Susquehanna University Susquehanna University is a private liberal arts university situated in the Susquehanna Valley in the town of Selinsgrove , in central Pennsylvania , United States . It was founded in 1856 by Benjamin Kutz as a Lutheran based junior college paired with a sister college , before becoming coeducational in 1873 and a full a four year institution in the early 1900s . The university consists of the School of Arts and Sciences and the AACSB International accredited Sigmund Weis School of Business , and offers more than 50 major emphases , along with pre - professional programs in dentistry , law , medicine , ministry , teaching , and veterinary medicine . Degrees offered include the Bachelor of Arts , Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Science . Susquehanna University enrolls more than 2 , 200 undergraduate students from 35 states and 17 countries , and maintains a student - to - faculty ratio of 12 to 1 . Additionally , the university offers more than 100 student organizations , has a large Greek culture , and 23 NCAA III intercollegiate sports . As a unique feature , all students participate in a cross - cultural study away and service learning experience known as a Go Program . History . Founding and Early Years . Susquehanna University was founded in 1858 as The Missionary Institute of the Evangelical Lutheran Church by Benjamin Kurtz . Having already assisted in the founding of the Gettysburg Seminary ( now Gettysburg College ) , Kurtz wanted to create another institution in effort to expand a form of American Lutheranism that he and his contemporaries Samuel Simon Schmucker , founder and first president of Gettysburg College , and Samuel Sprecher , second president of Wittenberg College , advocated . His mission was to “ educate men for the gospel ministry … who cannot take a full course of training adapted to their age and circumstances ; a course so thorough in Theology as will qualify them to be able and faithful ministers of Christ . ” The Missionary Institute first saw its realization when the American Lutherans of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Selinsgrove , Pennsylvania pledged $ 22 , 000 , fifty students , and the provisional use of its church facilities . However , their offer came with the stipulation that the Missionary Institute be expanded to a junior college , and that a sister college called Susquehanna Female College also be formed . Kurtz ’ s own personal mission would be the foundation of the institute ’ s Theology Department , which he led as the first Professor of Theology . The school ’ s official description , as red in official founding charter , was “ An American and Lutheran College . ” On Wednesday , September 1 , 1858 , the Missionary Institute of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and its sister college Susquehanna Female College were born and later legally recognized 23 days later . Benjamin Kurtz was officially recognized as the first President . At the time of its founding , it had two departments , the Theology Department headed by Benjamin Kurtz and Henry Ziegler , and the Classical Department . By 1873 , the sister college disbanded and the Institute became coeducational . Twenty two years later , in 1895 , the institute officially became known as Susquehanna University . 20th Century . The 20th century signified many changes within Susquehanna University . The school had just recently transitioned into a full four year college offering bachelor degrees , and changed its name to Susquehanna University five years prior to the new century . Notable benefactors of the university during the turn of the century were Samuel Seibert and Charles Steele , both of which would have buildings named after them . In 1903 , the board approved SU ’ s colors , orange and maroon . By the 1920s , student enrollment skyrocketed , accommodations were refurbished and the campus expanded , academic departments and offerings enhanced , and new benefactors such as Charles Fischer and Martin Hassinger emerged , both of which also have buildings named after them . Organization and Administration . Susquehanna University is split into two main academic departments , the School of Arts and Sciences and the Sigmund Weis School of Business . The School of Arts and Sciences offers the majority of majors , putting an emphasis on a more traditional liberal arts education including science and the humanities . The Sigmund Weis School of Business is gear towards a more technical degree , although most students in the department are required to take classes from the School of Arts and Sciences by the central curriculum . Interdisciplinary programs themselves are collaborative in nature , but fall ultimately within the governance of the School of Arts and Sciences . Susquehanna University is governed by the President of Susquehanna University , a governing body of 56 members , and a team of eight administrators . Academics . Susquehanna University is a small , liberal arts college based in rural central Pennsylvania . The university is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education . In addition , the university ’ s business school is accredited by AACSB International , its music department is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music , and its chemistry department is accredited by the American Chemical Society . The university offers more than 50 majors and minors , and gives students the freedom to design their own major . Additionally , cooperative programs with Thomas Jefferson University , Temple University , Duke University and ROTC are available for students looking to enter pre - med , dentistry , forestry and environmental management , or military service , respectfully . In order to emphasize a liberal arts education , all students must complete a Central Curriculum that includes course requirements in the following sections : Richness of Though , Natural World , Human Interactions , Intellectual Skills , and Connections . These courses make up around 40 % of a student ’ s graduation requirement . Rankings . US News & World Report ranks Susquehanna University the 124th best liberal arts college out of 266 liberal arts colleges in the United States . In 2010 , Washington Monthly ranked Susquehanna University the 53rd best liberal arts college in the United States and 61st best liberal arts college in 2011 . The Princeton Review ranks Susquehanna University as a Best Northeastern College , with the 17th most popular study abroad program , the 20th best health services , and the 12th easiest campus to get around . GO Program . The GO Program , as part of a school policy adopted in 2009 , requires all Susquehanna students go off - campus for cross - cultural learning at some point during their four years , most often outside of the country . Students have a choice between GO Short Programs , GO programs 2 to 3 weeks in length , or GO Long Programs , semester long programs overseas . In 2013 , the GO Program was awarded the Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in International Education , due in part to its emphasis on internationalizing the campus Semester - length ( GO Long ) opportunities embrace learning opportunities in destinations around the globe , and include semesters in The Gambia at the University of the Gambia , Macau at the University of Macau , Japan at Senshu University , and England at the Regent ' s American College London . Other programs in South America , Europe , Africa Southeast Asia and Australia like Travel Writing in South Africa , Sherpa Life and Culture in Nepal , Performance and Design in Post - Communist Prague , and SU CASA ( Central America Service Adventure ) are also popular among Susquehanna students who decide to choose GO Long or GO Short . The GO Short program , SU CASA , is an award - winning program that takes students to Costa Rica and Nicaragua to serve congregations , clinics , hospitals , and refugee and immigrant communities . The New Orleans Culture and Service : Hurricane Relief Team GO Short program remains closer to home , coordinating service trips to the Gulf Coast to aid in the post - Katrina rebuilding efforts . One of the biggest draws of the SWSB School of Business is the GO Long SWSB London Program . The program is coordinated with the business school to allow students to enroll in a full semester with full non transfer credits , while living in and attending classes in London . The program also includes trips to various multinational companies and cultural activities in the United Kingdom and the Western and Central Europe . Tuition . The current total cost of attendance for the 2013 - 14 year is $ 49 , 170 : $ 38 , 780 in tuition and fees and $ 10 , 390 for room and meal plan . However , around 95 % of students receive some form of financial aid . The total amount awarded for the 2011 - 12 year numbered more than $ 56 million , and was handed out in the form of scholarships , grants , loans , and Federal Work - Study programs . Campus . The Susquehanna University campus spans in Selinsgrove , Pennsylvania . There are more than 50 buildings on campus , two of which , Selinsgrove Hall and Seibert Hall , were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 . The campus architecture is primarily Georgian in style . Students are guaranteed housing all four years . Most students live on campus . Students can choose from traditional , corridor - style halls , suites , townhouses , apartments and family - style houses , each requiring no more than a 10 - minute walk to class . Natural sciences center . The newest addition to the Susquehanna campus is a $ 32 - million complex that houses Susquehanna ’ s biology , chemistry and earth and environmental science programs . The building has been designed to meet or exceed Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ( LEED ) certification standards . The building was dedicated on October 23 , 2010 . Student Life . Susquehanna University offers more than 100 student organizations , including a variety of religious life organizations and cultural interest groups . Examples include such international organizations such as Habitat for Humanity , SU Paranormal , and GeoClub . The performing arts are represented through several theater , dance and music programs . The theater department also hosts a student - run play each semester . The university ' s student - run newspaper , " The Crusader " , covers campus events , activities , and athletics , and provides a forum for the opinions of members of the campus community . WQSU , The Pulse , is the college ' s 12 , 000 - watt station , making it the third most powerful college station and the tenth most powerful non - commercial station in Pennsylvania . Broadcasts can be heard at a 70 - mile radius , which is approximately one - third of the state of Pennsylvania . The station is operated by students , faculty and staff as well as community volunteers , and features a wide variety of music and talk programs including regularly scheduled Associated Press news broadcasts . Susquehanna ' s on - campus , student - run night club is TRAX , which offers a stage for live bands , comedians and other performers as well as a dance floor , bar , pool tables , an outside patio , and a DJ booth . TRAX also hosts benefit concerts for different philanthropies and Greek organizations . Susquehanna University also has Charlie ' s Coffeehouse , a student - run café on campus , named after the university ' s benefactor , Charles Degenstein . Students work as baristas , while the management team consists of five students who are responsible for the coffee shop ' s finances , marketing , programming , stocking , and managerial duties . This non - alcoholic venue offers a variety of programming every night of the week , much of which centers on student performances or events . Charlie ' s also works in partnership with the student activities committee to bring in outside entertainers and host movies before they are released to the general public . Greek life . Nearly 36 percent of the undergraduate student population is active in Greek life on campus . There are four NPC sororities ( Alpha Delta Pi , Kappa Delta , Sigma Kappa and Zeta Tau Alpha ) , four NIC fraternities ( Phi Mu Alpha , Tau Kappa Epsilon , Theta Chi , Pi Kappa Phi and Phi Mu Delta ) , and two NPHC organizations ( Sigma Gamma Rho and Phi Beta Sigma ) . There is also a professional women ' s music organization ( Sigma Alpha Iota ) and one co - ed service fraternity ( Alpha Phi Omega ) . Volunteer programs . Susquehanna University has a strong reputation for civic engagement in the community , with an average of 20 , 000 hours of service logged every academic year . The Center for Civic Engagement runs a first - year student service event titled SU GIVE , or Get Into Volunteer Experiences , during the fall orientation . Additionally , Susquehanna offers three trips to the Gulf Coast region each year to assist with hurricane relief efforts . Safety . American School Search gives Susquehanna University a grade of D - for safety . The small campus had seven forcible sex offences as well as 18 assaults and two hate crimes reported between the years 2006 and 2008 . College Prowler gives Susquehanna University an A for health and safety . College Prowler lists one aggravated assault , seven burglaries , two robbery incidents and three sex offenses . Athletics . Susquehanna competes in 23 varsity sports in Division III of the NCAA . Most sports compete as part of the Landmark Conference with other Northeastern colleges . Susquehanna competes in the Centennial Conference for football and women ' s golf and the Empire 8 for men ' s golf . Cheerleading is Susquehanna ' s 24th varsity team . Susquehanna offers 14 intramural sports which are free of charge to all students . Both flag football and basketball league winners advance to national tournaments . Students may also join several club sports — including men ' s and women ' s rugby , men ' s ice hockey , ultimate Frisbee , men ' s volleyball and men ' s and women ' s crew — that compete against other colleges . The Goal Post Trophy goes to the winner of the annual football game with rival Juniata College . It is a section of goal post from the post that was torn down after the 1952 Juniata - Susquehanna game . The visiting Indians ( now Eagles ) upset the Crusaders in Selinsgrove , and Juniata fans tore down the goal post after the game . At roughly tall , it is one of the tallest trophies in college football . Susquehanna also plays Lycoming College for the Amos Alonzo Stagg ' s hat ( bronzed ) trophy . Susquehanna University was the focus of attention when it suspended 11 athletes from their teams after they produced an based on the " Harlem Shake . " The students were given a plan of action outlining the pathway to reinstatement to their teams .