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Rowan University Profile

Glassboro, New Jersey

The Basics

Rowan University was established in 1923 and is currently one of the schools in New Jersey’s 10-school, public education system. The university is favorable to South New Jersey students because it’s in close proximity to Philadelphia, which is approximately 20 miles away by car. Rowan University is located in the rural town of Glassboro, New Jersey. It has a college for liberal arts and sciences school and the facility also boasts research and communications resources for students and local residents to enjoy. Rowan is also unique because it offers students the ability to enjoy a park like setting within an hour from Atlantic City and the Jersey Shore. I think this issue is important to students who want an exciting cultural experience without having to live in a city.

The footprint of the school is large for a state school with approximately 200 acres of property. The campus of Rowan University dominates the township because the school is the largest real estate holder within the community. The campus has approximately 40 buildings including lecture, sports, performing arts, and student housing facilities. Rowan has gone through and is continuing massive growth of the campus with several new buildings on Route 322. Rowan is also developing a commercial partnership with a major hotel chain to build a mixed-use hotel and shopping center on Main Street.

The issue of student housing on campus is not a challenge for Rowan due to its relatively small student population and large inventory of off campus student apartments within walking distance to the university. The university can provide housing for all undergraduate students according to school officials. The physical layout of the academic buildings, athletic fields, and residence halls is designed to separate the campus into 3 parts for easy access to students. The freshmen housing is interesting at Rowan because it’s located on the southern edge of the old campus. The freshman housing is in close proximity to the new lecture halls across the main avenue of Route 322.

Demographics

Rowan is home to approximately 3000 male and 3800 female full time undergrad students. The university has 400 male and 800 female students attending Rowan on a part-time basis. The university also has 700 male and 300 female graduate students attending the campus. The average age of a freshman is 19 years old. 95% of students are state residents with the rest coming from 11 other states and 25 foreign countries. 79% of students are white, 7% are Hispanic, 10% are African American, and 2% are Asian. The total number of students with on campus housing is 9,700 according to published handouts.

Academic Standards for Admission

Student Housing

Rowan University only guarantees housing for freshman students who have filed their intent to reside on campus by the stated deadline. Upper class students who have continuously registered as full time students can apply for housing on a first come, first serve basis. The university has started updating the housing on campus by developing new units within its Rowan Boulevard project.

Off Campus Housing

Glassboro has been described as a small rural community within driving and commuter distance to Philadelphia. The reason I have mentioned the overall community is to re-assert the point that Rowan is situated in a rural setting. Off campus housing facilities are available because the school owns most of the apartment properties. The town does have a good number of multi-family residences and apartment buildings within driving distance to the school but the issue of renting to students is a challenge because working families who want the local school system for their children are competing for the available housing.

Campus Life

Rowan University is an active public university campus environment that provides students with an outstanding social and educational atmosphere. The admissions demographics paint a picture of a local educational community with a high number of in state residents on campus as full time students. The local community of Glassboro is a short distance away from the school by car and is very supportive of the school’s mission to provide educational opportunities to local residents and on-campus students. The town itself has a student friendly feel to it due to the number Rowan people walking and driving on the main avenue.

The emotional climate of the entire community is very relaxed and social in my opinion. Rowan University is an attractive institution because it offers students natural beauty within its large campus footprint while allowing the flexibility to enjoy historic, cultural, and social venues within nearby Philadelphia.. Having New York City, Philadelphia, not to mention the Jersey Shore down off the Garden State Parkway makes the physical campus enjoyable to several different types of social interactions. The school also has division III sports to watch and enjoy while on campus.

This issue of school culture is also a very important part of campus life because everyone wants to have a connection and emotional fit to their new school and community. Rowan has done a great job developing positive social systems for its students by providing a series of coordinated programs including workshops and seminars for freshman students to advance these studies. This type of process provides a foundation for learning and personal growth providing over 150 academic clubs, student organizations, and over 13 intramural sports activities. Rowan is also home to a substantial Greek population with 20% of students belonging to 12 national fraternities and 8 national sororities.

Campus life at Rowan is more than academic excellence; it’s about building personal relationships with students and facility that continue throughout each student’s career. The school also offers students the ability to enjoy school sports, performing arts, history, cultural events, Greek life, restaurants, and local museums. For example, New York City has hundreds of venues to enjoy the previously stated activities throughout the year. The university also has several global education centers within its campus network for students to learn and gather information about international careers.

The issue of ecology on campus has been addressed in a positive way; the school has been honored with several EPA awards for using green energy resources. The physical environment was reasonably clean and well maintained during my visit with economic conditions being favorable to students and local residents due to the available services in driving distance to the school. Rowan University is also going through a growth period with construction of several state of the art student-housing facilities. The school has also developed comfortable social facilities with Rowan’s student center and its new recreation center, which has plenty of space for sports training and intramurals.

Finally, Rowan has a strong athletic program on campus with several venues for students to participate in or to cheer for fellow students. Local residents and Rowan students can walk over to the sports center to watch the school’s teams play several sports including basketball and women’s volleyball during the year. Finally, the overall up side of exercise facilities within the campus are fantastic with students enjoying them on a daily basis. Rowan participates in 18 NCAA Division III, Varsity Sports for Women and Men.

Public Transportation

Public transportation resources for Rowan are provided by the university’s shuttle system, which takes students to all areas of the campus. Students who attend the university usually drive to campus or keep their vehicles in the parking lots because parking is readily available and public transportation is limited. Another issue for public transportation is the students themselves. The university has a very large number of in-state students who know the streets and highways very well. Knowing the area is key because students who come from other states may not know the area as well and might opt to take a bus or train to their destination because they don’t want to risk getting lost on local roads.

Community Profile

Glassboro New Jersey is a rural town of approximately 19,068 residents in the southwestern county of Gloucester. The town has been described as a gracious, family- centered residential community that is close to Philadelphia. Glassboro has an intellectual side due to its historical heritage, and neighborhood architecture. The town was once called the “Glass works in the Woods” for it’s historical production of glass products going back to the 19th century. Glassboro is a typical rural community with several country roads going in and out of the community. The area does have two shopping areas within a short driving distance to the campus including the College Town Shopping Center and the Deptford Mall on Route 47.

The main road through the community is Route 322 that passes in front of Rowan’s campus. The community has limited shopping opportunities at this time due to large construction projects on Main Street. The Township of Glassboro, in concert with Rowan University, is building a shopping facility called the Boulevard that is expected to help improve off campus facilities, activities for Rowan students, and neighborhood residents. The Project is expected to be finished in 2011.

The community has a real small college town feel to it when you are walking and driving to local shopping centers and campus facilities. The downtown area of Glassboro is almost completely encapsulated by the Rowan community with almost all the buildings being owned by or related to the university. I have mentioned the Boulevard Project to reinforce the point that Rowan University is the main property owner in the area. The township does have a main street but half of it is under construction at this point in time. Residents of Glassboro can and do enjoy several community parks and ball fields in and a round the Rowan campus.

Community demographics

Glassboro New Jersey is a quiet rural community with a total population of 19,274 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The survey highlights several characteristics to describe the population including: 48% of residents are male, 52% are female. 75% of residents are white, 20% are African American, 4% are Hispanic or Latino, and 1% are Asian. The median age of the population is 27 years old. 78% of residents are 18 years old, 65% of residents are over 21 and 21 % of town residents are over the age of 65. The following housing Census data reports 63 % of all housing are owner-occupied and 37% are renter occupied. 5 % of total available housing was vacant according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Local weather

New Jersey enjoys all four seasons of weather including rain and snow. Northeast weather patterns sometimes allow for temperatures to drop below 32 degrees for a considerable amount of time during the winter. New Jersey also gets it’s share of rain during the spring and summer months. A strong indicator of pedestrian traffic around the university can be identified by the northeast weather patterns. Student parking within close proximity to university buildings and student services help reduce exposure literally and figuratively.

Rowan University Hotel Quick Links Page

Below is a list of hotel accommodations found within 15 minutes to Rowan Campus.

Residence Inn by Marriott
1154 Hurffville Road
Deptford N.J. 08096
Fairfield Inn by Marriott Deptford
1160 Hurffville Road
Deptford N.J. 08096

Below is a list of hotel accommodations found within 30 minutes of the Rowan Campus.

Holiday Inn Philadelphia Stadium
900 Packer Ave
Philadelphia P.A. 19148
Embassy Suites Philadelphia Airport
9000 Bartram Ave
Philadelphia P.A. 19153

Below is a sample list of local restaurants in Glassboro N.J. National restaurant chains & shopping resources can be found on Route 47 including the Deptford Mall and the College Town Shopping Center.

The Your College Profile web site also contains an “Everything in Philadelphia” document for families who wish to explore the nearby City of Philadelphia while visiting Rowan University. This site contains a full list of hotels, restaurants, shopping, and entertainment, and tourism resources for families enjoying the region.

Rowan University Quick Links Page