View source for University of Mobile

{{Short description|Baptist university in Mobile, Alabama, US}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2011}}
{{Infobox university
| name = University of Mobile
| image_size = 200px
| motto = Higher Education for a Higher Purpose
| established = {{Start year and age|1961}}
| type = [[Private university]]
| religious_affiliation = [[Alabama Baptist Convention]]
| endowment = $86,000,000
| president = Charles W. Smith Jr.
| vice-president = 
| students = 1,885
| city = [[Prichard, Alabama|Prichard]]
| state = [[Alabama]]
| country = United States
| campus = Suburban
| athletics = 
| sports = 
| sports_nickname = Rams
| athletics_affiliations = [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] – [[Southern States Athletic Conference|SSAC]]
| mascot = Mac the Ram
| website = [https://umobile.edu umobile.edu]
| logo = 
| footnotes = 
| image_name = 
| faculty = 100
| administrative_staff = 100
| coor = {{Coord|30.793325|-88.128789|type:edu_region:US-AL|display=inline,title}}
| former_name = Mobile College (1961–1993)
| colors = Garnet, Black & Gray<br>{{color box|#a32136}}&nbsp;{{color box|black}}&nbsp;{{color box|#dad9d7}}
}}

The '''University of Mobile''' is a [[Private university|private]] [[Baptist]] university in [[Prichard, Alabama]], in [[Mobile County]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.maptechnica.com/city-map/Prichard/AL/0162496|title=Prichard, Alabama :: Boundary Map of Prichard, Alabama|website=www.maptechnica.com|access-date=2016-09-30|archive-date=October 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002202557/https://www.maptechnica.com/city-map/Prichard/AL/0162496|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is affiliated with the [[Alabama Baptist Convention]] ([[Southern Baptist Convention]]).

== History ==
[[Image:Bedsolelibraryumobile.jpg|thumb|right| Bedsole Library]]
The university was founded in 1961 by the Alabama Baptist State Convention under the name of '''Mobile College'''.<ref>The Sun, [http://www.southeastsun.com/news/schools/article_25853bfe-f395-11ea-88df-c3a741a07598.html University of Mobile releases ‘UM Day’ schedule, $2,000 scholarship offer], christianpost.com, USA, September 10, 2020</ref> In 1993, the college was renamed University of Mobile in reference to its location in Mobile County, not to be confused with the City of Mobile.<ref>{{cite news|author-first1=Lawrence |author-last1=Specker|url=https://www.al.com/news/mobile/2016/04/tim_smith_named_as_university.html|title=Tim Smith named as University of Mobile's new president; has background in healthcare, academia|website=al.com|publisher=Advance Local Media LLC|date=April 11, 2016}}</ref> For the 2018-2019 year, it had 1,885 students.<ref>Univstats,  [https://www.univstats.com/colleges/university-of-mobile/student-population/ Mobile Student Population], univstats.com, USA, retrieved May 8, 2021</ref>

==Organization==
The University of Mobile is governed by a [[board of trustees]]. Members are recommended by the president of the university, reviewed by the Committee on Boards at the Alabama Baptist State Convention, and appointed by the Alabama Baptist State Convention. Elected trustees serve 4-year terms with reelection possible up to a maximum of 12 continuous years, after which an individual must be off the board for at least one year before becoming eligible to return. Life trustees must have held an elected position on the board for 20 years and may then be presented by the president for election to the life position. As of April 2008, the university had 33 elected trustees and four life trustees.<ref name="encyclopediaofalabama.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-2030|title=Encyclopedia of Alabama: University of Mobile|publisher=Encyclopediaofalabama.org|access-date=December 13, 2014}}</ref>

==Academics==
* Alabama School of the Arts
* College of Arts and Sciences
* Celia Wallace College of Health Professions
* Grace Pilot School of Business
* School of Education
* School of Christian Studies

The University of Mobile has also established engineering partnership programs with [[Auburn University]] and the [[University of South Alabama]] by which students may receive a bachelor's degree from the University of Mobile and a bachelor's degree in engineering from the participating university.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.umobile.edu/acad/artandscience/mathematics.asp|title=Mathematics Program at the University of Mobile|publisher=Umobile.edu|access-date=December 13, 2014|archive-date=February 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211155731/http://www.umobile.edu/acad/artandscience/mathematics.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Image:Faulkerhall.jpg|thumb|right|Faulkner Residence Hall]]

==Student life==
The University of Mobile has 1,577 students from thirty states and twenty-four nations.<ref>[http://www.umobile.edu/aboutum/default.asp Umobile.edu] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609052714/http://www.umobile.edu/aboutum/default.asp |date=June 9, 2009 }}</ref> Overall, sixty-five percent of the students enrolled are from the Mobile area or surrounding counties while seventeen percent are from other areas in Alabama. Forty percent of the student body reside on campus.  Sixty-five percent of the students are [[Southern Baptist]].<ref name="encyclopediaofalabama.org"/>

===Residential life===
At its inception, Mobile College was entirely a [[commuter]] school until the first residence halls, Arendall and Bedsole Halls (originally named East and West Dorms, respectively), were completed. Along with Arendall and Bedsole, President Weaver also oversaw the addition of housing cottages, which would eventually be named Avery Woods. President Magnoli oversaw the addition of the university's fourth student housing unit, the 3-storied Ingram Hall. Under President Foley the university residential area expanded to include Samford Hall, Faulkner Hall, and the Timbers, renamed Foley Hall in 2023.<ref>[http://www.umobile.edu/winrams/res_life/rates.html Umobile.edu] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513112322/http://www.umobile.edu/winrams/res_life/rates.html |date=May 13, 2008 }}</ref>

==Athletics==
The Mobile athletic teams are called the Rams. The university is a member of the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA), primarily competing in the [[Southern States Athletic Conference]] (SSAC; formerly known as Georgia–Alabama–Carolina Conference (GACC) until spring 2004) since the 2010–11 academic year. The Rams previously competed in the [[HBCU Athletic Conference|Gulf Coast Athletic Conference]] (GCAC) from 1985–86 to 2009–10.

Mobile competes in 22 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis and track and field (indoor and outdoor); while women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball; and co-ed sports include competitive cheer and spirit squad.

The university colors are garnet, black and gray, and a ram is the mascot. The school's intercollegiate program began in 1985 as one of the first acts of the newly appointed President Magnoli. The university has won national championships in men's tennis in 1993; women's tennis (1994); men's golf, men's tennis, and women's soccer in 1997; women's golf (1998); men's soccer (2002); and women's softball (2006).<ref name="encyclopediaofalabama.org"/>

==Notable alumni==
* [[Michael Azira]] - professional soccer player
* [[Erin Bethea]] - actress
* [[Big Daddy Weave]] - [[contemporary Christian music|contemporary Christian]] band
* [[Gina DeVettori]] - actress
* [[Joe Espada]] - Manager, [[Houston Astros]]
* [[Donna Givens]] - American politician from Alabama
* [[Sunny Mabrey]] - actress
* [[Saúl Rivera]] - professional baseball player
* [[J. C. Romero]] - professional baseball player
* [[Sarah Thomas (American football official)|Sarah Thomas]] - college and professional football referee

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://umobile.edu}}
* [https://umobilerams.com Official athletics website]

{{Southern Baptist Colleges}}
{{Southern States Athletic Conference navbox}}
{{Colleges and universities in Alabama}}
{{Mobile, Alabama}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:University of Mobile| ]]
[[Category:1961 establishments in Alabama]]
[[Category:Baptist Christianity in Alabama]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1961]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention]]
[[Category:Private universities and colleges in Alabama|University of Mobile]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Mobile, Alabama]]