University of Chicago

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the public university in Chicago, see University of Illinois at Chicago. For the earlier university of the name, see Old University of Chicago.

University of Chicago
Latin: Universitas Chicagiensis
Motto	Crescat scientia; vita excolatur (Latin)
Motto in English	Let knowledge grow from more to more; and so be human life enriched[1]
Established	1890
Type	Private nondenominational coeducational
Endowment	US$7.47 billion[2]
President	Robert J. Zimmer
Academic staff	2,168[3]
Administrative staff	14,772 (including employees of theUniversity of Chicago Medical Center)[3]
Students	14,954[4]
Undergraduates	5,134[4]
Postgraduates	9,820[4]
Location	Chicago, Illinois, USA
Campus	Urban, 211 acres (85.4 ha)[3]
Colors	Maroon      White     [5]
Athletics	NCAA Division III – UAA
Nickname	Maroons
Mascot	Phoenix
Affiliations	AAU NAICU 568 Group URA CIC
Website	uchicago.edu

The University of Chicago (U of C, UChicago, or simply Chicago) is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. The university consists of the College of the University of Chicago, various graduate programs and interdisciplinary committees organized into four divisions, six professional schools, and a school of continuing education. A highly regarded university internationally, beyond the arts and sciences, Chicago is also well known for its professional schools, which include the Pritzker School of Medicine, the Booth School of Business, the Law School, and the Divinity School. The university enrolls approximately 5,000 students in the College and about 15,000 students overall.

University of Chicago scholars have played a major role in the development of various academic disciplines, including: the Chicago school of economics, the Chicago school of sociology, the law and economics movement in legal analysis,^[6] the Chicago school of literary criticism, the Chicago school of religion,^[7] the school of political science known as behavioralism.^[8] The physics leading to the world's first man-made, self-sustaining nuclear reaction took place here.^[9] The university is also home to the University of Chicago Press, the largest university press in the United States.^[10]

Founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, the University of Chicago was incorporated in 1890; William Rainey Harper became the university's first president in 1891, and the first classes were held in 1892. Both Harper and future president Robert Maynard Hutchins advocated for Chicago's curriculum to be based upon theoretical and perennial issues rather than applied sciences and commercial utility.^[11]

The University of Chicago is home to many prominent alumni. 89 Nobel laureates^[12] have been affiliated with the university as visiting professors, students, faculty, or staff, the fourth most of any institution in the world. In addition, Chicago's alumni include 49 Rhodes Scholars,^[13] 2 Fields Medalists,^[14] 13 National Humanities Medalists^[15] and 13 billionaire graduates.^[16]