Mount Vernon School (1865–1866) Peru Seminary and College (1866–1867) Nebraska State Normal School (1867–1921) Nebraska State Teachers College at Peru (1921–1949) Peru State Teachers College (1949–1963)
The college is organized into three schools, each supporting a different set of majors, including a graduate program, plus an extensive online education program.[1]
History
Peru State College was originally incorporated under the name Mount Vernon School (sometimes reported as Mount Vernon Seminary or Mount Vernon College) on December 2, 1865, under the management of the Methodist Episcopal Church, after the need for a local institution was discussed November 11, 1865. The school was named after the community in which it was located, on a bluff above the Missouri. The town of Mount Vernon was supplanted by a community located at the base of the hill, whose original settlers came from Peru, Illinois.[6] The Nebraska Territorial Legislature chartered the school on February 12, 1866, under the name Peru Seminary and College.[5]
The executive committee of the school deeded the grounds to the State of Nebraska in June 1867,[5] making it the first state-supported college in Nebraska on June 20, 1867, with the first classes held on October 24, 1867. The name was also changed to Nebraska State Normal School.[7] This is also considered the official date of the school's establishment.
The name changed several times in the early to mid 20th century, becoming Nebraska State Teachers College at Peru in 1921, in 1949 Peru State Teachers College, and then the present name of Peru State College in 1963.[5]
During World War II, the Peru campus of the Nebraska State Teachers College hosted a unit of the US Navy V-12 officer training program, which served as an alternative military route for college students who were drafted during the war.[8]
The State of Nebraska established the Nebraska State College System by statute in 1978, and Peru State College was placed by statute under the control of the new governmental body at the same time.[9]
In 1998 the Nebraska State College System evaluated the possibility of closing Peru State College, or moving its campus to another location, among other options,[10] and voted unanimously in 1999 to move Peru State to nearby Nebraska City, Nebraska. However, the legislature concluded that moving the college would have been too costly, and lawmakers decided instead to pump millions of dollars into campus renovations with the understanding the college would work quickly to boost growth.[1]
In 1999 the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature introduced bill LB631, aimed at merging Chadron State College and Wayne State College into the University of Nebraska system, while turning Peru State College into a community college. A competing bill, LB650, was introduced about the same time but with the intent of funding Peru State College $7 million for renovations.[11]
In 2003 rumors spread again about the possibility of closing Peru State College as part of a set of proposals to help save money in the Nebraska education system.[12]
Peru State College celebrated a record 472 graduates in 2007 with student enrollment ballooning even higher. Credit was given largely to its online education programs, which funded about 30 percent of campus initiatives.[1]
Campus
Little Red Schoolhouse and T.J. Majors Building
The 104-acre (42 ha) Peru State College campus is a prominent feature of the small city of Peru, Nebraska, located approximately 11 miles (18 km) northeast of nearby Auburn, NE, and approximately 70 miles (110 km) South of Omaha, NE.
The names of several of the buildings reflect the campus's long history in Nebraska. The T.J. Majors Building, which houses the School of Education and School of Professional Studies, is named in honor of Lt. Col. Thomas Jefferson Majors. The A.D. Majors building, which previously served as a residence hall, is named in honor of his nephew. It was demolished in 2008.[13] These are the only two buildings on campus bearing the name of a person who was never employed by the college. T.J. and A.D. Majors served on the state normal board.
In more recent years, Peru State College underwent massive renovations. These included renovations on the Eliza Morgan women's-only residence hall, providing for more modern amenities for residents. The buildings that previously served as the library and gymnasium were renovated and converted into a modernized library and an Academic Resource Center (ARC). The two buildings are also connected by a skywalk known as the "Bobcat Walk". The Al Wheeler Activity Center (AWAC) has also been renovated. Other renovations are still planned.
Academics
Three schools comprise Peru State College's academic offerings, providing baccalaureate and graduate degrees and certificates of achievement: School of Education, School of Arts and Sciences, and the School of Professional Studies. Peru State's small campus size provides for a small student-faculty ratio.
Arguably the largest academic program at Peru State College, and also its oldest, is the education department, under the School of Education. The original role of Peru State College was that of a normal school, training individuals to become the teachers in public and private elementary and secondary schools. Until the founding of the Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney, now known as the University of Nebraska at Kearney, it was the only normal school in Nebraska.
Peru's continued strong commitment to teacher education is also reflected in its accreditations and memberships. Peru State College receives accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and is a member of the National Council for Teacher Education and the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.
The School of Professional Studies houses Peru's Business Administration, Criminal Justice, and Psychology programs.
The School of Arts and Sciences provides Peru's arts and sciences majors. Education endorsements are provided for education majors as well.
Graduate programs offered are the Master of Science and graduate certificates in Education.[14] One graduate certificate is offered in Organizational Development.[15]
Peru State competes in 13 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country and football; while women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, softball and volleyball; and co-ed sports include competitive cheer and competitive dance.
Intramurals
The college also offers on-campus intramural athletics for student participation. Individual and team competitions are available for meets, leagues, and tournaments.[18]
Football
The Peru State football team won the 1990 NAIA Division II National Championship, defeating Westminster (Pa.) 17–7. Tom Shea was named the 1990 NAIA Division II Coach of the Year.[19] The football team competes on the Oak Bowl field, which was completed in 1901.
Student life
Peru State College features many modern facilities and accommodations around campus, along with a variety of student organizations, which can be found in the Peru State College student handbook. The college does not have any fraternities or sororities.
Student government
The Student Senate is the representative body for Peru State College students. Twenty-four (24) students comprise the Senate, with all positions eligible for election annually. The student representative to the Nebraska Board of Trustees is also considered a member of the Student Senate.
Many campus activities are arranged and funded by the student-run Campus Activities Board, or CAB as it is known by Peru State College students. CAB is funded through the activity fee paid by all students. The Student Activities Coordinator is CAB's advisor and regularly reports to the Student Senate.
Residence life
Eliza Morgan Residence Hall
Peru State College provides two single-sex residence halls: Eliza C. Morgan Hall for women only, and W.N. Delzell Hall for men only. There is also a three-building co-educational residence hall complex called the Centennial Complex. Each building of the Centennial Complex is actually two residence halls: Nicholas and Pate, Mathews and Clayburn, Davidson and Palmer. Each building elects one representative to the Student Senate.
The Mathews building is reserved for freshman students and upper class mentors participating in the Freshmen Fusion Program, and Nicholas and Pate are reserved for participants in the Leadership Living-Learning Community. W.N. Delzell Hall features the newly formed (2014) Community of Outdoor Adventure and Learning, and Eliza C. Morgan Hall has the Wellness Community for residents to participate in.
Campus media
The Peru State Times is Peru State College's student newspaper, previously known as the Pedagogian,[20] published five times per semester and funded by the publication fee paid by students and paid advertising.
^Nebraska State Historical Society (June 4, 2004). "Peru State College". Nebraska State Historical Society. Archived from the original on July 2, 2004. Retrieved 2007-10-29.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^Hord, Bill (2003-08-08). "NU eyes more out-of-state recruitment". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on December 29, 2006. Retrieved 2007-11-08. They could include such perennial proposals as eliminating Peru State College, one of the state's three state colleges...
^"2006 BB Media Guide"(PDF). Peru State College. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2008-05-30. Retrieved 2007-12-04. "Baldy" Wilcox, the sports editor of the Pedagogian, the school's newspaper...
