History of Rowan University in Timeline
Rowan University is a public research university located in Glassboro, New Jersey, with additional campuses in Stratford and Camden. Established in 1923 as Glassboro Normal School, it underwent name changes, becoming Glassboro State College in 1958 and Rowan College of New Jersey in 1992 before achieving its current name in 1997. The university originated from a 25-acre land donation by 107 residents.
13 hours ago : Rowan University Men's Soccer Advances to NCAA Sweet 16, Defeating Wesleyan 2-0.
Rowan University's Men's Soccer team progressed to the NCAA Sweet 16 by securing a 2-0 victory against Wesleyan. Wesleyan's season ended with this defeat in the NCAA Tournament.
1917: Purchase of land for Normal school
In 1917, the residents of Glassboro raised money to purchase land from the Whitney family for the construction of a Normal school.
1923: Opening of Glassboro Normal School
In 1923, Glassboro Normal School opened with a class of 236 students.
1923: Glassboro Normal School Founded
In 1923, Glassboro Normal School was founded in Glassboro, New Jersey on a 25-acre site.
1923: University's opening as a school to train educators
In 1923, Rowan University opened as a school to train educators. This is reflected in the sports teams' nickname, the Profs (short for Professors).
1934: Evolution of Teacher Training to a Four-Year Program
In 1934, the teacher training program at Glassboro Normal School evolved into a four-year program.
1935: Start of Programs for Teachers for Reading Disabilities
In 1935, Glassboro State began programs for teachers for reading disabilities, making it one of the first in the country to do so.
1937: Renaming to The New Jersey State Teachers College at Glassboro
In 1937, the school was renamed The New Jersey State Teachers College at Glassboro and became co-educational shortly thereafter.
1938: The Whit served as campus newspaper
Since 1938, The Whit has served as the campus newspaper, covering school news, student life, Rowan sports, and entertainment.
1943: Wartime Low Enrollment
In 1943, enrollment at Glassboro State hit a wartime low of 170 students.
1944: Start of Programs for Teachers for Physical Therapy
In 1944, Glassboro State began programs for teachers for physical therapy, one of the first in the country to do so.
1947: Henry M. Rowan, Jr. graduated from MIT
In 1947, Industrialist Henry M. Rowan, Jr. graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
1958: Name change to Glassboro State College
In 1958, Glassboro Normal School was renamed Glassboro State College.
1964: Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM began
In 1964, Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM began on a $6,000 budget.
1968: Venue publication formed
In 1968, Venue, an alternative student publication with a heavy political focus, was initially formed.
October 30, 1970: Black Sabbath's First U.S. Concert
On October 30, 1970, the campus hosted hard rock band Black Sabbath's first U.S. concert.
December 1972: Stephen Setrin Stabbing
In December 1972, Stephen Setrin was stabbed while on the grounds of Glassboro State College.
1978: Baseball team won NCAA Division III National Championship
In 1978, the baseball team won the NCAA Division III National Championship.
1979: Men's soccer team finished second
In 1979, the men's soccer team finished second in the nation.
1980: Men's soccer team finished third
In 1980, the men's soccer team finished third in the nation.
1981: Men's soccer team won national title
In 1981, the men's soccer team won a national title.
1985: Men's soccer team finished third
In 1985, the men's soccer team finished third in the nation.
1986: Loud Party Atmosphere
In 1986, Glassboro State College made national news during "Spring Weekend" due to a loud party atmosphere.
January 1987: Glassboro State College Ranked #28 Party School in the Nation
In January 1987, Glassboro State College was ranked as the #28 Party School in the nation in Playboy magazine.
1988: Crackdown on Partying Culture
In 1988, one of the biggest crackdowns in school history began at Glassboro State College due to the drinking death of a student at Rutgers University. The New Jersey Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABC) was invited to the school.
1990: Men's soccer team won national title
In 1990, the men's soccer team won a national title.
1992: Name Change to Rowan College of New Jersey
In 1992, Glassboro State College was renamed Rowan College of New Jersey.
1992: Transformation to Rowan University
In 1992, president Herman James oversaw the development of Glassboro State College into what would eventually become Rowan University.
1992: Football team in national semifinals
In 1992, the Profs football team reached the national semifinals.
1993: Football team at Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl
In 1993, the Profs football team went to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.
1995: Football team at Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl
In 1995, the Profs football team went to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.
August 12, 1996: Murder-Suicide Outside Bozorth Hall
On August 12, 1996, 22-year-old Cindy Nannay was fatally shot outside Bozorth Hall by her estranged boyfriend, who then killed himself with a shotgun.
1996: Football team at Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl
In 1996, the Profs football team went to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.
1996: Men's basketball team won national title
In 1996, the men's basketball team won the NCAA Division III National Championship.
1997: Achievement of University Status
In 1997, Rowan College of New Jersey achieved university status based on its doctoral degree program and master's-level programs.
1997: Name change to Rowan University
In 1997, Rowan College of New Jersey was renamed Rowan University.
1997: Football team in national semifinals
In 1997, the Profs football team reached the national semifinals.
1998: Donald J. Farish chosen as president
In 1998, Donald J. Farish was chosen to succeed Herman James as president of Rowan University and began further expansion on the Glassboro campus.
1998: Football team at Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl
In 1998, the Profs football team went to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.
1998: Men's soccer team finished third
In 1998, the men's soccer team finished third in the nation.
1999: Football team at Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl
In 1999, the Profs football team went to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.
2000: Men's soccer team finished second
In 2000, the men's soccer team finished second in the nation. Rowan also hosted the Division III National Championship Tournament Final Four for men's soccer.
2001: Football team in national semifinals
In 2001, the Profs football team reached the national semifinals.
2002: Banning of Kegs
In 2002, the official banning of kegs for use by Greek letter organizations at Rowan University began in earnest.
2002: Women's field hockey team won national championship
In 2002, the women's field hockey team won the national championship, finishing with a perfect season of 21 wins and no losses. Rowan also hosted the Division III National Championship Tournament Final Four for women's lacrosse.
2003: Opening of Modern Science Hall
In 2003, a modern Science Hall opened on the Glassboro campus of Rowan University.
2004: Football team in national semifinals
In 2004, the Profs football team reached the national semifinals.
2004: Baseball team made NCAA Division III World Series appearance
In 2004, the baseball team made an appearance in the NCAA Division III World Series.
2005: Opening of College of Education Building
In 2005, a building to house the College of Education opened on the Glassboro campus of Rowan University.
2005: Football team in national semifinals
In 2005, the Profs football team reached the national semifinals.
2005: Baseball team made NCAA Division III World Series appearance
In 2005, the baseball team made an appearance in the NCAA Division III World Series.
March 20, 2006: Joint Venture with Major League Soccer Announced
On March 20, 2006, Farish announced a joint venture between Rowan University and Major League Soccer (MLS) to construct a new athletic complex.
April 10, 2006: Groundbreaking for the South Jersey Technology Park (SJTP)
On April 10, 2006, Rowan University broke ground for the South Jersey Technology Park (SJTP).
2006: Students Found Guilty of Serving Alcohol to Minors
In 2006, two Rowan University students were found guilty for serving alcohol to minors at an off-campus party.
2007: Cinema Workshop's 30th anniversary
In 2007, Cinema Workshop, the university's student film club, celebrated its 30th anniversary.
2007: Murder of Donald Farrell
In 2007, sophomore Donald Farrell, 19, was robbed and beaten to death by unknown assailants while walking behind the Triad dormitory.
June 26, 2009: Partnership with Cooper University Hospital Announced
On June 26, 2009, it was announced that Rowan would be partnering with Cooper University Hospital to create a new four-year medical school to reside on Broadway in Camden.
2009: MLS Stadium Project Relocated
In 2009, the MLS stadium project, initially planned for Rowan University, was relocated to Chester, Pennsylvania.
June 10, 2011: Preliminary Accreditation Granted to Cooper Medical School
On June 10, 2011, the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University was granted preliminary accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.
2011: Venue printed four issues a year
Up to 2011, Venue printed four issues a year.
January 2012: Proposed Merger with Rutgers-Camden
In January 2012, a state advisory committee proposed a plan to merge Rowan with the Camden campus of Rutgers University.
June 2012: Rejection of Merger and Passage of Restructuring Act
In June 2012, legislation was passed rejecting the idea of a merger between Rowan and Rutgers-Camden, though it did include provisions for a loose collaboration in health sciences.
2012: Opening of Cooper Medical School
In 2012, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University opened with an entering class of 50 students.
2015: Opening of Practice Fields
In 2015, the university opened a 17.5-acre site across from the South Jersey Technology Park at Rowan University with practice fields for various sports.
2016: Average GPA
As of the fall of 2016, the average accepted GPA at Rowan was 3.46.
2017: Fall Enrollment Statistics
Enrollment at Rowan from the fall semester of 2017 shows 15,401 undergraduates and 2,045 graduate students from 38 states and 34 countries.
2017: Rowan University offered apartment-style housing options
Starting in the fall of 2017, Rowan University offered apartment-style housing options in a public-private partnership with Nexus Properties.
2019: Expansion of Mental Health Resources
Following student deaths in 2019, Rowan University expanded its resources to better accommodate students' mental health, including bringing the number of counselors employed to 17 and partnering with TogetherAll.
2019: Opening of Inspira Medical Center complex
In late 2019, the Inspira Medical Center complex opened on a vast site adjacent to the West Campus athletic fields.
2021: Continued criticism for mental health resource gaps
Between 2019 and 2021, Rowan University faced criticism for not providing more mental health resources and support for students after four students committed suicide.
2021: Baseball team made NCAA Division III World Series appearance
In 2021, the baseball team made an appearance in the NCAA Division III World Series.
2022: Rowan hosted the Division III National Championship Tournament Final Four for field hockey
In 2022, Rowan hosted the Division III National Championship Tournament Final Four for field hockey.
2024: Best Colleges Rankings
In 2024, Rowan University was included in Best Colleges Rankings.
2024: Equivalent budget of Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM
In 2024, the initial budget of Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM ($6,000 in 1964) is equivalent to $60,830.
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