Rowan University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rowan University

Former names	Glassboro Normal School (1923–1937) New Jersey State Teachers College at Glassboro (1937–1958) Glassboro State College (1958–1992) Rowan College of New Jersey (1992–1997)
Motto	Eruditio spes mundi (Latin)
Motto in English	"Education, hope of the world"
Type	Public research university
Established	September 24, 1923; 101 years ago (September 24, 1923)
Accreditation	MSCHE
Academic affiliations	Sea-grant · Space-grant
Endowment	$440.3 million
Budget	$753 million
President	Ali A. Houshmand
Provost	Anthony Lowman
Academic staff	2,294
Administrative staff	2,425
Students	22,903
Undergraduates	16,199
Postgraduates	3,384
Doctoral students	1,542
Location	Glassboro , New Jersey , United States 39°42′39.30″N 75°07′06.38″W / 39.7109167°N 75.1184389°W / 39.7109167; -75.1184389
Campus	Large suburb, 800 acres (320 ha)
Other campuses	Camden Stratford
Newspaper	The Whit
Colors	Brown and gold
Nickname	Profs
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division III - NJAC
Mascot	Whoo RU the Prof

Rowan University is a public research university in Glassboro, New Jersey. It also has campuses in Stratford and Camden. The university started in 1923 as the Glassboro Normal School. It was built on 25 acres of land donated by local residents.

Over the years, the school changed its name several times. It was known as Glassboro State College from 1958 to 1992. Then it became Rowan College of New Jersey from 1992 to 1997.

Today, Rowan University has 14 colleges and schools. More than 19,600 students attend the university. Rowan offers many different degree programs. These include bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. It is known for its high level of research activity.

Discovering Rowan University's History

A statue of Henry Rowan in front of Savitz Hall overlooks Route 322

In the early 1900s, New Jersey needed more trained teachers. So, a two-year school was planned for the southern part of the state. Glassboro was chosen because it was easy to reach by train. The town also offered 25 acres of land for the school. Local residents raised money to buy this land. It used to belong to the Whitney family, who owned a glass factory.

In 1923, the Glassboro Normal School opened. Its first class had 236 students. Most were women, with 10 men. The school became a four-year program in 1934. In 1937, it was renamed The New Jersey State Teachers College at Glassboro. It soon began accepting both male and female students.

The college was a leader in special education. It started programs for teachers who helped students with reading difficulties in 1935. A physical therapy program began in 1944. After World War II, more students enrolled. The college grew and added new programs. In 1958, it became Glassboro State College.

The Famous Hollybush Summit

Hollybush Mansion

A very important meeting happened at Glassboro State College. It was called the Cold War Glassboro Summit Conference. U.S. President Lyndon Johnson met with Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin. This meeting took place from June 23–25, 1967. It happened at Hollybush Mansion on campus.

The college was chosen because it was halfway between New York City and Washington, D.C. The college president, Thomas E. Robinson, had only 16 hours to prepare. He turned his home into a secure place for the world leaders.

Life After the Summit

The campus hosted Black Sabbath's first U.S. concert in 1970. Students also held peaceful protests during the Vietnam War. These protests were common at many colleges.

In 1988, the college began to focus more on safety. This was after a sad event involving alcohol at another university. President Herman James worked to make the campus safer. He invited state officials to help. The university worked to reduce unsafe parties.

Becoming a University

In 1992, Glassboro State College began to change. This was under President Herman James. It became Rowan University thanks to a huge gift. Industrialist Henry Rowan and his wife donated $100 million. This was the largest gift ever given to a public college at that time.

The college was renamed Rowan College of New Jersey in his honor. The gift helped the college open an engineering school. This allowed the college to offer more courses. It became a full university in 1997. This was because it offered doctoral degrees.

After President James retired in 1998, Donald J. Farish became president. He continued to expand the Glassboro campus. A new Science Hall opened in 2003. A building for the College of Education opened in 2005. Land was also acquired for the West Campus.

West Campus Development

In 2006, plans were made for a new sports complex. It was to be built on the West Campus. This complex would include a 20,000-seat soccer stadium. However, state budget problems stopped the project. The stadium was later built in Chester, Pennsylvania. It is now home to the MLS team, Philadelphia Union.

The West Campus now includes the South Jersey Technology Park. There is also space for future growth. The southern part of the West Campus will have academic and athletic facilities. In 2015, new practice fields opened for various sports. These include football, soccer, field hockey, and lacrosse. Shuttle service and bike paths connect the campuses.

A large medical center, Inspira Medical Center, opened nearby in late 2019.

South Jersey Technology Park

Rowan University started the South Jersey Technology Park (SJTP) in 2006. This park is a place for science and technology companies. It also supports academic research. The SJTP is planned to be 188 acres. It will have 25 buildings for new and established companies.

The first building, the Samuel H. Jones Innovation Center, is fully leased. The money from leases will help build a second building. The Tech Park helps new businesses grow.

Campus Safety Improvements

Rowan University has worked to improve campus safety. After some serious incidents, new security plans were put in place. These plans included hiring more security staff and police officers. A student patrol program was started. Lighting was improved around campus. Security cameras were also installed. These changes helped make the campus a safer place for students.

Cooper Medical School Partnership

In 2009, Rowan partnered with Cooper University Hospital. They created a new four-year medical school in Camden. This school, the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, opened in 2012. It was the first new medical school in New Jersey in over 30 years.

Changes in Medical and Health Sciences Education

In 2012, a new law brought big changes to Rowan. This law was called the "New Jersey Medical and Health Sciences Education Restructuring Act."

• Rowan University was recognized as a Research University. It also received more state funding.
• Rowan took over the University of Medicine and Dentistry's (UMDNJ) School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford. This made Rowan one of the few universities in the country with both an MD and a DO medical school.
• A new board was created. It helps Rowan and Rutgers-Camden work together on health science programs.

Student Support and Well-being

Rowan University has increased its support for students' mental health. This includes hiring more counselors. They also partnered with TogetherAll, a 24/7 mental health support network. In 2019, the university received a grant for The Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program. This program brings therapy dogs to campus to help students with stress.

Academic Programs at Rowan

The university has eighteen colleges and schools. These offer a wide range of subjects.

• Rohrer College of Business
• Ric Edelman College of Communication and Creative Arts
• College of Education
• Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering
• John H. Martinson Honors College
• College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• College of Performing Arts
• College of Science and Mathematics
• School of Earth and Environment
• Global Learning and Partnerships
• Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
• Virtua Health College of Medical and Life Sciences
  • Rowan-Virtua School of Nursing and Health Professions
  • Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
    • Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
  • Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering & Sciences
• Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine
• School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Student Admissions and Enrollment

In Fall 2017, Rowan had 15,401 undergraduate students. There were also 2,045 graduate students. They came from 38 states and 34 countries. About 53% of applicants are accepted. The average GPA for accepted students in Fall 2016 was 3.46.

University Rankings

U.S. News Rankings

Rowan University is highly ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

• National Universities: 163
• Top Public Schools: 88
• Best Value Schools: 104
• Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs: 105
• Psychology Programs: 316
• Best Colleges for Veterans: 113
• Top Performers on Social Mobility: 91

Rowan University Athletics

Rowan athletics logo

Rowan University has 18 sports teams. There are 8 men's teams and 10 women's teams. The football, field hockey, and track & field teams play at Coach Richard Wackar Stadium. Basketball, volleyball, and swimming & diving teams play at Esbjornson Gymnasium. Women's lacrosse and soccer teams play at the Rowan Soccer and Lacrosse Complex. Baseball and softball have their own fields.

Rowan's teams are called the Profs. This nickname comes from the university's history of training educators. The mascot's name is Whoo RU. Rowan also has many club sports. These include archery, ballroom dance, ice hockey, rugby, and ultimate Frisbee.

The field of Rowan University's Coach Richard Wackar Stadium

A Rowan Profs relay team at The Armory in 2015

Rowan is part of the NCAA Division III. They compete in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). Rowan's sports teams have achieved national success. The football team has played in the national championship five times.

The women's field hockey team won the national championship in 2002. They had a perfect season with 21 wins. The men's basketball team won the national title in 1996. The men's soccer team has won national titles in 1981 and 1990. The baseball team won national championships in 1978 and 1979.

Student Life at Rowan

The Student Center

The Chamberlain Student Center cafeteria

The Chamberlain Student Center is a central spot on campus. It has many dining options. These include the Owl's Nest restaurant and various food stands. You can also find a convenience store there. The Student Center houses many student offices. These include the Student Government Association and Greek Affairs.

Campus Media

Rowan University has its own award-winning radio station, Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM. It started in 1964. The Rowan Television Network (RTN) is a student-run TV station. It offers 24-hour content to students. RTN produces many student-made shows.

The Whit is the campus newspaper. It has been published since 1938. It covers school news, student life, and sports. Avant is a student-led literary magazine. It features student poetry, stories, and art. Image is the annual Rowan yearbook.

Rowan Boulevard: A Lively Area

220 Rowan Blvd at night

Rowan Boulevard connects the university to downtown Glassboro. It is a busy area with businesses and restaurants. It also has academic buildings and student housing. This area creates a lively urban feel.

Student Housing Options

Rowan provides housing for over 6,500 students. There are 13 university-owned housing complexes. Students can choose from halls, apartments, or townhouses. Full-time students who don't live at home must live on campus for their first two years. After that, they can enter a housing lottery.

The university is building new housing as it grows. The student-run Residence Hall Association represents students living on campus.

Student Clubs and Organizations

Rowan University has more than 100 clubs and organizations. There are also over 30 Greek organizations. These groups offer many ways for students to get involved.

Some clubs report to the Student Government Association. These include the Rowan Television Network and political clubs. Cinema Workshop, the student film club, has been around for many years.

Getting Around Rowan

New Jersey Transit bus routes 313 and 412 serve the university. U.S. Route 322 goes through the campus. The university is also a planned stop on the Glassboro–Camden Line. This will be a new light rail system.

Notable People from Rowan University

Notable Faculty at Rowan

• David Bianculli, television critic and professor
• Marvin Creamer, geography professor and first person to sail around the world without instruments
• Neil Hartman, sports personality and director of Rowan's Center for Sports Communication
• Melissa Klapper, historian and storyteller
• Gordon Turk (born 1949), virtuoso organist

See also

• Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
• List of colleges and universities in New Jersey
• Rowan College at Burlington County
• Rowan College at Gloucester County
• Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine