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Frequently Asked Questions
About Slippery Rock University
Slippery Rock University is one of the 14 state-owned institutions that comprise the State System of Higher Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Founded in 1889 as a teacher education institution, Slippery Rock has grown into a comprehensive university. More than 40 buildings on a scenic 600-acre campus located in western Pennsylvania. Slippery Rock University is situated less than an hour north of Pittsburgh, about 90 minutes south of Erie, and 45 minutes west of Youngstown, Ohio. Interstate highways I-79 and I-80 intersect within seven miles of campus. An extension of the university is now located in the North Hills area of Pittsburgh, near route 910 and I-79. The North Hills site offers primarily graduate level and continuing education courses for adult learners.
How can a student visit?
There are three different options available to students who are interested in visiting Slippery Rock University. Students may attend a daily group presentation and tour, a Saturday Showcase program, or our Summer Showcase program. For more information, click here.
Who attends Slippery Rock University?
Slippery Rock's enrollment is 8,300 students, including over 7,500 undergraduate students. Slippery Rock can best be described as a traditional college-aged population, with the majority of our students coming to us from public and parochial high schools. The typical first-year student (new freshman) at Slippery Rock has well over a "B" average in high school, and SAT scores at the Pennsylvania average. Admission is offered to students on a rolling basis. Students' high school course grades, and class rank are reviewed as well as SAT or ACT scores. The average student has completed college preparatory course work, has a GPA of 3.0 or better, is in the top 50% of his or her class, and has an average SAT score of nearly 1000 or an ACT score of 20.
What majors are offered?
More than 60 academic majors are located within our four colleges: the College of Business, Information and Social Sciences, the College of Education, the College of Health, Environment, and Science, and the College of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts. For a complete list of majors, click here.
What is the most popular major at Slippery Rock?
Slippery Rock is a comprehensive university offering well over 160 academic programs of study; therefore, we have many popular majors in each of our four colleges. We have students actively engaged in everything from accounting to theatre, as well as in some unique programs such as environmental studies, parks and recreation, therapeutic recreation services, emerging technology in communication, sport management, and dance. Of course, Slippery Rock offers dozens of majors in the fine and performing arts, allied health, business and communication, mathematics, natural sciences, and the liberal arts.
What is a typical Slippery Rock class day like?
Generally, classes held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are 50 minutes in length and classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays are 75 minutes in length. Evening classes are held once a week for two and one-half hours. There are no weekend classes at The Rock; however, more flexible class schedules may be found at our North Hills site. Students typically have two to three classes per day.
Students and professors interact in classes generally ranging between 25-35 students.
Are students required to live on campus?
First-year students (freshmen) are required to live on campus for their first academic year, unless they live at home with their parent(s) or primary caregiver(s) within a reasonable commuting distance. After the completion of the first-year, students may choose to remain in an on-campus residence hall, move into our on-campus Rock Apartments, or take advantage of a variety of off-campus housing options.
What residence hall options are available to students?
Slippery Rock is proud to offer brand new residential suites. As of fall 2008, six buildings are now open. Two traditional residence halls, North and Kraus, are still available. The new residential suites offer special interest floors, where students with similar interests and academic majors may choose to live near one another. We offer ten special interest floors, including Leadership, Honors, Education, Math & Science and Outdoor Adventures. For more housing information and information on the residence halls, click here.
Can students choose their own residence hall and roommate?
Housing agreement terms and preference sheets are mailed to students who have been offered admission and who have submitted their $90 enrollment deposit. The receipt of the enrollment deposit, triggers Residence Life to mail information to the student. A $175 housing deposit will then be required. First year students (new freshmen) may request a residence hall where they would like to live. Housing assignments are made on a space available basis and all requests may not be able to be honored so students are particularly encouraged to apply early. Students who wish to reside with a particular friend/relative may request to do so. Mutual roommate requests will be honored before a residence hall preference (either traditional or suite-style) as long as vacancies permit. For more information on the room reservation process, click here.
Do students need to bring a computer, carpet, refrigerator, or microwave when they move in to their residence hall room?
All residence halls are wired for the Internet and students receive free internet provider service on a fiber optic backbone. That means it's fast! We also offer multiple connections per room, or as we say "a port for every pillow." So, if your roommate is chatting on IM and you have homework - no problem - you each have your own access. However, PCs and Macs are not required. Computer labs are available in each residence hall for the convenience of the student residents, as well as in the Student Union, library, and many classroom buildings.
In the traditional residence halls, rugs, refrigerators, and microwaves are not provided for students, but can be rented by a company servicing the university within the first week of school in the fall. Students who do not wish to rent appliances may bring their own to the room. Personal appliances must meet residence hall safety requirements set by the Office of Housing.
The new residence halls are carpeted and all studios and suites come equipped with refrigerators and microwaves.
Are freshmen permitted to have a car on campus?
Slippery Rock students are welcome to bring their cars to campus - including first-year (freshmen) students. Parking decals are $25 for the entire year and allow students to park their cars in designated student parking areas located around campus.
Are all students required to have a meal plan?
Students living in a University-owned residence hall are required to purchase a meal plan contract. There are nine plans available to residents as well as a few options designed specifically for commuter students. See the Food Services page for more information.
What are the meal plan options?
Meal plans provide students with a designated number of meals per week. We have many plans to fit the needs of a variety of resident and commuter students. A week begins with Monday breakfast and concludes with Sunday dinner. Any meals remaining at the end of a week will not be refunded or carried into the next week. A flex fund is a debit account that can be used for purchases at any of the food service facilities on campus. Each variable meal plan includes a flex fund account with a pre-established dollar minimum. Flex fund money can only be used on-campus and expires at the end of each school year if you have a remaining balance. Rock dollars, on the other hand, are a debit account similar to the flex fund, but remaining balances at the end of each school year are carried over to the next school year. Rock dollars can be used on-campus for dining, laundry facilities, vending machines, and copying services, as well as off-campus at a variety of restaurants and even the local grocery store.
What is it like to eat on campus?
Slippery Rock has two full-service dining halls, with one at each end of campus. Weisenfluh Dining Hall offers a variety of all-you-can-eat buffet food stations and the options change with every meal. It offers a huge soup and salad bar, make your own stir-fry, a deli, pizza and burgers, and new world foods made to order. An ice cream and dessert bar is also included. The Marketplace Convenience Store, offering snack items, meals-to-go, salads and sandwiches, is located in the lobby of Weisenfluh Dining Hall. Boozel Dining Hall’s buffet stations are similar to Weisenfluh Dining Hall. It also offers a take-out option that allows you to bring your meal with you if you don't have time to eat in the dining room.
Rocky's Grille, another campus dining option located in the University Union, resembles a casual restaurant where students can use their meal plan, flex fund, Rock dollars, or cash on ala carte items. Rocky's specializes in pizza, calzones, large Pittsburgh-style salads and daily, fun food specials. Rocky's will even deliver a pizza on campus to your room. Next door to Rocky’s is Cyber Fresh, offering a variety of overstuffed, made-to-order sandwiches on specialty breads. Taylor & Byrnes Gourmet Cafés, located in the University Union, Bailey Library, and Watson Hall, feature coffee, smoothies, bottled drinks, fresh pastries, grab 'n' go salads, and sandwiches.
What is there to do at Slippery Rock on the weekends?
Some of our students are from the region and do choose to visit or travel on the weekends, but many remain for weekends of college life. There are over 150 clubs and organizations for students to get involved in. The Union Program Board (UPB) is the major sponsor of student activity events. UPB offers activities featuring local, national, and international entertainers in areas such as performing arts, concerts, films, lectures, and travel. In the past few years, entertainers such as Jimmy Fallon, Ludacris, Poverty Neck Hillbillies, Busta Rhymes, T.I., The Clarks, Trace Adkins, Chris Cagle, and people from the Real World and Road Rules have all visited The Rock.
Cultural activities abound in the form of music performances, theatrical events, and dance recitals. Students, regardless of major, can get involved in the performances or they can just come watch their classmates perform. You're attending college after all - broaden your horizons! Plus it makes for a great date night.
There's always NCAA and intramural athletic events to watch or participate in - from football to water polo - and these are free of charge for students. There is also the Aebersold Recreation Center (ARC) with its two-story rock climbing wall, weight facility, indoor track, swimming pool and multiple basketball, volleyball, roller hockey, and soccer courts is open late on the weekends, just as it is on weekdays. The ARC offers a wide variety of fitness classes, intramural and club sports, and outdoor adventure programs to suit the interests of many students.
Finally, The Village of Slippery Rock has recently undergone a renaissance. Students can stroll down for an off-campus lunch or dinner, hang out at one of the coffee shops, or for those of-age, the tavern or microbrewery.
Are there fraternities and sororities at Slippery Rock?
Slippery Rock offers a variety of social (Greek) fraternities and sororities at Slippery Rock University. There are also many academic honor societies related to our academic degree programs.
What division does Slippery Rock compete in athletically?
Slippery Rock University is a member of NCAA and our conference is the Pennsylvania Scholastic Athletic Conference, which makes for some great local rivalries with many universities your friends and family may have attended. All intercollegiate athletic programs compete at the NCAA Division II level. Our men's ice hockey team, competes in Division I of the American Collegiate Hockey Association. For more information, like team statistics, coach's profile, and schedule of events, check out the Intercollegiate Athletics web site.
SRU students gain free admission to sporting events with their SRU ID.
Are there intramural and club sports in which to participate?
The Rock offers a variety of challenging athletic club and intramural opportunities. See our campus recreation page for more details, but some include rugby, outdoor sports, and the classic intramurals you'd expect on a college campus with a lot to do. More than 5,000 students participated in intramurals this year!
How do students without cars get around campus?
The majority of students walk to where they need to go on campus. In case you do not feel like walking, the Student Government Association provides a shuttle bus (affectionately referred to as the Happy Bus) that transports students to various locations throughout campus and the community of Slippery Rock, including a nearby plaza with a grocery store, drug store, and bank. On select weekends, this shuttle bus offers trips to the Prime Outlets in Grove City, the Clearview Mall in Butler, and Moraine Point Plaza in Butler, where you will find a vast array of stores and restaurants.
What type of transportation is available to the nearest bus station and/or airport?
Slippery Rock is located only about 1 hour from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, so students have access to the Pittsburgh International Airport and the Greyhound and Amtrak stations in Downtown Pittsburgh. The University does not offer transportation to these facilities and there is no public transit connection from town. Airport Orbit {(724) 794 - 4833 or (800) 443 - 8687} in the town of Slippery Rock provides airport transportation pick-ups and drop-offs as one-way or round-trip transports to/from the Airport, Amtrak, and Greyhound stations. They also provide Point-2-Point Transfers throughout Western Pennsylvania.
How is the safety on campus? Are there police officers?
Slippery Rock University is located in a small college town in western Pennsylvania. Environment plays a key role. When class is out, only 3,000 residents remain in town. However, safety is still a proactive issue at Slippery Rock University. Numerous wellness and counseling services are available to promote healthy lifestyles. There are 16 emergency phones located around campus and, upon request, a free escort service is provided by the University Police. University Police officers patrol the campus in cars and on bikes on a regular basis to ensure the comfort and safety of all of our students.
The residence hall front doors are locked 24 hours a day and can only be opened with the student's ID card. If a resident wishes to have a visitor, the resident must accompany the visitor at all times and the visitor must sign in upon arrival and sign out when leaving.
How do I get in contact with my professors if I have questions?
In addition to teaching, all of our professors have office hours. These hours are set by the individual faculty members and enable the professor to have time reserved outside of class for students who may have questions regarding the university or need extra help with class assignments. Remember that the priority of faculty at Slippery Rock University is teaching you, the student. Don't feel as though you must wait to ask questions. You may correspond by email now if you have any questions about classes or programs by finding the academic department chairpersons. Please know, e-mails are firstname.lastname@sru.edu
How can a student get a job on campus?
The Office of Career Services advertises a variety of on- and off-campus employment opportunities for students throughout the year. Job postings and employment applications are displayed on the job board outside the office and on their web site. On-campus jobs are available for a maximum of 20 hours per week and pay minimum wage. Students who qualify for federal work-study can earn money for their education by seeking on-campus employment.
Where do students go if they get sick?
McLachlan Student Health Center is available to all students 24-hours a day, seven days a week during the school year. Nurse practitioners and registered nurses are available for primary care; licensed physicians are available by appointment. The health center has various facilities, such as a relaxation room, that are available to promote student awareness of healthy lifestyles. Complimentary emergency transportation from the Health Center is provided to Grove City and Butler Hospitals when necessary.
When should I apply for admission to Slippery Rock University?
Students may apply for admission as first-year (new freshmen) students beginning August 1 following the completion of 11th grade; however, offers of admission will not be awarded until after September 15. Slippery Rock offers rolling admission, which means we will accept applications from new freshmen until the class closes. Students are encouraged to apply in the fall of their senior year.
Transfer students (those who have attended any other college or university) should visit the web site.
Why apply early for first-year student (freshmen) admission for the fall semester?
Slippery Rock University subscribes to the National Association for College Admission Counseling's Principles of Good Practice. While we encourage prospective students to carefully consider their college options to find their best match, many students may reach a decision well before the spring of their senior year of high school. We encourage these students to consider making an early decision. Early application may result in an early offer of admission, allowing you to accept our offer of admission and make an early decision in the fall of your senior year in high school.
Accepting an offer of admission allows you to receive the first orientation invitations and housing contract mailings, which means that you have a better chance of getting your first choices of orientation dates and residence halls. Additionally, all academic merit scholarships originate from the pool of students who apply for admission no later than early December. It is generally in your best interest to apply by Thanksgiving for fall semester.
What are the admission guidelines for first-year students (freshmen)?
Students are admitted to Slippery Rock University on a rolling basis for all terms. Criteria to determine admission to the University usually include: a student's official high school transcripts, 12th grade schedule (if applicable), standardized test scores (SAT or ACT), and rank in class (if available). First-time, full-time freshman students who most often succeed at Slippery Rock University possess a cumulative high school quality point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, and combined SAT scores of 950 or higher (20 ACT) at the time of application for admission.
For automatic admission, a combined score of a 950 on the SAT (critical reading and math only) or 20 (composite) on the ACT and a 3.0 QPA is required. Applicants who do not meet the admission guidelines are still encouraged to apply for admission if they are close to our admission guidelines. Such applicants may be placed on a wait list for admission consideration. Being placed on a wait list is not the same as being denied admission. Wait list status simply means that an applicant's credentials may require a closer review beyond just the quantitative numbers.
Does Slippery Rock prefer the SAT or the ACT?
Slippery Rock will accept results from either the SAT or the ACT in order to make admission decisions. These standardized test scores will be used, among other criteria, by the student's advisor during Orientation to create a schedule of classes for his/her first semester at The Rock. If two or more sets of SAT scores are reported, we will use the highest combination of SAT math and verbal for the purpose of an admission decision. If more than one ACT score is submitted, we will use the best composite score.
Are there specific courses a student must complete in high school to be accepted?
No specific high school courses are required to be admitted into Slippery Rock. However, we strongly recommend that prospective students complete a thorough college preparatory curriculum, including:
• 4 years of English
• 4 years of History/Social Sciences
• 3 years of Natural Sciences (including 2 lab sciences), with a 4th year preferred
• 3 years of Math (typically including Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2/Trigonometry), with a 4th year preferred
• 2 years of the same foreign language is preferred but not required.
Additional preparation is necessary for success and timely completion of certain academic programs. In other words, if an academic program requires calculus at Slippery Rock, students should plan on taking pre-calculus in high school. Prospective students should note that the college preparatory quality of an applicant's schedule is a strong factor when making admission decisions for Wait List applications.
How long does it take to receive an applicant's decision?
It really depends upon the time of year you apply, because certain weeks are busier than others. Once the Admissions Office receives your complete application - including an Application for Admission, the $30.00 application fee, Official High School Transcripts, and SAT or ACT scores - a correspondence is sent within ten days. A decision of either an Offer of Admission or placement on a Wait List is made and notification is always sent in the mail.
What is an "Offer of Admission"?
An Offer of Admission is our invitation for you to become a Slippery Rock University student. You must accept the Offer of Admission in order to secure a place in the freshman class by submitting your enrollment deposit. Accepting an offer is easy. You will receive instructions and materials to do so once you are offered admission. Accepting our Offer of Admission usually includes:
- Completing and returning an Offer of Admission Acceptance Notice
- Sending an admission deposit of $ 90.00
- Completing and returning an Academic Major Declaration Form
What is a "Wait List"?
If your application credentials fall below our admission guidelines, your application results in a wait list decision. If your application is placed on the Wait List, please read the letter closely. Being placed on the Wait List does not mean your application is denied. It means that there is a quality regarding your credentials - usually either grades or test scores - that requires closer review. The Wait List letter will explain what you might do to favorably influence an admission decision and what happens next.
The Wait List is reviewed continuously from November through June for fall semester admission, and November through January for spring semester admission. Applicants on the Wait List with credentials closest to admission guidelines are most likely to receive offers of admission. The Admissions Committee reviews such factors as: strength of college preparatory high school courses, grade trends, and standardized test scores. Letters of recommendation are not required, nor is an essay or personal statement. If the student does believe the Admissions Committee should know about a particular circumstance, a letter written by the student is encouraged.
How do students apply for financial aid or scholarships?
Contact the Office of Financial Aid for detailed information on various financial aid programs and scholarship materials. You can submit your questions regarding financial assistance directly to the Financial Aid Office at financial.aid@sru.edu. Students are encouraged to apply for admission early.
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