Slippery Rock University is a public university and member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, founded in 1889 in the small borough of Slippery Rock in Lawrence County, northwestern Pennsylvania. Serving approximately 8,500 students, SRU is known for its strong programs in parks and recreation management, physical therapy, education, and the health professions. The university draws students from across Pennsylvania and the greater Pittsburgh region, and the Rock's parks and recreation program is nationally recognized.