Millersville University

Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Motto	Seize the Opportunity
Type	Public liberal arts master's level doctoral level
Established	1855
Endowment	$30,430,606
President	John M. Anderson
Academic staff	299 full-time
Administrative staff	540 staff and administration
Undergraduates	7,424
Postgraduates	1,081
Location	Millersville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Campus	Suburban, 250 acres (1,011,714 m²)
Colors	Black and Gold
Athletics	NCAA Division II – PSAC (East)
Nickname	Marauders
Mascot	Millersville Marauder and Skully (Marauders)
Website	www.millersville.edu

Millersville University of Pennsylvania (commonly known as Millersville University or MU) is an American public university located in Millersville, Pennsylvania, United States, offering programs embracing the liberal arts as one of the fourteen schools that comprise the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Founded in 1855 as the first Normal School in Pennsylvania, Millersville is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

First established in 1854 as the Millersville Academy out of the since demolished Old Main, the Academy specialized in a series of workshop-style teacher institutes in response to the 1934 Free School Act of Pennsylvania.

Millersville University was established in 1855 as the Lancaster County Normal School, the first state normal school in Pennsylvania. It subsequently changed its name to the Millersville State Normal School in 1859 and Millersville later became a state teachers college in 1927. It was renamed Millersville State College in 1959 and officially became Millersville University of Pennsylvania in 1983.

In November 1852, the Lancaster County Educational Association met in Strasburg resolving to form an institute for teacher training. The first institute, which led to the Lancaster County Normal School and received major support from Thomas H. Burrowes, was held in January 1853. While the Association was working to organize, Lewis M. Hobbs, a popular teacher of the Manor district, lobbied heavily in Manor township for a more permanent training facility for teachers. Jacob Shenk, a local farmer, donated a tract of five acres (present-day site of Ganser Library, Biemesderfer Executive Center, and Dutcher Hall) with Hobbs collecting investments from local residents. On April 17, 1855, Lancaster County Normal School opened with James P. Wickersham as Principal and a peak of 147 teachers in attendance. President of the school was Thomas H. Burrowes and Vice President was Lewis M. Hobbs. November 5, 1855 marked the start of the first full session, with a new expansion off of the original Academy building that made 96 rooms available for nearly 200 students and their teachers.