Robert Morris University
Encyclopedia
Robert Morris University (RMU) is a private, coeducational university
in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, United States
. Founded in 1921, the school was named for Robert Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence
, and helped finance the ensuing war with the British.
In 1962 the school purchased 230 acre (0.9307778 km²) in Moon Township, Pennsylvania
. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania then granted the school permission to award associate degrees, and the school became Robert Morris Junior College. The school's main campus moved to suburban Moon Township during the 1964-65 academic year.
Prior to 2002, the university used the name "Robert Morris College". However, it is not affiliated with Robert Morris College in Chicago, Illinois
. In 2009, that school was renamed "Robert Morris University Illinois."
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
accredits Robert Morris University. enrollment is approximately 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
On May 20, 2005, University officials announced the selection of Gregory G. Dell'Omo, an administrator at St. Joseph's University, to replace long-time president Edward Nicholson. Dell'Omo was installed as president on August 1, 2005.
, Pennsylvania
, a suburb of Pittsburgh
(near Pittsburgh International Airport
), and the school maintains a satellite campus in downtown Pittsburgh, on Fifth Avenue near the Allegheny County Courthouse
.
The Robert Morris University Island Sports Center is a sports and recreation facility located on Neville Island in the Ohio River just nine miles (14 km) from downtown Pittsburgh. The Center is open to the public year-round. The 32 acres (129,499.5 m²) contain: an indoor hockey arena and a sports and golf dome, which accommodates an indoor 100 yr golf driving range, and field sports including soccer, lacrosse, softball, and youth baseball. The Center also has an outdoor 18-hole miniature golf course. The Center also features a health club and fitness center.
The university consists of five academic schools:
RMU offers graduate degrees in 20 programs including:
RMU additionally offers eight undergraduate and graduate degrees in a fully online format. These degrees include:
RMU also functions as a provider institution for the Online Consortium of Independent Colleges and Universities (OCICU).
Of the 3,773 undergraduate students, 84.7% are studying full time. The undergraduates are 55.5% male. Ninety percent of undergraduates receive financial aid.
Robert Morris' sports teams, nicknamed "the Colonials", use the school colors of blue and white. The Colonials compete in NCAA
Division I (FCS, formerly Division I-AA, in football). Most of the school's sports participate in Northeast Conference
. The men's ice hockey team competes in Atlantic Hockey
, women's ice hockey team is a member of the College Hockey America
, and women's rowing, which competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
.
Robert Morris field men's teams in: basketball, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, tennis and track & field. Women's teams are: basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball.
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 1921, the school was named for Robert Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
, and helped finance the ensuing war with the British.
History
Robert Morris University originated in 1921 as the Pittsburgh School of Accountancy, founded by Andrew Blass.In 1962 the school purchased 230 acre (0.9307778 km²) in Moon Township, Pennsylvania
Moon Township, Pennsylvania
Moon Township is a township along the Ohio River in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. Moon is a part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area and is located northwest of Pittsburgh. The origin of its name is unknown for certain, although it has been suggested that it derives from a...
. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania then granted the school permission to award associate degrees, and the school became Robert Morris Junior College. The school's main campus moved to suburban Moon Township during the 1964-65 academic year.
Prior to 2002, the university used the name "Robert Morris College". However, it is not affiliated with Robert Morris College in Chicago, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. In 2009, that school was renamed "Robert Morris University Illinois."
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools is a voluntary, peer-based, non-profit association dedicated to educational excellence and improvement through peer evaluation and accreditation...
accredits Robert Morris University. enrollment is approximately 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
On May 20, 2005, University officials announced the selection of Gregory G. Dell'Omo, an administrator at St. Joseph's University, to replace long-time president Edward Nicholson. Dell'Omo was installed as president on August 1, 2005.
Campus
The core campus consists of a 230 acre (931,000 m²) tract in Moon TownshipMoon Township, Pennsylvania
Moon Township is a township along the Ohio River in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. Moon is a part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area and is located northwest of Pittsburgh. The origin of its name is unknown for certain, although it has been suggested that it derives from a...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, a suburb of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
(near Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport , formerly Greater Pittsburgh Airport, Greater Pittsburgh International Airport and commonly referred to as Pittsburgh International, is a joint civil–military international airport located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Findlay Township, approximately west of...
), and the school maintains a satellite campus in downtown Pittsburgh, on Fifth Avenue near the Allegheny County Courthouse
Allegheny County Courthouse
Allegheny County Courthouse is a government building of Allegheny County located in the county seat, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.- Early structures:...
.
The Robert Morris University Island Sports Center is a sports and recreation facility located on Neville Island in the Ohio River just nine miles (14 km) from downtown Pittsburgh. The Center is open to the public year-round. The 32 acres (129,499.5 m²) contain: an indoor hockey arena and a sports and golf dome, which accommodates an indoor 100 yr golf driving range, and field sports including soccer, lacrosse, softball, and youth baseball. The Center also has an outdoor 18-hole miniature golf course. The Center also features a health club and fitness center.
Academics
RMU offers 60 undergraduate and 20 graduate degree programs.The university consists of five academic schools:
- the School of Business offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs, which are AACSB accredited
- the School of Education and Social Sciences (TEAC accredited) offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs
- the School of Nursing and Health Sciences offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs
- the School of Communications and Information Systems offers undergraduate (ABET accredited), graduate, and doctoral degree programs
- the School of Engineering, Mathematics, and Science offers undergraduate degree programs, including ABET-accredited engineering programs, and one graduate program.
RMU offers graduate degrees in 20 programs including:
- Ph.D. in Instructional Management and Leadership
- Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Doctor of Science in Information Systems and Communications
- Master of Business Administration.
RMU additionally offers eight undergraduate and graduate degrees in a fully online format. These degrees include:
- B.S. in Applied Psychology
- B.S. in Organizational Studies
- B.S. in Health Services
- B.A. in English Studies
- Pre-MBA Program
- Master of Business Administration
- M.S. in Organizational Studies
- M.S. in Instructional Leadership
- M.S. in Business Education
RMU also functions as a provider institution for the Online Consortium of Independent Colleges and Universities (OCICU).
Of the 3,773 undergraduate students, 84.7% are studying full time. The undergraduates are 55.5% male. Ninety percent of undergraduates receive financial aid.
Library
The library has branches at both the Moon Campus and at the Downtown Pittsburgh Campus. RMU participates in inter-library lending consortia PALINET and PALCI that allow RMU students to borrow books on site from most of the college and university libraries in the Pittsburgh area.Athletics
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I (FCS, formerly Division I-AA, in football). Most of the school's sports participate in Northeast Conference
Northeast Conference
The Northeast Conference is a college athletic conference whose schools are members of the NCAA. The NCAA designates the Northeast Conference to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision for Division I Men's Football and to Division I Sports for all other sports.Founded in 1981 as the ECAC-Metro...
. The men's ice hockey team competes in Atlantic Hockey
Atlantic Hockey
The Atlantic Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conference which operates primarily in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey–only conference. Unlike several other college athletic conferences, Atlantic Hockey has no women's...
, women's ice hockey team is a member of the College Hockey America
College Hockey America
College Hockey America is a women's college ice hockey conference in the United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. The conference is currently made up of four women's teams in New York and Pennsylvania....
, and women's rowing, which competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
.
Robert Morris field men's teams in: basketball, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, tennis and track & field. Women's teams are: basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball.
Notable alumni
- Wale Folarin
- Joseph Hogan, CEO of ABB Group
- Hank FraleyHank FraleyHenry "Hank" F. Fraley is an American football offensive lineman who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He played college football at Robert Morris.Fraley has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, and St...
, offensive lineman for the St. Louis RamsSt. Louis RamsThe St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
originally drafted by the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia EaglesThe Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... - Tim Hall, former NFL running back with the Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
- Kevin ColbertKevin ColbertKevin Colbert is the general manager of the National Football League's Pittsburgh Steelers since the start of 2000. He is widely credited with putting together the World Championship Super Bowl XL team in Pittsburgh along with owner Dan Rooney and coach Bill Cowher...
, General Manager of the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... - Jerry BowyerJerry BowyerGerald "Jerry" Bowyer is an American radio and broadcasting host who also been extensively involved in public affairs, political writing, and investment activities.-Early career:...
, American radio and broadcasting host - Musa ShannonMusa ShannonMusa Shannon is a Liberian football administrator and former player.Shannon played professionally in the United States, Portugal and China; he also competed at international level.-Early and personal life:...
, Liberian footballer - Ryan CruthersRyan CruthersRyan Cruthers is a professional ice hockey player. Cruthers is currently playing for the Reading Royals. During Cruthers pre-collegiate career he won an EJHL Championship with the New York Apple Core and a New York State Championship with St Marys High School...
, professional ice hockeyIce hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player - Brianne McLaughlinBrianne McLaughlinBrianne McLaughlin is an American ice hockey goaltender. She is a member of the United States women's national ice hockey team.-Playing career:...
, 2010 Winter Olympics2010 Winter OlympicsThe 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
women's ice hockey team - Robin R. Sanders, United States Ambassador to Nigeria (2007 - 2010)