Robert Morris University

Infobox University


name=Robert Morris University
established = 1921
type = Private, nonsectarian
head_label = President
head = Gregory G. Dell'Omo
city = Moon Township
state = Pennsylvania
country = USA
undergrad = 4,000 |url="www.rmu.edu"
postgrad = 1,100 |url="www.rmu.edu"
postgrad_label = graduate
faculty = 241
campus = Suburban, 230 acres (931,000 m²)
mascot = RoMo
colors = Blue and white color box|#153E7E color box|#zzzzzz
free_label = Athletics
free = 23 teams |url="www.rmu.edu"
website = [http://www.rmu.edu/ www.rmu.edu]

Robert Morris University (RMU) is a private, coeducational university. 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. RMU offers more than 30 undergraduate, 14 graduate, and four doctoral degree programs as well as private clubs and residence halls. The core campus consists of a 230-acre (931,000 m²) tract in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh (near the international airport), and the school maintains a satellite campus in downtown Pittsburgh, on Forbes Avenue near the Allegheny County Courthouse.

The university consists of six academic schools. The School of Business and the School of Adult and Continuing Education offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The School of Education and Social Sciences, the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, the School of Communications and Information Systems, and the School of Engineering, Mathematics, and Science offer undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs.

RMU is also a provider institution for the Online Consortium of Independent Colleges and Universities (OCICU).

Prior to 2002, the University was known as Robert Morris College (and previous to that, Robert Morris Junior College). However, it is not affiliated with Robert Morris College in Chicago, Illinois.

Robert Morris University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Current enrollment is approximately 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

On May 20, 2005, University officials announced that Gregory G. Dell'Omo, an administrator at St. Joseph's University, had been chosen to replace longtime president Edward Nicholson. Dell'Omo was installed as president on August 1, 2005.

Robert Morris' sports teams are nicknamed the Colonials and the school colors are blue and white. The Colonials compete in NCAA Division I (FCS, formerly Division I-AA, in football).

Men's and Women's Basketball

Both the Men's and Women's teams participate in the Northeast Conference.

The Men's team has played in five NCAA Tournaments, losing in the Round of 64 each time:

* 1982 to Indiana
* 1983 to Purdue
* 1989 to Arizona
* 1990 to Kansas
* 1992 to UCLA

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.

Other Athletics

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 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 Men's and Women's basketball teams play in the Sewall Center and 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 Clearview Arena, apart of the Neville Island Sports Complex, just down the road from the campus.

Perhaps the most well-known athlete to come out of Robert Morris University is football player Hank Fraley who plays for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL.

Another well known product of Robert Morris Athletics is Ryan Cruthers, a transfer from Army, Cruthers spent three years at RMU two of which he played hockey due to NCAA restrictions. Cruthers was a captain during part of his Senior year. Cruthers brought attention to the school and the hockey team through his national recognition, he was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, known as the Heisman of Hockey and also for the Lowes Senior Class Award. Cruthers currently plays professional hockey, he was the first RMU player to be brought up to the American Hockey League (AHL).

External links

* [http://www.rmu.edu/ Robert Morris University official website]
* [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05202/541234.stm Colonials christen Joe Walton Stadium]
* [http://www.rmucolonials.com/ Robert Morris Colonials official website]