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The University of Delaware (UD or UDel) is the largest university in the 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 it is a state-supported school, it is privately chartered. At present, the school's endowment is valued at about USD$1.1 billion. 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, and agriculture programs, with world-class programs in chemical engineering, chemistry and biochemistry, drawing as it does from the historically strong presence of the nation's chemical and pharmaceutical industries. It is one of only four schools in North America with a major in art conservation.
Organization and student body The university is organized into 7 colleges: The College of Arts and Sciences is the largest of the colleges. Student Body Statistics as of Fall 2005: (Statistics are based on full-time students) The student body is recognized as one of the most politically apathetic student bodies in the nation. Although there are a number of activist student groups on campus, the University was ranked 4th out of 361 schools in the "Election? What Election?" category in the Princeton Review's 2007 college ratings *. 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. There is a searchable history of the University that was written by John A. Munroe in 1983 available on the University's website The University is currently headed by President David P. Roselle, who has announced that he will retire at the end of the 2006–2007 academic year.• President Roselle has held this post for sixteen years and is the twenty-fifth President of the University since its founding. Prior to Roselle, the twenty-fourth President was E.A. Trabant. Recent History The recent history of the university has been marked by massive construction projects. North Campus, formerly home to the aging motel-style Pencader Complex has been entirely redesigned. This began with the construction of a Marriott Courtyard run by the HRIM (Hotel Restaurant and Institutional Management) school. Three new dorm complexes have also been built and named after UD signers of the Constitution, George Read, Thomas McKean and James Smith. 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. There also have been construction of new academic buildings. In 2006 the brand new Center For The Arts had its grand opening, with new facilities for the school's music and theater programs. Also, in 1998 Gore Hall was opened on the Green and connected to Smith Hall via an overpass over South College. Other recent construction projects include: Alfred Lerner Hall (for business), and renovations on Academy St. and of Lamont DuPont Hall. 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 study abroad program encompassing over 75 different programs to over 35 countries on all 7 continents. Sports 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. 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 except football, which is a member of the Atlantic Ten Conference. Football is the biggest sport at Delaware, as the Fightin' Blue Hen football teams have won six national titles, including the 2003 NCAA I-AA Championship. Former head football coaches Bill Murray, Dave Nelson and Harold "Tubby" Raymond are College Football Hall of Fame inductees. Delaware's only other NCAA Division I National Championship came in 1983 for Women's Lacrosse. In recent years the Delaware teams have struggled to find much success in the CAA. The Blue Hens have won only one CAA Championship since joining in 2001. That victory took place in 2004 when the field hockey team won the CAA Championship despite being the 4 seed going into the CAA tournament. The women's volleyball team and men's lacrosse team have participated in CAA Championships but have not been able to bring the championship back to Newark. Fight! Song 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 The Fight! Song has been popular since the 1930's. The song was composed by alumnus George F. Kelly (Class of 1915). It first appeared in the Student Handbook in 1933. Figure Skating
Music 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 2000, the music department purchaced 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. 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 provided by Verizon are available in all major areas of the university including the library, dining halls, student centers, 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. They currently have a print circulation of 12,000. The Review is a weekly publication, released on Tuesdays. It is distributed at locations across campus, including Morris Library, in the Perkins Student Center and the Trabant Student Center, as well as various academic buildings and the dining halls. It can also be found in the surrouding community, including newsstands and shopping centers. The Review has an office at 250 Perkins Student Center, which faces Academy Street, and is above WVUD. The student-run, non-commerical, educational radio station at Delaware broadcasts on 91.3 and uses the call letters WVUD. Their slogan is "the Voice of the University of Delaware." They are licensed by the city of Newark, Delaware. WVUD broadcasts with a power of 1,000 watts 24 hours a day. The offices and studios are located in the Perkins Student Center. 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. There is no prior radio experience necessary or need to enroll in a 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 Between 10 and 13% of Delaware's undergraduate population is affiliated with a fraternity or sorority. There are over 30 fraternity and sorority chapters in the Interfraternity Council (IFC), National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and 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. List of Greek organizations on campus Culture of Alcohol Abuse The University of Delaware has an active culture of alcohol abuse. A 1993 study by the Harvard School of Public Health found that high-risk drinking at UD exceeded the national norm. On this survey, a majority of students reported binge drinking more than once in a two-week interval. The average consumption for students was nine drinks per week, while 29% reported that they drink on 10 or more occasions per month. Ironically, UD students were found to be more aware of policies, prevention programs, and enforcement risks than the national average. * In 2005, on the (main) Newark campus of the university 1140 students were picked up by the campus police for alcohol-related violations. Of these, 120 led to arrests. These figures are up from previous years, 1062 in 2004 and 1026 in 2003. Caution must be used in interpreting these figures; a higher number of reported violations may represent more enforcement, not necessarily more actual violations. * UD has expended considerable effort and financial resources to reduce the drinking problem on campus; in 1991 UD founded the Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies. One of the center's major initiatives is a collaborative plan to reduce irresponsible drinking at UD. * Students at UD are also concerned about the widespread alcohol abuse. At least one student organization has undertaken the goal of "providing fun activities for those who chose not to drink" and to "promote the idea that one doesn't need alcohol to have a good time". * Notable Alumni Notes Gallery Image:Udel mall.jpg|The Green Image:Udel - Trabant center1.jpg|The Trabant University Center houses a food court, several multipurpose rooms, and the student activities offices Image:Udel - Trabant center2.jpg|The Trabant food court Image:Newark Delaware.jpg|Adjacent to campus is Main Street, Newark, on which are many shops Image:UDMemorialHall1.jpg|Memorial Hall, dedicated in honor of UD's WWI dead See also | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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