University of Mobile

Infobox_University
motto = The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom
name = University of Mobile


established = 1961 (As Mobile College)
type = Private University
campus = Suburban 800 acres
endowment = $9,000,000
president = Mark R. Foley
students = 1,577
city = Prichard, Alabama
country = USA
free_label = Athletics
free = 6 Varsity Men Sports
7 Varsity Female Sports
colors = colorbox|#760000 Maroon and colorbox|white White
nickname = Rams
affiliations = Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (NAIA)
website = [http://www.umobile.edu]

The University of Mobile is an American four-year, private, Baptist-affiliated university in Prichard, Alabama, an industrial suburb of Mobile. The master's-level university has an enrollment of 1,577.

History

In 1952, the Mobile Baptist Association appointed a committee to study the feasibility of starting a Baptist-affiliated college in Mobile. In 1959, the Alabama Baptist State Convention agreed to build and operate a college if the Mobile community would raise $1.5 million within two years. Only one year later, area churches, businesses, and industries pledged more than $2 million to the effort. Dr. William K. Weaver, Jr. was appointed president of Mobile College on April 1, 1961, a position he would hold until his retirement in 1984. When Governor John Malcolm Patterson signed the College's charter in 1961, Mobile College became the first senior college to be chartered in the state of Alabama in 57 years. The College's first administration and classroom building, now named Weaver Hall in honor of the institution's first president, was completed in 1963. Mobile College gained accreditation in 1968 from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The second president, Dr. Michael A. Magnoli, was inaugurated in 1984 and oversaw a period of unprecedented growth. In 1993 under Magnoli, Mobile College would become the University of Mobile. On February 13, 1998, the University of Mobile Board of Trustees unanimously elected Dr. Mark R. Foley as the third president. Under Dr. Foley, the University of Mobile entered the new millennium with the express purpose of preparing students academically, socially, and spiritually to impact the world. New academic majors have been added as the University anticipates and responds to changing needs.

Organization

A Board of Trustees acts as the head of the University of Mobile. The Board chooses a President, who serves as the Chief Executive Officer. The Alabama Baptist Convention has a major amount of influence on the University because of its contributions.

Colleges and Schools

The University of Mobile comprises four schools and one college.
* [http://www.umobile.edu/acad/collegeaands.asp College of Arts and Sciences]
* [http://www.umobile.edu/acad/schofbus.asp School of Business]
* [http://www.umobile.edu/acad/schofchristianstud.asp School of Christian Studies]
* [http://www.umobile.edu/acad/schofedu.asp School of Education]
* [http://www.umobile.edu/acad/schofnursing.asp School of Nursing] Mobile also has a http://www.umobile.edu/academics/aands/cpa/intro.asp Center for Performing Arts with under the direction of Roger Breland which offers programs in music and theatre. Also, the [http://www.umobile.edu/um4you/defaultweb.asp Center for Adult Programs] allows adults who have previous college credits to continue their education and finish earning their degree, or to begin their degree in courses offered at nights and on weekends.

Demographics

The University of Mobile has 1,577 students from 16 states and 13 nations. However, the largest portion of students come from inside the community in Mobile County and Baldwin County. Around 500 students reside on campus in dormitories at Mobile, making it a very large commuter school.

The student to faculty ratio is 14:1, with more than 70% of Mobile's faculty holding a PhD. or the highest level in their field.

tudent Life

tudent Government Association

The SGA acts as a liaison between the student body and the administration and strives to increase student involvement in campus life and to give a voice to student concerns in administrative decisions.

Residential Life

The University of Mobile requires that every student under the age of 21 or has less than 90 credit hours live on campus. The only exception is if the student still lives at home and commutes to school. Mobile has six dormitory units.

Media

There a several media outlines at the University of Mobile:

* [http://www.umobile.edu/news/currentrr.asp/ "The Ram Report"] , Official bi-weekly newsletter of the University of Mobile. It is produced by the Public Relations Office and does have some student photography and articles written by students. The Ram Report does not publish opinions.
* [http://www.umobile.edu/news/default.asp/ "UM NewsNet"] , Official online news source of the university which is e-mailed to students, faculty, staff and others who sign up online at www.umobile.edu/news.
* The Torch, The student-run, campus-wide newspaper. It is available free to all full-time, undergraduate students and is distributed at key locations on campus.

Athletics

Teams

Mobile has six men's athletic teams which include: baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, and tennis. The University of Mobile also has seven women's teams including: softball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, and volleyball.

History

The University of Mobile intercollegiate athletic program began in 1985 and has won eight national championships in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

1993
Tennis (M)

1994
Tennis (W)

1997
Golf (M)
Soccer (W)
Tennis (M)

1998
Golf (W)

2002
Soccer (M)

2006
Softball (W)

Facilities

Major sporting facilities and their main use include:
*H. Austill Pharr Gymnasium - Basketball and Volleyball
*UM Softball Field - Softball
*UM Baseball Field - Baseball
*Gerald B. Wallace Tennis Center - Tennis
*UM Soccer Field (Nicknamed: The Jungle) - Soccer

There are also various other facilities that are used for athletic purposes.

Mascot and School Colors

The University of Mobile's nickname is the Rams. Mobile has two mascots, Mac and his female counterpart named Molly. Mobile's school colors are Maroon and White, although Black is frequently used as well.

Rivalries

Mobile has one primary athletics rival: Spring Hill College. The rivalry intensifies for basketball games, as both teams are members of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference in the (NAIA), and regularly fight for conference supremecy. Location also adds to the rivalry, as the schools are located less than 15 miles apart.

Notable Alumni

* Big Daddy Weave Members: Mike Weaver, Jeremy Redmon, Jeff Jones and Joe Shirk
* J.C. Romero Professional baseball player, Philadelphia Phillies
* Saúl Rivera Professional baseball player, Washington Nationals

External links

* [http://www.umobile.edu/ University of Mobile] , official site