Roosevelt University
 Roosevelt University  (University)    | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Motto | Dedicated to the enlightenment of the human spirit |
| Formation | 1945 |
| Headquarters | Illinois, USA |
| Type | Private |
| Other name | Lakers |
| Social justice is a cornerstone of Roosevelt's history and development | |
Roosevelt University is an American private university with campuses in Chicago, Peoria, Waukegan and Schaumburg, Illinois. Founded in 1945, the university is named in honor of both the late President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
The university enrolls around 6,000 students between its undergraduate and graduate programs. Roosevelt is also home to the Chicago College of Performing Arts. The university's newest academic building, Wabash, is located in The Loop of Downtown Chicago. It is the tallest educational building in Chicago, the second tallest educational building in the United States, and the fourth-largest academic complex in the world.[1]
History
The university was founded in 1945 by Edward J. Sparling, the former president of Central YMCA College in Chicago. He refused to provide Central YMCA College's board with the demographic data of the student body, fearing the board would develop a quota system to limit the number of African Americans, Jews, immigrants, and women at the school. Sparling resigned under protest and took with him many faculty and students to start a new college. Faculty voted in favor 62 to 1, and students 488 to 2 for the school.[2][3] In the beginning, the university had no library, campus, or endowment.
The new college was chartered as Thomas Jefferson College on March 28, 1945 and had financial backing from Marshall Field III, the Julius Rosenwald Foundation, the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union, and numerous other individuals and organizations. Two weeks later, President Franklin D. Roosevelt died. The college obtained his widow Eleanor's permission to rename the institution as Roosevelt College in his memory.
In 1947, the college purchased the Auditorium Building for one dollar, and it became the permanent home. The college was rededicated to both Franklin and Eleanor in 1959. Early advisory board members included Marian Anderson, Pearl Buck, Ralph Bunche, Albert Einstein, Thomas Mann, Gunnar Myrdal, Draper Daniels, and Albert Schweitzer. In August 1996, the university opened its Albert A. Robin Campus in Schaumburg, after a donation from Albert A. Robin, an entrepreneur and immigrant.
On March 9, 2020, Robert Morris University Illinois merged with Roosevelt University. The integrated university continued under the name of Roosevelt University. Robert Morris added its majors to Roosevelt’s large portfolio of undergraduate and graduate programs under the name Robert Morris Experiential College, one of several colleges of Roosevelt University.[4]
Social justice, a cornerstone of Roosevelt's history and development, has been purposefully embedded into the school's curriculum and is part of every student's academic experience. Topics previously covered have included such issues as public versus private rights to use city parks, the impact of gentrification following urban modernization projects, and the impact one can have to preserve the earth's natural resources. Student-led research projects and theses have also touched areas such as gender equality and the effects of minimum wage on the economy.[5]
An Alumnus on Wikispooks
| Person | Born | Summary | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carla Hayden | 10 August 1952 | Bureaucracy | US Librarian of Congress |
References
- ↑ https://www.roosevelt.edu/campuses/conference-events/chicago/wabash
- ↑ http://www.roosevelt.edu/About/History.aspx
- ↑ http://libguides.roosevelt.edu/ruhistory
- ↑ https://www.roosevelt.edu/news-events/news/20200309-RU-RMU-Integration-Approval-Announcement
- ↑ https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/roosevelt-university-1749
