University of Maryland-College Park

What is the history of University of Maryland-College Park?

The University of Maryland-College Park was founded in 1856 as the Maryland Agricultural College by Charles Benedict Calvert, a slaveowner and descendant of the Barons Baltimore. Initially established to provide education in agriculture and mechanical arts, the college welcomed its first 34 students in 1859, including four of Calvert's sons. In 1862, President Lincoln signed the Morrill Land Grant Act, which provided federal funds to schools teaching agriculture, engineering, or military training. The college became a land grant institution in 1864 after Maryland accepted the provisions of the Morrill Act.

The institution continued to grow and expand its academic offerings, incorporating new disciplines in engineering, science, and the liberal arts. It also welcomed trailblazing women and people of color. In 1916, the state took complete control of the school, renaming it the Maryland State College of Agriculture. The college re-emerged as a public institution after World War II, and by the fall of 1985, its enrollment had reached 38,679.

In 1988, the state's higher education system underwent a massive restructuring, and the college was designated as the flagship campus of the newly formed University of Maryland System. It was formally named the University of Maryland, College Park. In 1997, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation allowing the institution to be known simply as the University of Maryland, recognizing its role as the flagship institution of the University System of Maryland.

The University of Maryland-College Park has a unique relationship with the University of Maryland, Baltimore, which offers primarily graduate degrees in disciplines not taught in College Park, such as nursing, dentistry, law, and medicine. This relationship is similar to that of the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of California, San Francisco.

In 1994, the National Archives at College Park was completed and opened on land donated by the University of Maryland. This was followed by the first Maryland Day event in 1999, an annual open house showcasing the university's research, innovation, and creativity. The 21st century has seen significant developments at the University of Maryland-College Park, including the construction of the 150-acre "M Square Research Park" in 2004, which houses facilities affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense, Food and Drug Administration, and the National Center for Weather and Climate Prediction.

In 2006, the university launched its "Great Expectations" campaign, a 7-year effort to raise $1 billion through private donations. The campaign was successful, raising over $1.3 billion by 2012. The funds were used to support various initiatives, including scholarships, research, and new facilities. Throughout its history, the University of Maryland-College Park has demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence and innovation, evolving from a small agricultural college to a leading research university.

What are the faculties and departments at University of Maryland-College Park?

University of Maryland-College Park provides a wide array of academic options for students, with 13 colleges and schools available. These include the A. James Clark School of Engineering, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, College of Arts and Humanities, School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, School of Music, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences, College of Education, College of Information Studies, Philip Merrill College of Journalism, Robert H. Smith School of Business, School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation, and School of Public Health. In addition to these colleges and schools, the university also has an Office of Undergraduate Studies and The Graduate School.

The undergraduate education at University of Maryland-College Park is focused on a student's chosen academic program and the selection of core coursework to fulfill general education requirements. The university offers 127 undergraduate degrees and 112 graduate degrees, encompassing 92 undergraduate majors, 107 master's programs, and 83 doctoral programs.

The A. James Clark School of Engineering provides undergraduate and graduate programs in various engineering fields, such as aerospace, bioengineering, civil and environmental, electrical and computer, fire protection, materials science and engineering, mechanical, and reliability. The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources offers programs in areas like agricultural and resource economics, animal and avian sciences, environmental science and policy, and plant science and landscape architecture at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

For students interested in arts and humanities, the College of Arts and Humanities offers programs in subjects like art history and archaeology, classics, communication, English, history, philosophy, and theatre, dance, and performance studies at undergraduate and graduate levels.

What is the location of University of Maryland-College Park?

The University of Maryland-College Park is situated in the city of College Park, Maryland, in the southern region of the United States. The campus, which spans over 1,250 acres, can be found at 7999 Regents Dr., with the ZIP Code 20742. College Park is conveniently located just a few miles away from Washington, D.C., making it easily accessible by car, public transportation, and bike. The nearest airport to the university is Reagan National, which further enhances its accessibility for out-of-state and international students.

Being in close proximity to the nation's capital, the University of Maryland-College Park benefits from numerous research partnerships with the federal government, as well as collaborations with national institutions and federal agencies.

What is the mission and vision of University of Maryland-College Park?

The University of Maryland-College Park is a public research institution that strives for excellence in teaching, research, and public service within a supportive, respectful, and inclusive environment. Its mission is to offer exceptional and affordable education to Maryland's most promising students, regardless of their income. As the flagship campus, the university aims to develop and maintain world-class capabilities in the sciences, arts, and humanities, supporting groundbreaking discoveries that address global challenges and inspire the human imagination.

The University of Maryland-College Park is dedicated to being a leading national center for research and graduate education, as well as the preferred institution for Maryland's exceptional undergraduate students. The university values the diversity of its community as one of its greatest strengths and considers it integral to its mission of excellence. It is committed to fostering diversity and inclusiveness in both educational and work environments, providing equal educational opportunities, hiring and retaining a diverse faculty and staff, and recruiting and graduating talented students from traditionally underrepresented groups.

In line with its flagship status and land-grant mission, the University of Maryland-College Park shares its research, educational, cultural, and technological strengths with the Maryland citizenry and other constituencies. The university collaborates closely with state, federal, private, and non-profit partners to promote economic development and improve the quality of life in the state of Maryland. As a member of the Association of American Universities, which comprises the leading research universities in the United States and Canada, the University of Maryland-College Park works towards achieving its objectives and fulfilling its mission and vision.

What is the accreditation of University of Maryland-College Park?

The University of Maryland-College Park holds accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is authorized to operate within Maryland by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Furthermore, the university is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, enabling it to provide online programs across all participating NC-SARA states and territories.

In addition to these overarching accreditations, numerous colleges, schools, and departments within the University of Maryland-College Park have received accreditation from various groups approved by the U.S. Secretary of Education. These specialized accreditations encompass a wide array of programs, including medicine, nursing, counseling, and business. This demonstrates the University of Maryland-College Park's strong accreditation record across multiple disciplines.