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University of Rhode Island

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University of Rhode Island
NameUniversity of Rhode Island
Established1892
TypePublic land-grant research university
Endowment$174.7 million (2020)
PresidentMarc B. Parlange
Students17,473 (Fall 2021)
CityKingston
StateRhode Island
CountryUnited States
CampusRural, 1,245 acres (5.04 km²)
ColorsKeaney Blue & White
NicknameRams
AffiliationsURI Foundation, Sea Grant, Space Grant

University of Rhode Island. The University of Rhode Island is the state's public land-grant research university and a flagship institution. Its main campus is located in the village of Kingston within the town of South Kingstown. The university is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity" and is renowned for its programs in oceanography, pharmacy, and engineering.

History

The institution was founded in 1892 as the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts with funding from the Morrill Act of 1862. The original campus was an agricultural experiment station at Oliver Watson Farm. Under the leadership of its first president, John H. Washburn, the college began instruction in 1892 with a class of seventeen students. It was renamed Rhode Island State College in 1909 and adopted its present name in 1951, reflecting its expanded mission. Significant growth occurred post-World War II, aided by the G.I. Bill, and the university later became a sea-grant college in 1971 and a space-grant college in 1991.

Academics

The university comprises nine colleges, including the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business Administration, and the College of Engineering. It is particularly distinguished for the Graduate School of Oceanography, which operates the research vessel RV Endeavor and is a leading center for marine research. Other notable units are the College of Pharmacy, the College of the Environment and Life Sciences, and the College of Health Sciences. The university offers over 80 undergraduate majors and extensive graduate programs, including doctoral degrees. It participates in the New England Board of Higher Education's regional student exchange program.

Campus

The primary 1,245-acre rural campus in Kingston features a mix of historic and modern architecture, with landmarks like the University Library and the Ryan Center arena. The campus also includes the URI Botanical Gardens and the Alton Jones Campus environmental education center in West Greenwich. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Providence Campus in Providence, which houses the College of Nursing and the School of Education, and the Narragansett Bay Campus, home to the Graduate School of Oceanography and the National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology.

Athletics

The university's athletic teams, known as the Rhode Island Rams, compete in the NCAA Division I as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference for most sports. Football competes in the Colonial Athletic Association of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. The teams play in facilities such as the Ryan Center for basketball and Meade Stadium for football. The mascot is Rhodey the Ram, and the school colors are Keaney Blue and White. The university has a notable rivalry with the University of Massachusetts.

Student life

Student life is supported by over 150 student organizations, including fraternities and sororities governed by the Panhellenic Council and the Interfraternity Council. The student-run newspaper is The Good 5 Cent Cigar. The Memorial Union serves as a central hub for student activities. The campus hosts annual events like URI's Homecoming and the International Student Festival. Many students participate in community service through the Center for Civic Engagement.

Notable alumni and faculty

Notable alumni include Robert Ballard, oceanographer who discovered the wreck of the RMS Titanic; Lamar Odom, former NBA player; and Christian de Duve, Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine. Distinguished faculty have included M. King Hubbert, geophysicist known for peak oil theory, and John Knauss, former administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Other prominent graduates are Elizabeth Beisel, Olympic medalist in swimming, and H. Jon Benjamin, actor and comedian.

Category:University of Rhode Island Category:Universities and colleges in Rhode Island Category:Land-grant universities and colleges Category:1892 establishments in Rhode Island