University of Maryland, Baltimore County

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University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Motto:	An Honors University in Maryland
Established:	1966
Type:	Public
President:	Freeman A. Hrabowski III
Faculty:	949
Undergraduates:	9,668
Postgraduates:	2,184
Location:	Catonsville, Maryland, United States ( 39°15′19.80″N, 76°42′40.52″W)
Campus:	Suburban, 500 acres (2 km²)
Colors:	Black, Gold and Red[1]
Nickname:	Retrievers
Mascot:	True Grit
Athletics:	The UMBC Retrievers, 17 varsity teams, NCAA Division I
Affiliations:	America East Conference; MAISA; AAU
Website:	www.umbc.edu www.umbcretrievers.com

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County^[2] (generally known as UMBC) is a public research university, located in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States, in the community of Catonsville. Established as a part of the University System of Maryland in 1966, the university specializes in the natural sciences and engineering, while also offering a breadth of programs in the liberal arts. The University is not a satellite campus of the University of Maryland.

Contents 1 Academics 1.1 Financial Aid and scholarships 1.2 Rankings 1.3 Notable professors 2 Campus 2.1 Notable buildings 2.1.1 Public Policy Building 2.1.2 The Hillcrest Building 2.1.3 The Commons 2.2 Other locations 2.2.1 Drainage tunnels 2.2.2 Steam tunnels 2.2.3 Grassy knoll 2.2.4 Pig Pen Pond 2.3 Campus Police 3 Student life 3.1 Student activities and organizations 4 Athletics 5 Notable Alumni 6 References 7 See also 8 External links

[edit] Academics

Main article: University of Maryland, Baltimore County Majors and Programs

UMBC's Undergraduate School offers 54 majors and 42 minors and 20 certificate programs in the physical and biological sciences, social and behavioral sciences, engineering, mathematics, information technology, humanities, economics and visual and performing arts. New degree programs include management of aging services, media and communication studies, and gender and women's studies.

UMBC's Graduate School offers 33 master's degree programs, 23 doctoral degree programs and 20 graduate certificate programs. Programs are offered in emergency health services, education, engineering, imaging and digital arts, information technology, life sciences, psychology, public policy and a host of other areas of interest. A new gerontology Ph.D. program is one of only six in the United States.

[edit] Financial Aid and scholarships

UMBC is home to the Meyerhoff Scholarship Program, 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.

Major businesses in the Baltimore-Washington area recruit using scholarships and internship opportunities.

[edit] Rankings

The University of Maryland Baltimore County is particularly regarded for its natural science and engineering programs. According to the National Science Foundation, the University is among the top three Ph.D-granting universities in the United States in the production of IT degrees at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. UMBC ranks second nationally in degrees awarded by colleges that grant bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. degrees in the computing sciences. The university continues to be the largest producer of IT graduates in the Maryland area^[3]. The Carnegie Foundation's new classification of American colleges and universities places the university alongside other extensive doctoral/research universities. UMBC is one of only two public universities in Maryland to hold this position, the other being University of Maryland, College Park. Only 152 universities are part of this category nationwide.

The university is also regarded for its diverse student population. The Princeton Review ranks UMBC 10th on its Diverse Population list, as well as including it on its Best in the Northeast list^[4]. According to the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, UMBC is ranked 1st nationally in the total number of undergraduate chemistry and biochemistry degrees awarded to African Americans, 4th nationally in the total number of chemistry and biochemistry undergraduate degrees awarded to Asian Americans, and 7th nationally in overall undergraduate chemistry and biochemistry degree production^[5].

UMBC is ranked by the USNews and World Report rankings as a national university: third tier.^[6]

[edit] Notable professors

English

• Christopher Corbett - A former news editor and reporter with The Associated Press, and the adviser for UMBC's student newspaper, The Retriever Weekly.

Mathematics

• Thomas Mathew - the world's fourth most leading statistician^{[citation needed]}

Emergency Health Services

• Dr. Stephen Dean - An internationally recognized expert in Emergency Medical Services system design.

Aging Studies

• Dr. William H. Thomas - an international authority on geriatric medicine and eldercare, founder of The Eden Alternative and author of What Are Old People For?

American Studies

• Warren Belasco - food scholar and renown historian, author of Meals to Come: A History of the Future of Food

Political Science

• (Former Professor) Nabil Mikhail - expert in the field of Middle Eastern Relations

• Thomas Schaller - talk show host, political commentator, and author of Whistling Past Dixie

Gender and Women's Studies

• Carole McCann - reproductive politics, cultural politics of gender, sexuality, race and science, U.S. women's history
• Anne Brodsky, Director of the Gender and Women's Studies Program, author of With All Our Strength: The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan

Philosophy

• Stephen E. Braude - a leading parapsychologist and a noted thinker in Temporal Logic and the Philosophy of Mind.

Psychology

• Christopher Murphy - one of the country's premiere domestic violence researchers
• Carlo DiClemente - a leading expert in addictions, co-developer of the Stages of Change model.

[edit] Campus

[edit] Notable buildings

[edit] Public Policy Building

Completed in 2003 at an estimated cost of $18,700,000, the Public Policy Building houses the Shriver Center and related departments.

[edit] The Hillcrest Building

Built in 1921 and completed in 1922, it was designed specifically for the containment and rehabilitation of criminally insane patients, and one of the first of its kind. After several decades of use, the building eventually became outdated and unable to compete with newer facilities in the area. In 1965 the land UMBC currently occupies was sold to its proprietors, which included the Hillcrest Building. In this period it functioned as an administration building, with rooms for student organizations and clubs and housed the Residential Life office. The basement of the building was renovated into a club known as "The Rattskeller". The building ceased to be used by the university in 2000, and future plans to demolish it were announced. Some students took an interest in trying to preserve the building on the grounds of its historical significance.

Trevor J. Blank, a former student at UMBC, has led a historic preservation effort to halt administrative efforts to raze the structure. He currently is working towards a Ph.D. at the Indiana University Folklore Institute and is in the process of co-authoring a book with David S. Helsel, M.D. on the history of Spring Grove State Hospital, which will include a spotlight on the Hillcrest Building's history. It is scheduled for a February 2008 release by Arcadia Publishing.

During the Summer of 2007 the building began to be demolished. As of late August, the building has been completely torn down.

[edit] The Commons

The Commons, which opened in January 2002, is the hub of student life on campus. It consists of multiple dining opportunities, the campus bookstore, Off-campus Student Services, the Women’s Center, various student lounges, meeting rooms, administrative offices, as well as office space for many of the 180-plus UMBC student organizations, including the Graduate Student Association. Occupying more than 144,000 square feet, The Commons is "high-tech" with wireless computer technology and information displays. Architecturally, the facility is quite unusual in design featuring a multitude of glass windows that provide an appealing environment for the many social activities.

[edit] Other locations

[edit] Drainage tunnels

A system of drainage tunnels lies underneath the campus at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Unknown to most of the student body, it is most accessible through a sizeable entrance near the Commons Garage and the Grassy Knoll. It traverses through much of the campus, the main shaft ending at the artificial pond near the Albin O. Kuhn Library. Multiple secondary tunnels deviate from the main tunnel, branching off towards the Biology and the Public Policy Buildings. Many students and fraternities have explored and made their mark (often with graffiti) within the system, The condition of the tunnel system is not satisfactory for exploration by the public.

[edit] Steam tunnels

The steam tunnels are a series of maintenance tunnels that connect almost all major buildings on campus. The main tunnel runs directly under the "main concourse" that leads from the library to the administration building, and is about 1/2 a mile in length. They carry all heating, water, electrical, and data lines within them. They are only accessible from secured entrances within the buildings themselves and a few select grates near Erickson Field.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Grassy knoll

The "Grassy Knoll" is a landmark in a somewhat hidden clearing in the woods between the Administration Drive and the Commons Garage. It is accessible via a path near the drainage tunnel.

[edit] Pig Pen Pond

Located on the south end of campus, Pig Pen Pond is one of the few remaining elements of the farmland upon which UMBC was built. It is home to much wildlife, including the Baltimore oriole^[7].

[edit] Campus Police

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County Police Department is a nationally accredited law enforcement agency servicing a population of 10,628 students and faculty not including daily visitors on over 50 acres of campus property and adjoining streets and roadways. The Police Department also employs a number of students as Police Student Marshals. Their main function is to provide campus wide escorts, event security, and to unlock and lock buildings.

[edit] Student life

Approximately 75% of freshman students live on campus. With the completion of Erickson Hall, Harbor Hall, and the Walker Avenue Apartments, UMBC is making the transition from a commuter school to a residential school. As more students move onto campus, organization such as the Resident Student Association (RSA) and Student Events Board (SEB) are continually creating more activities for students to become involved in. In addition to events created and sponsored by the University, hundreds of university-sanctioned clubs and organizations are present on campus to build a sense of community. These clubs and organizations range from Greek life to academic and cultural clubs, to activity-based clubs including ice hockey, sky diving, sailing, tennis, rowing, and the martial arts. The school is known for the ethnically diverse student body and remains in the top 20 most diverse schools in the country.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Student activities and organizations

Main article: University of Maryland, Baltimore County student organizations

[edit] Athletics

Main article: UMBC Retrievers

The school's sports teams are called the Retrievers, with colors black and gold with red. 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-A 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.

The Retrievers won their first regular season American East Men's Basketball title in 2007-08, and also qualified for their first NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

[edit] Notable Alumni

Arts and entertainment

• Brian Dannelly - Writer of the film Saved!.
• Duff Goldman - Owner of Charm City Cakes and central character in Ace of Cakes, a reality show on The Food Network.
• Robert Mugge - Film writer, director & producer
• Johnathon Schaech - Actor
• Kathleen Turner - Actress
• Lauren Drew - TV Commercial

Journalism

• Tony Harris - CNN news anchor.

Politics

• Ron Dillon, Jr. - Anne Arundel County Councilman, District 3.
• Allan H. Kittleman - Maryland state senator, District 9.
• James N. Mathias, Jr - former mayor of Ocean City, MD, member Maryland House of Delegates.
• Dan Patrick - Texas State Senator, District 7, Radio Talk Show host.
• Victoria L. Schade, former member of Maryland House of Delegates, District 31.

Sports

• Wayne Franklin - Former Major League Baseball pitcher for the York Revolution in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.
• Dan Marohl - National Lacrosse League forward for the Philadelphia Wings
• Brendan Mundorf - National Lacrosse League forward for the New York Titans; Major League Lacrosse forward for the Denver Outlaws.
• Jeff Ratcliffe - National Lacrosse League forward for the New York Titans.
• Brian Rowland - United Soccer Leagues Second Division goalkeeper for Crystal Palace Baltimore.
• Rick Steirer - former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
• Drew Westervelt - National Lacrosse League attack for the Philadelphia Wings; Major League Lacrosse attack for the Denver Outlaws.
• Jay Witasick - Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Mid-InfraRed Technologies for Health and the Environment (MIRTHE) (largely based at Princeton University)
• Swoogle (search engine)

[edit] External links

• University of Maryland Baltimore County
• Official UMBC Retrievers site
• UMBC Freeform Radio Station
• Retriever Weekly - A weekly print and online newspaper created by UMBC students for UMBC students.
• UMBC Underground - An alternative news blog created by anonymous individuals for UMBC students.
• Baltimore Weather - Provided by the weather station at UMBC.
• College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
• College of Engineering and Information Technology
• College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences
• Erickson School of Aging Studies
• Graduate School
• School of Social Work
• UMBC Men's Ice Hockey

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