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University of Tulsa

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The University of Tulsa
File:UTULSEA1.GIF
MottoWisdom, Faith, Service
TypePrivate
Established1894
AffiliationPresbyterian
Endowment$1.3 billion (February 2007)
PresidentDr. Steadman Upham
Students4,165
Undergraduates2,987
Postgraduates1178
Location
Tulsa
,
Oklahoma
,
United States
CampusUrban, 230 acres (930,000 m²)
SportsGolden Hurricane
ColorsOld Gold, Royal Blue, and Crimson    
MascotCaptain Cane
Websitewww.utulsa.edu

The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is currently ranked 91st among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by the Princeton Review. The university is historically affiliated with the Presbyterian Church USA.

History

The University of Tulsa was founded in Muskogee, Oklahoma, as the Presbyterian School for Indian Girls in 1882 under the leadership of Alice Mary Robertson, but was re-chartered as the Henry Kendall College in 1894 under the auspices of the Presbyterian Women's Board of Home Missions. In 1907, the college moved to its current site in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A university was formed in 1920 when the college merged with the proposed McFarlin College to become the University of Tulsa.

Academics

The University of Tulsa is noted for having one of the world's premier programs in petroleum engineering, and has distinguished programs in English, computer science, natural sciences, Clinical and I/O Psychology, and several engineering disciplines. The university also maintains a school of law[1], which is one of the few to specialize in Native American legal issues. The University of Tulsa College of Law Review[2] ranks in the top 15% of most cited legal periodicals as ranked by Washington and Lee University.[3]

Currently, there are six colleges, programs, and departments at the University of Tulsa:

  • Henry Kendall College of Arts & Sciences
  • Collins College of Business
  • College of Engineering and Natural Sciences
  • College of Law
  • Graduate School
  • Division of Continuing Education

Reputation and rankings

In 2008, Tulsa was ranked ninth in "Quality of Life" by the Princeton Review's "The Best 366 Colleges" guide. The University of Tulsa also placed sixth among all colleges for "Happiest Students," was ranked eleventh in the "Lots of Class/Race Interaction" category, and in "Town-Gown Relations" Tulsa was ranked fifth in the country. In the 2006 edition, the university was described as follows: “The University of Tulsa is one of the sleeper gems of the Great Plains, a private school large enough to house numerous top-flight programs but small enough to facilitate one-on-one instruction provided in a homey atmosphere.”

TU is one of 150 colleges to be included in the inaugural edition of “Colleges of Distinction” and is also included in "The Unofficial Biased Guide to the 331 Most Interesting Colleges, 2005 edition." Cosmo Girl magazine named TU one of the top 50 schools in the country for women in its October 2004 edition. U.S. News and World Report also ranks TU as a top 100 national university.

The University of Tulsa is known for the large number of National Merit scholars in attendance.[citation needed] It is also one of the first universities in the United States to have a mosque on campus, which has become a point of controversy among some alumni.

Campus

The campus of the University of Tulsa centers on a wide, grassy, quad-like space known as "The U." The predominant architectural style is English Gothic. Most of the buildings are constructed from tan and rose-colored Crab Orchard sandstone from Tennessee interspersed with stone quarried in Arkansas. Other materials include Bedford limestone from Indiana and slate quarried in Vermont.

Bayless Plaza

Completed in 2006, Bayless Plaza houses the Kendall Bell, which hung from the cupola of Kendall Hall prior to its destruction. The plaza sits behind Tyrell hall, long time home of the School of Music, and serves as the apex of Tucker Drive, the University's main entrance.

H. A. Chapman Stadium

TU football played in Skelly Stadium until 2007 when the arena was renamed Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium, following renovations. The Case Athletic Complex in the north end of the field provides office facilities for the football staff, a new locker room and trainer facility, a letterman's lounge and box seating on the top level, and meeting rooms, a computer lab, and study spaces for student-athletes. Renovations currently underway will provide renovated seating throughout the stadium, new turf, an updated score board and Jumbotron, and an expanded press box. The changes will also include the addition of an extensive plaza area on the west side of the stadium to accommodate restrooms, food and drink stands, and souvenir shops.

McFarlin Library

McFarlin Library

At the top of The U sits one of the campus' most notable landmarks, the McFarlin Library, which is named after Robert and Ida McFarlin, the library's primary benefactors. Ground breaking ceremonies took place on May 3, 1929 and the edifice was dedicated on June 1, 1930. The library continued to grow over the years, adding two five-story additions by 1979. Currently, the library houses over three million items and is noted for its collections of twentieth-century British, Irish, and American literature, including the world's second largest collection of materials by James Joyce. It also houses the papers of Nobel Prize winner V.S. Naipaul. The library also contains a vast collection of books on Native American history.[citation needed] Renovations are underway to add a computer and technology annex to the library's north side, including the restoration of the library's reading rooms.

Reynolds Center

Home to the basketball programs, the Reynolds center houses office and meeting space, practice and weights facilities, as well as the main basketball arena.

Sharp Chapel

Sharp Chapel

Named for its principal donors, Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Sharp, Sharp Chapel was completed on November 27, 1959. It replaced the university's original chapel that was located in Kendall Hall before its destruction and replacement by the current Kendall Hall theater building. Sharp Chapel houses the Offices of University Chaplain and serves the religious needs of multiple denominations present on campus as well as hosting many awards ceremonies and weddings.

Additions to Sharp Chapel were completed in the spring of 2004, including the Westminster Room, an atrium, kitchen, and a second floor including administrative offices and a conference room.

Housing

On-campus housing consists of six residence halls, six sorority houses, and six university-owned apartment complexes, including eight apartments designed like townhouses.

Residence halls:

  • John Mabee Hall - All male residence hall located at the Northwest end of the U. It is known on-campus as "The John".
  • Lottie Jane Mabee Hall - All female residence hall located at the Southwest end of the U. It is known on-campus as "The Jane" or "Lottie".
  • LaFortune Hall - Coed residence hall close to the athletics areas.
  • Twin South - Coed freshman residence hall immediately adjacent to Twin Towers, first opened to students in the fall of 1984.
  • Honors House - Coed residence hall on Fraternity Row. It is known on campus as "the Ho-Ho"
  • 5th Place House - Coed residence hall behind the Center for Global Education. It is an alternative living environment, formerly known as the CHOICE house.

Apartment Complexes:

  • Brown Village
  • Lorton Village (includes townhouses)
  • Mayo Village
  • University Square North
  • University Square South
  • University Square West

Student Life

The University of Tulsa is home to more than 200 student organizations, registered with and partially funded by the Student Association.

Student Association

The Student Association is the University of Tulsa student government body. It is organized into three branches: the Executive Branch, which includes Cabinet and is in charge of organizing large campus wide events and activities; the Judicial Branch; and the Legislative Branch, or Student Senate, which coordinates funding, oversees student organizations, and addresses general issues impacting student life on campus. Its budget is provided partially by the university and partially by a fee paid by students each semester.

Traditionally, the Student Association coordinates Homecoming activities, including cross campus competitions and the homecoming game tailgate. Another traditional event is Springfest, a week long series of events including food, various on campus activities, and a concert bringing in such names as Cake, Guster, and Ben Folds. Activities organized by Student Association are free to all TU students.

Greek Presence

There are 5 IFC fraternities and 6 NPC sororities on campus. The living quarters in the back of the sorority houses are university owned residence halls, but, traditionally, only current members of the sororities live there.

Fraternities:

Sororities:

There are also a number of historically black sororities and fraternities on campus that fall under the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Currently, there are five active organizations:

Fraternities:

Sororities:

Other fraternities on campus that do not fall under the National Pan-Hellenic Council include:

Traditions

  • Reynolds Rowdies: Established for the 2006 basketball season, the Reynolds Rowdies are the official student fans of the Golden Hurricane basketball teams. The university provides interested students with free blue and yellow tie-dyed t-shirts, food and other prizes for attending games.
  • Storm Crew: Similar to the Reynolds Rowdies, this newly-established group leads students cheers at home football games.
  • Kendall Bell: The Kendall Bell, now housed in Bayless Plaza, is traditionally rung by graduating seniors upon completion of their last final exam at the university.

Athletics

Main article: Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Tulsa Golden Hurricane Athletic Logo

Tulsa's sports teams participate in the NCAA's Division I-A Conference USAand the University mascot is the Golden Hurricane. The Sound of the Golden Hurricane marching band plays at all home football and basketball games as well as travels to championships in support of the Golden Hurricane. Tulsa has won six national championships (three NCAA), four in women's golf and two in men's basketball. The University of Tulsa currently fields a varsity team in eight men's sports and ten women's sports.[1] Tulsa's current athletic director is Bubba Cunningham.

Athletics are housed in a number of top notch facilities on campus. Mabee Gym houses an extensive indoor rowing facility and volley ball practice gyms. It is scheduled for renovation which will incorporate a number of turfed indoor practice fields for the soccer and football programs. The nationally ranked tennis teams are housed in the Case Tennis Center, including a number of indoor and outdoor courts as well as practice facilities. The Hurricane Track and Soccer stadium is home to the track and field program as well as the nationally ranked soccer program. The Reynolds Center is home to the basketball programs, providing practice gyms, weight facilities, offices, and the main basketball arena. Game nights see the main arena fill with student and local support, the cheers of the Reynolds Rowdies sounding across the court. H.A. Chapman Stadium, home to Skelly Field and the Case Athletic Complex, is home to the beloved Golden Hurricane Football program. New renovations taking place include new turf, high-tech Jumbotron and score board, expanded box seating, and a new top-of-the-line press box facility. The games see an influx of local fans and the arrival of the Storm Crew, the student section noted for their rowdiness and support for the team.

Miscellany

Nimrod International Journal of Poetry & Prose and James Joyce Quarterly are published at the University.

The school's colors are Old Gold, Royal Blue, and Crimson.

In 2003, Tulsa joined the efforts of Brown University on the Modernist Journals Project, an online archive of early twentieth-century periodicals. Tulsa has contributed various modernist texts from McFarlin Library’s Special Collections to the project's website.

Dr. Sean Latham, editor of the James Joyce Quarterly, brought the 2003 North American James Joyce Conference to the University of Tulsa.

The University of Tulsa Collegian is the long-standing independent and student-run newspaper on campus. New to the campus is the 631, another independent and student-run publication offering a conservative alternative to the Collegian.

TU also hosts several meetings of the Tulsa Computer Society, including the Linux SIG.

The university's motto used to read, in full, "Faith, Wisdom, Service: For Christ, For State."

Distinguished faculty

Tulsa's faculty includes the famous Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko, political scientist Robert Donaldson, and dramatic soprano Linda Roark-Strummer.

Notable alumni

Arts and letters

Athletics

Politics and law

Science, engineering, and technology

References

  1. ^ "TU Athletics Points of Pride". CSTV Networks, Inc. Retrieved 2008-01-10.

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