University of Delaware

University of Delaware

File:UDEL coat of arms.png
Motto	Scientia Sol Mentis Est (Knowledge is the light of the mind)
Type	Private with state support
Established	1743
Endowment	$1.2 billion USD
President	Patrick T. Harker (July 1, 2007 - Present)
Undergraduates	16,548
Postgraduates	2,519
Location	Newark , Delaware , USA
Campus	Suburban
Colors	Blue & Gold
Mascot	YoUDee
Website	http://www.udel.edu/
File:UDEL logo.png

The University of Delaware (UD) 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 UD receives public funding for being a land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant and urban-grant state-supported research institution, it is also 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, urban affairs and public policy, public administration and agriculture programs, with world-class programs in business, chemical engineering, chemistry and biochemistry, drawing as it does from the historically strong presence of the nation's chemical and pharmaceutical industries in the state of Delaware. In 2006, UD's engineering program was ranked number 10 in the nation by The Princeton Review. It is one of only four schools in North America with a major in art conservation.

Organization and student body

Magnolia Circle with Memorial Hall in the background

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. Also, on April 3, 2007 the second annual BusinessWeek review of the “Best Undergraduate B-Schools” ranked UD's Lerner College of Business and Economics 29th among the nation's top 58 public university programs and 61st among the 500 schools earning international accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.[8]

Students and Admissions

University of Delaware Facts
Class of 2010 Applicants	21,800
Class of 2010 Accepted	47%
Middle 50% Unweighted GPA	3.45-3.90
Middle 50% SAT	1760-1960
Middle 50% ACT	26-30
Freshman Class Size	3,644
% Out-of-State Students	71%
Number of Study Abroad Locations	30+
Undergraduate Colleges	7

The student body at the University of Delaware is largely an undergraduate population. Delaware students have a great deal of access to work and internship opportunities. An easily accessible online database contains over 1,000 internship opportunities available for all majors. The Center hosts 15 major career fairs with over 500 employers in attendance and the Campus Interview Program, which brings over 600 employer representatives to campus. Like other corporate players that call Delaware home, MBNA (now Bank of America) invests in the UD community through the construction of the new Career Services Center building, the hiring of our students, and sponsorship of scholarships. With Delaware's location in Newark, Delaware, students are able to land jobs and internships in Delaware, as well as in New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.. More than 90% of Delaware graduates who do not go directly to graduate school report finding full-time positions within six months of graduating.

Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics

The college offers Baccalaureate degrees in Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, and Operations Management. Minors in Business Administration, Economics, International Business, and Management Information Systems. A Certificate in Business Fundamentals is also offered to non-business majors.

Graduate degrees offered include Accounting, Management Information Systems, Business Administration (MBA), Organizational Effectiveness, and Economics. Dual degrees offered: MBA/MA: Economics; MBA/MS: Information Systems & Technology Management; MBA/MS: Organizational Effectiveness, Development & Change; and MBA/MS: International Business. (The latter degree is offered in conjunction with Groupe ESC Grenoble, France). An Executive MBA is offered at the University's Wilmington campus. Ph.D. offered in Economics.

The Lerner College of Business and Economics has received many awards in the past. Most notably, in 2007 the Lerner College was ranked 61st in the nation in Business Week's Best Undergraduate Business Schools.

College of Arts and Sciences

Through the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Delaware students can choose from a vast array of concentrations. They can choose from programs in visual and performing arts, social sciences, natural sciences and many more. Listed below are the programs offered and the different departments within each program.

Arts and Humanities

Departments

• Art Conservation
• Art History
• English
• Fine Arts & Visual Communications
• Foreign Languages & Literatures
• Music
• Philosophy
• Theatre

Social Sciences and History

File:M-Homecmng-Aerial-355.jpg

The Green at the University of Delaware

Departments

• Anthropology
• Communication
• History
• Military Science - Army ROTC
• Political Science & International Relations
• Sociology & Criminal Justice

Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Departments

• Biological Sciences
• Chemistry & Biochemistry
• Computer & Information Sciences
• Geography
• Linguistics
• Mathematical Sciences
• Physical Therapy
• Physics & Astronomy
• Psychology

Disaster Research Center

The Disaster Research Center, or DRC, was the first social science research center in the world devoted to the study of disasters. It was established at Ohio State University in 1963 and moved to the University of Delaware in 1985. The Center conducts field and survey research on group, organizational and community preparation for,response to, and recovery from natural and technological disasters and other community-wide crises. DRC researchers have carried out systematic studies on a broad range of disaster types, including hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous chemical incidents, and plane crashes. DRC has also done research on civil disturbances and riots, including the 1992 Los Angeles unrest. Staff have conducted nearly 600 field studies since the Center’s inception,traveling to communities throughout the United States and to a number of foreign countries, including Mexico,Canada, Japan, Italy, and Turkey. Faculty members from the University's Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice direct DRC's projects. Professor Sue McNeil is Director. Core Faculty Benigno E. Aguirre, Joanne Nigg and Tricia Wachtendorf. Russell R. Dynes and E. L. Quarantelli, the founding directors of DRC, are Emeritus Professors. The staff also includes postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, undergraduates and research support personnel. See disaster research

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.

South Green at the University of Delaware

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 Delaware signers of the Declaration of Independence, George Read, Thomas McKean and James Smith. The third 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.

New academic buildings have also been constructed recently. 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 and connects to Smith Hall via an overpass on 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.

The University recently implemented a system named UD Alert, to alert students and faculty of emergencies on campus by sending text, voice, and e-mail messages to the individuals [9].

Residence Life controversy

In October 2007, the Office of Residence Life's diversity program was criticized by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education for allegedly "indoctrinating" students on "university-approved ideologies" regarding sexual identity, racism, and social responsibility. The program was suspended on November 1, 2007, with university president Patrick T. Harker quoted as saying, "There are questions about its practices that must be addressed and there are reasons for concern that the actual purpose is not being fulfilled."

Administration

The University is currently headed by President Patrick T. Harker, former dean of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. David P. Roselle retired at the end of the 2006–2007 academic year. President Roselle held this post for sixteen years and was 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 was the highest of any public university President in the United States (Purdue University President Martin C. Jischke's 2006 salary was second, at $880,950).

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.

File:UDGreen.jpg

The Green (formerly known as The Mall)

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 renowned study abroad program, which now encompasses over 75 different programs in more than 40 subjects to over 35 countries on all seven continents.

Delaware's study abroad program offers many options for students. Undergraduates have the option of studying abroad for a unique five-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.

Athletics

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 Delaware Fighting Blue Hens 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).[10] Delaware's only other NCAA National Championship came in 1983 for Women's Division I Lacrosse.[11]

In recent years the Delaware teams have struggled to find success in the CAA. The Blue Hens have won two CAA Championship, since joining in 2001. One each for the women's 2004 field hockey team and one for the 2007 men's lacrosse team. The 2007 men's lacrosse program reached the final four of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in its history.

Intrastate competetion

According to Jeff Pearlman, contributing author to ESPN's Page 2 and 1994 University of Delaware graduate,

"In the ensuing 116 years, Delaware has treated Delaware State not as academic/athletic brethren, but as a piece of gum affixed to the bottom of its loafer. Delaware State is where the scary black people congregate, where "those" types of folk go to college."

For more than 30 years, Delaware State has tried to arrange a football game with Delaware, only to be rebuffed time after time. Delaware is the only state in the country with at least two Division I football programs that have not played each other at least once

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.[12]

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]

Figure Skating

Main article: University of Delaware Figure Skating Club

File:DuPont.jpg

DuPont Hall

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 a smaller group 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 public-access practice rooms with 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 April 2007, the Chorale won the Grand Prix at the Tallinn International Choral Festival, having scored higher than 40 other choirs from around the world. In 2000, the music department purchased 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.

The University also has a student run radio station, 91.3 WVUD.

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 are available in all major areas of the university including the library, dining halls, student centers, dormitory buildings, and most classroom buildings.

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.[13] They currently have a print circulation of 11,000.

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 University 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, which the University purchased from the University of Dayton in the 1980's. Although not it's intended call letter pronunciation, 'VUD has taken on the slogan "the Voice of the University of Delaware." They are licensed by the city of Newark, Delaware and broadcasts with a power of 1,000 watts 24 hours a day with its offices and studios located in the Perkins Student Center.[14]

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.

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 1990s, 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

Alumni

Main article: List of University of Delaware people

See also

• University of Delaware Botanic Gardens
• Bob Carpenter Center
• Disaster research
• Study abroad
• WVUD

External links

• University of Delaware official site
• The University of Delaware: A History
• The Review, UD's independent student newspaper
• University of Delaware Costs
• [15] Disaster Research Center