Contact:
Elizabeth Blevins, Director, Office of Communications
Phyllis Noah, Communications Coordinator
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 464-4854
940 Second Street – Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
E-mail: eblevins@shawnee.edu or pnoah@shawnee.edu
Web site: www.shawnee.edu

Shawnee State University Rita Rice Morris stands beside her avatar that introduced her at the State of the University address on Wednesday, Sept. 15.

            When it comes to innovation, Shawnee State University’s President Rita Rice Morris demonstrated how it could be applied to a tradition like a State of the University Address when “Avatar Rita” provided the introduction to her presentation to the SSU campus on Wednesday, Sept. 15.
            “One of the highlights of our progress this year was the dedication of our Motion Capture studio,” Morris said. “I can think of no better way to begin a reflection upon what Shawnee State is doing well than to demonstrate one of the greatest additions to our academic programs.”
            Demographic changes, programmatic changes, indicators of excellence, ongoing efforts and tasks and challenges ahead were the focus of her address.
A record nearly 4,600 students are enrolled at Shawnee State and this is in excess of the target of 4,430 students that was set two years ago under the USO Strategic Plan and represents a 24 percent increase since that time.
            Nearly 1,000 students live on campus in university housing and that represents an 83 percent growth in residential students in five years.
The student population is more diverse over the past few years also with a mix of regional, statewide, national, international, undergraduate, graduate, adult, post-secondary, residential, on-line and commuter students.
            Faculty numbers have also grown with 18 faculty positions filled in the past year, more than any other year in recent history.
            “We have initiated efforts to develop a research component into the university with an emphasis on developing faculty research interests and capacity,” Morris said. “Under the leadership of Dr. Jeff Bauer, a key component of these initial efforts is a Center of Excellence focusing on applied research and regional innovation.”
            SSU has added new academic programs, the Master of Education and Master of Occupational Therapy as well as additional bachelor’s programs that are doing well. More attention is begin focused on life-long learning by making courses more accessible to adult students by developing more distance learning classes.
            New degree proposals are in the works for a Bachelor of Individualized Studies, Bachelor of Philosophy and Religion, Bachelor of Political Science and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Laboratories also have been added to support instruction.
            Another addition to the SSU campus is the new soccer field and athletics has moved into the Mid-South Conference that will provide opportunities to compete with rivals that are closer to SSU in proximity.
            Last year, the Clark Memorial Library staff received recognition, as well as Veteran’s Affairs, Communications and Admissions. The Athletics Department was honored with four AMC Coaches of the Year, an induction to the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Columbus State Community College Sports and Fitness Hall of Fame.
            “We are focusing on quality,” Morris said. “To help us continually improve the things we do – and ways in which we do them – we have placed a focus on quality at SSU that grows out of our participation in the Academic Quality Improvement Program from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools as our method of accreditation.”
            A link to Morris’ speech, including the “Avatar Rita” introduction, is available on the university’s Web site at http://president.shawnee.edu.