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
President David P. Roselle (current)
Patrick T. Harker (June 1, 2007)
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 U.S. 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 $1.2 billion US. The University of Delaware was called a "Public Ivy" in Greene's Guides published in 2001. In 2007, UD was ranked No. 15 nationally in Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine list of the 100 best public institutions of higher education. The University of Delaware was also ranked 15th best value for in state students and 10th best value for out of state students.

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 HallThis image has an uncertain copyright status and is pending deletion. You can comment on the removal.
Memorial Hall
This image has an uncertain copyright status and is pending deletion. You can comment on the removal.

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)
The Green (formerly known as The Mall)

[edit] Recent history

The recent history of the university has been marked by massive construction projects. North or Laird Campus, formerly home to the Pencader Complex has been entirely redesigned and renamed Independence Complex. This began with the construction of a Marriott Courtyard run by the HRIM (Hotel Restaurant and Institutional Management) school. Three new residence hall buildings have also been built and named after three UD signers of the Constitution, George Read, Thomas McKean and James Smith. The fourth Delaware signer, Caesar Rodney, already had a dorm complex named after him. 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.[citation needed]

There has also been recent construction of new academic buildings. In 2006, the Center For The Arts had its grand opening, with new facilities for the school's music and theater programs. Also in 2006, Jastak-Burgess Hall opened, now home to the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature. In 1998, Gore Hall opened on the Green. It connects to Smith Hall via an overpass over South College Avenue. Other recent construction projects include Alfred Lerner Hall (for business), and the renovation of Lamott DuPont Laboratory. The Lamott DuPont Laboratory contains the work of the world famous materials science engineering department.

[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 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 T. Harker, dean of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, will replace the resigning David Roselle on July 1, 2007 Official UD Article.

While the UD administration is often open to dialogue with students, the administration is perceived by the student body as unusually controlling, even among university administrations. For example, student organizations must have all posters individually authorized, dated and stamped, before they are allowed to post them in designated areas. [2]

[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.[citation needed] 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 renowned study abroad program, which now encompasses over 75 different programs to over 35 countries on all 7 continents.

Delaware's study abroad program offers many options for students. Undergraduates have the option of studying abroad for a unique 5-week winter session, or an entire semester. One example of the many study abroad programs offered at Delaware is a winter session in Sydney, Australia. This is primarily a program offered for business students interested in international marketing and operations. Students tour different companies in Sydney and they have plenty of free time after classes to explore all that Sydney has to offer.

[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. 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. Delaware was a member of the Atlantic 10 Football Conference until it disbanded after the 2006 season.

Former head football coaches Bill Murray, Dave Nelson and Harold "Tubby" Raymond are College Football Hall of Fame inductees. Delaware is one of only two schools to have three straight head coaches inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (Georgia Tech is the other) 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.[citation needed]

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

Main article: University of Delaware Figure Skating Club
DuPont Hall
DuPont Hall

[edit] Music

The University of Delaware has a variety of musical performance opportunities available to students, including a wind ensemble, orchestra, symphonic band. There are also a number of jazz groups available, including two large ensembles, and two smaller groups that focus on improvisation. All ensembles are open by audition to all students at the university, and can be taken either for credit or for no credit. The school also has a steel drum ensemble, and an early music ensemble. There are also a variety of choral ensembles, including the University of Delaware Chorale, an all-women's choir, and three choirs, also open to community members, that constitute the Schola Cantorum.

In addition, the University of Delaware is known for having one of the best marching bands on the east coast, the University of Delaware Fightin' Blue Hen Marching Band. The band ranges from 300 to 350 members every year and can be seen performing at every home football game.

In 2006, the new Center for the Arts building opened. This building has a number of recital halls and a large number of practice rooms, most with upright pianos. The practice rooms are locked and cannot be used by students who are not music majors or in an official UD ensemble. The university employs a tiered access system, with larger rooms and rooms with grand pianos being reserved for certain elite groups of students. In addition the music department also uses their old building, with offices, classrooms, practice rooms, and recital halls. This building has a few public-access practice rooms without pianos.

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.[citation needed] The university earned this title with the help of its 800 miles of fiber optic cable which runs throughout the campus.[citation needed]

The university has also been listed on the list of the top 10 most "wireless" universities in the country.[citation needed] Wireless connections are available in all major areas of the university including the library, dining halls, student centers, dormitory buildings, 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.[citation needed] They currently have a print circulation of 12,000.

The Review is a bi-weekly publication, released in print on Tuesdays and an online-only edition on Fridays. It is distributed at several locations across campus, including Morris Library, the Perkins Student Center and the Trabant Student Center, as well as various academic buildings and the dining halls. It is also distributed in the surrounding community, including newsstands and shopping centers near campus. The Review's office is located at 250 Perkins Student Center, facing Academy Street, and is above the offices of 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.[citation needed]

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. No prior radio experience is necessary, nor is there a need to enroll in any 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 15% 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 men's or all women's average, and attendance and compliance with numerous other criteria.

List of Fraternities and Sororities at Delaware

[edit] Alcohol Abuse

A 1993 study by the Harvard School of Public Health found that high-risk drinking at UD exceeded the national norm. On this survey, a majority of students reported binge drinking more than once in a two-week interval. The average consumption for students was nine drinks per week, while 29% reported that they drink on 10 or more occasions per month. Ironically, UD students were found to be more aware of policies, prevention programs, and enforcement risks than the national average. [3]

In 2005, on the Newark campus of the university 1140 students were picked up by the campus police for alcohol-related violations. Of these, 120 led to arrests. These figures are up from previous years, 1062 in 2004 and 1026 in 2003. Caution must be used in interpreting these figures; a higher number of reported violations may represent more enforcement, not necessarily more actual violations. [4]

UD has expended considerable effort and financial resources to reduce the drinking problem on campus; in 1991 UD founded the Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies. One of the center's major initiatives is a collaborative plan to reduce irresponsible drinking at UD, called A Matter of Degree. [5]

Students at UD are also concerned about the widespread alcohol abuse.[citation needed] At least one student organization has undertaken the goal of "providing fun activities for those who chose not to drink" and to "promote the idea that one doesn't need alcohol to have a good time". [6]

[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 South 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


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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