University College Roosevelt

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University College Roosevelt
Motto IUVENTUTEM FUTURO AEDIFICARE (Building Our Youth for the Future) derived from a quote by President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945): We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.
Established 2004
Type Undergraduate Liberal Arts College
Dean Prof. Dr. Mr. Barbara Oomen
Academic staff 50
Students 570
Location Middelburg, Zeeland, NetherlandsNetherlands
Campus Urban / Inner-city
Colours Crimson and Gold          
Nickname Roosevelt
Affiliations Utrecht University, ECOLAS
Website www.ucr.nl

University College Roosevelt, formerly known as Roosevelt Academy, is a small, undergraduate liberal arts college located in Middelburg in the Netherlands and the sole university in Zeeland. It offers a residential setting and is an international honors college of Utrecht University.

History

Middelburg City Hall in 1918

In 1575, William of Orange was about to found the first university in the Netherlands. Given the choice between the cities of Leiden and Middelburg, he founded the University of Leiden. Centuries later, Middelburg got its university in the form of the Roosevelt Academy. Founder Professor Hans Adriaansens, unhappy with what he saw as the undemanding, large-scale climate of university education in the Netherlands, started developing the idea of a small scale and academically intensive undergraduate college in the Netherlands. This resulted in University College Utrecht in 1998 and in the Roosevelt Academy in 2004, both college's based on some ground principles of the Liberal Arts education Hans Adriaansens experienced during his brief time as a visiting professor at Smith College during the 1980-1981 academic year. The Roosevelt Academy was officially founded on January the 23rd, 2004 and the first students enrolled in August of that year after Queen Beatrix performed the official opening of the university. [1] On February 5th, 2013 Roosevelt Academy changed its name to University College Roosevelt, to present itself explicitly as a university college.[2]

Organization and financing

University College Roosevelt, or UCR, is an international Honors college of Utrecht University, offers a Liberal Arts and Science program. In 2005, the Dutch government (which funds all higher education) ceased financial support for the academy, to which it had given close to a million euros the previous year. This amounted to 20% of the university's operating budget. The government thought the academy's independent construction might create a precedent. In 2007, an agreement was made that allows the academy to be financially independent, and self-sufficient.[3] The academy is now financed in part by the Middelburg municipality.[4]

Admissions

The university admits 200 students each academic year from about 400 applications received. Approximately two-thirds of the students are Dutch and the remaining third come from a wide number of countries. Tuition fees are set slightly higher than regular public universities in the Netherlands. Up to date information about UCR's application procedure and admissions requirements can be found on the UCR website.

Academics

Students in the college enroll in a wide variety of courses across three different subject areas: Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences and the Sciences. After three years of successful study at UCR, students are awarded an Utrecht University Honors BA or BSc degree.

De NVAO (Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organization)has given University College Roosevelt "excellence" status. NVAO chairman Karl Dittrich stated during the opening of the academic year in Middelburg (September 2009) that a "Liberal Arts and Sciences degree is an example to the Netherlands and other countries."

Rankings

In 2008, the influential magazine Elsevier ranked UCR as the top liberal arts college in the Netherlands, for the third time in four years; the academy received high marks for the quality of the education and the mentoring of the students.[5]

University College Roosevelt knows graduation percentages which are very high in comparison to regular Dutch universities. 82% of its students graduate (with a national average of 46) and 93% of its students graduate within the 3 years (national average of 28).

In 2011, the Keuzegids Onderwijs 2011, ranked UCR as the number one University College in The Netherlands with an 8.4.In 2012 however, it fell to second place, with a 7.8, with University College Maastricht in first place with an 8.6 [6]

Exchange programs

Students may study abroad during their fourth or fifth semester. Students earn credits towards their UCR degree while at a wide variety of universities around the world. Options include locations through the Utrecht University exchange network. UCR also has direct exchange agreements with the Honors Program at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, USA, and with Glendon College in Toronto, Canada.[7]

Campus

Middelburg City Hall

Academic Buildings

The University College Roosevelt campus is located near the market square in Middelburg. This includes the medieval city hall, which was built in 1452 and now serves as the academy's main building. The city, which owns the building, began renting the old, Gothic part of the building to the university college in 2006.

The newer, non-gothic section of the city hall is known as Franklin Hall and was rented to the academy from its beginning.[8] Other university buildings include Theodore and Eleanor. These buildings house all classrooms, computer labs, and faculty and administrative offices.

Residence Halls

All students live in one of the residential halls, Bagijnhof, Roggeveenhof, Koestraat or Driewegenhof, all within Middelburg. These halls house between 100-200 students each and are spread throughout the city. As the university college grows, more buildings are being refurbished for student housing.

Library, Bookstore, & Journal

UCR's official academic bookstore is De Drukkery, located on the market square. Students have full access to the Zeeland Library (the largest library in the province) and can use the digital library of Utrecht University.

University College Roosevelt publishes an annual academic journal, Ad Astra (to the stars), that publishes noteworthy student essays and papers.

Anthem

The university has an anthem with the following lyrics:

A steadfast Zeeland town of old Stands firm against the Northern cold And nestled safely in her heart There stands a school, a world apart. The bright minds sheltered deep within Wake rested, eager to begin They gain in knowledge evermore Beneath the golden figures, pure

A strong communal bond presides, Politeness reigns, respect abides. An honorable collegiates’ code Will guide us safe down future’s road. The beads of wisdom we can see Are strung onto our memory. And ‘neath the town hall’s watchful eye We study, party, love, and lie

The statue's face may fade with years The bells will peal upon new ears We all shall pass our wisdom on and swear our fealty, though we're gone We’ll spread remembrance of this place With smiles on ev’ry aging face In all our hearts eternally, Hail Roosevelt Academy! Hail Roosevelt Academy!

Recognized Student Organizations

Roosevelt's All Students Association (RASA)

The Roosevelt's All Students Association (RASA) is the most important student body within UCR, consisting of a chair, a treasurer, a secretary and three CAO's, who are each responsible for specific societies within RASA. Its main aim is described as "making UCR a stimulating and outreaching community, through promoting contact between members, representing their interests, maintaining key traditions and providing a framework in which its members' initiatives and diversity can flourish". Societies and committees which are part of RASA are amongst others TheatRA, CultureCo, Roosevelt Debating Society, LitCo, Political Society, Cooking Society, Christian Union Roosevelt Academy (CURA), Participating Uniting Middelburg Association (PUMA), SportsCo, GaySociety, Film Society and PhiloCom. Besides, there are also teams like Yearbook, Graduation, End of Term Party, CultureWeek and Christmas Gala. There are also independent student bodies which are not related to RASA, such as Veritas Forum, Amnesty Middelburg and Red Cross Zeeland.

Academic Affairs Council (AAC)

The Academic Affairs Council is mainly responsible for handling academic complaints, monitoring academic standards, representing students as an intricate part of UCR, and helping you reaching your full academic potential. The AAC board consist of a chair, a vice-chair, a student advisor, an event manager and an external officer.

Housing Affairs Council (HAC)

The Housing Affairs Council represents students’ housing interests and works to ensure the best living conditions on campus for a reasonable price. The board consist of a chair, a secretary, a treasurer and three campus elders.

Aurora

Aurora Alumni Foundation is the official UCR alumni association, ensuring that alumni relations are maintained by providing opportunities for social interaction, networking and various services.

Traditions

Traditions at UCR include the Convocation held every year in Middelburg's New Church. Weather permitting, the procession of Notables and professors can be seen walking from the Stadhuis to Middelburg's New Church where the official ceremonies are held. There is also the Dies Natalis, the celebration of the founding of the college, which takes place every five years, as well as IntRoweek at the beginning of every semester to welcome new students, Culture Week, and a yearly Christmas Gala.

Athletics

The RASA Sports Committee organizes various sports for students, currently offering rowing, field hockey, soccer, fencing, and basketball.

Upcoming Events

In November, the first edition of the Future Week will be held, at which various national and international universities present their postgraduate programs. Also, the annual Deans Debate of the University College Student Representatives the Netherlands (UCSRN) will be hosted by UCR in November 2013.

Costs

For Dutch and EU/EEA students, the tuition fees are fixed at 2,585 euros per academic year (2013/2014), 750 euros more than other universities in the Netherlands. For non-EU/EEA students, tuition fees are 8,117 euros per academic year (2013/2014). Campus housing costs about 280-400 euros a month and includes internet, electricity, water, etc.

All fees included, the university administration estimates studying one year at UCR costs 9,000 Euros for Dutch/EU students and 17,000 for students from outside the EU/EEA.

Some scholarships are available through UCR.

External links

Roosevelt Academy
Other

References

  1. ↑ Middelburg en de Oranjes
  2. ↑ RA becomes UCR!
  3. ↑ "Den Haag is bang voor precedenten". BN/De Stem (in Dutch). 2008-078-23. Retrieved 2009-09-02. 
  4. ↑ Berkelder, Nadia (2007-06-02). "'Middelburg moet zorgen dat RA blijft'". Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant (in Dutch). Retrieved 2009-09-02. 
  5. ↑ "Roosevelt Academy voor derde keer beste universitaire studie" (in Dutch). Blikopnieuws. 2008-10-09. Retrieved 2009-09-02. 
  6. ↑ Accreditation and ranking
  7. ↑ UCR Exchange Opportunities
  8. ↑ Corven, Toine van (2004-10-22). "Gotisch stadhuis Middelburg te huur". Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 2009-09-02. 
Liberal arts colleges (University colleges) in the Netherlands
Sorted chronologically (by year of opening)

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