Philadelphia University

Infobox_University
name = Philadelphia University


image_size = 100px
motto = "Power to Do"
established = 1884
type =Private
calendar = Semester
endowment =
president =Stephen Spinelli, Jr., Ph.D.
city =Philadelphia
state =Pennsylvania
country =U.S.
undergrad =2,707
endowment =$23.2 million [http://www.nacubo.org/documents/research/2006NES_Listing.pdf]
postgrad =486
staff =~200+|
campus =Suburban, 100 acres (0.4 km²)
colors =Maroon and Grey
athletics = [http://www.philau.edu/athletics/ Philadelphia University Athletics]
free =
mascot =Rams
website = [http://www.philau.edu/ www.philau.edu]
footnotes =
|

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.

Mission statement

Philadelphia University is a student-centered institution that prepares graduates for successful careers in an evolving global marketplace. By blending the liberal arts and sciences, professional studies, interdisciplinary learning, and collaborations in and out of the classroom, students learn to thrive in diverse and challenging environments. Students are encouraged to form supportive relationships with each other as well as faculty, staff, and alumni in an academically rigorous setting that is focused on intellectual and personal growth. Philadelphia University is an experiential learning community where integrity, creativity, curiosity, ethics, responsibility, and the free exchange of ideas are valued.

Founding ideals

Founded in 1884 to raise the art and technology of the American textile industry to international standards of quality, Philadelphia University has since greatly expanded its undergraduate and graduate programs. The University blends the liberal arts and sciences with professional studies preparing graduates for careers in such areas as architecture, business, design, fashion, health, science, engineering and textiles.

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:
* [http://philau.edu/schools/add/index.htm School of Architecture]
* [http://philau.edu/sba/ School of Business Administration]
* [http://philau.edu/design/index.htm School of Design and Media]
* [http://philau.edu/schools/tmt/ School of Engineering and Textiles]
* [http://philau.edu/schools/liberalarts/index.htm School of Liberal Arts]
* [http://philau.edu/schools/ssh/index.htm School of Science and Health]

Philadelphia University has an interdisciplinary approach, distinctively blending the professional studies and the liberal arts and sciences, which prepares students for success in a global economy and the digital environment. [cite web|url=http://philau.edu/academics/index.html|title=Academics|accessdate=2007-09-01]

Campus

Philadelphia University, a 100 park-like acre 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 convert|72000|sqft|m2|sing=on campus center for students, faculty and staff, and a new recreation center. A subsidiary campus is located in Bucks County. [cite web|url=http://www.philau.edu/about/index.html|title=About Philadelphia University|accessdate=2007-09-01]

In addition to its major properties, Philadelphia University runs The Philadelphia University Research Center out of a restored 1864 textile mill, in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia. The research center consist of The Engineering and Design Institute and The Laboratory for Engineered Human Protection. [cite web|url=http://www.philau.edu/purc/|title=Philadelphia University Research Center|accessdate=2007-09-01]

Residences

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

Transportation

On campus transportation is provided by the "Ram Vans", a collection of vans and mini buses that take the students from various points on campus. (By safety & security, Mott Circle, Tuttleman, Downs and Kanbar)Septa bus #32 makes a stop on campus at the intersection of Schoolhouse Lane and Henry Ave.The Septa R6 East Falls station is a short walk from lower campus.

Food

The school has four eateries (two cafes, two cafeterias)and a convenience store. The Ravenhill dining hall is an all you can eat cafeteria on lower campus. The Common thread is located downstairs in Kanbar and is ala carte. Ted's, located upstairs in Kanbar, and Tuttleman Cafe, located upstairs in Tuttleman, are more ala carte styles with a more limited selection. Ted's has late night and weekend hours whereas Tuttleman is only open when classes are in session. The student meal plan can be used in all 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 is in his 40th season of coaching and holds the record for the most wins in NCAA Division II. [http://www.northeast10.org/sports/mbkb/mbkb/20051214granoziocolumn1] Philadelphia University is also known for a strong 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.

Fight Song

Notable among a number of songs commonly played and sung at various events such as commencement, convocation and athletic games are: "Philadelphia Eagles" the Philadelphia University fight song.

Nickname

Philadelphia University is often referred to by many of the staff, students, and alumni as "PhilaU", "PhillyU", or "P U".

Alumni who graduated before the year 2000 refer to Philadelphia University as "Textile".

Current events

*On March 7, 2007 President James Gallagher announced his retirement following 23 years of service. [http://www.philau.edu/news/pdf/07/030707gallagher.pdf]
*On July 9, 2007 Dr. Stephen Spinelli Jr., Ph.D., was named president of Philadelphia University by the board of trustees. [http://www.philau.edu/news/pdf/07/presidentpressrelease070907.pdf]
*On August 31, 2007 Philadelphia University announced three new programs in the School of Liberal Arts that will begin Fall 2008. They are the [http://philau.edu/schools/liberalarts/ugradmajors/envirosustain/ B.S. in Environmental Sustainability] , [http://philau.edu/schools/liberalarts/ugradmajors/lawandsociety/ B.S. in Law and Society] , and [http://philau.edu/schools/liberalarts/ugradmajors/procommunication/ 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

*Maurice Kanbar ('52), inventor.
*Jay McCarroll, winner of Bravo's inaugural season of Project Runway.
*Amy Miller ('95), Playboy model.
*Katie Gold ('02), pornographic actress
*Curtis King, ex-Major League Baseball player, St. Louis Cardinals.
*Bob File, ex-Major League Baseball player, Toronto Blue Jays.
*Herb Magee, NCAA basketball coach.
*Pete Pappas, goalie, Philadelphia Kixx indoor soccer

References

External links

* [http://www.philau.edu/ Philadelphia University home page]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=4201+Henry+Ave,+Philadelphia,+PA,+19144&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=51.443116,81.738281&layer=&ie=UTF8&z=16&om=1&iwloc=addr Directions to the University]
* [http://www.philau.edu/designcenter/ The Design Center at Philadelphia University]
* [http://www.philau.edu/purc/ Philadelphia University Research Center]
** [http://www.philau.edu/TheStudio/ Engineering and Design Institute]
** [http://www.philau.edu/lehp/ Laboratory for Engineered Human Protection (LEHP)]