| University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) | |
|---|---|
| Motto | An Honors University in Maryland |
| Established | 1966 |
| Type | Public university |
| President | Freeman Hrabowski III |
| Academic staff | 766[1] |
| Students | 12,888[1] |
| Undergraduates | 10,210[2] |
| Postgraduates | 2,678[1] |
| Location | Catonsville, Maryland, United States
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| Campus | Suburban, 500 acres (2 km²) |
| Colors | Black, Gold[3] |
| Athletics | The UMBC Retrievers, 17 varsity teams, NCAA Division I |
| Nickname | Retrievers |
| Mascot | True Grit |
| Affiliations | America East Conference; MAISA; University System of Maryland |
| Website | www.umbc.edu www.umbcretrievers.com |
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County[4] (often referred to as UMBC) is an American public research university, located in Baltimore County, Maryland, mostly in the community of Catonsville, Maryland. Established as a part of the University System of Maryland in 1966, the university specializes in the natural sciences and engineering, while also offering programs in the liberal arts.[2]
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UMBC offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a variety of areas of study. There are 54 majors, 42 minors and 20 certificate offerings in its undergraduate program. UMBC's Graduate School offers 33 master's degree programs, 23 doctoral degree programs and 20 graduate certificate programs. The university is divided into three colleges, two schools, as well as its graduate school.
The average cumulative GPA of all undergraduate students in the Spring 2009 semester was 2.87.[9]
UMBC's campus is located on 500 acres. It is 15 minutes from Baltimore's Inner Harbor and 45 minutes from Washington, D.C. Baltimore Washington International Airport is five minutes away, as are AMTRAK and light rail stations. UMBC, three miles outside the Baltimore city limits, successfully lobbied the government to use 'Baltimore' as its address. While its suburban campus has minimal interaction with its surroundings, students variously consider it to be located in the towns of Catonsville (by CDP) or Arbutus (whose street grid it borders).
bwtech@UMBC Research and Technology Park is a 71 acre development on the campus hosting technology, bioscience and research organizations, many of which are engaged in partnership with the University.[10] Research Park tenants include the US Geological Survey, RWD Technologies, US Forestry Service, CardioMed Device Consultants, Audacious Inquiry, Med-IQ, Physician Practice, Inc., Retirement Living TV, Ascentium Corporation, Solvern Innovations, RMF Engineering, Inc., Convergent Technology, Clear Resolution Consulting, Fearless Solutions, and Goddard Earth Science and Technology Center.
UMBC maintains a 24-hour police staff of sworn officers. Unlike the campus police of the University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, the campus police are not accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.[11][12] Accreditation is expected by the University System of Maryland mandated 2013 deadline.
The Resident Student Association and Student Events Board provide social programming during all academic semesters at UMBC. Over 100 student-run organizations exist on campus.[13]
There are ten housing areas housing approximately 4,500 students.
UMBC has won the Pan American Chess Tournament an astounding 9 times in 13 years (1996–2009). The school provides substantial chess scholarships to outstanding high school graduate players at the International or Grandmaster level. Former UMBC team captain GM Alexander Onischuk has gone on to become US Champion in 2006.[14] Professor of Computer Science Alan Sherman has been instrumental in building up the UMBC chess dynasty by recruiting players from around the world.
The school's sports teams are called the Retrievers, with colors black and gold. The mascot of the University is the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, the state dog of Maryland, named True Grit. There is a statue of True Grit that stands in front of the Retriever Activities Center (RAC). The Retrievers participate in NCAA Division 1 as a part of the America East Conference, fielding 17 varsity sports; eight men and nine women. The Retrievers fight song is the UMBC Riser, and was written by Dr. George LaNoue, a professor of policy sciences.
In 2009, the men's lacrosse team secured their fifth consecutive outright or shared America East regular season championship and their third America East tournament championship in four years. UMBC has secured a berth in the NCAA tournament each of the past four seasons.[15][16] In 2007, the unseeded Retrievers upset seventh-seeded Maryland, 13–9, in the NCAA tournament to advance to the Division I second round for the first, and so far only, time in school history.[17]
The Retrievers won their first regular season American East Men's Basketball title in 2007-08, and also qualified for their first NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. They had previously competed in the Division II men's basketball tournament.
The Retrievers Men's Soccer Team won the America East Conference in 2010 receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament. The Retrievers won their first round game against Princeton but lost in the second round in a shootout to a ranked Dartmouth team. This is the best UMBC has ever done at the tournament. Star striker, Levi Houapeu, from that 2010 team was drafted as a 5th pick in the 3rd round of the 2011 MLS Superdraft by the Philadelphia Union. He is the first UMBC player to be drafted into the MLS.
The Retrievers, Men's Swimming and Diving Program captured their 13th straight conference championship in the 2009-2010 Season. Since Joining the America East Conference in 2004, the Retriever Men have not lost their crown.
Retrievers Basketball games are broadcast by Paul Mittermeier and Gary Stein.
In 2010, a contest was launched to find a new logo for Athletics.[18] In May 2010, the UMBC Athletic Department unveiled a new logo for the Retrievers created by Jim Lord.
The Meyerhoff Scholarship Program at UMBC is a program focused on the cultivation of underrepresented minority scholarship and awareness in the math, science, and engineering disciplines. Other scholarship programs include the CWIT Scholars Program, the Humanities Scholars Program, the Linehan Artist Scholars Program, the Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program and the Sherman Teacher Education Scholars Program.
Only the most recent ranking from each source is listed in the table below.
The University is ranked 157th in the latest 2012 U.S. News and World Report rankings of "National Universities" across the United States, and it is ranked 83th nationally among public universities.UMBC ranks fourth among U.S. research universities in the production of IT degrees and certificates, according to U.S. Department of Education data. The data shows UMBC ranking #21 in MS, and #31 in PhD IT degree production.[28] The Carnegie Foundation classifies UMBC as a research university with high research activity.[29] An overall ranking by U.S. News placed this university first in its 2012 list of Up and Coming schools.[30] For the past 9 years, UMBC has been listed in the top 5 "up and coming" national universities. The U.S. News undergraduate teaching ranking for all national universities ranked UMBC 4th for 2012 tied with Yale.[31] UMBC is also listed in Princeton Review's The Best 371 Colleges.[32]
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