University of Missouri–Rolla

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University of Missouri–Rolla
UMR logo   
Established 1870
Type Public
Chancellor Dr. John F. Carney III
Provost Dr. Warren Kent Wray
Faculty 477
Staff 890 (Fall 2005)
Students 5,858
Undergraduates 4,515
Postgraduates 1,343
Location Rolla, Missouri, USA
Address 1870 Miner Circle
Rolla, Missouri 65409
Telephone (573) 341-4111
Campus Rural, 284 acres
Colors Silver and gold
Nickname Miners
Mascot Joe Miner
Website www.umr.edu

The University of Missouri–Rolla (abbreviated UMR) is an institution of higher learning located in Rolla, Missouri and part of the University of Missouri System. Its 5,500 students mostly study engineering and sciences.

Contents

[edit] History

Norwood Hall from University Center West.
Norwood Hall from University Center West.

UMR was originally an MU offshoot called the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy (MSM) founded in 1870 as the first technological learning institution west of the Mississippi River. Early in its beginnings, the School of Mines was focused primarily on mining and metallurgy, but by the 1920s, had expanded into civil, electrical, mechanical, and chemical engineering as well as chemistry, physics, mathematics and geology.

A greater emphasis was placed on research and graduate education during the 1950s. In 1964, the School of Mines joined the newly created University of Missouri System as the University of Missouri at Rolla. The campus curriculum was expanded to include all of the science and engineering disciplines and liberal arts. In 1968 the campus name was slightly altered to the University of Missouri–Rolla, thus conforming to the naming scheme of the other three campuses. Currently, the school is considering a name change to better reflect its position as a nationally recognized school of science, technology, and engineering, rather than simply a regional public university.[1]

UMR ranks in the top 25 schools in the number of bachelor's degrees awarded in engineering.

[edit] Distinctions

UMR has been voted a "top 100 value in education" and also named one of the nation's "most connected" campuses. UMR was voted "Large School of the Year 2005" by the Midwest Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls, or MACURH (a regional subdivision of NACURH).

[edit] Campus highlights

[edit] UMR Stonehenge

UMR Stonehenge, next to U.S. Highway 63.
UMR Stonehenge, next to U.S. Highway 63.

UMR Stonehenge is a partial reconstruction of the original Stonehenge monument located on Salisbury Plain, west of London. UMR's version of the ancient structure is located on the northwest corner of campus, and was dedicated on June 20, 1984 during the summer solstice. It features a 50 foot (15 m) diameter ring of 30 stones around a horseshoe of five trilithons through which various sightings of sunrise and sunset can be made. About 160 tons of granite were used to construct the monument. The rock was cut by UMR's waterjet equipment, which used two waterjets cutting at a pressure of 15,000 pounds of force per square inch (103 MPa), slicing across the surface just like a conventional saw. The cutter moved at a speed of about 10 feet per minute (50 mm/s) and cut between one-quarter and one-half inch (6 and 13 mm) on each pass.

The Millennium Arch, in front of Castleman Hall.
The Millennium Arch, in front of Castleman Hall.

[edit] Millennium Arch

UMR worked with artist Edwina Sandys to develop a new way to make deep cuts in granite, and used the method to create the Millennium Arch sculpture, across the campus from Stonehenge. The Arch is a single trilithon with a vague silhouette of a man and a woman on each of its supporting megaliths several meters from the arch (and can be seen in the distance between the two silhouettes in the image to the left). The monument is located on 10th Street, facing Castleman Hall, in Rolla. The project was developed in the High Pressure Waterjet Laboratory of the Rock Mechanics & Explosive Research Center at UMR.

There are two similar megaliths showing the same silhouette on each side of the sidewalk entrance to the Rock Mechanics & Explosive Research Center.

[edit] Curtis Laws Wilson Library

The Curtis Laws Wilson Library is the main academic library on the campus [1].

[edit] Student engineering projects

There are many activities, clubs and teams at UMR, but there are several engineering design teams that frequently take the spotlight.

[edit] UMR Solar House Team

The UMR Solar House Team designs and builds a house that is completely sustained by energy collected directly from the sun. After the house is built on campus, it is disassembled and transported to Washington D.C. for the Solar Decathlon, a month long competition. The Solar House Team placed 7th overall in the Solar Decathlon. The team took 1st place in the Energy Balance competition. http://solarhouse.umr.edu

[edit] Advanced Aero Vehicle Group

The team constructs a remote-controlled airplane for the annual Society of Automotive Engineers' Aero Design competition. This year's plane, which had an 8-foot wing span and weighed only 9.4 pounds, competed in the Aero Design's open class designation at the east competition. Of interest to mainly aerospace engineering students, but students from other disciplines are also on the team. 2005 results: The AAVG placed third at East, fifth at West.

[edit] Solar car

UMR's solar car team has met with much success. Every two years, the team constructs a single-passenger car, its top covered with solar cells, that runs exclusively on solar power. The car's aluminum frame houses lithium ion batteries, which are much lighter than conventional lead-acid batteries. The driver lies on his back to make the car's design more aerodynamic. The car has a joystick instead of a steering wheel to allow the driver to exit the car more quickly and reduce the amount of space necessary for the driver. Every time the car is rebuilt, changes make it lighter and more efficient. The team regularly enters solar car races in the United States and occasionally enters international races. The car claimed first place in Sunrayce '99, first place in the 2000 Formula Sun Grand Prix, fourth place in the Australian World Solar Challenge in 2001, second place in the 2001 American Solar Challenge, and first place in the 2003 American Solar Challenge.

[edit] Formula SAE car

UMR's Formula SAE team constructs a small formula-style race car every year, suitable for mass production and sale to weekend autocrossers. The team competes in Pontiac, Michigan against more than 100 other teams from universities around the world. The vehicle's cost, sales presentation, engineering design, acceleration, braking, and racing performance all factor in to its final score. The team has placed in the top 20 in nine of the past twelve competitions, including third-, fourth-, and ninth-place finishes.

[edit] Concrete canoe

UMR's Concrete Canoe Team designs and constructs a concrete canoe and races it on a lake in regional and national competitions. The team has participated in concrete canoe competitions since the 1970s. The entire project, including fundraising and construction, is completed by the students. The team took third place in 2004.

[edit] Human powered vehicle

The UMR Human Powered Vehicle Team constructs a man-powered land vehicle every year to compete in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers' Human Powered Vehicle Challenge. The vehicle, which looks something like a bobsled with bicycle wheels, must be light, highly efficient and powered only by its single occupant.

[edit] Robotics Competition Team

The Robotics Team participates annually in the Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC). The team builds autonomous vehicles that traverse obstacle courses consisting of lane markers and obstacles. The current vehicles are designed to be omnidirectional so that they can easily drive around obstacles. Typically there are 30-50 students on the team and two faculty advisors. The students handle all design and management aspects of the team but occasionally receive help from technicians to fabricate parts. For more information visit the Robotics Team website.

[edit] Student life

For on campus events, please see the UMR event calender.

[edit] Newspaper

The student-run newspaper at UMR is The Missouri Miner, published every Thursday during the school year, and can be read online.

[edit] Radio

There are two broadcast radio stations associated with UMR; KUMR and KMNR. KUMR is member-supported public radio, typically playing classical, bluegrass and jazz music, as well as National Public Radio programs. KMNR is a student-run free-format radio station whose music playlist varies with the mood and inclination of the DJ. Some of whom will even take call in request.Every year KMNR puts on two concerts Freakers Ball, In the fall, and Glitter Ball in the spring. There is also an amateur radio station, WØEEE.

[edit] St. Patrick's Day

The dominant cultural event at UMR is St. Patrick's Day. Every year boasts being the "Best St. Pat's Ever!" During St. Pat's, students wear green sweatshirts (which are sold as fundraisers throughout the season), carry shillelaghs, and party. One tradition is the killing of rubber snakes (in commemoration of St. Patrick's mythical banishing of snakes from Ireland). Along with snake invasion comes the tradition of Follies. Students meet at the Puck to hear jokes and participate in short competitions. On the third day of Follies students move to the Bandshell in town to take part in the arrival of St. Pat's Court. The day after Follies students participate in Gonzo and Games. Gonzo and Games are two days of more drawn out games that different organizations on campus compete in. Friday of St. Pat's week is concluded with Coronation, a ceremony where the Queen of Love and Beauty is announced. The final event of St. Pat's week is a parade on Pine Street, which has been painted green by St. Pat's Alumni, this parade is known throughout the United States and boasts well over one hundred floats/participants.

St. Pat's Board Alumni paint Pine Street green
St. Pat's Board Alumni paint Pine Street green

Campus organizations name one member to be a Student Knight of St. Patrick. In past years, Student Knights were dunked into a green-colored pool of goo, rumored to consist of various vile substances and affectionately known as Alice. In its heyday, a "date" with Alice was considered to be quite an honor. Alice was discontinued by the school administration in the mid-nineties due to health and safety concerns.

The rationale for the celebration is that St. Patrick is the patron saint of engineers. (This claim has various rationales, for instance: that Saint Patrick drove the snakes from Ireland; a snake is just a big worm; therefore, Patrick invented the worm drive; worm drives are used by engineers; thus, Patrick is their patron saint.) Among UMR students, St. Patrick is better recognized as an emblem for university than the official mascot, Joe Miner.

[edit] Intramurals

Intramural sports have a very large following at the University of Missouri-Rolla. With over 60 mens teams and over 10 womens teams, sports are arranged into divisions. Nineteen different sports are contested each year: Golf, Softball, Swimming, Ultimate, Cross Country, Football, Billiards, Badminton, Volleyball, Darts, Racquetball, Bowling, Basketball, Table Tennis, Tennis, Track, Washers (similar to Horseshoes), Weightlifting, and Soccer. Additional information can be found at the Intramural Managers Association page.

[edit] Student Organizations

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There are over 200 student organizations at UMR ranging from professional societies to community service organizations and beyond. A full list can be found on the Student Life homepage.

[edit] Notable Alumni

  • Gary Havener of Fort Worth, Texas, graduated in 1962, donated $5 million for construction of the Havener Center, at the time the largest single donation from a private source that the university had ever received.
  • John Toomey, graduated in 1949, donated $5 million for the construction of the new mechanical and aerospace engineering complex, Toomey Hall. The largest donation for the construction of an academic building in UMR’s history.
  • Greg "Fossilman" Raymer, 2004 World Series of Poker champion, won $5 million.
  • Aaron Buerge, who received his Bachelor of Science from UMR in 1997, was the second bachelor to appear on the TV show The Bachelor.

[edit] Computer

  • Steve Sullivan, 2001 Academy Award winner for visual effects; a principal engineer with George Lucas' Industrial Light and Magic special effects company
  • S. Dale McHenry, Vice President of Data Network Services at AT&T
  • Ricardo Alberto Ramos, Manager of Maintenance and Engineering at Dell Computer Corporation

[edit] Engineering

[edit] Scientists

[edit] Astronauts

  • Thomas Akers, retired Air Force Col., a veteran of four space flights, holds bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics from UMR ('73 and '75), and is currently a professor at UMR.
  • Janet Kavandi, whose debut space shuttle flight in June 1999 was the final Mir-shuttle docking, holds a master's degree in chemistry from UMR ('82).
  • Sandra Magnus, who became a NASA astronaut in 1996, holds a bachelor's degree in physics ('86) and a master's degree in electrical engineering ('90) from UMR.

[edit] Business

  • Gary D. Forsee - CEO of Sprint
  • Ted Weise, former president of FedEx, one of the first employees of FedEx (formerly Federal Express) when the company started in the early 1970s, and worked his way up to the position of president. He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from UMR ('67).[2]

[edit] Arts, Film and Literature

  • Lora Roberts, author of the six Liz Sullivan mysteries, holds a bachelor's degree in English from UMR ('71). She credits UMR for helping build a solid foundation from which to launch her writing career.

[edit] Journalism

  • Richard W. Phelps, Editor of Engineering & Mining Journal

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ UMR Public Relations (2006-11-10). The Case for a Name Change. UMR.edu. Retrieved on 2006-12-03.

[edit] External links


University of Missouri

Columbia • Kansas City • Rolla • St. Louis
Public Colleges and Universities in Missouri
Harris-Stowe State University • Lincoln University • Missouri Southern State University • Missouri State University • Missouri Western State University • Northwest Missouri State University • Truman State University • University of Central Missouri • University of Missouri–Columbia • University of Missouri–Kansas City • University of Missouri–Rolla • University of Missouri–St. Louis
Great Lakes Valley Conference
Bellarmine • Drury • Indianapolis • Kentucky Wesleyan • Lewis • Missouri-Rolla • Missouri-St. Louis • Northern Kentucky • Quincy • Rockhurst • Saint Joseph's • Southern Illinois-Edwardsville • Southern Indiana • Wisconsin–Parkside
Great Lakes Football Conference
Central State • Kentucky Wesleyan • Lincoln (MO) • Missouri-Rolla • Saint Joseph's • Tiffin
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