Penn State University Park, also referred to as University Park, is the main campus of Pennsylvania State University, located in both State College and College Township, both in Centre County, Pennsylvania. The campus post office was designated "University Park, Pennsylvania" in 1953 by Penn State president Milton Eisenhower, after what was then Pennsylvania State College was upgraded to university status.
 Penn State University Park Campus in 2019. | |
| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Established | 1855 |
| President | Neeli Bendapudi |
Administrative staff | 2,787 full-time[1] |
| Undergraduates | 40,363 (2017)[2] |
| Postgraduates | 6,342 (2018)[3] |
| Location | , 40°48′24″N 77°52′49″W / 40.80667°N 77.88028°W |
| Campus | College town |
| Nickname | Nittany Lions |
| Affiliations | Big Ten Conference and Independent |
| Mascot | Nittany Lion |
| Website | psu |
History
editThe school that later became Penn State University was founded as a degree-granting institution on February 22, 1855, by act P.L. 46, No. 50 of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania. Centre County, Pennsylvania, became the home of the new school when James Irvin of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, donated 200 acres (80.9 ha) of land – the first of 10,101 acres (4,088 ha) the school would eventually acquire. In 1862, the school's name was changed to the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania, and with the passage of the Morrill Land-Grant Acts, Pennsylvania selected the school in 1863 to be the state's sole land-grant college. The school's name changed to the Pennsylvania State College in 1874; enrollment fell to 64 undergraduates the following year as the school tried to balance purely agricultural studies with a more classic education.
In 1953, the university sought a name change for the town called State College to reflect the new status of the school as a university. As the name change referendum failed to pass, the resolution ended with a new postal address to be called "University Park".
Student-run media
editMedia originating from University Park include Onward State; the world's most-read student-run news website, WKPS, a student run radio station; and the Daily Collegian, a student run newspaper.
Student government
editWithin the campus, a student government is a set of elected positions by the student body to represent the students with relations with the university. It is divided between undergraduate and graduate students.
Special interest groups representing minorities also exist within the campus also have an influence towards university policies that get enacted by the university.
Major buildings
editLandmarks
edit- Beaver Stadium – the second largest stadium in the western hemisphere and the home of Penn State Nittany Lions Football
- Bryce Jordan Center – home of the Men's and Women's Penn State Basketball as well as other indoor sports and entertainment events
- Eisenhower Auditorium – home to a variety of academic, business, and entertainment events
- HUB–Robeson Center – commonly referred to as "The Hub"
- Jeffrey Field – home of the Men's and Women's Penn State Soccer and Lacrosse teams
- McCoy Natatorium – home of the Men's and Women's Penn State Varsity Swim teams recreation facilities
- Medlar Field at Lubrano Park – home of the State College Spikes and Penn State Men's Baseball teams
- Nittany Lion Shrine – statue of the University’s mascot
- Old Main – Penn State's first building of major significance, completed in 1863
- The Palmer Museum of Art – prominent visual arts facility and cultural resource for Penn State and local community
- Pavilion Theatre – intimate 300-seat flexible arena/thrust performance space
- Pegula Ice Arena – home of the Men's and Women's Penn State Varsity Hockey teams
- Penn State All-Sports Museum – honors all Penn State Nittany Lion athletes
- Penn State Creamery – the largest university creamery in the world
- Penn State Ice Pavilion – former home of the Men's and Women's Penn State Varsity Hockey teams
- Playhouse Theatre – home of Penn State's University Resident Theatre Company (URTC)
- Rec Hall – a field house that is home of the Men's and Women's Penn State Gymnastics, Volleyball, and Wrestling
- Schwab Auditorium – home to a variety of academic, business, and entertainment events
-
-
-
-
The Nittany Lion Shrine.
Athletics
editThe Penn State Nittany Lions have won 54 NCAA team national championships, as well as 34 national team titles in current and former NCAA sports that were not bestowed by the NCAA.
| Sport | Club | Founded | Venue | National championships | Championship years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basketball | Penn State Nittany Lions Men's Basketball | 1897 | Bryce Jordan Center | 0 | N/A |
| Basketball | Penn State Lady Lions Women's Basketball | 1965 | Bryce Jordan Center | 0 | N/A |
| Football | Penn State Nittany Lions football | 1887 | Beaver Stadium | 2 | 1982, 1986 |
| Ice Hockey | Penn State Nittany Lions men's ice hockey | 1939 | Pegula Ice Arena | 0 | N/A |
| Ice Hockey | Penn State Nittany Lions women's ice hockey | 1996 | Pegula Ice Arena | 0 | N/A |
| Soccer | Penn State Nittany Lions men's soccer | 1911 | Jeffrey Field | 12 | ISFA: 1926*, 1929, 1933*, 1949*, 1954, 1955*; Claimed: 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940; Soccer Bowl: 1949 (tie), 1950 (* shared) |
| Volleyball | Penn State Nittany Lions men's volleyball | 1976 | Rec Hall | 2 | 1994, 2008 |
| Volleyball | Penn State Nittany Lions women's volleyball | 1976 | Rec Hall | 7 | 1999, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014 |
| Wrestling | Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling | 1909 | Rec Hall | 13 | 1921, 1953, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
In addition to the above, Penn State women's and coed fencing teams have won 16 national championships, and the men's and women's gymnastics teams have won 15 national titles, including NCAA, AIAW, and AAU titles. University teams have also won national titles in men's boxing and cross country and women's bowling, field hockey, lacrosse, rifle, and soccer.