News

• RMU has reached an agreement with Sheetz, one of America’s fastest growing family-owned and operated convenience store chains, for its employees to earn a college degree at a deep discount. All of Sheetz’s full-time and part-time employees are eligible, and they may choose from among RMU’s certificate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree programs – including those offered fully online. The exclusive tuition discount that RMU will provide Sheetz employees, coupled with Sheetz’s existing tuition assistance benefits, means that many workers will pay little or nothing out-of-pocket to earn a college degree. Read more here.

• West Allegheny High School students who want to become teachers can complete seven RMU education courses before they’ve even earned their high school diploma. As part of RMU’s Early College in High School Academy, West Allegheny students would pay only $250 for each course, a total savings of approximately $22,000 for all seven courses. Those classes, which equal 21 college credits, represent nearly an entire year’s worth of required courses for students who want to become early childhood or K-12 teachers. What’s more, West Allegheny has a similar partnership with the Community College of Allegheny County, in which students can earn up to 24 credits in general core courses including math, science, and history. Those credits transfer directly to RMU, so a student who completed both programs would enter Robert Morris with 45 college credits under their belt. Read more here.

• The School of Informatics, Humanities and Social Sciences has added nine new bachelor’s degree programs, further broadening its offerings for students interested in careers in media, design, and communication. The programs will be offered on campus beginning in the fall semester in the Department of Arts and Humanities and the Department of Communication and Organizational Leadership. Read more here.

• A total of 25 student-athletes from the RMU rowing team were named to the 2021 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Rowing All-Academic Team, it was announced Wednesday. To be eligible, a student-athlete must complete two semesters at their institution and hold a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.20 on a 4.00 scale. Sacred Heart led the way with 37 student-athletes named to the 2021 MAAC Rowing All-Academic Team, followed by Jacksonville (26), the Colonials, Marist (24) and Fairfield (23). Seven seniors, 10 juniors, seven sophomores and a graduate student make up the 2021 MAAC Rowing All-Academic Team for RMU. Read more here.

• RMU and the Allegheny County Health Department have partnered to host a vaccine clinic (Pfizer) for anyone 12 and older at the UPMC Events Center, at several dates over the next few weeks. Everyone who gets vaccinated at the events center will receive a free t-shirt, a certificate for a free bucket of balls at the RMU Island Sports Center Golf Dome, and can qualify to win season tickets in basketball and football. To learn more or to register, go to rmu.edu/vaccine.

Editor's Note -- Remember that the Minuteman is now on its summer publication schedule, and will updated every other week until the start of the fall semester.