University of New Orleans

The University of New Orleans

Former names	Louisiana State University in New Orleans (LSUNO)
Motto	Great City, Great University.
Type	Public
Established	1956; classes began September 1958
Endowment	$65.7 million
President	John W. Nicklow
Provost	Mahyar A. Amouzegar
Administrative staff	698
Students	8,423
Undergraduates	6,601
Postgraduates	1,822
Location	New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. 30°01′39″N 90°04′02″W / 30.0275°N 90.0671°W / 30.0275; -90.0671Coordinates: 30°01′39″N 90°04′02″W / 30.0275°N 90.0671°W / 30.0275; -90.0671
Campus	Urban 195 acres (0.79 km2; 0.305 sq mi)
Colors	Reflex Blue & Silver
Athletics	NCAA Division I – Southland
Nickname	Privateers
Mascot	Bluebeard the Pirate
Affiliations	UL System APLU Urban 13/GCU SURA ORAU
Website	www.uno.edu

The University of New Orleans, often referred to locally as UNO, is a medium-sized public urban university located on the New Orleans lakefront within New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is a member of the University of Louisiana System and the Urban 13 association.

In the fall of 2011 the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges gave approval for the University of New Orleans to join the University of Louisiana System, concluding the five-month transition from the Louisiana State University System since Act 419 of the 2011 Louisiana Legislative Regular Session was signed into law in July 2011. Soon after the transition was approved, the UNO Presidential Search Committee selected UNO alumnus Peter J. Fos (Class of 1972) as president. Dr. Fos retired in January 2016 and a Search Committee selected Dr. John W. Nicklow as the university's 2nd president and 7th leader.

State Senator Theodore M. Hickey of New Orleans in 1956 authored the act which established the University of New Orleans. At the time New Orleans was the largest metropolitan area in the United States without a public university though it had several private universities, such as Tulane, Loyola, and Dillard. The institution was originally named Louisiana State University in New Orleans or LSUNO but renamed in 1974. The UNO University Ballroom was named in Hickey's honor late in 2014, more than two decades after his death.

The university was built on the New Orleans Lakefront when the United States Navy relocated Naval Air Station New Orleans. The Orleans Levee Board leased the closed base to the LSU Board of Supervisors. The renovation went quicker than expected. LSUNO opened for classes in 1958, two years ahead of schedule. It was originally reckoned as an offsite department of the main campus in Baton Rouge, and as such its chief administrative officer was originally called a dean (1958-1961), then a vice president in charge (1961-1963). In 1963, the LSU System of Higher Education was established and UNO became a separate campus in that system. To signify that it was now a co-equal institution with LSU, its chief executive's title was changed from "vice president in charge" to "chancellor." After a decade of growth, the LSU Board of Supervisors approved a name change to the current University of New Orleans. Nearly fifty years later, in 2011, the University of New Orleans officially became part of the University of Louisiana system, and its chief executive's title was changed to "president."