Southeastern Oklahoma State University history

In 1910, the Normal School Building, later called Morrison Hall, was constructed on Doctor J. L. Schuler’s peach orchard.

The first sessions of the school were held in temporary quarters pending completion of Morrison Hall in January, 1911, long known as the Administration Building.

In 1921, the institution became a four-year college and was renamed Southeastern State Teachers College.

In 1939, the purpose of the college was expanded.

Henry MacCreary, A Story of Durant: "Queen of Three Valleys" (Durant, Okla.: Democrat Printing Co., 1946).

A fourth institutional phase came in 1968 when the State Regents designated SSC as an Area Community College.

In 1971, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education requested that the state supported institutions of higher education review and evaluate their functions as members of the State System of Higher Education.

On June 1, 1972, Southeastern submitted its plan to the Regents.

The fifth and current period of institutional history began on August 15, 1974, when SSC became Southeastern Oklahoma State University (SOSU). Since that date the school has reorganized and diversified many times.

Four options of the Master of Behavioral Studies degree were renamed Master of Education in August, 1979.

In March 1993 the State Regents approved another program expansion.

The Master of Administrative Studies degree was revised and renamed Master of Business Administration in August, 1996.

Further, in 1997 the State Regents approved a master of business administration, and five undergraduate business programs were reordered to become the bachelor of business administration degree.

He announced his resignation June 2009, and Regents named Doctor Larry Minks as interim then permanent president.

During a preliminary hearing on October 16, 2013, all five men entered no-contest pleas to misdemeanor charges.

Minks served as president through June 30, 2014, and Sean Burrage began duties as the 20th president on July 1, 2014.