University of Delaware

About the University of Delaware

The University of Delaware (colloquially "UD") is the largest university in Delaware. The main campus is in Newark, with satellite campuses in Dover, Wilmington, Lewes, and Georgetown. It is medium-sized – approximately 18,500 undergraduate and 4,500 graduate students. UD is a privately governed university which receives public funding for being a land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant and urban-grant state-supported research institution.

UD is classified as a research university with very high research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The university's programs in engineering, science, business, hospitality management, education, urban affairs and public policy, public administration, agriculture, history, chemical and biomolecular engineering, chemistry and biochemistry have been highly ranked with some drawing from the historically strong presence of the nation's chemical and pharmaceutical industries in the state of Delaware, such as DuPont and W. L. Gore and Associates. It is one of only four schools in North America with a major in art conservation. In 1923, UD was the first American university to offer a study abroad program.

The school from which the university grew was founded in 1743, making it one of the oldest in the nation. However, UD was not chartered as an institution of higher learning until 1833. Its original class of ten students included George Read, Thomas McKean, and James Smith, all three of whom would go on to sign the Declaration of Independence.

• College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

  CANR offers more than 20 programs related to science, technology, business and economics. It is the departmental home to Animal and Food Sciences, Applied Economics and Statistics, Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, and Plant and Soil Sciences. With a distinctive “350-acre classroom," CANR is proud to be one of only a handful of colleges in the nation that features a working farm right on campus. Our farm also has woodlands, wetlands, streams, grasslands, equine facilities and a working dairy - as well as a creamery. As an added bonus, UD Cooperative Extension acts as the College’s outreach arm to citizens who welcome unbiased research and knowledge about health, nutrition and financial literacy.

• College of Arts and Sciences

  From art conservation to biochemistry, international relations to music, the College of Arts and Sciences is the intellectual and cultural heart of UD, with an impact on the educational experience of every student. Our 23 academic departments and 27 innovative programs and centers offer opportunities to learn, research, exhibit and perform - all while developing their abilities to deploy critical skills that will serve them well in any future professional capacities.

• Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics

  Lerner College is home to three of University of Delaware’s 10 most popular majors - finance, marketing and accounting. Rigorous and innovative academic programs provide students with hands-on opportunities to prepare for a career in the dynamic, global marketplace, while unique centers support career development, analytical skill-building and entrepreneurial endeavors. Lerner’s online MBA program offers personalized attention and career coaching as hallmarks of the program.

• College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment

  The study of environmental, atmospheric, earth, and ocean systems is a vital part of ensuring a healthy future for our planet and its inhabitants. CEOE is dedicated to advancing the understanding of Earth’s natural systems and human interaction through research, teaching and outreach. Students and scientists study environmental science, marine science, human and physical geography, geology, and meteorology and climatology, and have access to UD’s Hugh R. Sharp Campus by the sea in Lewes.

• College of Education and Human Development

  CEHD offers programs that integrate classwork with extensive field experience to prepare students to address the most pressing social and educational issues. Over 100 faculty members guide 1,300 undergraduate and graduate students to become educators, researchers, advocates and leaders in their fields, locally and around the globe. With a wide variety of subjects, CEHD students pursue careers in education, social services, child development, school psychology and community leadership.

• College of Engineering

  COE is home to seven academic departments devoted to developing highly skilled and well-rounded engineers who are focused on solving the grand challenges of health, sustainability, security and quality of life. Training, research and entrepreneurship intersect to provide students the tools, experience and unparalleled education that make them competitive in a global job market, serving as pathways to careers in academia, industry, healthcare and governmental agencies.

• College of Health Sciences

  At CHS, research provides an evidence-based foundation for the education of the next generation of thought leaders and health professionals. Partnerships play a key role in promoting health research and education. Programs encompass a broad and dynamic collection of specialties - from nursing to kinesiology to behavioral health. Students immersed into practice settings and world-class research, preparing graduates for careers in various health professions or to continue their education.

History of the University of Delaware

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 (then known as the College of Philadelphia). In 1833, the Delaware General Assembly passed "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). It reopened in 1870 due to the support of the Morrill Land-Grant Acts. In 1921, Delaware College was renamed the University of Delaware, and it officially became a coeducational institution in 1945 when it merged with the nearby Women's College of Delaware.

On October 23, 2009 the University of Delaware signed an agreement with Chrysler to purchase a 272-acre (1.10 km2) closed vehicle assembly plant adjacent to the university for expansion for $24.25 million as part of Chrysler's bankruptcy restructuring plan. Plans call for this facility to be repurposed into a "world-class research facility". Initial plans include the new home of the College of Health Science and the east coast headquarters of Bloom Energy.

In 2010–2011, the university conducted a feasibility study in support of plans to add a law school focused on corporate and patent law. At its completion, the study suggested that the planned addition was not within the university's funding capability given the nation's economic climate at the time. Capital expenses were projected at $100 million, and the operating deficit in the first ten years would be $165 million. The study assumed an initial class of two hundred students entering in the fall of 2015. Widener University has Delaware's only law school as of 2011.

Accreditation

Institutional Accreditation or Recognition - Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Rankings

Student life @the University of Delaware

Media

There are currently four student publications at Delaware: The Review, DEconstruction Magazine, UDress, and The Main Street Journal, as well as radio and television stations.

Print

The Review is a weekly publication, released in print and online on Tuesdays. It is an independent publication and receives no financial support from the university. 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. The Review's office is located at 250 Perkins Student Center, facing Academy Street, and is above the offices of WVUD. 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. It currently has a print circulation of 10,000.

In 2002, DEconstruction Magazine was formed "to create a forum for student writing that fell outside of journalism or creative writing. Traditionally, DEconstruction focused on an editorial style of writing to discuss everything from politics to pop culture."

UDress magazine is the on-campus fashion magazine which publishes one issue per semester, in conjuncture with fashion events.

The Mainstreet Journal focuses on creative writing.

Another student magazine, aUDio, was announced in fall 2007. They aim to be "the University of Delaware's first online music magazine."

Broadcast

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 1980s. Although not its 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.

The transmitting facilities are located atop the Christiana East Tower 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.

STN is the student-run, non-commercial, educational television station at the University of Delaware. The station broadcasts second-run movies, original student produced content as well as live sports coverage. The initials, STN, originally stood for Shane Thomas Network, later changed to Student Television Network.

Greek life

Approximately 25% of the University of Delaware's undergraduate student population is affiliated with a fraternity or sorority. There are over 26 fraternities and 20 sororities (chapters & colonies) in the Interfraternity Council (IFC), National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), and Multicultural Greek Congress (MGC). 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.

Active fraternities include Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Phi Beta Sigma, Lambda Sigma Upsilon, Pi Alpha Phi, Phi Kappa Psi, Delta Tau Delta, Delta Sigma Pi, Alpha Sigma Phi, Kappa Delta Rho, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Alpha Gamma Rho, Lambda Chi Alpha, Sigma Pi, Sigma Phi Delta, Theta Chi, Kappa Alpha Order, Pi Kappa Phi, Zeta Beta Tau, Sigma Nu, Phi Gamma Delta, and Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Active sororities include Delta Sigma Theta, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Zeta Phi Beta, Lambda Theta Alpha, Chi Upsilon Sigma, Lambda Pi Chi, Delta Phi Lambda, Phi Sigma Sigma, Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Xi Delta, Gamma Phi Beta, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Chi Omega, Sigma Kappa, Alpha Phi, Delta Gamma, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Pi Beta Phi, and Kappa Alpha Theta.

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. The music department's home is the Amy E. du Pont Music Building, named for Amy Elizabeth du Pont, a prominent benefactor of the university during the 20th century.

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 as well as at various festivals and competitions, including the Collegiate Marching Band Festival in Allentown, PA. Additionally, the marching band was selected to perform in the 56th Presidential Inaugural Parade in 2009.

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 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 2005, 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 in Estonia, having scored higher than 40 other choirs from around the world. In 2010 the Chorale competed in two categories of the 42nd Annual Tolosa Choral Competition in Tolosa, Spain; They received a Bronze and a Silver award. UD-16, a chamber ensemble of Chorale also competed in Tolosa in two categories and won two Silver awards. In the Summer of 2012 the Chorale was the only American College Choir to be invited to the International Society for Music Education Conference in Thessaloniki, Greece; the UD Steele Ensemble was also invited. On that same tour, the chorale placed in a close 2nd at the Grand Prix of the 25th Bela Bartok International Choral Competition. 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, as well as several a cappella groups including one all-female, one all-male, and five mixed groups.

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, was elected into the mascot hall of fame in 2006, and was the 2009 UCA Open Division Mascot National Champion.

UD offers 21 varsity sports, which compete in the NCAA Division-I (FCS for football). Delaware is a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in all sports. Delaware was a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference in football until the 2006 season. The Fighting Blue Hens football teams have won six national titles, including the 2003 NCAA I-AA Championship. In 2007, the Delaware Blue Hens were the runners up in the NCAA I-AA National Championship game, but were defeated by (defending champions) Appalachian State. In 2010, the Delaware Blue Hens were again runners up in the National Championship game, losing to Eastern Washington 20–19 after being up 19–0 earlier in the game.

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). Delaware's only other NCAA National Championship came in 1983 for Women's Division I Lacrosse.

The Blue Hens have won twelve CAA Championships since joining in 2001: one for the women's 2004 field hockey team, the 2007-2010-2011 men's lacrosse teams, the 2014 men's basketball team, the 2005-2012-2013 women's basketball teams, the 2007 women's volleyball team, the 2012 men's soccer team, the 2014 women's track and field team, and the 2010 football team (shared with William & Mary). (Unofficially, the women's rowing team has won the CAA title four times since 2001, placing second the other two times.) The 2007 men's lacrosse program reached the final four of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in its history.

On March 7, 2012, the Division 1 men's ice hockey team won the ACHA National Championship. UD defeated Oakland University 5–1, capturing its first title.

On November 20, 2016, the Delaware women's field hockey team won the school's first NCAA Division I national championship, defeating North Carolina, 3-2.

"The Delaware Fight Song" first appeared in the Student Handbook in 1933. It was composed by alumnus George F. Kelly (Class of 1915).

Intrastate competition

In November 2007, it was announced that the University of Delaware and Delaware State University would have their first game against each other, the game being in the first round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. The game was played on November 23, with University of Delaware winning 44–7. Delaware has won all of the regular season match-ups, which have been called the Route 1 Rivalry. Future contests were held during the 2013–2014 college year.