University Profile:
Lamar University

Lamar University offers Texas roots and infinite possibilities. LU students enjoy small classes where they can build friendships with professors and peers. Yet, the cost of a quality education at Lamar, a four-year public university, is surprisingly affordable.

Academics

Lamar University is in Beaumont, Texas, located about 90 miles east of Houston and 25 miles west of the Louisiana border. A member of the Texas State University System, Lamar University offers more than 100 bachelor’s, 47 master’s and nine doctoral degree programs. The university has more than 10,000 students enrolled in five academic colleges – Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Development, Engineering, Fine Arts and Communication – plus the College of Graduate Studies and other academic programs such as the Center for General Studies.

Students at Lamar University have access to numerous opportunities for scholarships, undergraduate research and study abroad programs. Teams of undergraduate students perform research for NASA and have flown experiments on NASA reduced gravity flights. In the past four years, 73 percent of Lamar students who applied to medical and dental schools were accepted, compared to a 39 percent acceptance rate statewide. Many LU engineering graduates have gone on to lead major companies. LU students and graduates also have made their marks in fields like nursing, deaf studies, music, art, entrepreneurship, kinesiology and more.

High-achieving LU students who wish to further enhance their academic experience may participate in the vibrant Honors Program. Lamar University Honors students challenge themselves with enriched core curriculum classes and interdisciplinary seminars while gaining additional support from special programs and scholarships.

Athletics

At Lamar University, students can participate in or cheer on their peers in more than a dozen NCAA Division I sports. The Cardinals enjoyed multiple successes in the Southland Conference last year with conference championships in men’s golf, cross country and women’s tennis. The volleyball and men’s basketball teams were regular season co-champs and the women’s basketball team was Southland Conference East Division champion. The LU baseball program has produced several major leaguers. A new women’s soccer program competed for the first time last season. LU is beginning to rebuild a football program. A coach was hired in 2008, the stadium and athletic complex are being renovated, and the Cardinals plan to return to the gridiron in 2010.

Campus Life

A building boom on the Lamar University campus in the past decade has given students access to state-of-the art facilities for playing, dining and living.

The fourth phase of LU’s top-notch residence hall, Cardinal Village, is barely a year old. Residents have private bedrooms, high-speed Internet and amenities such as an outdoor pool, basketball courts and well-equipped community centers. To complement great housing, the new dining hall offers a bistro ambience with international and American cuisine.

Working out in the Sheila Umphrey Recreational Sports Center is like a trip to an exclusive gym where students have an automatic membership. The center features a 43-foot climbing wall, an elevated jogging track, new cardiovascular and weight-training equipment, and courts for sports such as basketball, racquetball and indoor soccer. Students can indulge their competitive spirits through intramural sports ranging from basketball and flag football to dodgeball, cricket and pool.

Making friends and building a social network is easy at Lamar with more than 100 clubs and organizations registered on campus. Students can join a fraternity or sorority, get involved in community service, delve into a cause, nurture their spiritual beliefs, start networking in their future professions or do all of the above through campus organizations.

The 270-acre campus is a short drive from a wealth of outdoor adventures: a day at the beach, canoeing or fishing on area rivers and bayous, hiking in the Big Thicket National Preserve. Shopping and entertainment options also are nearby including theaters, museums and live music venues, large and small.

History

Lamar University was founded in 1923 as South Park Junior College just a few blocks from its current location. The name changed to Lamar College in 1932 to honor Mirabeau B. Lamar, second president of the Republic of Texas and the "Father of Education” in Texas. A large sculpture of Lamar is a focal point in the tree-shaded quadrangle on campus. In 1951, the school became Lamar State College of Technology, a state-supported four-year institution, and the first junior college in Texas to make such a transition. The name changed to Lamar University in 1971. The university joined the Texas State University System in 1995.

Visit/Apply

A campus visit will allow you to meet students and professors and get more information on academic programs, admissions and financial aid. Guided campus tours are normally scheduled at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Students also can find out more about life at Lamar University by attending a weekend Open House in the fall or spring. To arrange a campus visit, call (409) 880-8316 or e-mail recruitment@lamar.edu.

Information on applying to Lamar University is available online at lamar.edu/admissions. The Web site also includes links to information on applying for financial aid and scholarships.