The strong mathematics and science programs in Scotland attracted such American students as Benjamin Rush. He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. When he returned to North America in 1769, he helped form the earliest American medical education programs at the College of Philadelphia. After the United States won its independence from England in 1783, the states that made up the new country began to establish state colleges. The University of Georgia was founded in 1785, the University of North Carolina in 1789, the University of Tennessee in 1794, and the University of South Carolina in 180l (Colleges and Universities, 2009).
The University of Virginia was founded under the leadership of Thomas Jefferson in 1819. This marked the beginning of the modern style of state university organization, control, and curriculum. Jefferson's ideas was that the University of Virginia to be free from church control and to promote citizenship and scientific progress. The university was publicly supported and controlled, was a secular rather than religious institution, featured a modern and scientific curriculum while also offering traditional or classical programs, and offered students the opportunity to follow several alternative courses of study rather than just one prescribed curriculum (Colleges and Universities, 2009).
At the end of the 19th century some universities in the United States were influenced by German research universities. In the German institutions, professors that were highly trained in their academic specialties conducted original research in seminars with their graduate students. Several American graduate students attended German research universities and, upon returning introduced the seminar and the scholarly research method to American higher education (Colleges and Universities, 2009).
I thought that it was very interesting that OU ranks first in the Big 12 and at the top in the nation in international reciprocal exchange agreements with universities around the world, due...
It appears that OU plans to increase the number of students they have studying abroad by more than 50% in the years to come (Public Affairs, 2009).
I also found it very interesting that the university is top ranked in the scholarships that it offers. OU's Campaign for Scholarships has allowed the university to more than double new scholarships for students over the past four years. In March of 2008, the campaign for scholarships surpassed its goal of raising $100 million for endowed scholarships. To date, almost $140 million in scholarship endowments have been donated or pledged (Public Affairs, 2009).
The fact that the university does so well in providing scholarships for their students contributes to the reason that they have such great academic talent. Oklahoma University has one of the academically highest ranked student bodies at a public university in Oklahoma history. OU's 2008-2009 freshman class was the highest ranked freshman class at a public university in state history. This says volumes about the quality of education that Oklahoma University is providing for those who attend there (Public Affairs, 2009).
It also appears that they are a very proud school and don't mind showing this through their athletics. They have some very rich athletic traditions that current and prospective students don't mind showing. From the school chant to the school song, all Oklahoma University students and faculty wear their red and white with enthusiasm (Traditions, 2009).
References
Colleges and Universities. (2009). Retrieved September 27, 2009, from Microsoft® Encarta®
Online Encyclopedia Web site: http://encarta.msn.com
Public Affairs. (2009). Retrieved September 27, 2009, from University of Oklahoma Web site:
http://www.ou.edu/publicaffairs.html
Traditions. (2009). Retrieved September 27, 2009, from University of…
