Midwestern State University

{{About|the public liberal arts college in Texas|the private graduate school|Midwestern University}}

{{Infobox university

| name = Midwestern State University

| image = MidwesternStatelogo.png

| image_upright = 0.7

| former_names = Wichita Falls Junior College (1922–1937)
Hardin Junior College (1937–1946)
Hardin College (1946–1950)
Midwestern University (1950–1975)

| motto = Per Scientam ad Excellentiam

| mottoeng = Through Knowledge to Excellence

| established = {{start date and age|1922}}

| type = Public liberal arts university

| endowment = $92 million (2024)
(MSU only)As of August 31, 2024. {{cite web |url=https://www.texastech.edu/board-of-regents/november-2024/endowments-nov-2024.pdf |title=Report on TTUS Endowments As of August 31, 2024 |date=November 14, 2024 |publisher=Texas Tech University System |access-date=November 18, 2024 }}
$3.06 billion (2024)
(system-wide)

| budget = $127 million (FY2025){{cite web |url=https://www.texastech.edu/offices/cfo/ttus-fy-2025-consolidated-operating-budget.pdf |title=FY 2025 Consolidated Operating Budget |date=August 19, 2024 |publisher=Texas Tech University System |access-date=November 18, 2024 }}

| president = Stacy Haynie

| provost = Margaret Brown Marsden

| students = 5,324 (Fall 2024){{cite web |url=https://msutexas.edu/institutional-effectiveness/dashboards/dashboard_enrollment.php |title=Semester Enrollment Dashboard |website=Institutional Effectiveness |publisher=Midwestern State University |access-date=November 18, 2024 }}

| undergrad = 4,303 (Fall 2024)

| postgrad = 1,021 (Fall 2024)

| city = Wichita Falls, Texas

| country = U.S.

| coordinates = {{Coord|33|52|26|N|98|31|16|W|region:US-TX_type:edu|display=inline,title}}

| campus = Midsize city{{cite web |url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=226833 |title=College Navigator - Midwestern State University |website=National Center for Education Statistics |publisher=United States Department of Education |access-date=November 18, 2024 }}

| campus_size = {{cvt|255|acre}}

| athletics_affiliations = NCAA Division II – Lone Star

| colors = Maroon and gold{{cite web|url=https://msutexas.edu/webmaster/style-guide/v1/index |title=Web Style Guide |publisher=Mwsu.edu |date=1999-02-22 |access-date=2020-11-17}}
{{color box|#660000}} {{color box|#ECAC00}}

| sports_nickname = Mustangs

| mascot = Maverick T. Mustang

| website = {{URL|https://msutexas.edu/|msutexas.edu}}

| logo = Msu texas map logo.png

| logo_size = 150

| academic_affiliations = Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges

| parent = Texas Tech University System

}}

Midwestern State University (MSU Texas) is a public liberal arts university in Wichita Falls, Texas. As of Fall 2024, MSU Texas enrolled 5,324 students. It is the state's only public institution focused on the liberal arts.{{Cite news|url=http://thewichitan.com/liberal_arts_school/|title=MSU: Texas' only public liberal arts school|date=2016-06-22|work=The Wichitan|access-date=2017-08-10|language=en-US}}

History

Founded in 1922 as the municipally-owned Wichita Falls Junior College, it was renamed Hardin Junior College in 1937 when it moved from Wichita Falls High School to its present location off Taft Boulevard. In 1946, a senior division was added and it was renamed Hardin College. In January 1950, the name changed to Midwestern University, with the junior college division remaining Hardin Junior College. In March 1948, the university became a member of the Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. In January 1959, the university added a graduate school which received full approval from the State Board of Education in August of that year.{{cite news|url=https://msutexas.edu/about/history.php|title=MSU History|access-date=2021-06-13}}

A further change in the school's status came September 1, 1961, when by action of the 56th session of the Texas State Legislature, Midwestern University was transferred from the city of Wichita Falls to the Texas Colleges and Universities System and the junior college division was dissolved. In 1975, the Texas Legislature changed the name to Midwestern State University.

From its beginnings as a municipal junior college housed in a high school building, Midwestern has become a state university whose campus of 255 acres and 70 buildings offers a wide variety of academic programs in liberal and fine arts, mathematics, sciences, business, and applied sciences.

On March 9, 2015, the university announced that Suzanne Shipley was selected to become its next president, following Jesse Rogers' retirement after 48 years of service to the school.{{cite web | author =Dave Emke | title =Shipley chosen to become next president of Midwestern State | website =The Journal | date =March 9, 2015 | url =http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/630001/Shipley-chosen-to-become-next-president-of-Midwestern-State.html | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160306042821/http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/630001/Shipley-chosen-to-become-next-president-of-Midwestern-State.html | url-status =dead | archive-date =March 6, 2016 | access-date = March 9, 2015}}

On December 13, 2016, the university broke ground on a new campus in Flower Mound, Texas. The two-story facility shares space with North Central Texas College and opened in June 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/2018/06/06/msu-flower-mound-campus-celebrates-grand-opening/|title=MSU Flower Mound campus celebrates grand opening|date=6 June 2018}}

Since 2018, several incidents of racially-motivated vandalism and harassment have been reported at Midwestern State University.{{Cite web|title=MSU Texas responds to poster marked with racially charged vandalism|url=https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2018/11/03/msu-texas-responds-poster-marked-racially-charged-vandalism/1862504002/|access-date=2022-02-16|website=Times Record News|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2019-11-22|title=MSU officials, students address apparent threatening, racist blog posts|url=https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/local-news/msu-officials-students-address-apparent-threatening-racist-blog-posts/|access-date=2022-02-16|website=Texomashomepage.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=ComplicitMSU|title=ComplicitMSU is back|url=https://thewichitan.com/64708/op-ed/complicitmsu-is-back/|access-date=2022-02-16|website=The Wichitan}} The university administration has been repeatedly criticized by students of color for its handling of such incidents, as well as for its perceived indifference to issues facing racial minorities more generally.{{Cite web|last=Wabbington|first=Dallas|title=#BlackatMSUTexas|url=https://thewichitan.com/67890/news/campus/blackatmsutexas/|access-date=2022-02-16|website=The Wichitan}} In 2018, the university faced widespread criticism from students in response to the administration's perceived indifference to sexual harassment and violence on campus.{{Cite web|last=Manning|first=Tyler|title=Students raised concerns over campus safety at forum|url=https://thewichitan.com/49990/news/campus-safety-forum/|access-date=2022-02-16|website=The Wichitan}}{{Cite web|title=Action needs to be taken about sexual misconduct|url=https://thewichitan.com/50048/op-ed/admin-needs-to-act/|access-date=2022-02-16|website=The Wichitan}}{{Cite web|last=Reilly|first=Bridget|title=SGA stands with ComplicitMSU|url=https://thewichitan.com/50172/news/sga-stands-with-complicitmsu/|access-date=2022-02-16|website=The Wichitan}}{{Cite news|last=Braxton-Johnson|first=Markell|title=#ComplicitMSU needs a second look|url=https://thewichitan.com/50220/op-ed/critical-look-into-administrators/|access-date=2022-02-16|website=The Wichitan}} A university administrator reportedly made a rape joke at a campus forum intended to discuss the issue.{{Cite web|title=Midwestern State's handling of sexual assault cases under fire|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/03/23/midwestern-states-handling-sexual-assault-cases-under-fire|access-date=2022-02-16|website=www.insidehighered.com|language=en}}

The Robert and Carol Gunn College of Health Sciences and Human Services officially opened up their new building, Centennial Hall, on September 6, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2019/09/05/msu-texas-unveils-state-art-centennial-hall/2225965001/|title=MSU Texas unveils state-of-the-art Centennial Hall|last=Halsey|first=Torin|website=Wichita Falls|language=en|access-date=2019-11-06}}

In 2019, a Midwestern State University graduate student was publicly outed as a white supremacist.{{Cite web|last=says|first=Erbel Obell|title=Tyler Ray Glasscock aka "PetroFash" on Iron March Forum Leak {{!}} Fash Finder|url=https://fashfinder.blackblogs.org/tyler-ray-glasscock/|access-date=2022-02-16|language=en-US}} The university was roundly criticized for its handling of the ensuing controversy.{{Cite web|last=Wynne|first=Brendan|title=Administration offers follow-up statements regarding the fascist on campus|url=https://thewichitan.com/64779/news/administration-offers-follow-up/|access-date=2022-02-16|website=The Wichitan}} The following year, the university was widely and publicly criticized for its response to a right-wing harassment campaign that had been directed against former philosophy professor Nathan Jun in response to controversial Facebook posts.[https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2020/10/01/msu-addresses-controversy-over-professors-abhorrent-comments/5887105002/ controversial Facebook posts]{{Cite web|title=Midwestern State University: Professor's Criticisms of Police and 'White People' Violate 'Respect' Policy|url=https://www.thefire.org/cases/midwestern-state-university-professors-criticisms-of-police-and-white-people-violate-respect-policy/|access-date=2022-02-16|website=FIRE|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-10-07|title=Texas University Calls on State AG to Investigate Professor's Speech|url=https://pen.org/press-release/texas-university-calls-on-state-ag-to-investigate-professors-speech/|access-date=2022-02-16|website=PEN America|language=en}}{{Cite news |last1=Pettit |first1=Emma |last2=Zahneis |first2=Megan |title=These Scholars Denounced the Police. Do Their Universities Have Their Backs? |url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/these-scholars-denounced-the-police-do-their-universities-have-their-backs|access-date=2022-02-16|work=chronicle.com |date=August 9, 2020}} The following year the university was again criticized for allegedly forcing Jun to resign his tenured position by denying him a requested disability accommodation.{{Cite web|last=Weinberg|first=Justin|date=2021-09-17|title=A Tale of Two Resignations|url=https://dailynous.com/2021/09/17/tale-two-resignations/|access-date=2022-02-16|website=Daily Nous|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Weinberg|first=Justin|date=2021-12-17|title=What a Cancellation Looks Like (guest post)|url=https://dailynous.com/2021/12/17/what-a-cancellation-looks-like-guest-post/|access-date=2022-02-16|website=Daily Nous|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Pothast|first=Emily|date=2021-10-05|title=The Right-Wing Takeover of the American University|url=https://medium.com/form-and-resonance/the-right-wing-takeover-of-the-american-university-f82ddbe1ddc7|access-date=2022-02-16|website=Form and Resonance|language=en}} The allegation prompted an open letter of protest{{Cite web|last=Weinberg|first=Justin|date=2021-09-23|title=Letter Protesting Midwestern State University's Treatment of Nathan Jun (updated)|url=https://dailynous.com/2021/09/23/letter-protesting-midwestern-state-universitys-treatment-of-nathan-jun/|access-date=2022-02-16|website=Daily Nous|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Open letter protesting Midwestern State's treatment of Nathan Jun|url=https://leiterreports.typepad.com/blog/2021/09/open-letter-protesting-midwestern-states-treatment-of-nathan-jun.html|access-date=2022-02-16|website=Leiter Reports: A Philosophy Blog}} that was eventually signed by more than 500 faculty members.{{Cite web|title=FACULTY LETTER PROTESTING MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY'S TREATMENT OF PROFESSOR NATHAN JUN|url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PnHzVHu2SpGDrm_PDa17D_lhuLOcXMB_g9tGzSA4iXE/edit?usp=embed_facebook|access-date=2022-02-16|website=Google Docs|language=en}}{{third-party inline|date=May 2022}}

On August 6, 2020, the Texas Tech University System and Midwestern State University agreed to a memorandum of understanding to begin the process of MSU Texas becoming the fifth university to join the system.{{Cite news|url=https://www.kcbd.com/2020/08/06/texas-tech-announces-mou-with-midwestern-state-university/|title=Texas Tech announces MOU with Midwestern State University|website=kcbd.com}} The process was completed on September 1, 2021, when HB 1522 went into effect.{{cite web|url=https://www.myhighplains.com/news/texas-tech-university-system-welcomes-midwestern-state-university-in-wichita-falls/|title=Texas Tech University System welcomes Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls|last=|first=|website=Myhighplains.com|date=8 June 2021|language=en|access-date=2021-06-17}}

Academics

{{Infobox US university ranking

| USNWR_REG = 75

| Wamo_MASTERSU = 235

}}

Midwestern State University is organized into seven colleges with 16 undergraduate programs offering 43 majors and 30 minors, and 9 graduate programs offering 28 majors and 15 minors.

MSU is the only university in Texas with membership in the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges and was the first public university in Texas to establish a core curriculum. The university is also a member of the Association of American Colleges and Universities and the Association for Core Texts and Courses.

= Dalquest Desert Research Station =

The Dalquest Desert Research Station{{Cite news|url=http://features.texasmonthly.com/editorial/a-love-unearthed/|title=A Love Unearthed|date=2016-09-21|work=Texas Monthly|access-date=2017-08-11|language=en-US}} is located on 3,000 acres of West Texas soil north of the Big Bend Ranch State Park. The land was a gift from Walter W. Dalquest, a professor at MSU, and his wife, Rose, on the condition that it be used for scientific research by biologists and geologists. Today, the site is used by professors, students, naturalists, scientists, and educators.

Athletics

File:Mustangs Soccer Celebrates!.jpg

Midwestern State fields 13 intercollegiate NCAA Division II athletic teams. MSU is a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The school mascot is the mustang.

The basketball and volleyball teams play at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The football team plays at Memorial Stadium (Wichita Falls). The soccer teams play at the MSU Soccer Field. The softball team plays at Mustangs Park. The tennis teams play at the MSU Tennis Center.

Student life

class="wikitable floatright sortable collapsible"; text-align:right; font-size:80%;" \|+ style="font-size:90%" \|Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023{{cite web \|title= College Scorecard: Midwestern State University\|url=https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?226833-Midwestern-State-University\|website=College Scorecard \|publisher=United States Department of Education \|access-date=June 23, 2025 }}
Race and ethnicity ! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number \|Total
White \|align=right\| {{bartable\|43\|%\|2	background:cyan}}
Hispanic \|align=right\| {{bartable\|26\|%\|2	background:green}}
Black \|align=right\| {{bartable\|16\|%\|2	background:purple}}
International student \|align=right\| {{bartable\|4\|%\|2	background:#008080}}
Two or more races \|align=right\| {{bartable\|4\|%\|2	background:violet}}
Asian \|align=right\| {{bartable\|3\|%\|2	background:orange}}
Unknown \|align=right\| {{bartable\|2\|%\|2	background:grey}}
American Indian/Alaska Native \|align=right\| {{bartable\|1\|%\|2	background:yellow}}
colspan="4" data-sort-type=number \|Economic diversity
Low-income{{efn\|The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.}} \|align=right\| {{bartable\|43\|%\|2	background:red}}
Affluent{{efn\|The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.}} \|align=right\| {{bartable\|57\|%\|2	background:black}}

class="wikitable floatright sortable collapsible"; text-align:right; font-size:80%;"

|+ style="font-size:90%" |Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023{{cite web |title= College Scorecard: Midwestern State University|url=https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?226833-Midwestern-State-University|website=College Scorecard |publisher=United States Department of Education |access-date=June 23, 2025 }}

Race and ethnicity

! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total

White

|align=right| {{bartable|43|%|2

background:cyan}}

Hispanic

|align=right| {{bartable|26|%|2

background:green}}

Black

|align=right| {{bartable|16|%|2

background:purple}}

International student

|align=right| {{bartable|4|%|2

background:#008080}}

Two or more races

|align=right| {{bartable|4|%|2

background:violet}}

Asian

|align=right| {{bartable|3|%|2

background:orange}}

Unknown

|align=right| {{bartable|2|%|2

background:grey}}

American Indian/Alaska Native

|align=right| {{bartable|1|%|2

background:yellow}}

colspan="4" data-sort-type=number |Economic diversity

Low-income{{efn|The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.}}

|align=right| {{bartable|43|%|2

background:red}}

Affluent{{efn|The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.}}

|align=right| {{bartable|57|%|2

background:black}}

The university's campus covers {{convert|255|acre|km2|1}} with over 50 buildings uniformly built of red brick with tiled roofs and arched facades.

Students can be members of 14 nationally affiliated fraternities and sororities and more than 100 other student organizations including sports clubs. The campus also has a newspaper, The Wichitan, and a student-run television channel and production studio, M&G Media. The campus newspaper and production studio are housed in the Mass Communication wing of the Fain Fine Arts Center.{{Cite news|url=http://www.newschannel6now.com/story/36059279/msu-board-of-regents-members-tour-latest-renovations|title=MSU Board of Regents members tour latest renovations|last=Achten|first=Alex|access-date=2017-08-10|language=en}}

= Housing and dining services =

Midwestern State has four residence halls; Legacy Hall, McCullough-Trigg Hall, Killingsworth Hall, and Pierce Hall (the latter of which is currently vacated for construction). It also has two apartments; Sundance Courts and Sunwatcher Village.

Dining services went through a major remodel in 2016, adding new storefronts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/special-reports/2017/02/26/progress-msu-food-service-offers-enticing-new-choices/97331782/|title=Progress: MSU food service offers enticing new choices|last=McGinnis|first=Judith|website=Wichita Falls|language=en|access-date=2019-11-06}} Dining halls include the Mesquite Dining Hall and Maverick's Corner. New storefronts in the Clark Student Center include Chick-fil-A and ACE Sushi. Einstein Bros. Bagels is located in the Dillard College of Business Administration. A cafe called Campus Coffee was opened at the Bridwell Activities Center (built in 2021 and completed in 2022) in 2022.

Notable alumni

= Arts and entertainment =

Phil McGraw — Dr. Phil, television host{{Cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/dr-phil|title=Dr. Phil McGraw {{!}} HuffPost|website=www.huffingtonpost.com|language=en|access-date=2017-08-11}}
Jaret Reddick — original founder and lead vocalist/guitarist of the popular punk band Bowling for Soup{{Cite news|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2006-07-28-voa17/400275.html|title=Jaret Reddick: Punk Soup for the Soul|work=VOA|access-date=2017-08-11|language=en}}
JoAnne Worley — Laugh In and many other TV comedy shows{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0941506/bio|title=Jo Anne Worley|website=IMDb|access-date=2017-08-14}}

= Athletics =

Marqui Christian — professional football player{{Cite web|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/09/28/rams-claim-marqui-christian-off-waivers-from-cardinals/|title=Rams claim Marqui Christian off waivers from Cardinals|last=Alper|first=Josh|date=2016-09-28|website=ProFootballTalk|access-date=2017-08-11}}
Eric Dawson — professional basketball player
Chad DeGrenier — professional football player and coach
Cotton Fitzsimmons — college and professional basketball coach
Jinh Yu Frey — professional mixed martial artist{{Cite web|url=http://www.invictafc.com/portfolio-item/jinh-yu-frey/|title = Jinh Yu Frey – Invicta Fighting Championships| work=Invicta Fighting Championships - All-Pro Women's MMA | date=12 January 2015 }}
Bryan Gilmore — professional football player{{Cite news|url=https://www.fieldgulls.com/2008/7/25/579211/who-is-bryan-gilmore|title=Who Is Bryan Gilmore?|work=Field Gulls|access-date=2017-08-14}}
Andrea Hannos — professional cyclist{{Cite web|url=http://mwsu.info/cycling/?page_id=38|title=History - MSU Cycling Team}}
Dudley Meredith — professional football player
Tony Pesznecker — professional soccer player
Will Pettis — professional football player
Dominic Rhodes — professional football player{{Cite news|url=http://archive.timesrecordnews.com/columnists/j-scott-russell/russell-rhodes-looks-back-at-msu-career-3bdbcaf3-27da-08aa-e053-0100007f556f-399569971.html/|title=Russell: Rhodes looks back at MSU career|access-date=2017-08-14|language=en}}
Amini Silatolu — professional football player{{Cite news|url=http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Quiet-resolve-drives-Amini-Silatolu-/08381d37-2a7c-4737-bd61-a0cfb1c01d14|title=Quiet resolve drives Amini Silatolu|access-date=2017-08-14}}
Chad Smith — professional soccer player
Ray Gene Smith — professional football player
Gary Suiter — professional basketball player
Craig Sutherland — professional soccer player
Andy Tanner — professional football player
Bryce Taylor — professional soccer player
J. J. Unga — professional football player
Randy Waldrum — professional soccer coach{{Cite news|url=http://www.und.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/020314aaa.html|title=The Randy Waldrum Era: A Success by Any Account|access-date=2017-08-14}}
Daniel Woolard — professional soccer player

= Business and nonprofit =

Albert Buckman Wharton III — former owner of the Waggoner Ranch{{Cite news|last=January 2004 1|first=Gary Cartwright|date=2004-01-01|title=Showdown at Waggoner Ranch|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/showdown-at-waggoner-ranch/|access-date=2022-05-14|website=Texas Monthly|language=en}}

= Government =

Mark Boulware — U.S. ambassador to Mauritania (2007–2010)[http://mauritania.usembassy.gov/ambassador.html Mark Boulware, U.S. Ambassador to Mauritania]
Walter Wilson Jenkins — political figure and longtime top aide to U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson
Andy King — council member for the 12th District of the New York City Council (2012–present)
Dan Kubiak — state representative from Rockdale (1969–1983 and 1991–1998)
Lanham Lyne — mayor of Wichita Falls, Texas, 2005–2010; state representative, District 69 (2011-2013)

= Journalism and literature =

Beck Weathers — motivational speaker and a mountain climber involved in the 1996 Everest disaster{{Cite news|url=http://thewichitan.com/graduationf14/|title=637 graduate in December - The Wichitan|date=2014-12-13|work=The Wichitan|access-date=2017-08-14|language=en-US}}
John Edwards Williams — writer

= Religion =

Stephen McNallen — American proponent of Heathenry, a modern Pagan new religious movement, and a white nationalist activist{{cite book| last=Gardell |first=Matthias |title=Gods of the Blood: The Pagan Revival and White Separatism |year=2003 |publisher=Duke University Press |location=Durham and London |isbn=978-0-8223-3071-4 }}

= Science and education =

Michael Obeng — celebrity plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, CA{{Cite web|date=2020-01-07|title=Michael Obeng, the First Black Plastic Surgeon in Beverly Hills, is Reportedly Worth $8 Million|url=https://www.blackenterprise.com/michael-obeng-the-first-black-plastic-surgeon-in-beverly-hills-is-reportedly-worth-8-million/|access-date=2021-02-11|website=Black Enterprise|language=en-US}}
Mark Rippetoe — author, strength-training coach{{Cite web|url=http://startingstrength.com/about/mark-rippetoe|title=About {{!}} Starting Strength|website=Starting Strength|language=en-US|access-date=2017-08-14}}