Bryant University is a private university, located in Smithfield, Rhode Island, U.S., that
grants the degrees of bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and
master's degrees in business, taxation and accounting. Until August
2004, it was known as Bryant College.[2]
Bryant comprises the College of Arts and Sciences and the College
of Business,[3]
and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and
Colleges and the AACSB International.[4]
History
Butler Exchange &
downtown Providence
Bryant University was founded in 1863 as a branch of a national
school which originally taught bookkeeping and methods of business
communication and was named after founders, John Collins Bryant and Henry Beadman Bryant.[5]
In 1916, the Rhode Island branch was sold and merged with the Rhode
Island Commercial School.[5]
Classes for Bryant and Stratton College were originally held in the
now demolished Butler Exchange building located in downtown
Providence, at 111
Westminster Street on Kennedy Plaza. Bryant became non-profit in 1949
and offered its first master's program in 1969.[5]
College
Hill
From August 1, 1935 to 1971, Bryant College of Business
Administration campus was located on College Hill near Brown University. Housed first at "South
Hall" at the corner of Hope Street and Young Orchard Avenue,
formally Hope Hospital, the college expanded into neighboring
buildings. The "South Hall" building was originally the 19th
century home of a manufacturing family Sprague.[6]
Smithfield
In 1971, the University moved to its current campus in
Smithfield, Rhode Island, when the
founder of Tupperware, Earl
Silas Tupper, a Bryant alumnus, donated the current 428 acres
(1.73 km2) of land to be the new campus. The famous
Bryant Archway was also relocated. The old Emin Homestead and
Captain Joseph Mowry homestead occupied much of the land that makes
up the present day Smithfield campus. The land was purchased and
farmed for three generations between the late 19th century and the
mid-20th century. Today, many descendants of the original Emin
settlers still live near the Bryant campus. The school also claims
a handful of family members as alumni and offers a scholarship for
accounting students as a tribute to the Emin family. Historical
pictures of the Emin Homestead can still be found in the Alumni
house.
[5]
Bryant
Archway tradition
Students at Bryant have a particular way of symbolizing the
completion of their education: walking through the archway. The
story of the archway dates back to 1875. Isaac Gifford Ladd, an
associate of Charles M. Schwab and a famous U.S. steel
tycoon, constructed a one million dollar building which contained
the iron arch on Young Orchard Avenue on the east side of
Providence. This building was meant to be a sign of his endearment
to his newlywed wife.[7]
However, his wife expressed hatred for the structure which was
named after her. He took this as a personal rejection, and Ladd
later took his own life. The building remained unoccupied until
Thomas Marsden transformed it into Hope Hospital, which was part of
Bryant College. To provide more space for classes, an addition was
constructed and Hope Hospital was renamed South Hall. In October
1967, Earl S. Tupper, alumnus and inventor of Tupperware, donated
his 428-acre (1.73 km2) hillside estate to Bryant
College for the creation of the new campus. To thank Tupper for his
generous gift, Bryant named the campus after him and awarded him a
second degree, an honorary Ph.D. in Humane Letters. Four years
later, in the fall of 1971, the school relocated to Smithfield and
sold the Providence campus to Brown
University. Prior to leaving Providence, the wrought-iron arch at
the entrance to South Hall was transported to the new
campus.[7]
The former South Hall became home to Brown University's music
department, and is now called the Orwig Music Center.
Today, the archway remains the only physical link to the
Providence campus. After the archway was transferred from the old
campus, students immediately began to avoid passing through this
out-of-place structure. As a rumor had it, walking through the
archway before graduation mysteriously jeopardized chances of
graduating. Since this is quite a large price to pay for not
following tradition, most students opted not to take the chance,
which has resulted in worn paths around the arch. This tradition
has shaped the behavior of thousands of Bryant University students
on Tupper campus for the past 30 years, and has become a focal
point in the legend and mystique of Bryant.[7]
Archway
Seal
The Bryant Seal represents the educational mission of the
university and its worldwide implications. The central symbol is an
ellipsoid globe with quills on each side to signify the traditional
emblem of communication in business. In the center, behind the
globe, is a torch symbolizing liberty, the spirit of free inquiry,
academic freedom, and learning. The Archway, forming the background
for the globe, torch, and quills, is a University landmark
affectionately and superstitiously by Bryant alumni. The Latin
motto expresses the purpose of the University: "Cognitio. Virtus.
Successus." – Which means Knowledge. Character. Success. The
original Latin motto has remained unchanged and has been translated
into the university's current day motto which is The Character
of Success.[7]
Presidents
Ronald K. Machtley is
the seventh president of Bryant University. The president is the
chief executive officer of the college and is responsible for the
success of the college's mission in providing superior academic
programs and research.[8]
Hassenfield Common and Bryant's Unistucture & Globe Dome
| • Theodore Stowell |
1863–1916 |
| • Henry L. Jacobs |
1916–1961 |
| • E. Gardner Jacobs |
1961–1970 |
| • Harry F. Evarts |
1970–1976 |
| • William T. O'Hara |
1976–1989 |
| • William E. Trueheart |
1989–1996 |
| • Hon. Ronald K. Machtley |
1996 – Present |
Troubled
times
Bryant continued to grow after the move to Smithfield, but began
to face serious problems starting in the early 1990s. Nationwide,
the number of students applying to college had dropped
precipitously, and Bryant was no exception. Applications and
interest in the college were way down and enrollment had dropped to
below 2,000 students. Three of the school's 16 dormitories sat
empty; two were converted to administrative use. Although the
campus was clean and well-maintained, Bryant's facilities needed
upgrading. Bryant wrote its accounts with red ink throughout the
early part of the decade, and at its worst, the school had a $1.7
million budget deficit.
The
Machtley Presidency
The Bryant logo at the entrance to the University
Ronald K. Machtley, a former Navy captain and U.S.
Representative, was hired as president in 1996. When Machtley
arrived he immediately began working with faculty, students and the
Board of Trustees to ensure the future of Bryant. He announced an
ambitious capital campaign and plans to build new facilities and
upgrade old ones. Under the Machtley administration, Bryant has
built a new library, athletic center, communications and IT
complex, residence hall, interfaith center, upgraded all athletic
fields, and completely renovated the main classroom building and
the student union. The school also changed its name to Bryant
University in 2004. Its selectivity has increased, and the days of
budget deficits are gone. The university endowment in 2007 totaled
$171 million, a net increase of $169 million in just 10
years.[9]
In 2008, Bryant had two very special visitors. On Thursday,
February 28, 2008, former U.S. President Bill Clinton campaigned at Bryant University in
support of Hillary Clinton's bid for the Democratic
presidential nomination. This was the first time in the school's
history that either a former U.S. president or presidential
candidate came to Bryant University to give a speech. Also in 2008,
the 41st President of the United States George H. W. Bush gave the 2008
Commencement Address on May 17, 2008. Bush received an honorary
degree from the University. Within only three months of each other,
Bryant had two of the only four former U.S Presidents still living
come to speak on campus.
Campus
buildings
George E.
Bello Center for Information and Technology
Alumni Walk with the Unistructure in the background
This 71,000-square-foot (6,600 m2) building
houses the college library, previously located in the
Unistructure.
Overlooking the study area inside of Bello
The George E. Bello Center for Information and Technology was
designed by Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects, a firm in
New York City that has been nationally recognized for its design of
the Science, Industry, & Business Library (SIBL) for the New
York Public Library.
Unistructure
The Unistructure is the center of Bryant's academic activity. It
currently contains nearly all classrooms, most faculty and
administrative offices, and many academic resources.
The
Michael E. '67 and Karen L. Fisher Student Center
Front of the Fisher Student Center
The Fisher Student Center (known as the Bryant Center until
September 2013) offers offices and meeting spaces for a wide
variety of co-curricular activities, clubs and student
organizations.
[10]
Koffler Verizon
Communications Complex
Front of the Koffler Center
The Koffler Technology Center is Bryant's computer center. More
than 200 terminals, microcomputers, and workstations are located
here. Facilities offer individual workstations for hands-on
learning and shared workstations for group projects.
The Koffler center is also home to the university's TV and radio
stations. WJMF
takes up most of the main floor, sharing space with the TV/Editing
studio.
John H. Chafee
Center for International Business
The building was named after the late Rhode Island Senator
John Chafee. The Center serves the regional
business community, as well as offering hands on opportunities for
students to learn about global business. The Chafee Center houses
the World Trade Center and Export Assistance Center for the state
of Rhode Island.
Suite
Village
The Suite Village is a collection of fourteen residence halls
with thirteen of them housing 90 students. The last and the newest,
hall seventeen, houses approximately 200 students. Every suite has
three double bedrooms, a living area and private bathroom with
multiple stalls and showers. Each of the four floors has four
suites, with each suite separated by gender.[11][12]
First Year
Complex
These three halls – entirely reserved for first-year
students – are four-story, co-educational halls with north
and south wings.[11]
Ronald K. and
Kati C. Machtley Interfaith Center
The Interfaith Center opened at the start of the 2009-2010
academic year to replace the previous chapel in the Bryant Center.
Located between the Bryant Center and the George E. Bello Center
for Information and Technology, it is a 11,000-square-foot
(1,000 m2) non-denominational place of worship and
reflection for all members of the campus community. The center,
designed by Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects, a firm in
New York City that has been nationally recognized for its work, has
received two design awards: a 2010 Honor Design Award from Faith
& Form magazine/The Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art and
Architecture, and a Building of America Award from Construction
Communications magazine for the center's use of sustainable
materials.
On October 9, 2010, the Board of Trustees honored President
Ronald K. Machtley and his wife Kati C. Machtley by dedicating the
Interfaith Center in their names.[13]
Salmanson
Dining Hall
Salmanson Dining Hall, inside the Unistructure, was named after
Leonard I. Salmanson in 1973. Prior to this time, it was said that
Salmanson made one donation which was one of the largest Bryant had
ever received up until this time. Bryant awarded Salmanson an
honorary degree of Doctor of Science of Business Administration in
1972 and he became a Bryant trustee in 1974.[14]
Residence
life
Bryant residence life guarantees housing for all four years,
although off-campus housing is a growing trend. Bryant also has a
strict drug policy, which involves the Smithfield Police Department
in all cases of violations. In 2010 Smithfield Police were able to
arrest 34 Bryant students for possession of marijuana.[15]
This placed the school at number 4 on The Daily Beast's 2011 list of druggiest
colleges. In 2010 the school placed at number 2 on the
list.[16]
The University "unequivocally" rejected the characterization,
called The Daily Beast's representations "without foundation," and
considered the methodology "badly flawed."[17]
Academics
Schools and
programs
Bryant University is divided into two colleges: the College of
Business, and the College of Arts and Sciences. Each offers
undergraduate and graduate degrees. Most students are enrolled in a
business discipline.
All students in a Business Administration major are required to
complete one of the 27 liberal arts minors. Students in the
Bachelor of Science in International Business program are required
to complete a language minor. All students majoring in the College
of Arts and Sciences also complete a business minor.[18]
A Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies is in the
accreditation process, seeking initial Accreditation-Provisional
from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the
Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).[19]
College of Business
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
- Accounting
- Accounting Information Systems
- Computer Information Systems
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Financial Services
- Global Supply Chain Management
- Human Resources Management
- Management
- Marketing
Information Technology
International Business
- Accounting
- Computer Information Systems
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Global Supply Chain Management
- Management
- Marketing
Graduate School of Business
Master of Business Administration
- Global Finance
- Global Supply Chain Management
- International Business
Master of Professional Accountancy
Master of Science in Taxation
College of Arts and Sciences
Bachelor of Arts
- Applied Psychology
- Chinese
- Communication
- Economics
- Global Studies
- History
- Literacy and Cultural Studies
- Politics and Law
- Sociology
- Spanish
Bachelor of Science
- Actuarial Mathematics
- Applied Economics
- Applied Mathematics and Statistics
- Biology
- Environmental Science
Master of Arts
Master of Science
- Global Environmental Sciences
Centers
and institutes
Reputation and rankings
- 16th best international business program in the nation by
Bloomberg Businessweek
- 14th best Master's University in the North as ranked by
U.S. News and World Report.
- 9th "Best Career Placement/Career Services" as ranked by
The Princeton Review.
- #1 "Most Connected Campus" in the United States as ranked by
The Princeton Review.
- #1 "Safest Campus in the United States" as ranked by
Seventeen.
- #1 best National Co-op Placements as ranked by Fidelity Investments.
- #1 "Most Attractive Campus on the East Coast" as ranked by
Seventeen.
- 17th best Accounting program in the country as ranked by
BusinessWeek.[20]
- 23rd best Graduate Business School as ranked by The Princeton Review’s Best
290 Business Schools.
- 54th best MBA Feeder School as ranked by BusinessWeek.[21]
- "Best Buy" as ranked in Barron's Best Buys in College
Education.
- Listed as one of The Princeton Review's Top 361
Colleges.
- Listed as one of America's Best Colleges by U.S. News
and World Report.
- Listed as a campus technology innovator by Campus Technology
Magazine.
- Member of the President's Service Honor Roll with Distinction,
a national recognition.
- 98% of the class of 2012 was either employed or enrolled in
graduate school within six months of graduation.
View of the library (George E. Bello Center for Information and
Technology) and Archway gate
| Bryant University Facts[22][23] |
| Class of 2013 Applicants |
6,013 |
| Class of 2012 Students |
1,675 |
| Class of 2014 Accepted |
56.6% |
| Average GPA |
3.4/4.00 |
| Graduate Students |
773 |
| Undergraduate Students |
4,210 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio |
16:1 |
| Majors Available |
33 |
| Minors Available |
48 |
| Faculty with Terminal Degrees |
98% |
| Retention Rate |
90% |
| Classes taught by Faculty |
100% |
Bryant's average student-to-faculty ratio is 16:1 with most
classes having no more than 30 students. Bryant has also earned an
ever improving reputation in recent years, and has been commended
on a variety of points.
Tuition and financial aid
For the 2013-2014 academic year, Bryant's tuition is $36,872.
Room fees range from $8,020 to $10,480 a year. Meal plans range
from $5,195 to $5,644 a year.[24]
Academic scholarships that range from $8,000 - $30,000 per year,
as well as grants and loans, are available to students. For
Academic Year 2013-2014, Bryant offered to incoming students more
than $10 million
[25] in institutional grants
and merit scholarships.
Athletics
Sellout crowd at #25 Bryant University vs. #2 Bentley College
February 3, 2007 (2,770 in attendance).
Bryant has 22 intercollegiate varsity athletics and participates
in NCAA Division I as a member of the Northeast Conference. Athletic squads
are called the Bulldogs. In addition, students can compete in
various club sports and on intramural teams throughout the academic
year.
On October 8, 2015, the basketball program's assistant coach
Chris Burns came out and made history. He became the first openly
gay coach in NCAA basketball History. He was taken in with hugs and
love from his players after he told them while crying.
The school's basketball team reached the NCAA
Division II Championship Game against Virginia Union in 2005,
and has not only made the NCAA Division II tournament, but made it
to at least the Sweet Sixteen the past four years. The baseball
team reached the Division II College World Series in 2004, and has
hosted the Division II College World Series regionals.
The Football team for the first time in school
history reached the NCAA Tournament in 2006, losing in the Regionals
31-29 to West Chester University. The
2006-2007 was the best season to date in the program's short
history. The following season (2007–2008) the team had an
even more successful year. It won the NE-10 outright, starting the
season with a seven-game winning streak.
Athletics have been very successful over the past four years.
Bryant Athletics won the Northeast-10 Conference's Presidents' Cup in 2004,
2005, and 2007. Bryant lost the Presidents' Cup by only one point
in 2006 to Stonehill College.
Sellout crowd at #17 Bryant University vs. #15 West Chester
University November 18, 2006 (5,434 in attendance).
Bryant University's 22 varsity athletics are broken down into 11
athletic sports for men and 11 for women. The men's teams include
baseball, basketball, cross country, American football, golf,
lacrosse, indoor and outdoor track and field, tennis,
soccer, and swimming and diving. The women's teams
consist of basketball, cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, indoor and outdoor track and field, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis,
and volleyball.[26]
Bryant University also offers sports at the club level. They
offer 20 club level sports teams, and just like varsity athletics
they are broken down evenly into 10 for men and 10 for women. The
men's club sports are: bowling, hockey, karate, racquetball, crew,
rugby, skiing and snowboarding, ultimate frisbee, wrestling, and
volleyball. The women's club sports include bowling, cheerleading,
gymnastics, hockey, karate, ice skating, racquetball, rugby, skiing
and snowboarding, and dance.[26]
Move to
Division I
In the summer of 2007 the University made a public announcement
that it had filed paperwork to begin the transition to Division I
athletics. At that point the university was looking at four
possible conferences to call home once the transition was complete:
the Patriot League, America East Conference, Metro Atlantic Athletic
Conference and the Northeast Conference. On Thursday,
October 18, 2007, Bryant announced it would join the Northeast
Conference, and became a full member in 2012.[27]
Greek
life
Bryant University has a growing Greek Life on campus, with two
of the oldest chapters dating to 1944. Currently, there are five
fraternities and four sororities. While Bryant does not allow Greek
housing, Residence Hall 1 is made up of only Greek Life.
Fraternities
Sororities
Student
life
85 percent of students reside on campus, with living options
ranging from traditional dormitories to suites to townhouse
apartments. The university has five fraternities and four
sororities, and approximately eleven percent of students belong to
these organizations. A total of 76 percent of students are involved
in extra-curriculars, and most work in internships or co-ops before
graduating.
Student
media
Student
demographics
As of the 2007-2008 school year:[28]
- Men: 2,948
- Women: 2,134
- Male/female ratio: 1.38:1
- Black: 3%
- Hispanic: 5%
- Asian: 3%
- Native American: Less than 1%
- White: 83%
- International: 4%
- In-State Students: 14%
- Out-of-State Students: 86%
- Age twenty-one or younger: 86%
- Students residing on campus: 89%
- Retention rate: 90%
- Freshmen who graduate within four years: 64%
Alumni
Main article:
Bryant alumniBryant University has over 39,000 active and donating
alumni.