College Profile:
Roosevelt University

Roosevelt University was founded in 1945 to provide opportunities for learning and teaching in conditions of freedom and equality. Roosevelt admits academically qualified students regardless of their social or economic class, racial or ethnic origin, or religion. It is Roosevelt's mission to be a national leader in educating socially conscious citizens for active and dedicated lives as leaders in their professions and their communities. The University's curriculum, focused on social justice, academic excellence and student success, inspires its students to be dedicated to the essential themes of a democratic society and to accept their responsibilities as citizens of a vital nation and a changing world. Involvement in the metropolitan experience is an integral part of the academic life at Roosevelt.

The University's Chicago Campus is conveniently located on Michigan Avenue in the heart of Chicago's Loop, which is the city's cultural and political center and is within easy commuting distance by car or public transportation. Since 1947, the center of Roosevelt's Chicago Campus has been the famous Auditorium Building overlooking Grant Park and Lake Michigan. The University has restored various areas of this National Historic Landmark building to their original splendor. Additional University classrooms and offices, as well as an art gallery, are located in the Gage Building, also on Michigan Avenue, across from Millennium Park.

Roosevelt also has a second campus in Schaumburg, located 30 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, near O'Hare International Airport and numerous corporate headquarters.

The faculty includes 629 members, 210 of whom teach full time. Although many faculty members conduct serious research and have numerous publications to their credit, they are primarily dedicated to classroom instruction. The student to faculty ratio is 13:1.

Roosevelt serves 7,200 undergraduate and graduate students in the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business Administration and Education, the College of Professional Studies (fast-track and professional degrees for adults) and the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Roosevelt schedules classes days, evenings, weekends and online to make it convenient for students to work while attending school.

Approximately 87 percent of Roosevelt students are residents of Illinois; the other 13 percent come from across the United States and nations around the world. The University Center residence hall on State Street houses hundreds of Roosevelt students in addition to students from neighboring DePaul University and Columbia College Chicago.

Roosevelt offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in the areas of Arts and Sciences, Education, Business and Performing Arts. Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Acting and Musical Theatre and Bachelor of Music degrees are among the programs offered through the Chicago College of Performing Arts.

Roosevelt Scholars is the honors program that blends academic rigor with opportunities for developing metropolitan leadership abilities. Participating students enroll in a 10-course sequence that culminates in an honors thesis. Major scholarship support is available, along with mentoring relationships with Chicago's corporate, political and social leaders. Participants in the Scholars program are also eligible for internship and research opportunities at leading business, cultural and government organizations.

Roosevelt University features an Academic Success Center (ASC) that includes the Learning and Support Services Program (LSSP), a program to assist students with learning disabilities and Disability Services, a program that enables students with physical limitations and special needs. ASC addresses the needs of all students through tutoring services in all subjects at both the Chicago and Schaumburg Campuses. In addition, the English Language Proficiency (ELP) program provides courses in conversation and writing for non-English speaking students.

The University library resources exceed 400,000 volumes, including 63,000 microforms. The Performing Arts Library houses an additional 40,000 books, 12,000 sound recordings and 10,000 pieces of sheet music and is furnished with audio equipment for individual listening. The University has numerous computer laboratories, science laboratories, music practice rooms, classrooms and seminar rooms.

Scholarships are awarded to entering freshman and transfer students on the basis of academic ability. They award partial tuition and many are renewable up to the completion of the bachelor's degree program. The University also has a limited number of Music Performance Awards and talent awards for theatre majors through the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Roosevelt's policy is to provide financial assistance for students who demonstrate financial need. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA). The priority deadline for applying for University financial aid is April 1 prior to the academic year for which aid is requested.