University of Delaware

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University of Delaware
Seal of the University of Delaware
Motto Scientia Sol Mentis Est (Knowledge is the light of the mind)
Established 1743
Type Private with state support
Endowment $1.2 billion
Staff 1,070
Undergraduates 16,548
Postgraduates 2,519
Location Newark, Delaware, USA
Campus Suburban
Colors Blue & Gold
Mascot YoUDee
Website http://www.udel.edu/

The University of Delaware (UD or UDel) is the largest university in the state of Delaware. The main campus is located in Newark, with satellite campuses in Dover, Wilmington, Lewes and Georgetown. It is medium-sized — approximately 16,000 undergraduate and 3,000 graduate students. Although it is a state-supported school, it is privately chartered. At present, the school's endowment is valued at about USD$1.2 billion.

The school from which the university grew was founded in 1743, making it one of the oldest in the nation. However, the University of Delaware was not chartered as an institution of higher learning until 1833. Its original class of 10 students included George Read, Thomas McKean, and James Smith, all three of whom would go on to sign the Declaration of Independence.

The school has particularly substantial engineering, science, business, education, and agriculture programs, with world-class programs in chemical engineering, chemistry and biochemistry, drawing as it does from the historically strong presence of the nation's chemical and pharmaceutical industries. It is one of only four schools in North America with a major in art conservation.

Contents

[edit] Organization and student body

Memorial Hall
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Memorial Hall

The university is organized into 7 colleges:

  • College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics
  • College of Engineering
  • College of Health Sciences
  • College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy
  • College of Marine and Earth Studies

The College of Arts and Sciences is the largest of the colleges.

Student Body Statistics as of Fall 2005:

Undergraduate
Racial make-up # %
White 13,033 84.4
African American 864 5.6
Hispanic 630 4.1
Asian 537 3.5
Native American 49 0.3
Non-Resident Alien 116 0.8
Other 206 1.3
Total Undergrad 15,435 100
Graduate
Racial make-up # %
White 1,400 55.9
African American 102 4.1
Hispanic 57 2.3
Asian 77 3.1
Native American 6 0.2
Non-Resident Alien 815 32.6
Other 45 1.8
Total Grad 2,502 100


(Statistics are based on full-time students)

The student body is recognized as one of the most politically apathetic student bodies in the nation. Although there are a number of activist student groups on campus, the University was ranked 4th out of 361 schools in the "Election? What Election?" category in the Princeton Review's 2007 college ratings [1].

[edit] History

The University of Delaware traces its founding to 1743, when Presbyterian minister Francis Alison opened up his "Free School" in his home in New London, Pennsylvania. The school changed its name and location several times, ending up as the Academy of Newark in 1769 (chartered by the colonial government). Since Delaware was part of the Pennsylvania colony until 1776, the academy was denied charter as a college in order to prevent its competing with the University of Pennsylvania. In 1833, the General assembly for the State of Delaware passed the "An Act to Establish a College at Newark", and the next year, Newark College opened. It changed its name in 1843 to Delaware College and it merged with the Academy of Newark. The school closed from 1859 until 1870 (Newark Academy separated from the college in 1869). On March 28, 1921, by another act of state assembly, it merged with the nearby Delaware Women's college (founded in 1913) to form the University.

There is a searchable history of the University that was written by John A. Munroe in 1983 available on the University's website

The Green (formerly known as The Mall)
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The Green (formerly known as The Mall)

[edit] Recent history

The recent history of the university has been marked by massive construction projects. North Campus, formerly home to the aging motel-style Pencader Complex has been entirely redesigned. This began with the construction of a Marriott Courtyard run by the HRIM (Hotel Restaurant and Institutional Management) school. Three new dorm complexes have also been built and named after UD signers of the Constitution, George Read, Thomas McKean and James Smith. According to a 2006 news release, a fourth 600-person dorm is to be built, which will allow the school to have extra beds while they rebuild and/or renovate East and West campus.

There also have been construction of new academic buildings. In 2006 the brand new Center For The Arts had its grand opening, with new facilities for the school's music and theater programs. Also, in 1998 Gore Hall was opened on the Green and connected to Smith Hall via an overpass over South College. Other recent construction projects include: Alfred Lerner Hall (for business), and renovations on Academy St. and of Lamott DuPont Hall.

[edit] Administration

The University is currently headed by President David P. Roselle, who has announced that he will retire at the end of the 2006–2007 academic year.[1] President Roselle has held this post for sixteen years and is the twenty-fifth President of the University since its founding. Prior to Roselle, the twenty-fourth President was E.A. Trabant.

Roselle's 2006 salary of $979,571 is the highest of any public university President in the United States (Purdue University President Martin C. Jischke's 2006 salary is second, at $880,950) [2]

It was announced on 1 December 2006 that Patrick Harker, dean of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, will replace the resigning David Roselle on July 1, 2007 Official UD Article.

[edit] Study abroad

The University of Delaware was the first American university to begin a study abroad program, which was later adopted by many other institutions. The program began when Professor Raymond Watson Kirkbride took a group of 8 students to Paris, France during the fall semester of 1923. Since this initial trip, the University of Delaware has expanded its study abroad program encompassing over 75 different programs to over 35 countries on all 7 continents.

[edit] Sports

The athletic teams at Delaware are known as the Fightin' Blue Hens with a mascot named YoUDee. YoUDee is a Blue Hen Chicken, after the team names and the state bird of Delaware. YoUDee was the 2002 UCA National Mascot Champion and was elected into the mascot hall of fame in 2006.

UD offers 23 varsity sports, which compete in the NCAA Division-I (Division I-AA for football). Delaware is a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in all sports except football, which is a member of the Atlantic Ten Conference. Football is the biggest sport at Delaware, as the Fightin' Blue Hen football teams have won six national titles, including the 2003 NCAA I-AA Championship.

Former head football coaches Bill Murray, Dave Nelson and Harold "Tubby" Raymond are College Football Hall of Fame inductees. Delaware's only other NCAA Division I National Championship came in 1983 for Women's Lacrosse.

In recent years the Delaware teams have struggled to find much success in the CAA. The Blue Hens have won only one CAA Championship since joining in 2001. That victory took place in 2004 when the field hockey team won the CAA Championship despite being the 4 seed going into the CAA tournament. The women's volleyball team and men's lacrosse team have participated in CAA Championships but have not been able to bring the championship back to Newark.

[edit] Fight! Song

The Fight! Song has been popular since the 1930s. The song was composed by alumnus George F. Kelly (Class of 1915). It first appeared in the Student Handbook in 1933.

And then we'll fight! fight! fight! for Delaware,
Fight for the Blue and Gold,
And when we hit that line,
Our team is there
with a daring spirit bold
And when we strike with might
Let foes beware
Our glorious name we'll uphold
And then we'll fight! fight! fight! for Delaware,
Fight for the Blue and Gold,
Delaware will shine to-night,
Delaware will shine.
When the sun goes down and
the moon comes up,
Delaware will shine.
And then we'll fight! fight! fight! for Delaware...
[repeat]

[edit] Figure Skating

University of Delaware Collegiate Figure Skating Results
Year Eastern Championships U.S. National Championships
2000 1st 3rd
2001 1st 2nd
2002 1st 1st
2003 2nd 2nd
2004 2nd 2nd
2005 2nd 2nd
2006 2nd 3rd
Kimmie Meissner
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Kimmie Meissner

The University of Delaware Figure Skating Club (UDFSC) was chartered in January 1986. The University of Delaware is home to the Blue (Fred Rust Arena) and Gold arenas which serve as the home of the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club and the Delaware Ice Skating Science Development Center (ISSDC). The University of Delaware Ice Skating Science Development Center (ISSDC) is a year-round training facility designed to meet the needs of figure skaters, first-time competitors and Olympians. The ISSDC is directed by Ronald Ludington, who has coached skaters in 9 consecutive Olympics and 36 World Championships. His personal credentials include several skating titles: U.S. Pair Champion (1956-60), U.S. Silver Dance Champion (1958), World Bronze Medalist (1959), Olympic Bronze Medalist (1960), and World Invitational Dance Champion (1965).

The training center has been home to many skaters including Tara Lipinski, Anjelika Krylova and Oleg Ovsiannikov, Johnny Weir and Kimmie Meissner. In 2006, the University of Delaware sent 31 figure skaters to the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis, Missouri, more than any other figure skating club in the United States. In addition, on March 26, 2006, Kimmie Meissner won the 2006 World Figure Skating Championships in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

The University of Delaware also has a strong record of figure skating at the collegiate level, and is home to several skaters who have placed at the U.S. Collegiate Championships, including Melissa Parker ('99 Sr. Champion), Mark Butt ('00 Jr. Bronze Medalist), Laura Stefanik ('05 Jr. Champion), Danielle VanPatten ('05 Jr. Bronze Medalist) and Jazmyn Manzouri ('06 Jr. Silver Medalist). The University of Delaware Collegiate Figure Skating Club (UDCFSC) was founded in 1997 and has qualified for the US Intercollegiate National Figure Skating Championships every year since its inception in 2000, winning the National Championship in 2002 ahead of the University of Michigan and Miami University.

DuPont Hall
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DuPont Hall

[edit] Music

In 2004, the University of Delaware Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Paul D. Head and accompanied by Betsy Kent, were invited to perform at the American Choral Directors Association's International Convention in Los Angeles. In 2000, the music department purchaced an 18th century Ceruti violin for professor and virtuoso violinist Xiang Gao. This investment of nearly $300,000 USD has more than tripled in value. Recently Prof. Gao has been granted use of a Stradivarius Violin.

[edit] Technological innovations

In 2000, the University of Delaware was ranked the 2nd most "wired" university in the country by Yahoo! Internet Magazine. The university earned this title with the help of its 800 miles of fiber optic cable which runs throughout the campus.

The university has also been listed on the list of the top 10 most "wireless" universities in the country. Wireless connections provided by Verizon are available in all major areas of the university including the library, dining halls, student centers, and most classroom buildings.

[edit] Student media

There is currently only one student newspaper at Delaware, The Review. In 2004, it was a National Newspaper Pacemaker Award Finalist, and was also named one of the ten best non-daily college newspapers by the Associated Collegiate Press. They currently have a print circulation of 12,000.

The Review is a bi-weekly publication, released on Tuesdays and an online only edition on Fridays. It is distributed at locations across campus, including Morris Library, in the Perkins Student Center and the Trabant Student Center, as well as various academic buildings and the dining halls. It can also be found in the surrouding community, including newsstands and shopping centers. The Review has an office at 250 Perkins Student Center, which faces Academy Street, and is above WVUD.

The student-run, non-commercial, educational radio station at Delaware broadcasts on 91.3 and uses the call letters WVUD. Their slogan is "the Voice of the University of Delaware." They are licensed by the city of Newark, Delaware. WVUD broadcasts with a power of 1,000 watts 24 hours a day. The offices and studios are located in the Perkins Student Center.

The transmitting facilities are located atop the Christiana East residence hall. WVUD is operated by University of Delaware students, a University staff of two and community members. There is no prior radio experience necessary or need to enroll in a certain major to become a part of WVUD. The radio station has a variety of programming, featuring both music and talk formats. The station's website is located here.

[edit] Greek life

Approximately 12% of Delaware's undergraduate population is affiliated with a fraternity or sorority. There are over 19 fraternities and 15 sororities (chapters & colonies) in the Interfraternity Council (IFC), National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), and National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) They all coordinate via the Greek Council. All Greek organizations participate in an accreditation process called the Chapter Assessment Program (CAP). CAP ratings award chapters with either a Gold, Silver, Bronze, Satisfactory or Needs Improvement designation. This system is an expansion from the Five Star program of the late 1990's, requiring contributions to community service, philanthropy, university events, diversity education, professional education, a chapter/colony GPA greater than or equal to the all mens or all women's average, and attendance and compliance with numerous other criteria.

Fraternities:

Alpha Epsilon Pi ("A-E-Pi") Alpha Gamma Rho ("A-G-R") Alpha Phi Alpha ("Alphas") Kappa Alpha Psi ("Kappas") Kappa Delta Rho ("K-D-R") Kappa Sigma ("Kappa Sig") Lambda Chi Alpha ("Lambda Chi") Lambda Sigma Upsilon ("LSU") Lambda Theta Phi, Omega Psi Phi ("Cues") Pi Kappa Phi (PiKep") Phi Sigma Kappa ("PSK") Sigma Alpha Epsilon ("S-A-E") Sigma Alpha Mu ("Sammy") Sigma Chi, Sigma Phi Epsilon ("SigEp") Sigma Pi, Tau Epsilon Phi ("Tep") Theta Chi (sarcastically "OX")

Sororities:

Alpha Epsilon Phi ("A-E-Phi") Alpha Kappa Alpha ("AKA") Alpha Phi, Alpha Sigma Alpha ("A-S-A") Alpha Xi Delta, Chi Omega ("Chi-O") Chi Upsilon Sigma, Delta Gamma ("D-G") Delta Sigma Theta ("Deltas") Kappa Alpha Theta ("Theta") Lambda Pi Chi, Phi Sigma Sigma ("Phi SIG") Sigma Alpha, Sigma Kappa, Zeta Phi Beta ("Zetas")

[edit] Notable alumni/ae

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Mike Chalmers, Michele Besso. "Pioneering UD president to step down in May 2007", The News Journal, May 24, 2006, pp. A1, A7. Retrieved on 2006-05-27.
  2. ^ Chronicle of Higher Education, 20 November, 2006

[edit] Gallery

The Green

The Trabant University Center houses a food court, several multipurpose rooms, and the student activities offices

The Trabant food court

Adjacent to campus is Main Street, Newark, on which are many shops

Memorial Hall, dedicated in honor of UD's World War I dead

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

 Wikimedia Commons has media related to:


Colonial Athletic Association
Delaware • Drexel • George Mason • Georgia State • Hofstra • James Madison • Northeastern • Old Dominion • Towson • UNC–Wilmington • Virginia Commonwealth • William & Mary
Atlantic 10 Football Conference
Delaware • Hofstra • James Madison • Maine • Massachusetts • New Hampshire • Northeastern • Rhode Island • Richmond • Towson • Villanova • William & Mary
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