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University of Rhode Island
Motto	Think Big. We Do.
Established	1888
Type	Public flagship
Endowment	$122 million in 2011 USD[1]
President	David M. Dooley
Academic staff	675
Students	19,095
Undergraduates	14,546
Postgraduates	4,549
Location	Flagship Campus: Kingston, RI, USA Commonwealth Campuses: Narragansett Providence West Greenwich
Campus	Rural 1,250 acres (5.06 km²)
Colors	Keaney Blue, Dark Blue and White
Nickname	Rams
Mascot	Rhody the Ram
Affiliations	Atlantic 10 Conference, Global U8 (GU8), Colonial Athletic Association (football)
Website	uri.edu

The University of Rhode Island (URI) is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West Greenwich. URI currently enrolls 14,546 undergraduate and 4,549 graduate students. It is a land grant, sea grant, and urban grant institution. US News and World Report classifies URI as a tier 1 national university, ranking it 147th overall.

History [edit]

Green Hall

Quadrangle on an early September evening at University of Rhode Island.

The University was first chartered as the state's agricultural school and agricultural experiment station in 1888. The site of the school was originally the Oliver Watson Farm, the original farmhouse of which is still maintained as a small museum. In 1892, the school became known as the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. The first class had only seventeen students, each completing their course of study in two years. In 1909, the school's name was again changed to Rhode Island State College as the school's programs were expanded beyond its original agricultural education mandate. In 1951 the school was given its current title through an act of the General Assembly following the addition of the College of Arts and Sciences and the offering of doctoral degrees. The Board of Governors for Higher Education, appointed by the governor, became the governing body of the University in 1981 during the presidency of Frank Newman (1974-1983). The current president is David M. Dooley. ^[2]

Academics [edit]

Located in a traditional New England college town, URI offers students a land, sea and urban experience. Students can choose from over 80 majors within seven different colleges. Among the most popular majors at URI are Nursing, Communication Studies, Psychology, Kinesiology and Human Development & Family Studies. URI is well known for its nursing and engineering programs, the latter of which includes the internationally recognized International Engineering Program.^[3] The University also boasts nationally ranked programs in Pharmacy, Landscape Architecture,^[4] and Oceanography.

The University of Rhode Island Department of Environmental and Natural Resource Economics has been ranked the fourth most productive research department in the country in the field of agricultural economics by the 2005 Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index. Only Colorado State University, Iowa State University and the University of California at Berkeley ranked ahead of URI. Of the top 10 universities in the field, URI’s program has the fewest faculty members with 10.The URI program was the first in the nation to offer a graduate degree in natural resource economics (in 1969), and the department publishes an internationally recognized research journal, Marine Resource Economics. Agricultural and natural resource economists study the interactions between economic and natural systems, with the goal of developing a sustainable and efficient economy. Faculty in the URI department focus on issues related to the spectrum of natural resource and environmental management, with particular strengths in fisheries and aquaculture, the marine environment, coastal watersheds and terrestrial ecosystems, ecosystem valuation and international trade. ^[5]

US News and World Report classifies URI as a tier 1 national university, ranking it 147th overall. The average incoming freshman for the fall of 2012 had a GPA of 3.38 and an SAT score of 1659.

Athletics [edit]

URI Athletics Logo

University of Rhode Island Rams Football at Meade Field

Rams Basketball at Ryan Center

The University of Rhode Island Department of Athletics and Recreation fields teams that compete in 18 intercollegiate sports. The University is a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference and the Colonial Athletic Association in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. Athletic facilities include the Ryan Center, Keaney Gymnasium, Meade Stadium, Mackal Field House, Tootell Aquatic Center, Bradford R. Boss Arena, URI Soccer Complex, Bill Beck Field, and URI Softball Complex. The Director of Athletics is Thorr Bjorn, who previously worked at the University of Massachusetts.

Student organizations [edit]

There are over one hundred officially recognized student organizations at the University of Rhode Island. Most student organizations are funded by the URI Student Senate, which is in turn funded by fees levied on all students. Prominent organizations include:

• URI Student Senate — the undergraduate student government.
• Student Entertainment Committee (SEC) — organizes large concerts and other campus-wide entertainment, including comedians, guest speakers, and special activities.
• WRIU — radio station
• The Good 5 Cent Cigar — campus newspaper
• Renaissance Yearbook — campus yearbook
• URI Students for Social Change
• Local branches of national organizations such as: Hillel, Campus Crusade for Christ, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, NAACP, PRSSA, College Democrats and College Republicans.
• Fashion Merchandising Society (FMS) – Organization dedicated to providing all members (not just members of the Textiles department) with connections to the Fashion industry as well as topical information.
• Public Relations Society (PRS)- Organization that hosts its own events and helps other on-campus organizations with advertising, marketing and good public relations.
• Student Action for Sustainability (SAS) – Organization behind the "green" movement on campus, Earth Day celebrations, campus clean-ups, and upcoming Campus Sustainability Day in the fall.
• Student Alliance for the Welfare of Africa (SAWA)- Organization behind educating students on issues concerning Africa and its inhabitants. One of the goals is to help abolish common stereotypes of African culture.
• URI Dance Company - An organization that offers students the opportunity to experience the art of dance.
• The Mob - An organization that encourages student involvement at University Athletics events.
• The 411 on the 401 - A student produced television show that deals with student organization and events, pop culture, University news, local music and bands, and student life in general.
• The URI Ram Marching Band - Organization consisting of both music and non-music major performers. Participates at all home URI Football games and participates in Rhody Rally. Includes the URI Drumline and URI Color Guard.

Greek life [edit]

The University of Rhode Island also has an award-winning Greek System. The community was recognized by the Northeast Greek Leadership Association in February 2008 for excellence in Academic Achievement, Council Management, Membership Recruitment, Multicultural Initiatives, Public Relations, Risk Management and Panhellenic Continuous Open Bidding.^[6]

The Greek Community consists of 12 fraternities, 10 sororities and one colony.

Fraternities: Chi Phi, Alpha Tau Omega, Delta Chi, Zeta Beta Tau, Theta Chi, Lambda Chi Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Pi, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Tau Epsilon Phi, Phi Gamma Delta, Pi Kappa Alpha.

Sororities: Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Phi, Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Xi Delta, Delta Zeta, Zeta Tau Alpha, Sigma Delta Tau, Sigma Kappa, Phi Sigma Sigma and Chi Omega.

Colonies: Alpha Epsilon Pi ^[7]

Multicultural Greek Council Organizations: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Lambda Upsilon Lambda, Alpha Phi Alpha, Chi Upsilon Sigma, Kappa Alpha Psi, Sigma Lambda Upsilon, Delta Sigma Theta and Omega Psi Phi.

Professional Fraternities and Sororities: Kappa Psi, Lambda Kappa Sigma, Sigma Alpha, Theta Tau, and Alpha Chi Sigma.

The Greek Community is governed by the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council. Both organization, along with Greek Life administration are housed on campus in the Christopher House.

Notable alumni [edit]

Politics [edit]

• Robert Weygand, Lieutenant Governor of RI 1993–1997, U.S. Representative from RI 1997–2001. Current Vice President for Administration at the University of Rhode Island.
• Charles J. Fogarty, (graduate degree) Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island 1999–2006
• Lincoln Almond, Governor of Rhode Island from 1995-2003
• J. Joseph Garrahy, Governor of Rhode Island from 1977-1985

Sports [edit]

• Pat Narduzzi, 2011 • Defensive Coordinator Michigan State Spartans Football
• Cuttino Mobley, Former NBA player for the Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings, and the New York Knicks
• Lamar Odom, NBA player for the Los Angeles Clippers
• Jimmy Baron – Played in the NBA Summer League for the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards. He is currently playing basketball for Lagun Aro GBC in Spain's ACB League. He is the all-time three-point shooter in the University of Rhode Island and Atlantic 10 history.
• Kahiem Seawright – Former forward for URI. He is currently playing professional basketball for Valladolid in Spain's ACB League.
• Tavorris Bell – Former basketball player at URI who scored 1,147 career points and was a teammate of Lamar Odom. He was a featured streetball player in the AND1 Mixtape Tour Volume 2 video.
• Parfait Bitee – Former point guard for URI. He also played on the Cameroonian men's national basketball team that won the silver medal at the FIBA Africa Championship 2007
• Dawan Robinson – NBA player (point guard) for the Los Angeles Clippers.
• Johnny Ezersky – Former NBA player for the Providence Steamrollers, the Baltimore Bullets, and the Boston Celtics
• Sean Colson – Former NBA player for the Atlanta Hawks and the Houston Rockets
• Ron Rothstein – Former coach in the NBA for the Miami Heat and the Detroit Pistons. He was the first coach of the Miami Heat.
• Lou Abbruzzi – Former NFL player for the Boston Yanks
• Pat Abbruzzi – Former CFL player for the Montreal Alouettes
• Bob Shea – Former NBA player for the Providence Steamrollers
• Steve Chubin – Former NBA player for the Indiana Pacers
• Stanley Stutz – Former NBA player for the New York Knicks
• Chester Jaworski – basketball player. Led the nation in scoring in his senior season. He also won national player of the year award in his senior season.
• Ernie Calverley – Former NBA player with the Providence Steamrollers, former URI Head Coach
• Tom Garrick, Former NBA player for the San Antonio Spurs,and Los Angeles Clippers^[8]
• Sly Williams, Former NBA player for New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, and Boston Celtics
• Tyson Wheeler, Former NBA player for the Toronto Raptors
• Frank Keaney, Former URI men's basketball coach. The inventor of URI's team color Keaney Blue. He is also in the Basketball Hall of Fame
• Tom Penders former college basketball coach.
• Todd Bozeman, Head Coach, Morgan State University men's basketball
• Jim Christian, Head Coach, Texas Christian University men's basketball
• Steve Furness, Former NFL player for Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions
• Dave Stenhouse, Former Major League Baseball pitcher with the Washington Senators from 1962 to 1964 and coach of the Brown University baseball team from 1981 to 1990.
• Frank Ferrara, Former NFL defensive end for New York Giants, Hollywood stunt man
• Geoff Cameron, MLS player for Houston Dynamo, MLS All-Star in 2009 and 2011.
• Sasha Gotsmanov, MLS player for the Colorado Rapids
• Andy Williams, MLS player for Real Salt Lake, formerly for Columbus Crew
• Danleigh Borman, MLS player for Toronto FC
• Dana Quigley, PGA Tour golfer
• P. H. Horgan III, PGA Tour golfer
• Andy Gresh, Sports analyst, Fox Sports, WSKO, ESPN Radio, Patriots Rock Radio Network
• Shelagh Donohoe, Olympic athlete, current Women's rowing head coach.
• Tony DeLuca, Former NFL player for the Green Bay Packers

Arts, broadcast and entertainment [edit]

• Jim O'Connor, TV host, Food Network
• J. T. Walsh, Actor
• Matt Gallant, Television personality
• Tim Gray, Sports reporter, NBC Sports
• Christiane Amanpour, Chief International Correspondent, CNN
• Steve Cascione, News Anchor, ABC 6
• John King, national correspondent for CNN
• Masta Ace, Rapper
• Theo Martins, Musician
• Leila Goldkuhl, Runner Up of America's Next Top Model Cycle 19
• John M. Geddes, managing editor of The New York Times from 2003-13

Business [edit]

• Robert Crandall, Former President and Chairman of the Board, American Airlines
• Thomas Ryan, former CEO of CVS Corporation
• Michael D. Fascitelli, President and Trustee of Vornado Realty Trust
• Tony Horton (exercise instructor), Fitness Guru and developer of P90X
• Nancy McKinstry, Chairman and CEO of Wolters Kluwer

Science and Academia [edit]

• Daniel G. Aldrich '39, founding chancellor of University of California, Irvine
• Robert Ballard '75 PhD, '86 Hon., Oceanographer, discoverer of the RMS Titanic, Professor and Director of URI's Center for Ocean Exploration.
• Elizabeth A. Craig, biochemistry professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison and member of the National Academy of Sciences
• Robert B. Rheault, Jr., PhD'96, Marine biologist and aquaculture consultant
• Sandra Thornton Whitehouse, PhD '94, a marine biologist and wife of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse^[9]

Military [edit]

• Admiral Jeremy M. Boorda, 25th Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.
• General Leon J. LaPorte, United States Army four-star general

Film [edit]

• Outside Providence shot its private school sequences at Green Hall, among other locations at the Kingston Campus.
• Hard Luck was shot on the W. Alton Jones Campus.
• Underdog shot some of its scenes at the Providence campus.
• The Clique Movie shot its private school sequences at Green Hall
• Hachiko: A Dog's Story starring Richard Gere, shot pivotal scenes in Edwards Auditorium, Green Hall, and the Fine Arts Center.

See also [edit]

	Rhode Island portal
	University portal

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• URI Botanical Gardens
• Joint Degrees in law at Roger Williams University School of Law
• Global U8 Consortium GU8

References [edit]

External links [edit]

• Official website
• Official Athletics website

Coordinates: 41°28′51″N 71°31′33″W / 41.48071°N 71.52580°W / 41.48071; -71.52580