University Press or UP is the student-run newspaper of Lamar. It is the major student-operated business on campus, and is one of the most respected student-newspapers in the nation.

KVLU is the public radio station of Lamar. It is basically member-supported but also receives funding from the University. The station operates on the campus itself.

LUTV is the student-operated television station at Lamar. The programs are broadcast on local cable and they include newscasts, talk shows, and soap operas.

Campus Facilities:

The Mary and John Gray Library is the University library that serves as a landmark for Lamar. It was named after Mary and John Gray, who are considered the ‘First Family’ of Lamar. The library collection includes more than 1.3 million volumes with interlibrary convenience. There is always a library staff available to provide assistance regarding the use of reference materials, documents, unique collections and instructional media.

The Career and Testing Center at Lamar is recognized by the University and local community as the chief resource for meeting the varied and evolving professional needs of the students. The Center offers testing and career services such as resume critique, interview preparation, discover assessment, Myers Briggs assessment, prometric, and Texas success initiative. It also organizes career events such as corporate cardinal invitational, fall job fair, and on-campus job fair.

The Setzer Student Center hosts various social and cultural activities throughout the year. It is the nucleus for on-campus student organizations. The Setzer Center houses lounge areas, Mirabeau’s Café and the Cardinal’s Nest outlets which presents students with a place to mingle and relax. It also has a bookstore that stocks text books, school supplies, and Lamar Cardinals Merchandise.

The Dishman Art Museum at Lamar serves both as a teaching facility and art museum for the University. It was established in 1983. The museum’s exhibits collections that include 19th and 20th century paintings from American and European artists and tribal art from New Guinea, Africa, and Pre-Columbian Mexico. The Dishman offers an opportunity to the students to experience various styles that replicate international trends as well as display their own work. Admission to the museum is kept free.

Housing & Dining

Lamar offers excellent housing facility in Cardinal Village, which is the University’s community of apartment style dormitories. Each room is well furnished and equipped with a private bathroom. The apartments have all the modern amenities such as a mini-refrigerator, microwave, computer desk, telephone outlets, cable television, and connectivity to the LU network. Cardinal Village also features community centers, fitness centers, a swimming pool, basketball and volleyball courts, on-site laundry facilities, social lounges, meeting rooms, study areas, and parking for the convenience of the students.

The Dining Hall offers a unique a bistro ambience. The entire hall is designed on a food court-style floor plan which presents an array of seating areas from bar-stools to booths. The dining options include grill, salad bar, central bakery, pizza, stir fry, Mexican food, pasta, deli and soup stations. There is something for everyone. The interesting interiors, the latest state-of-the-art equipment and delicious food present a tastebud-pleasing dining experience at the campus. Other campus eateries include Mirabeau’s Café and Cardinal’s Nest, Papa John’s, Outtakes Convenience Store, and the Juice bar.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

Lamar University sponsors both men’s and women’s teams in diverse varsity sports such as basketball, golf, track & field, cross-country, tennis, soccer, volleyball, baseball and football. The sports teams are nicknamed as the Cardinals. The Cardinals compete in the Division I of NCAA’s Southland Conference. The mascot is the Big Red, and the colors are Red and White. The Sheila Umphrey Recreational Sports Center at Lamar is the premier sports facility of the Recreational Sports Department. Other facilities include the Lamar Indoor Pool, the Driving Range, Cardinal Tennis Courts and the Ty Terrell Track.

Intramural Sports:

Lamar’s Intramural Sports (IM) provides the opportunity to develop and promote skills in an active environment for the students, faculty members, and staff. The activities range from the highly structured league play to the minimally structured events. The students can also join the sports clubs and get involved in the various recreational and intramural sports.

Alumni

Lamar graduates have earned fame in diverse fields of profession. Some of the notable alumni include William C. Childs, founder of Precision Tune; Kelly Asbury, eminent film director, screenwriter and non-fiction author; Trevor Dodds, Namibian professional golfer; Joe Domino, President of Entergy Texas; Bill Macatee, TV sports announcer; Eugene Seale, former NFL player; and Claude H. Nash, CEO of Bloodstone Ventures.

Bibliography

Lamar University. 2011.

Surhone, Lambert M. Timpledon, Miriam T. Marseken, Susan F. Lamar University. VDM Verlag Dr. Mueller AG & Co. Kg, 2010. Print.

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