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General Overview of the University
Business Assets
Community Assets


General Overview of University

University of Maryland University College (UMUC), one of 11 accredited, degree-granting institutions of the University System of Maryland, is the second largest university in the state, offering programs and services tailored for working adults. The university, a pioneer in the field of distance education, has developed a global reputation as one of the world’s premier online universities. UMUC is the recipient of the Sloan Consortium Award for Excellence in Institution- Wide Asynchronous Learning Network Programming, meaning that UMUC makes all its academic and student services—in addition to educational programs—available for UMUC students to use at their convenience, regardless of time or place. In February of 2004, UMUC was been named the recipient of the International Council for Open and Distance Education’s (ICDE) 2004 Prize of Excellence for “the highest possible excellence in the fields of open, distance, virtual, and flexible learning.” The award is considered the highest international honor available to recognize excellence in distance education. The ICDE is a global organization of universities, national and regional associations, and government entities involved in distance education in 142 countries.

The UMUC headquarters, located in Adelphi, MD, is just nine miles from the nation’s capital and approximately 30 miles from Baltimore, MD. The University’s Inn and Conference Center is an impressive hotel and conference facility where UMUC conducts educational forums, symposia and adult learning programs that attract students and faculty from around the world.

With more than 87,000 students worldwide—in 29 countries, including the United States—and more than 2,000 faculty members, UMUC is a global leader in adult education. The university offers bachelor’s degrees with a choice of 23 majors and 35 minors, 18 master’s degrees and three executive master’s programs, and one of only a few doctor of managements program nationwide. In addition to these degree programs, UMUC offers over 91 career-enhancing undergraduate and graduate certificate programs, as well as executive training programs.

While increasing numbers of students choose the convenience of UMUC’s award-winning online education programs, they also may complete coursework in traditional classrooms at more than 20 locations throughout Maryland and the metropolitan Washington, D.C., region.

Miscellaneous facts and figures

  • In Fall 2003, 79 percent of the students enrolled through stateside programs were Maryland residents.
  • Maryland residents represented 57 percent of UMUC’s FY 2003 stateside online course enrollments.
  • In Fall 2003, 41% of stateside undergraduate students had spent some time at a Maryland community college before coming to UMUC
  • In FY 2003, UMUC’s stateside programs awarded more than 889 undergraduate degrees in information technology (IT), greater any other university in Maryland.
  • UMUC provides access to higher education for minority students, with minority students comprising more than 42 percent of total enrollment in Fall 2003.
  • Four out of five undergraduate students enrolled in UMUC’s stateside programs are also working full time.
  • In FY 2003, UMUC enrolled more than 51,000 active duty military and dependents through its overseas programs under contract with the U.S. Department of Defense.
  • In FY 2003, UMUC enrolled an additional 6,500 active military through its stateside online and onsite programs.

Business Assets

Centers and Institutes

  • The Inn and Conference Center (ICC)

The ICC, located on the UMUC campus in Adelphi, Maryland, provides over 38,000 square feet of dedicated meeting space, a 750-seat auditorium with satellite access, and state-of-the-art conference technologies, as well as 235 guest rooms. UMUC has expanded the center by some 100,000 square feet, making the UMUC complex the 12th largest meeting facility in the national capital area. This new addition is registered on the U.S. Green Building Council for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The UMUC Inn and Conference Center’s location, 12 miles from the nation's capital, is practically equidistant from Dulles, Baltimore-Washington, and Reagan National airports. Visit the UMUC Web site for more information: http://www.umuc.edu/icc/

  • National Leadership Institute (NLI)
UMUC’s National Leadership Institute plays an important role in developing effective leaders for the workplace through its wide range of leadership development activities. NLI is a network associate of the Center for Creative Leadership, ranked one of the top 10 non-degree executive education providers worldwide in a survey conducted by the Financial Times and ranked first for leadership programs by Business Week’s Biennial Executive Education Survey. For more information on the National Leadership Institute and its programs, visit http://www.umuc.edu/nli/.
  • Institute for Research and Assessment in Higher Education (IRAHE)
IRAHE was established at UMUC in 1990 to promote research that will generate new knowledge useful for making improvements in higher education and to foster immediate improvements in practice in this field. The institute’s primary focus is on serving the needs of adult, part-time students and assisting higher education to serve this population more effectively. For more information, visit the IRAHE website at: http://www.umuc.edu/odell/irahe/about_irahe.html.

Faculty/Staff Specialists
UMUC is a quality teaching institution and its faculty are scholar practitioners with current, practical experience in their fields. Many are available for public speaking engagements through UMUC Speakers Bureau, both stateside and throughout Europe and the Middle East. To learn more about the UMUC Speakers Bureau, contact the University’s Public Relations Office at 301-985-7779 or online at http://www.umuc.edu/events/press/spkbureau/.

Technology Transfer/Response to Critical Needs

  • Maryland Applied Information Technology Initiative (MAITI)
Since 1999, UMUC has been a participant in MAITI, the collaborative effort among eight Maryland universities, the state’s community colleges, state and federal government and private industry, in an effort to double the number of IT graduates in Maryland by 2004. In the past three academic years, UMUC’s IT enrollments have grown by 54% and the University has added dozens of new technology related courses its curriculum in response to workplace demand.
  • Teacher Education
In spring 2001, UMUC launched two innovative teacher preparation programs – a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and a Master in Education (MEd) with a specialization in instructional technology. In less than one year, 14 Maryland counties were already represented in these two programs.

The MAT is designed for those who hold bachelor’s degrees in math, science or computer science, who have worked within another profession and who wish to become teachers.

The MEd is designed for current K-12 teachers who wish to upgrade their skills by learning to incorporate technology into the classroom or for those wishing to develop content expertise in instructional technology.

In addition, UMUC has developed MARCO, Maryland’s Alternative Routes to Certification Options, in conjunction with the Maryland State Department of Education’s Division of Certification and Accreditation. The MARCO model allows the university to establish a comprehensive program for teacher recruitment and development. Please read more on this important new initiative: http://www.umuc.edu/events/press/news144.html

  • Net Security (Information Assurance)

In February, 2002, the National Security Agency (NSA) designated UMUC a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education in recognition of the university's programs in information assurance. In 2004 the NSA awarded UMUC a program expansion grant of $330,000 to increase the number of qualified students entering the field of information assurance, part of an effort to respond to the Department of Defense’s increasing dependence on information technology for warfighting and the security of its information infrastructure. Please read our Online publication for more information on Information Assurance. http://www.umuc.edu/fyionline/march_04/

For information on Undergraduate programs in information assurance: http://www.umuc.edu/ugp/ifsm/ia_announce_zimmer.html

For more information on the Graduate programs in information assurance: http://www.umuc.edu/grad/csmn/tracks/ia.shtml

Through the years, UMUC has worked frequently with government agencies and companies to bring relevant educational programs to their staffs. In addition to initiatives in information assurance, in 2002, UMUC created several other programs that center on the concerns of terrorism and security. In the Graduate School, the Master of Science in Management curriculum offers a track in Naval Operations and National Security. The School of Undergraduate Studies provides five certificates related to these issues: Bio-Security, Information Security, Security Management, Security Operations and Terrorism and Institutions: Prevention and Response. And, the new Energy track of courses in five graduate programs includes material on bioterrorism.

Partnership Programs

UMUC is proud of its numerous academic and corporate partnerships. Some of these include:

  • Better Opportunities Through Online Education (BOTOE)
In 2000, UMUC launched an innovative program in Baltimore, MD to help economically disadvantaged individuals cross the "digital divide" by focusing on workforce development needs through academic credentials. Working with local community-based organizations as partners, the program enables entry-level workers to gain college-level skills needed for higher paying jobs and at the same time—through online education—introduce them to Information Age technologies. BOTOE provides the means and resources for these students, who have proven they can succeed academically, to earn an undergraduate college certificate online – and hopefully apply those credits toward an undergraduate degree in their field of choice. Through this process, UMUC and its partners are helping to bridge the gap between the computer "haves" and "have nots."

Since the launch of Better Opportunities in Baltimore, the program was offered to recent high school graduates in Prince George’s County, MD, to many inner-city residents in the metropolitan-Washington, DC region and to deserving individuals in New Jersey and Delaware.

For more information about Better Opportunities, call 301-985-7598 or 1-800-283-6832.
  • Accessibility in Distance Education (ADE) Project

With the assistance of major gifts from the Verizon Foundation,NEC Foundation of America, and SBC Communications , UMUC was able to develop a Web resource that will assist faculty to teach disabled students using technology, primarily through online education. The initiative—Accessibility in Distance Education (ADE)—builds on the university’s UMUC-Verizon Resource Site for Teaching with Technology, a resource that helps faculty worldwide to incorporate technology in their curricula, while recognizing online education requires a completely different pedagogy than traditional-classroom instruction . For information about the new ADE Project, visit: www.umuc.edu/virtualteaching/

  • Military Partnerships
UMUC has been the leading provider of education to the U.S. military overseas for more than 50 years.

In FY 2003, UMUC enrolled almost 51,000 active duty military and dependents through its overseas programs under contract with the U.S. Department of Defense. An additional 6,500 active duty military were enrolled in the university’s online and onsite programs in the United States, an increase of 9 percent over the previous year.

Because of UMUC’s expertise in distance education, in 2000 UMUC was selected as one of the first colleges/universities to participate as a U.S. Navy College Partner, offering distance learning programs to sailors.

Since that time, to further expand UMUC’s service to the military and to make the University’s graduate programs more accessible to military while working full-time, the University established educational partnerships with the U.S. Army Signal Center at Fort Gordon, the U.S. Naval War College, the Army Management Staff College, and the Joint Forces Staff College, National Defense University. Currently being developed are relationships with colleges of Air War University. All these programs enable military personnel to earn graduate degrees from an accredited university, supplementing the valuable military education they receive while serving their country’s armed forces. To learn about all the military partnerships, visit http://www.umuc.edu/mil/.

  • National Fire Academy and National Volunteer Fire Council
UMUC has developed programs for fire service professionals seeking advancement to chief executive management and senior leadership positions in conjunction with the National Fire Academy of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Volunteer Fire Council.
  • Sloan Consortium (Sloan-C)
Sloan-C, sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, is a consortium of accredited higher education providers and organizations committed to quality online education. As a member of this consortium, UMUC collaborates with other Sloan-C members in areas of learning effectiveness, access, affordability and student and faculty satisfaction. Visit the Sloan Consortium website at www.sloan-c.org/index.htm for more information.
  • Corporate Partnerships
As with working adults, UMUC has a similar mission to respond to educational needs of employers. The University’s expertise in distance education makes it an invaluable tool both for busy, working adults who need to balance myriad responsibilities in reaching their educational goals and for companies that have entire groups of employees who need specific needs. To learn more about UMUC’s corporate partnership opportunities, call 301-985-7233.
  • International Partnerships
UMUC has numerous collaborative activities with international colleges and universities, including educational partnerships with two universities in Russia, two in China and several others throughout Europe and the Middle East. These agreements include shared curricula, faculty exchange and teaching, visiting scholars, joint research, student enrollments, joint degree programs, dual degree programs, joint conferences and program development. The most extensive partnership is with the prestigious Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, which offers a joint Master’s of Distance Education degree, enabling students worldwide to participate in invaluable cross-cultural discussions with their counterparts in the United States. Graduates of the program are qualified to manage distance education enterprises within educational, business, government and non-profit organizations. For more information about UMUC’s international programs, visit www.umuc.edu/internat/relationships.html.

Business-related Academic Programs

UMUC continues to excel in its historic mission to serve working adults, the fastest-growing student population today. The university offers bachelor’s degrees with a choice of 23 majors and 37 minors, 18 master’s degrees and three executive master’s degrees, in addition to having one of just a few doctor of management programs in the United States. For an easy-to-navigate list of programs with contact information, visit www.umuc.edu and click on “About Us.”
  • Executive Programs
Executive Programs at UMUC provide graduate education in an accelerated seminar format tailored for busy working adults. Most program participants are mid- to senior-level career professionals wishing to make use of their management skills while meeting degree requirements. These accelerated programs continue UMUC’s dedication to workforce education not only by meeting the needs of the business community, but by setting the standards for executive education. For more information on UMUC’s Executive Programs, visit http://www.umuc.edu/grad/exec/.
  • Certificate Education
UMUC offers 43 undergraduate and 38 graduate certificates, including 55 available online. These certificates reinforce UMUC’s goal to assist working adults by offering them another tool to remain current in today’s demanding job market. A list of current certificates can be accessed at www.umuc.edu/gen/certificates.html.

Executive certificate programs are found at www.umuc.edu/grad/exec/certificates.html.

Student Internships and Hiring Opportunities

  • Internships
Through the Career and Cooperative Education Center at UMUC, undergraduate students have the opportunity to "earn as they learn." The program offers students the chance to earn upper-level college credit for new on-the-job learning in their chosen field of study.
  • Mentor Network
The UMUC Mentor Network links students, alumni and employer partners. Employers may participate as mentors by providing company or career information and by assisting students in understanding the skills and competencies needed to consider particular fields or career paths.
  • Career Development
At UMUC’s Career and Cooperative Education Center, the emphasis is on virtual delivery of resources. Together with the Department of Labor and the Public Broadcasting Service, UMUC offers self-guided, web-based academic and career management tools to assess skills, plan financial future, explore educational options, and research careers.
  • Employer Benefits
The Career Center offers companies and organizations the opportunity for online access to over 147,000 adults. Through Career Quest, UMUC’s online job search service, employers can post position openings free of charge.

For more information, contact the Career and Cooperative Education Center at 301-985-7780 or 800-283-6832 x7780. Visit www.umuc.edu/careercenter for a complete list of career services.

Community Assets

Overall Economic Impact

Although UMUC receives the smallest amount of higher education support of any institution in the Maryland System, in 2001, UMUC’s enrollment growth accounted for 50% of the total enrollment growth in all of Maryland public higher education, thus fueling Maryland’s economic growth.

Education and Training

  • The Office of Distance Education and Lifelong Learning (ODELL) assists and joins with others in leading UMUC’s efforts in becoming a world-renowned global/virtual university, a benchmark institution for the 21st century, by: (1) conducting research and advocating data-based improvements with a special focus on distance and lifelong learning; (2) developing and implementing faculty development and training worldwide that applies current technology and pedagogy; (3) creating and demonstrating innovative practices in technologically assisted teaching and learning; (4) supporting and collaborating with UMUC’s academic, technology and information services and workforce development communities in their search for excellence in distance teaching and learning; (5) developing and recommending policies and practices that further excellence in distance education and lifelong learning; and (6) increasing the visibility of the benchmark qualities of UMUC in distance education. Visit www.umuc.edu/odell.
III. Community Resources
  • The UMUC Maryland Artists Collection
    UMUC holds the largest collection of art by Maryland artists in the state. In addition, the University has amassed an impressive collection of Asian art, including a recent contribution of $1.6 million of ancient Chinese art. In 2003, UMUC participates for the first time in the National Cherry Blossom Festival by having some of its Japanese prints on display at Pepco headquarters in downtown Washington, DC. Corporations and area civic organizations may also obtain an exhibit on loan from the University by contacting UMUC’s Special Programs office at 301-985-7937.

This material was prepared for the Greater Washington Initiative by the University of Maryland University College.