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Welcome to R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y Student success is at the forefront at Robert Morris University. Our faculty and staff make revisions and adaptations to coursework and services in order to assist you in your career preparation. We have prepared this booklet based on questions we ve received from students either questions about RMU or about other institutions. Please utilize this as an additional tool with which to compare Robert Morris to other higher education institutions in your selection pool. By selecting a university that is the best fit for you, the outcome of your collective experiences will be more than you expected. We are proud to showcase our student organizations, our athletic teams, and the value of an RMU degree in the following pages. I look forward to seeing you at Robert Morris University. Sincerely, Mablene Krueger Provost Mission: Robert Morris University offers professional, career-focused education in a collegiate setting to diverse communities. Institutional Description and Characteristics: Robert Morris University, a not-for-profit institution, focuses on balancing theory to practice, creating extraordinary opportunities for students in the tradition of its namesake revolutionary hero, who assisted in setting a pathway of opportunity for our nation. 1
R M U I S Credentials Regional accreditation is a measure of the quality of an institution and its degrees. Robert Morris is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604, 312.263.0456). This is the same accreditation maintained by state universities and other private not-for-profit institutions. In order to be granted this accreditation, institutions go through an extensive review process that includes being evaluated by representatives from other institutions. Robert Morris University was reviewed by the Higher Learning Commission in 2011 and was granted approval for the maximum length of time, which is ten years. In addition, RMU has earned specialized accreditations by academic divisions. While most universities have some accreditation, often it is national accreditation. National accreditation is not the same as regional accreditation and should not be considered equivalent. Many trade schools, career colleges, and for-profit institutions have national accreditation with different standards and expectations than regional accreditation. I N T E R E S T I N G F A C T: Accreditations are not all of the same quality. Some accreditors approve particular programs of study but not the institution. Regional accreditation, like the accreditation provided by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, is usually seen as the most desirable. 2
R M U I S The RMU Difference Not - for - Profit Illinois has several private educational institutions that are "proprietary" that is, they exist to turn a profit. Robert Morris University, on the other hand, was founded as a not-for-profit institution, which means it exists solely to provide a high-quality, affordable education. The University s operating budget is funded not only by tuition, but also by government funding, private community groups and organizations, and individual contributions. All monies are put back into the institution in the form of maintaining and improving facilities, upgrading equipment, and securing and retaining talented, experienced staff. THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT STATUS OF YOUR UNIVERSITY IS CENTRAL TO ITS MISSION: STUDENTS ARE THE PRIMARY CONSIDERATION. I N T E R E S T I N G F A C T: An example of a not-for-profit organization is a church or the YMCA. Funds raised are invested back into the organization for the benefit of its members. This is how it works at RMU. An example of a for-profit organization is Home Depot or McDonald s; a large portion of funds raised must be returned to the owners or stockholders. 3
R M U I S Student Success Career Management: Robert Morris University has a comprehensive program to prepare students for their careers, beginning at the start of their freshmen year. Career management courses focus directly on the career exploration needs of freshmen and sophomores, while the upper division coursework supports the specific needs of juniors, seniors and graduates ready to embark or advance within their professions. RMU will: assist the student in developing a career strategy that incorporates Robert Morris University academic credentials. assist the student in developing resumes and related career-search materials. provide the opportunity for internship and externship experiences for each student. simulate real-world interviews through structured practice sessions. provide access to career fairs, employer interviews, and networking opportunities. assist the student in evaluation of interviews and job search experiences. Robert Morris University's ICenter allows students to work as consultants with clients in an authentic work environment, all while earning "Integration Level" credentials, credit towards their degree, and valuable work experience. P L A C E M E N T RMU s curriculum consists of four required courses, one each year, specifically designed to assist students in managing their careers. Placement information is collected and calculated six months after graduation. It is not collected by program, job title, or location. Robert Morris University surveys students and graduates at multiple times during and after their undergraduate programs. This data provides information on satisfaction with support services, employment and further education. 94.4% of students working towards an associate degree are satisfied or very satisfied with the career preparation outcomes provided by the university by sophomore year. 97% of seniors report they acquired some job or work-related skills while attending Robert Morris and 93% report working to solve complex real-world problems. 89% of seniors report that they participated or plan to participate in an internship or other field experience. 44.3% of bachelor degree graduates are planning to attend graduate level programs. 73% of bachelor degree graduates report being employed 6 months after graduation and 12.9% of bachelor degree graduates are attending graduate programs 6 months after graduation. Source: Report based on data from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), Robert Morris University's Career Management Course Survey and Six-month Post Graduation Survey (September 2011) 4
R M U S T U D E N T S A R E Student Experience Students who are part of a student club or organization have the opportunity to develop their skills in the areas of leadership, teamwork, communications, organization, time management, and event planning. Student athletes are role models for other Robert Morris University students and are ambassadors representing the University to outside constituents. Clubs and Organizations: ACCOUNTING CLUB ANIME CLUB AMERICAN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST (AMT) CADD CLUB COOKS FOR A CAUSE COMPUTER CLUB CULINARY SOCIETY EAGLE NEWSPAPER EAGLE SCHOLARS GOLDEN EAGLES HERMOSA ENIGMA HOSPITALITY CLUB LEGAL PROFESSIONALS LEX MOCK TRIAL CLUB MORRIS MEN MORRIS WOMEN PASSPORT CHICAGO SIGMA BETA DELTA SOCIETY FOR HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (SHRM) STUDENT ACTIVITIES BOARD STUDENT AMBASSADORS STUDENTS IN FREE ENTERPRISE (S.I.F.E.) UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF THE USA (UNA-USA) UNIVERSITY WOMENS CLUB VOLUNTEER CLUB WARRIOR TO SCHOLARS VETERANS CLUB 5
The University encourages and values the contributions of all individuals reflecting a real world diversity. T H E R M U Eagles Robert Morris University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and competes within the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC), as well as the U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). The Robert Morris University Hockey Team competes in the American Collegiate Hockey Conference Association (ACHA), the Dance Team competes in the Universal Dance Association (UDA), and the Bowling Teams compete in the United States Bowling Congress (USBC). RMU is #1 in Illinois for sponsored athletic teams. Men s Athletics Baseball Basketball Bowling Cross Country Football Golf Ice Hockey Soccer Volleyball Women s Athletics Basketball Bowling Cheerleading Cross Country Golf Ice Hockey Lacrosse Soccer Softball Tennis Track & Field Volleyball Intracollegiate Athletics Bowling Distance Running Golf Slow Pitch Softball Performing Arts Dance Drumline Jazz Band Marching Band Show Choir Guilds: Figure Skating Painting 6
RMU Scholarships & R M U P R O V I D E S O U T S T A N D I N G Grants Awarded Last year, Robert Morris University itself provided more than $27 million in scholarships to its students. This is in addition to the millions of dollars of state and federal financial aid that the University administers in the form of grants, scholarships, and loans. RMU maintains a large staff of expert financial aid counselors to help students who qualify obtain the assistance to which they are entitled. More than 85 percent of RMU students receive some form of financial aid. RMU awards scholarships and grants: Academic Distinction Scholarship Art Portfolio Scholarship Athletic Scholarship Corporate Partner Grant Leadership Scholarship Military Veteran Need-Based Residential Grants Transfer and Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship Total grants and scholarship dollars cannot exceed the cost of RMU tuition. Other sources for funding your education: Private Sources Employee Tuition Reimbursement Military Reimbursement L OA N L E V E L S Federal law defines aggregate student loan limits for undergraduate and graduate degrees. RMU encourages conservative student borrowing in order to minimize student debt. However, the student may borrow up to the cost of attendance. All repayment arrangements are made between the lender/servicer and are the borrower s responsibility. F I N A N C I A L P L A N S RMU offers interest-free payment plans to qualified individuals. S C H O L A R S H I P S Scholarships are awarded based on various criteria. All are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis once students qualify. 7
Robert Morris University s tuition consistently ranks as one of the most affordable of private universities in Illinois. SELECT ILLINOIS PRIVATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TUITION GUIDE School 2011-2012 Tuition University of Chicago $43,780 Northwestern University $41,983 Lake Forest College $36,920 Illinois Wesleyan University $36,572 Illinois Institute of Technology $35,125 Loyola University Chicago $33,294 DePaul University $30,618 North Central College $29,733 Wheaton College $28,960 Monmouth College $28,650 Millikin University $28,612 Olivet Nazarene University $27,590 Saint Xavier University $27,060 Bradley University $26,704 Dominican University $26,610 University of St Francis $25,932 Roosevelt University $25,000 Lewis University $24,770 Robert Morris University $21,600 Columbia College Chicago $20,644 Source: National Center for Education Statistics, US Department of Education 8
R M U I S C O M M I T T E D T O Your Success Students are accepted to Robert Morris after a thorough review of their backgrounds, including previous education and work experience. Only those students who have a record of success are admitted. Transfer of Credit The best way to ensure the ultimate use of your coursework is to finish your degree at the college where you started. When a student transfers from any college without earning a degree, the second institution must then look at each course individually to determine transfer of credit. Once a degree is earned from a regionally accredited institution, transfer of credit is typically much easier. A few helpful hints about transfer of credit: - The institution to which a student is transferring may choose to accept or not accept any courses from the original institution. - The student s major can make a big difference. For instance, if a student is transferring from psychology to engineering, very little of the psychology coursework would pertain to engineering. Thus, very little transfer of credit might apply. - The best way to get the most of your credit is to finish at the institution where you began. I N T E R E S T I N G F A C T: RMU graduates have transferred coursework to every major state university in Illinois. However, keep in mind that decisions are at the discretion of the receiving college. RMU credit is not designed to transfer on a course-by-course basis. 9
A D D I T I O N A L Consumer Information T R A N S F E R O F C R E D I T ( I N TO R M U ) RMU accepts transfer of credit from other institutions; however, credit is only accepted if it is relevant to the degree pursued. T R A N S F E R O F C R E D I T ( O U T O F R M U ) RMU coursework is designed for your success at Robert Morris. RMU credit may transfer to other institutions; however, all transfer of credit is evaluated by the receiving institution. Credit transfers best when evaluated as part of an earned degree; course-by-course credit is typically more difficult to transfer to and from any college or university. C L A S S AVA I L A B I L I T Y RMU operates on an accelerated timetable. Over 90% of graduates complete their bachelor s degrees in less than 4 years. RMU coursework is designed around students who are enrolled on a full-time basis; otherwise, student may need to take courses at multiple campuses, times or quarters in order to meet graduation requirements. Some specialized classes are offered once a year. Students who enroll on a less-than-full-time basis have no guarantee of date of completion. P RO G R A M AVA I L A B I L I T Y The University reserves the right to cancel a program or course based on enrollment. L I C E N S U R E P RO G R A M S Students may find the Drafting and Design Technology curriculum helpful in preparing for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam; however, the program is not intended to prepare students for the NCIDQ certification. The BPS in Architectural Technology will not qualify a student to sit for the NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Board) exam. Upon completion of the degree students will be eligible for a variety of job opportunities in construction and real estate management, as well as entry-level positions in the construction, space planning and architectural industries. For additional accreditation and consumer information, visit robertmorris.edu/about/accreditation/ 10
Q U I C K F A C T S A B O U T R M U : Type of Institution: Private, Not-for-Profit Year Founded: 1913 Undergraduate Student Body: 7,120 Full-Time Equivalent Enrollment Application Deadline: Please visit the website G R A D U AT E P RO G R A M S : Master of Business Administration Master of Information Systems Master of Management F I E L D S O F S T U D Y: Accounting...MBA Accounting/Finance...MBA Human Resource Management...MBA Management...MBA Management/Finance...MBA Management/Human Resource Management...MBA Mobile Computing...MIS Information Management...MIS Information Security...MIS Information Systems Management...MIS Design & Media...MM Law Enforcement Administration...MM Health Care Administration...MM Higher Education Administration...MM Sports Administration...MM B A C H E L O R S P RO G R A M S : Bachelor of Business Administration Bachelor of Applied Science in Computer Studies Bachelor of Applied Science in Graphic Design Bachelor of Professional Studies F I E L D S O F S T U D Y: Digital Video...BAS Graphic Design...BAS Networking...BAS Accounting...BBA Economics...BBA Health/Fitness Management...BBA Hospitality Management...BBA Information Systems Management... BBA Management...BBA Advanced Culinary Arts...BPS Applied Health Sciences...BPS Architectural Technology...BPS Law Enforcement Administration...BPS Law Office Administration...BPS Organizational Writing...BPS Web Development...BPS Students are encouraged to learn more about Robert Morris University s Institutional Accreditations, Program Accreditations, Approvals, & Certifications by visiting robertmorris.edu/about/accreditation/ 8 0 0. 7 6 2. 5 9 6 0 R O B E R T M O R R I S. E D U 1 1 2012-2013