About Rush

Welcome to Rush University

Rush University is dedicated to health sciences education, from clinical and basic science to medical research. Together, our four colleges - Rush Medical College, Rush University College of Nursing, the College of Health Sciences and the Graduate College - are educating the next generation of health care leaders, preparing them to transform health care.

Because Rush University is fully integrated with a thriving health system, our more than 2,700 students are offered an exceptional health sciences education while being trained to provide the highest quality patient care and conduct innovative research. Rush University System for Health attracts outstanding scientists, physicians, nurses and health professionals who want to teach in an environment that values active, hands-on learning and celebrates scientific discovery and innovation.

Through practical and relevant training at Rush University Medical Center, one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers, students prepare for the challenges they will face in their chosen field. They also learn the importance of collaboration with health care professionals across all disciplines. At Rush, students begin interprofessional education at the very start of their academic program. Interprofessional collaboration leads to creative solutions, higher quality health care and better outcomes.

I am glad you have chosen Rush University. Your education and your success are very important to me, and to our faculty and administrators. If at any time you have a concern or a suggestion, feel free to contact your dean or myself. All of us are here to support you.

Thank you for choosing Rush.

Sherine E. Gabriel, MD, MSc

President and The Robert C. and Naomi T. Borwell Presidential Chair, Rush University

Chief Academic Officer, Rush University System for Health

Rush University Medical Center Mission, Vision and Values

Mission

The mission of Rush is to improve the health of the individuals and diverse communities we serve through the integration of outstanding patient care, education, research and community partnerships.   

Vision

Rush will be the leading academic health system in the region and nationally recognized for transforming health care.

Core Values

I CARE

Innovation

Collaboration

Accountability

Respect

Excellence

These five values, known as our I CARE values, convey the philosophy behind every decision Rush employees make. Rush employees also commit themselves to executing these values with compassion. This translates into a dedication - shared by all members of the Rush community - to providing the highest quality patient care.

History of Rush University Medical Center

Rush University Medical Center is one of Chicago’s oldest health care organizations. Its heritage extends back to 1837, when Rush Medical College was established. St. Luke’s Hospital, founded in 1864, and Presbyterian Hospital, founded in 1883, merged in 1956 to form Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Hospital. The subsequent incorporation of these pioneer institutions in 1969 created Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, which was renamed Rush University Medical Center in 2003.

Rush is an academic health system comprising Rush University Medical Center, Rush Copley Medical Center and Rush Oak Park Hospital.

Renowned Patient Care

Rush University Medical Center encompasses a 675-bed hospital serving adults and children, including the Johnston R. Bowman Health Center, which provides medical and rehabilitative care to older adults and people with short- and long-term disabilities.

It includes Rush’s 376-bed Tower hospital building, which opened in 2012 as part of the Medical Center’s major campus renovation. Rush’s commitment to sustainability innovation earned the Tower LEED Gold certification. It is the largest new construction health care project in the world to be LEED Gold certified. Rush’s renovation also includes Rush’s Orthopedic Building, which opened in 2010.

A unique combination of research and patient care has earned Rush national rankings in seven specialty areas in U.S. News & World Report’s 2018-19 America’s Best Hospitals issue, among other recognitions of our quality of care and accreditations.

Our nurses are at the forefront of our efforts to provide quality care, receiving Magnet status four times for making outstanding nursing care the standard at the Medical Center. Rush was the first hospital in Illinois serving adults and children to receive Magnet status, the highest honor in nursing.

And some of the world’s best athletes trust themselves to the hands of our physicians. Rush is proud to be the preferred hospital for the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago White Sox.

Educating Future Health Care Providers

Rush University is home to one of the first medical colleges in the Midwest and one of the nation’s top-ranked nursing colleges, as well as graduate programs in allied health, health systems management and biomedical research. In addition, the Medical Center offers many highly selective residency and fellowship programs in medical and surgical specialties and subspecialties. Rush’s unique practitioner-teacher model for health sciences education and research gives students the opportunity to learn from world-renowned instructors who practice what they teach.

Committed to Community

In addition to patient care, education and research, Rush maintains a strong commitment to the community. Many students, faculty and staff at Rush generously donate their time and skills both within and outside of our campus. Their efforts include numerous health outreach projects in which Rush collaborates with neighborhood clinics, churches, schools and other organizations to provide health screenings and vital health information for underserved children and adults.

Our education and research endeavors, community service programs and relationships with other hospitals are dedicated to enhancing excellence in patient care for the diverse communities of the Chicago area - now and in the future.

Rush University Mission, Vision and Values

Mission

Rush University provides outstanding health sciences education and conducts impactful research in a culture of inclusion, focused on the promotion and preservation of the health and well-being of our diverse communities.

Vision

The Rush learning community will be the leading health sciences university committed to transforming health care through innovative research and education.

Core Values

As the academic component of Rush University Medical Center, the University shares the Medical Center’s core values: innovation, collaboration, accountability, respect and excellence. The I CARE values guide the efforts of Rush University students, faculty, researchers and staff.

History of Rush University

Rush University is the academic component of Rush University Medical Center. Founded in 1972, the University has expanded from one college and fewer than 100 students to four colleges and more than 2,700 students. It includes Rush Medical College, Rush University College of Nursing, the College of Health Sciences and the Graduate College.

Rush Medical College is named for Benjamin Rush, a physician from Pennsylvania, and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Rush Medical College was chartered in 1837 and opened officially on Dec. 4, 1843, with 22 students enrolled in a 16-week course. During the first century of operation, more than 10,000 physicians received their training at Rush Medical College.

Rush Medical College was affiliated with the University of Chicago from 1898 until 1942, when the medical college temporarily suspended its educational program, though it continued its corporate existence. Its faculty continued undergraduate and graduate teaching of medicine and the biological sciences as members of the faculty of the University of Illinois. The charter of the medical college was reactivated in 1969, when it became part of the Medical Center. Rush Medical College reopened in 1971 with a class of 66 first-year students and 33 third-year students. First-year class size reached its projected maximum of 120 in 1976.

Rush University College of Nursing represents a combined heritage dating back to the late 19th century when its first antecedent, the St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing, opened in 1885 to offer diploma education to nurses. In 1903, the Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing accepted its first students. From 1956 to 1968, nurses were taught at the merged Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing. Before the establishment of the College of Nursing in 1972, more than 7,000 nurses had graduated from these three schools.

The College of Health Sciences, established in 1975, traces its origins to the School of Medical Technology sponsored by Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Hospital from 1959 to 1972. This school was the second-largest of its kind in the city of Chicago. During its operation, it provided a one-year professional internship program to more than 200 baccalaureate students in medical technology. Today the College of Health Sciences offers doctoral programs in audiology and health sciences, 10 programs at the master’s level, and bachelor’s programs in health sciences, imaging sciences and vascular ultrasound technology.

The Graduate College was established as a separate academic unit in January 1981, having previously been organized as the Graduate School within the College of Health Sciences. The Graduate College is responsible for educational efforts in the basic sciences and offers three master’s degree programs and one doctoral degree program.

The Seal of Rush University

The seal of Rush University is a shield, a classic Greek symbol of preservation and protection, and also a medieval British emblem used for identification. It recognizes the University’s overarching commitment to educating health professionals who preserve life and protect patients. Its two colors, green and gold, merge the tradition of the past with the custom of the present: Gold was the single historical color of Rush Medical College, and green is used for the modern Medical Center.

The motto, “ministrare per scientiam,” translated from Latin, means to “minister (care for or serve) through scientific knowledge.” The Board of Trustees adopted this in 1993 to reflect the commitment to educate caring professionals whose practice is based in knowledge. The shadow in the background is the anchor cross, a symbol of hope and steadfastness, which became the emblem of the merged Presbyterian and St. Luke’s hospitals in 1957 and the foundation that created the vision for Rush University. Superimposed on top is the stylized version of the anchor cross that was adopted in 1971 upon the merger of Rush Medical College and Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Hospital. The final elements are Chicago, the city that is home to the University, and the date of the University’s founding, 1972. The Rush University Board of Overseers adopted the seal in 1999.

Student Characteristics

Statistics below are based on fall 2018 enrollment figures.

Accreditation, Authorization and Licenses

Authorization

The Illinois Board of Higher Education has authorized all degree programs offered through Rush University.

Illinois Board of Higher Education

1 N. Old State Capital Plaza, Suite 333

Springfield, IL 62701-1377

(217)782-2551

(217) 782-8548 (Fax)

www.ibhe.state.il.us

Rush University participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). SARA is overseen by a National Council and administered by four regional education compacts (Midwestern Higher Education Compact, New England Board of Higher Education, Southern Regional Education Board and Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education)

Licenses

State of Illinois

Department of Public Health

Cook County Board of Health

Rush University Medical Center Memberships

Rush University Medical Center belongs to the following organizations:

Association of American Medical Colleges

American Association of Colleges of Nursing

Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities

Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions

Association of University Programs in Health Administration

National League for Nursing

Association for Health Services Research

American Hospital Association

Illinois Hospital Association

Voluntary Hospitals of America

Metropolitan Chicago Health Care Council

Blue Cross/Blue Shield Health Care Service Corp.

Council of Graduate Schools

Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools

Illinois Association of Graduate Schools

Association for Clinical Pastoral Education

Association of Bioethics Program Directors

Council of Academic Programs in Communication Disorders and Sciences

Interuniversity Consortium for Political and Social Science

Physician Assistant Education Association

Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants

American Academy of Physician Assistants

Rush University Affiliated Colleges and Universities

The following colleges and universities have programs that are affiliated with one or more academic program at Rush University:

Benedictine University, Lisle, Illinois

Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota

Claflin University, Orangeburg, South Carolina

Concordia University, River Forest, Illinois

Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Indiana

Dominican University, River Forest, Illinois

Eureka College, Eureka, Illinois

Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee

Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illinois

Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois

Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, Illinois

Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin

Lewis University, Romeoville, Illinois

Monmouth College, Monmouth, Illinois

North Central College, Naperville, Illinois

Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, Illinois

Ripon College, Ripon, Wisconsin

Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia

St. Norbet College, De Pere, Wisconsin

Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois

Xavier University Of Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana

Alumni Relations

The Office of Alumni Relations is located in the Rush East Building, Suite 300, at 1201 W. Harrison St. Though the legacy of a Rush education dates back to 1837, Rush University is a relatively young institution. Since the University’s inception in 1972, it has conferred more than 18,000 degrees in the health professions. The Office of Alumni Relations provides channels for Rush Medical College, the College of Nursing, the College of Health Sciences, the Graduate College and our predecessor school alumni as well as former Medical Center house staff to stay connected to Rush as follows:

•  Remain informed of current developments at the Medical Center
•  Develop an active interest in and involvement with their alma mater
•  Maintain contact with fellow alumni and faculty
•  Take advantage of continuing education opportunities offered through Rush University
•  Respond positively through both financial and philosophical support
•  Promote and perpetuate the high standards of excellence in patient care, education and scientific advancement consistent with the objectives of Rush University Medical Center

At this time, the following formally organized active alumni associations exist for Rush University graduates:

• The Rush Medical College Alumni Association
• The Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Nurses Alumni Association
•  Rush University Health Systems Management Alumni Association (HSMAA)

For more information concerning Rush University alumni associations, programs and events, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at (312) 942-7199 or alumni@rush.edu or visit the alumni websites at www.rushu.rush.edu/alumni.

Drug-Free Campus and Workplace

Rush University and Rush University Medical Center (hereinafter, collectively referred to as Rush) comply with the requirements of the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA), and the Drug-Free Workplace Act, and our policy implements those requirements. In accordance with the laws, Rush will review its compliance efforts on a biennial basis to measure effectiveness and to ensure that the standards of conduct and conduct sanctions are appropriate and have been consistently enforced.

All members of the Rush community are encouraged to review the information on the following pages.  This information is distributed annually on every first Monday of October, and it is provided on an ongoing basis during student, faculty and staff orientations and meetings. Distribution occurs in a variety of ways including, but not limited to, U.S. mail, electronic transmission, within registration and/or orientation materials, as a Leap Online module, on Blackboard, and/or by personal distribution during classes or meetings.

Hard copies of this policy are also available at the Office of Human Resources, Suite 430, Triangle Office Building, 1700 W. Van Buren St., Chicago, IL 60612.

Tobacco-Free Work Environment

Rush University Medical Center supports the surgeon general’s report on use of tobacco products as a major cause of preventable death. Tobacco use has been documented to contribute significantly to health problems for those who engage in the practice and those who are subjected to an environment where tobacco smoke is present.

Rush University Medical Center, to be consistent with its mission, seeks to promote the health, safety and quality of life of all people who visit the Rush campus.

Diversity, Equal Opportunity and Inclusion

For over three decades, the Rush approach to equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion has not wavered. Our approach is that these are essential components of the best employment, educational and health care practices and must be furthered. This is a continuation of a policy that emanated from the hospital charters of 1865 and 1883 and the documents governing the establishment of Rush University in 1972.

In certain instances, the implementation of this policy and our goals in this area require the use of affirmative initiatives. At Rush, these initiatives are focused on strong recruitment, development and retention efforts - not on quotas - and these recruitment and programming efforts will be continued, consistent with federal, state and municipal guidelines.

Rush is committed to attracting students who will enable the student body to achieve the educational benefits of diversity and to providing services to all students, faculty and employees on a nondiscriminatory, equitable basis.

Discrimination or harassment against any member of the Rush community because of race, color, religion, national origin, creed, age, ancestry,  disability as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, gender, gender identity and/or expression, marital or parental status, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other category or categories protected by federal or state law or local ordinance that excludes an individual from  participation,  denies the individual the benefits of, treats the individual differently or otherwise adversely affects a term or condition of an individual’s employment, education, living environment or participation in a Rush  program or activity.  This includes failing to provide reasonable accommodation consistent with state and federal law to persons with disabilities.

Shanon Shumpert, vice president for Institutional Equity, has been designated to oversee the implementation of this policy for Rush University and can be contacted by telephone at (312) 942-5239 or via email at Shanon_Shumpert@rush.edu.

Additional resources may be found within the following University offices:

Office of Student Diversity and Multicultural Affairs
Armour Academic Center
600 S. Paulina St., Suite 984B
Chicago, IL. 60612

(312) 942-0725

Office of Student Accessibility Services

In keeping with its goal to promote diversity among its student population, Rush University is committed to attracting and educating students who will help to make the population of health care professionals reflective of the national population, including individuals with disabilities. In addition, Rush University is committed to ensuring equal access to its facilities, programs and services is available to students with disabilities.

To be eligible for accommodations, a student must have a documented disability as defined by the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Students are encouraged to apply to the Office of Student Accessibility Services as soon as possible to discuss reasonable accommodations for their specific academic programs.

To learn more about accommodations at Rush University, please visit: www.rushu.rush.edu/office-student-accessibility-services or contact:

Prohibition Against Harassment, Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct 

Rush strictly prohibits all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment of and by any member of the community, including but not limited to students, faculty, employees, volunteers, contractors, patients, guests and vendors. Rush’s Prohibition against Discrimination, Harassment & Sexual Misconduct and it’s Prohibition against Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment & Sexual Misconduct involving Students address Rush’s obligations under Title VII, Title IX, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (also known as the Campus SaVE Act) with respect to dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. These policies apply to a host of interactions, including between a member of the faculty and a student, between two students, between an employee and a campus guest or between a student and an applicant. The policies apply to all Rush programs and activities including, instruction, grading, housing and employment. It is central to the values of Rush that any member of the community who believes that they have witnessed or been the target of unlawful discrimination or harassment, feel free to report their concerns for an appropriate response and investigation, without fear of retaliation or retribution.

All complaints and concerns about conduct that may violate Rush’s policies (including retaliation for reports made pursuant to the policies) should be filed with Rush’s equal opportunity officer. Confidential reports can also be made through the Rush Hotline at (877) 787-4009 or via the Rush web reporting tool at rush.ethicspoint.com. Anonymous reporters do not need to identify themselves, but are asked to provide enough information to enable an investigation. Upon receipt of a complaint, the equal opportunity officer will evaluate the information received and determine what further actions should be taken consistent with the procedures outlined. The policies can be found here.

Resources

For more information on the Rush policies against harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct, contact:

Shanon Shumpert
Equal Opportunity Officer and Title IX Officer
Rush University Medical Center
Triangle Office Building

1700 W. Van Buren, Suite 430
Chicago, IL 60612
(312) 942-5239
Shanon_Shumpert@rush.edu

Office of Institutional Research, Assessment and Accreditation

Rush University’s Office of Institutional Research, Assessment and Accreditation, or OIRAA, provides leadership and support in the area of institutional research, accreditation, assessment and regulatory mandates.

The OIRAA fulfills its mission through the following:

• Providing comprehensive information to support institutional planning, policy formation, decision-making and evaluation of effectiveness
• Coordinating responses to external accountability mandates and a wide range of internal and external requests for information about the University
• Providing guidance and coordination support for campus-wide and unit-level assessment of academic programs and administrative processes to support the University’s quality improvement efforts
• Guiding and facilitating the process of reaffirmation of accreditation and substantive change reporting
• Providing evidence of institutional effectiveness

Contact the OIRAA staff at OIRAA_@rush.edu.