University of New Orleans

Not to be confused with New Orleans University.
The University of New Orleans
Former names
 Louisiana State University in New Orleans (LSUNO)[1]
Motto Great City, Great University.
Type Public
Established 1956; classes began September 1958[1]
Endowment $65.7 million
President John W. Nicklow
Provost Norm Whitley
Administrative staff
 698[2]
Students 8,423[3]
Undergraduates 6,601[3]
Postgraduates 1,822[3]
Location New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
30°01′39″N 90°04′02″W / 30.0275°N 90.0671°W / 30.0275; -90.0671Coordinates: 30°01′39″N 90°04′02″W / 30.0275°N 90.0671°W / 30.0275; -90.0671
Campus Urban
195 acres (0.79 km2; 0.305 sq mi)[2]
Colors Reflex Blue & Silver[4]
         
Athletics NCAA Division I – Southland
Nickname Privateers
Mascot Bluebeard the Pirate
Affiliations UL System
APLU
Urban 13/GCU
SURA
ORAU
Website www.uno.edu
University Center

The University of New Orleans, often referred to locally as UNO, is a medium-sized public urban university located on the New Orleans lakefront within New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is a member of the University of Louisiana System and the Urban 13 association.

In the fall of 2011 the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges gave approval for the University of New Orleans to join the University of Louisiana System, concluding the five-month transition from the Louisiana State University System since Act 419 of the 2011 Louisiana Legislative Regular Session was signed into law in July 2011. Soon after the transition was approved, the UNO Presidential Search Committee selected UNO alumnus Peter J. Fos (Class of 1972) as president. Dr. Fos retired in January 2016 and a Search Committee selected Dr. John W. Nicklow as the university's 2nd president and 7th leader.

History

State Senator Theodore M. Hickey of New Orleans in 1956 authored the act which established the University of New Orleans. At the time New Orleans was the largest metropolitan area in the United States without a public university though it had several private universities, such as Tulane, Loyola, and Dillard. The institution was originally named Louisiana State University in New Orleans or LSUNO but renamed in 1974. The UNO University Ballroom was named in Hickey's honor late in 2014, more than two decades after his death.[5]

The university was built on the New Orleans Lakefront when the United States Navy relocated Naval Air Station New Orleans. The Orleans Levee Board leased the closed base to the LSU Board of Supervisors. The renovation went quicker than expected. LSUNO opened for classes in 1958, two years ahead of schedule. It was originally reckoned as an offsite department of the main campus in Baton Rouge, and as such its chief administrative officer was originally called a dean (1958-1961), then a vice president in charge (1961-1963). In 1963, the LSU System of Higher Education was established and UNO became a separate campus in that system. To signify that it was now a co-equal institution with LSU, its chief executive's title was changed from "vice president in charge" to "chancellor." After a decade of growth, the LSU Board of Supervisors approved a name change to the current University of New Orleans. Nearly fifty years later, in 2011, the University of New Orleans officially became part of the University of Louisiana system, and its chief executive's title was changed to "president."[6]

Hurricane Katrina

On August 29, 2005, the university suffered damage due to Hurricane Katrina. The main campus is on relatively high ground and the damage was caused mostly by winds, rain-driven-water, and human activity during the storm. (The University was used as an evacuation point and staging area by the National Guard.) A levee breach on the London Avenue Canal occurred just a few blocks south of the main campus and caused the flooding of the first floor of the Bienville Hall dormitories, the Lafitte Village couples apartments, and the Engineering Building.

UNO was the first of the large, damaged universities in New Orleans to re-open, albeit virtually, by using web-based courses starting in October 2005.[7] The university was able to offer classes in the fall semester immediately following Hurricane Katrina at satellite campuses; the main campus re-opened in December 2005.

Hurricane Katrina reduced enrollments at all colleges in New Orleans, but the University of New Orleans was particularly hard hit. This echoed the damage to New Orleans as a whole, since UNO serves as a leader in educating students from New Orleans. Since the hurricane, the student enrollment is on a steady increase toward pre-Katrina numbers. In 2011, State Senator Conrad Appel of Jefferson Parish, with the support of Governor Bobby Jindal, tried to combine UNO with the historically black Southern University at New Orleans as a way to save higher education dollars. His plan was withdrawn in both houses of the legislature because of a lack of support from his colleagues.

Student life

Organizations

There are more than 120 registered clubs and organizations active at UNO, including 15 fraternities and sororities.[8] UNO Student Government, is the official student government association. Registered organizations are separated into categories of either religious, honorary, political, professional, social, service, organizations, or special interests.

Media

Driftwood is the UNO weekly newspaper and is published every Thursday.[9] UNO also owns and operates WWNO, a local radio station.[10] WWNO began transmitting in 1972.[10]

Greek life

The Greek community at The University of New Orleans is composed of 16 organizations, governed by three councils.[11]

Panhellenic Association[12] National Pan-Hellenic Council[13] Interfraternity Council[14]

Colleges

University rankings
National
Forbes[15] 571
U.S. News & World Report[16] RNP
Washington Monthly[17] 269

UNO has four colleges: College of Business Administration, College of Liberal Arts, Education and Human Development, College of Engineering, and College of Sciences. The university also offers a bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Campuses

The university has three campuses in the New Orleans metropolitan area.

Athletics

The University of New Orleans currently has 14 varsity sports teams, and is a Division I member of the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). UNO originally attempted to reclassify to Division II's Gulf South Conference.[19] On February 1, 2011, Provost Joe King submitted the Division II proposal to the LSU Board of Supervisors.[20] Previously, UNO competed at the Division II level from 1969-1975.[21] On March 9, 2012, New University President Peter J. Fos announced that UNO plans to remain a member of NCAA Division I, with potential homes being the Sun Belt or Southland Conference.[22] On August 21, 2012, UNO announced that it would be joining the Southland Conference, effective the 2013-2014 academic year.[23]

Sports

Fight song

The official fight song of The University of New Orleans is "Let's hear it for UNO."[24] The song was adopted after a competition in 1981. The winner was Lois Ostrolenk.[24] Before this, the melody from William Tell Overture was used. A variation of the overture is still played to honor this tradition.[24]

Club sports

The University of New Orleans has many club sports provided by the Department of Recreation and Intramural Sports. Club sports are available to all UNO students who have an interest. Active club sports as of Fall 2013:

  • Cricket
  • Sailing
  • Kendo
  • Table tennis
  • Soccer
  • Rugby
  • Men's volleyball
  • Sportsman/fishing

Research and Technology Park

The University of New Orleans Research and Technology Park.

The University of New Orleans Research and Technology Park is a research park whose tenants collaborate with the university to conduct research, provide training, and create education opportunities.[25] Tenants have many university services provided to them, such as child services, the university library and recreational facilities.[26]

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

References

  1. 1 2 "History of The University of New Orleans". Retrieved 2011-03-10.
  2. 1 2 "Fast Facts". Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  3. 1 2 3 "Preliminary Headcount Enrollment Summary". Louisiana Board of Regents. September 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-19.
  4. ↑ (PDF). 2013-07-08 http://www.uno.edu/ocprm/documents/Identity-Standards-April-15.pdf. Retrieved 2016-04-02. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ Jed Lipinski (October 30, 2014). "UNO to name ballroom after former state Sen. Ted Hickey". New Orleans Times-Picayune. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  6. ↑ "History". University of New Orleans. 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  7. ↑ University of New Orleans reopens online - Networks - Breaking Business and Technology News at silicon.com
  8. ↑ "Student Organizations". Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  9. ↑ "Driftwood". Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  10. 1 2 "History of WWNO". Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  11. ↑ "Greek Life". Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  12. ↑ "Panhellenic Association". Retrieved 2010-01-09.
  13. ↑ "Panhellenic Association". Retrieved 2015-07-21.
  14. ↑ "Interfraternity Council". Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  15. ↑ "America's Top Colleges". Forbes. July 5, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Best Colleges 2017: National Universities Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. September 12, 2016.
  17. ↑ "2016 Rankings - National Universities". Washington Monthly. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  18. ↑ "UNO vacates Metairie campus, sells it for $5.3 million". Retrieved 2015-09-02.
  19. ↑ Jacob Carpenter (2011-02-05). "Gulf South Conference could add University of New Orleans to fold". Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  20. ↑ "UNO Submits NCAA Division II Proposal to LSU Board". 2011-02-04. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  21. ↑ "New Orleans plans reclassification to Division II". 2011-02-04. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  22. ↑ "UNO remains Division I".
  23. ↑ "New Orleans Privateers will join Southland". ESPN.com. August 21, 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  24. 1 2 3 "University of New Orleans: 1958 - 2008". Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  25. ↑ "Who we are". Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  26. ↑ "Opportunities". Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  27. ↑ "Austin J. Badon, Jr.'s Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Political Publications: The Debate Book". politicalpublications.net. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Tom Fitzmorris, 'The Food Show' Radio Host & Food Entrepreneur", New Orleans City Museum (accessed September 29, 2016).
  30. ↑ "Tony Guarisco". linkedin.com. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Arthur A. Morrell". intelius.com. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Stokes & Associates, Inc.". stokes-associates.com. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
  33. ↑ "Wally Whitehurst". Baseball-Reference.Com. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
  34. ↑ Judy Walker, "Richard H. Collin, 'the New Orleans underground gourmet,' dies at age 78", The Times-Picayune, January 22, 2010.
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