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Thomas Jefferson University

Coordinates: 40°01′23″N 75°11′31″W / 40.023°N 75.192°W / 40.023; -75.192
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Philadelphia University
File:PhilaUSeal.png
MottoPower to Do
TypePrivate
Established1884
Endowment$18.6 million[1]
PresidentStephen Spinelli Jr., Ph.D.
Undergraduates2,707
Postgraduates486
Location
Philadelphia
,
Pennsylvania
,
U.S.
CampusSuburban, 100 acres (0.4 km²)
ColorsMaroon and Grey
MascotRams
Websitewww.philau.edu
Official Logo of Philadelphia University

Philadelphia University, founded in 1884, is a private university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia University's student body consists of about 3,500 individuals from all 50 states and over 30 countries. As an institution, Philadelphia University comprises the School of Architecture, School of Business Administration, School of Science and Health, School of Engineering and Textiles, the School of Liberal Arts, and the School of Design and Media. The institution offers bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral degrees within the myriad of academic disciplines from within each of the different schools. The university is located in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Vision

To be the model university for professional education in the 21st century.

History

During the U.S. Centennial celebration in 1876, a group of textile manufacturers, led by Theodore Search, noticed that the quality and variety of American textile products was inferior to those displayed by European mills. To address this problem, the group established the Philadelphia Textile School in 1884 and began a formal educational program for America's textile workers and managers.

Immediately the school was recognized as a key competitive resource in American industry. And, several years later, the Pennsylvania Museum (now the Philadelphia Museum of Art) and the School of Industrial Art invited the Philadelphia Textile School to sign an affiliation. By the mid 1890s, the School had offices located at Broad and Pine Streets in central Philadelphia. The School survived the tough years of the depression and entered a new period of growth at the onset of World War II. In 1941, the school was granted the right to award baccalaureate degrees and to reflect this progress the institution changed its name to the Philadelphia Textile Institute.

By 1949, the School, which was no longer affiliated with the museum, began teaching classes at its present site in the East Falls section of Philadelphia. Facilities, programs and faculty continued to grow in the '50s and '60s. In 1961, the school changed its name to Philadelphia College of Textiles & Science. The student population doubled from 1954 through 1964, and doubled again by 1978. Programs in the arts and sciences and business administration were added. The institution purchased an adjoining property in 1972, doubling the size of its campus.

As Philadelphia College of Textiles & Science, the institution offered its first graduate degree, the Master's of Business Administration, in 1976. During the next ten years, the institution grew to include additional classrooms, research laboratories, student residences and athletic facilities.

Viewing its accomplishments of the past as a prelude to the bold achievements in its future, Philadelphia College of Textiles & Science continued through the '90s with a strong commitment to providing its students with the highest quality education and real-world experience demanded by their chosen professions.

To better reflect the institution's breadth and depth and its successful growth, the College applied for and was granted university status by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1999. And, in a historic move, the Board of Trustees voted to change the College's name to Philadelphia University, the first private university to be named exclusively after the City of Philadelphia. The name Philadelphia University became effective on July 13, 1999. Today, Philadelphia University attracts students from 50 states and 30 countries, offering graduate and undergraduate degrees in more than 50 areas of study.

Academics

Undergraduate programs

Philadelphia University has six undergraduate schools:

Philadelphia University's approach to learning is active, collaborative and connected to the real world. It's interdisciplinary curriculum in its newly developing College of Design, Engineering and Commerce is being built around achieving innovation. Further, the curriculum distinctively blends the professional studies and the liberal arts and sciences, which prepares students to be leaders in their fields and for success in a global economy and the digital environment.[2]

Campus

Philadelphia University, a 100 acre park-esque campus, is located fifteen minutes northwest of Center City, Philadelphia. Its campus consist of 52 buildings, including classrooms, laboratories, studios, a library, resident facilities, an exhibition gallery, and the latest additions, a 72,000-square-foot (6,700 m2) campus center for students, faculty and staff, and a new recreation center. A subsidiary campus is located in Bucks County.[3]

In addition to its major properties, Philadelphia University runs the Philadelphia University Research Center from a restored 1864 textile mill, in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia. The research center consists of the Engineering and Design Institute and the Laboratory for Engineered Human Protection.[4]

Residences

  • Fortess Hall
  • Independence Plaza
  • Mott Hall
  • Partridge Hall
  • Ronson Hall
  • Scholler Hall
  • Townhouses

Off-campus housing

Philadelphia University also has a large population of students living in adjoining city neighborhoods, including East Falls, Manayunk and Roxburough. In the school year of 2009/2010 many students made their way onto Calumet st. in East Falls after many of the students in their freshman year enjoyed off campus functions at a so-called "tennis house." The street is located just on the backside of the RavenHill Campus. More than 10 houses containing anywhere from 3-5 students rented out places on that street. After a few months into the school year the street became the spot of a lot of tension between the students, the permanent residents and the school officials. The permanent members of the East Falls community were complaining about the amount of alleged parties that were happening on the street. Instead of complaining to the police or the students, the residences took their complaints to the school. Tensions reached a boiling point when the police were called to a short-shorts party and more than 50 students were transported to the station and detained in their daisy dukes. According to many residents the students who still live on the street feel that the school should not be involved and this is an issue that should be dealt with between the students, police and the residents.

Transportation

On-campus transportation is provided by the "Ram Vans", a fleet of Ford Econoline vans and mini-buses that loop in between the Main Campus (near the Gallagher Center and the Downs Building), the Tuttleman Center, the Ravenhill Campus (near Mott Circle and Campus Safety & Security headquarters), and the Alden Park Apartments in Philadelphia, about a mile from Main Campus.

Public transportation is provided by SEPTA's 32 bus (which stops at the intersection of School House Lane and Henry Avenue), the 27 bus (which runs down Midvale Avenue), and the Manayunk/Norristown regional rail train (which stops at the East Falls station, a short walk from lower campus).

Food

Philadelphia University has two cafes, two cafeterias, and a convenience store. The Ravenhill Dining Hall is an all-you-can-eat cafeteria located on the Ravenhill campus. The Common Thread is an à la carte-style eatery located on the first floor of the Kanbar Campus Center, and shares its kitchen with Ted's, a snack bar and convenience store located on the second floor above it. The Tuttleman Cafe, located on the second floor of the Tuttleman Center, offers a more limited selection of à la carte-style foods. Ted's has late night and weekend hours, whereas the Common Thread, Ravenhill Dining Hall, and Tuttleman Cafe operate during more limited hours. Ted's also is a proud distributor of Starbucks coffee products and WaWa products. Student meal plans can be used in all of these locations.

Athletics

Philadelphia University's sports teams are known as the Rams and the Lady Rams.

Philadelphia University is known for its men's basketball program, particularly coach Herb Magee, who achieved his 903rd win on Feb. 23 surpassing Coach Bobby Knight's all-time wins record. Now in his 43rd season, Coach Magee is celebrating 50 years at Philadelphia University as a student, player and coach. Coach Magee now holds the record for the most wins all coached in NCAA. On Sunday, May 17, 2009, Coach Magee is a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame nominee and was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters by President Stephen Spinelli Jr. at Philadelphia University's 125th Commencement. [1]

Philadelphia University is also known for a strong women's basketball program under Athletic Director and Women's Basketball Coach Tom Shirley who is just shy of 600 wins. Together Coach Herb Magee and Coach Tom Shirley combined wins are nearing 1,500, making them the 3rd winningest collegiate basketball coaching team in the country, just behind University of Connecticut and University of North Carolina.

The University is also known for its baseball program, particularly for retired coach Don Flynn.

Bob File was one of the top players in the history of Philadelphia University Men's Baseball Program. His achievements include:

  • Earned ABCA/Rawlings first-team All-American honors as a senior in 1998.
  • Was a three-time NYCAC All-Conference selection, earning Player of the Year honors in 1998.
  • Set several school hitting records as a senior in 1998, including a .542 batting average.
  • Also set single season records with 90 hits, 63 runs, 68 RBI, 19 home runs, and 167 total bases in 1998.
  • Is the University's all-time leader in nearly every career hitting category including runs (181), hits (296), triples (17) and home runs (37).
  • Player for the Toronto Blue Jays where he lead the American League rookies in pitching appearances with 60 in 2001, finishing with a 5-3 record with a 3.27 ERA.
  • Recently signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as a pitcher.

Tayron Thomas was one of the top players in the history of the Philadelphia University Men's Basketball Program. He was a consensus first-team All-America selection as a senior after leading NCAA Division II in scoring with 29.0 ppg. He concluded his four-year college basketball career with the Rams ranked first all-time in school history with 2,414 career points. He Also set a new single-season school record with 898 points during the 2005-2006 season.

Tayron Was named Basketball Times National Co-Player of the Year as well as being named National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) first-team All-America. He also Was tabbed the Daktronics Northeast Region Co-Player of the Year as well as Daktronics first-team All-America. He earned Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Player of the Year accolades as well as ECAC Division II Player of the Year honors, and was a seven-time CACC Player of the Week selection. Tayron additionally Earned All-Tournament honors at the 2005 Disney Tip-Off Classic where he set two tournament records — total points (98) and points per game (32.7).

Christian Burns was named the 2007 Daktronics Division II National Player of the Year and East MVP Honors at NABC Division II All-Star Game.

In the 2006-2007 season, Philadelphia University started a rowing program under head coach Chris O'Brien. Their inaugural season had many highlights including winning the Dad Vail Regatta in the Women's Novice Heavy Eight.

The 2008-2009 season was also strong for the men's and women's tennis teams. Both teams won the CACC (Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference). On the mens side they beat the University of the Science 5-0. In the individual tournament, the rams sweep the finals in both singles and doubles as Adrian Torroella beat teammate Manoli Sgouros. The team paired up to beat teammates Seppi Hutter and Tom McAvoy in the doubles final.

Nickname

Philadelphia University is often referred to by the faculty, staff, students and alumni as "PU."

Current events

  • On March 7, 2007 President James Gallagher announced his retirement following 23 years of service.[2]
  • On July 9, 2007 Dr. Stephen Spinelli Jr., Ph.D., was named president of Philadelphia University by the board of trustees. [3]
  • On August 31, 2007 Philadelphia University announced three new programs in the School of Liberal Arts that will begin Fall 2008. They are the B.S. in Environmental Sustainability, B.S. in Law and Society, and B.S. in Professional Communication.
  • On September 1, 2007 Stephen Spinelli Jr., Ph.D., became president of Philadelphia University.
  • On October 2, 2007 Philadelphia University launched its new web layout, the first major update to the website since 2004.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ As of June 30, 2009. "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2009 Endowment Market Value and Percentage Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2008 to FY 2009" (PDF). 2009 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments. National Association of College and University Business Officers. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "Academics". Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  3. ^ "About Philadelphia University". Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  4. ^ "Philadelphia University Research Center". Retrieved 2007-09-01.

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40°01′23″N 75°11′31″W / 40.023°N 75.192°W / 40.023; -75.192

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