Bridgewater State University

Located in Massachusetts, Bridgewater State University is the state’s largest university outside of the University of Massachusetts system and offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses to more than 11,000 students.

The institution was established in 1840 as a teacher training college, the basis behind Bridgewater’s reputation as a leader in American teacher education. Over the years more and more degrees were offered in an increasing range of subject fields, although it was not until 2010 that the institution officially became a university and took on its current name.

In 1924, a fire destroyed over half the university campus, and while no one was injured the fire was so big that neighbouring fire departments had to be called in for help in tackling it. Two of the three main buildings that were destroyed were immediately rebuilt, and in the years that followed more buildings were established to cope with the increasing demand.

Today the main campus is divided into East Campus and West Campus, while there are also satellite campuses in Cape Cod and Attleboro. More than half of Bridgewater State students live off-campus, although there are a number of accommodation complexes that are either on-campus or affiliated with the institution. Students can join more than 160 university clubs and organisations, and there are also four sororities, four fraternities and one co-educational fraternity.

Among notable former Bridgewater State University students are conservationist Jeffrey Corwin, former Boston Red Sox general manager Lou Gorman, and several former members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives including Stephen Canessa, Robert Correia and David B. Sullivan.