This article is about the university in Pennsylvania. For the university in Illinois, see Robert Morris University (Illinois).
Coordinates: 40°31′14″N 80°12′38″W / 40.520579°N 80.210688°W / 40.520579; -80.210688
Robert Morris University (RMU) is a private, coeducational university in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 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.
History
Robert Morris University originated in 1921 as the Pittsburgh School of Accountancy. Andrew Blass established the school in response to what he saw as a shortage of accountants in the local economy.
In 1962 the school purchased 230 acres in Moon Township, Pennsylvania: (as of 2009[update] the site of its campus.) The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania then granted the school permission to award associate degrees, and the school became Robert Morris Junior College.
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. As of 2009[update] 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 Township, 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 the region's premier sports and recreation destination, located on Neville Island in the Ohio River just nine miles from downtown Pittsburgh. The Center is open to the public year-round. The 32-acres 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.[2] The Center also has an outdoor 18-hole minature golf course.[3] 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[5]
- the School of Education and Social Sciences 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.[6]
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.[7] Ninty 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.[8]
Athletics
Robert Morris Colonials logo
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). The men's and women's ice hockey teams are members of the College Hockey America conference, while all other sports are sponsored by the Northeast Conference, with the exception of the Men's lacrosse team (members of the CAA) and women's rowing, which is independent.
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 and track & field and volleyball.[9]
Men's and women's basketball
The men's and women's basketball teams play in the Charles L. Sewall Center. The Men's team has played in six NCAA Tournaments, losing in the Round of 64 each time:
In 1983, they won their only NCAA Tournament game, a "Play-In" game against Georgia Southern.
In recent years, both the Men's and Women's teams have had success in their conference, with the Women's team winning the NEC Championship in 2008 and making an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, only to bow out in the first round to Rutgers, while the Men's team qualified for the NIT.
The men's team won the 2009 NEC Championship, beating Mount St. Mary's 48-46. With the win, the school qualified for the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, their sixth trip to the tournament.
Other athletics
Robert Morris also has a widely respected bowling team, as they have produced several well known professional bowlers and also were the 2007 National Runner-Ups.
The football and lacrosse teams play in Joe Walton Stadium. The school's soccer teams both play on the North Athletic Complex, and the hockey teams play their games at the RMU Island Sports Complex, just down the road from the campus on Neville Island.
On February 14, 2009, the Men's lacrosse team defeated Penn State 12-11 in double overtime in the program's biggest victory at Joe Walton Stadium.
Since 2006, the ice hockey team has hosted the Pittsburgh College Hockey Showcase at Mellon Arena. The 2010 match-up featured the No. 1 ranked Miami (Ohio). The 3–12–3 Colonial upset the RedHawks, 3–1. Two days later the Colonials won again at Miami.[10] The Colonials biggest previous win since the program was started in 2004 was against No. 2 Notre Dame in 2007.[11]
Notable alumni
Facts
- Former professional hockey-player and actor David Hanson currently manages RMU's Island Sports Complex.
External links
References
