University of Maine at Farmington

University of Maine at Farmington
University of Maine at Farmington sign found outside of Roberts Learning Center
Established	1864
Type	Public
President	Theodora J. Kalikow
Students	2,349
Location	Farmington, Maine, USA 44°40′0″N 70°8′50″W
Campus	Rural
Athletics	13 varsity teams
Nickname	Beavers
Website	www.farmington.edu

The University of Maine at Farmington, established in 1864 as Maine's first public institution of higher education, is a public liberal arts college, and a founding member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges offering programs in teacher education, human services and arts and sciences as a part of the University of Maine System. The school is also at times referred to as UMaine Farmington or UMF for short.

History

In March 1863, a Normal School Act passed into law, and that fall, Farmington was chosen from a list of possible locations for a normal school — the first public institution of higher education in the State of Maine. The first class graduated from the Western State Normal School in 1866. The school merged into the University of Maine System in 1968 to become "the University of Maine at Farmington."

Many early graduates attended the school for its liberal arts offerings alone. Among these were the Stanley brothers, famous for building the Stanley Steamer automobile; and John Frank Stevens, engineer of the Panama Canal. Another famous graduate from the university is comedian Bob Marley, who graduated with a degree in community health. Interest in the liberal arts continued unabated until the college offered its first degree programs in the liberal arts in 1971. By the 1974–75 school year, nearly 300 students were enrolled in liberal arts majors.

Academics

The University of Maine at Farmington has been ranked among the top schools in the liberal arts and comprehensive college categories by U.S. News & World Report in its "America's Best Colleges" College and university rankings for 14 consecutive years (1997–2010). The University has a 15:1 student/faculty ratio and an average class size of 19.

UMF offers majors in Art, Arts Administration, Biology, Business Economics, Community Health Education, Community Heath Education - school health education concentration, Computer Science, Creative Writing, Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Special Education, Elementary Education, English, Environmental Planning and Policy, Environmental Science, Geology, Geology/Chemistry, Geology/Geography, Geography, History, International Studies, Mathematics, Music/Arts, Philosophy/Religion, Political Science, Psychology, Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Administration, Secondary Education (with concentrations in Biology, English, Language Arts, Mathematics, Mathematics/Computer Science, Physical Science, Science, Social Science), Sociology/Anthropology, Special Education (with concentrations in Emotional Disturbance, Learning Disabilities, Mental Retardation), Theater, and Women's & Gender Studies. With the approval of the Arts and Sciences Committee, students may choose to design their own academic program through Interdisciplinary Studies or an Individualized Major. It also offers a unique Certificate Program in Ski Industries (available to students in any major). UMF programs in education are nationally accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

In January 2008, the University announced they plan to offer a Masters of Science in Education graduate degree program. It will allow students to focus in one of four concentrations: Educational Technology, Literature and Literacy, School Administration or one designed by the participant. The University started to accept applications as it awaited approval by New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). NEASC approved the initial degree offering on June 4, 2008.

Billing itself as “the liberal arts college” of the University of Maine System, UMF is known for stimulating creative student projects such as a "Drag-a-thon" by senior art student Tim Berry, who in Spring 2009 walked roughly 300 miles (480 km) in very, very big dress — something akin to a bright pink southern belle ball gown — from the University of Southern Maine in Portland to UMaine Farmington, then to Orono, ending up at UM Presque Isle. The walk was Berry's senior project, the culmination of public art installations he's done over his time at UMF, and also a fund raiser to support United Way. The project was designed to explore stereotypes and other misconceptions and confront them with something as universal as the spirit of giving. In Berry's words: "What does one do when they have to choose between donating to a worthy charity or holding onto the idea that drag queens are immoral?" The last time Berry tried to tackle the issue of prejudice through art and charity, he dressed up as “let them eat cake” Marie Antoinette (on a seesaw) for a student art project, and raised about $1,000 plus a pile of canned food donations for charity.

Penelope Schwartz Robinson, UMF professor of English was selected from about 350 qualified applicants as a Literary Arts Fellow of the Maine Arts Commission for 2009, and presented her work at an awards showcase at the Bangor Opera House on November 21, 2008. Her alternately funny and sad collection of essays, Slippery Men, recounts the tough, quirky lives of Mainers — and folks from other places — in calm, exacting, poetic detail. The book, which garnered her the Stonecoast Book Prize, lifted her into the short list of great Maine writers. In addition to her book, her essays have appeared in numerous literary magazines, and have been heard on both Maine Public Radio and National Public Radio. The University of Maine at Farmington arts program was also responsible for a flag display that involved placing American Flag-like piece on the floor of the student center. There was a mild uproar on campus concerning the event and the administrations support of the artists' first amendment rights to use the flag in any manner of expression she chose to. "Disgrace at UMF"

Wilson Research Scholars and Fellows

Eleven undergraduate students conducting research projects at UMF were recognized as Michael D. Wilson Research Scholars and Fellows in November 2008. Under this program, each student’s original research project is awarded funding that underwrites expenses and helps encourage and promote continuing academic investigation. The annual Michael D. Wilson Research Scholar Program has been supporting single-semester research, scholarship and creative projects at UMF since 2006. The program was expanded in autumn 2007 to include two full-year Wilson Research Fellow awards to support more substantive research projects. The awards are funded by a gift from Michael and Susan Angelides of Stonington, CT in honor of their good friend and UMF alumnus Michael D. Wilson, Class of 1976, who died shortly after graduating.

Athletics

The UMaine Farmington Beavers compete in the NCAA Division III North Atlantic Conference. The school's official colors are maroon and white.

UMaine Farmington has thirteen varsity teams, including men's teams in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse and soccer, and women's teams in basketball, cross country, field hockey, soccer, softball, golf, lacrosse and volleyball. There are also club teams in cheerleading, ice hockey, men's rugby, women's rugby, and men's and women's ultimate disc sport. Recent NAC champions include men's cross country (2003–2005), women's basketball (2004, 2006, 2007), women's cross country (2004–2005), women's field hockey (2003–2004, 2006, 2007), women's soccer (2003), women's softball (2005) and men's basketball (2010). Recent NCAA tournament appearances include women's basketball (2006), women's field hockey (2004, 2006, 2007), women's soccer (2003) women's softball (2005), and in 2010 the men's basketball team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III National Tournament. There are also alpine ski racing teams and, as of 2008, a wrestling team.

In addition to the outdoor athletic fields and Dearborn Gymnasium, UMF has a Fitness and Recreation Center that houses a cardio fitness area with machines; a fully equipped and supervised weight room with free weights and weight machines; four multipurpose courts; a 1/8-mile walking/jogging track; and a 25-yard swimming pool for the use of UMF students and members of the area community.

Notable alumni

• Bob Marley (comedian), comedian
• John Frank Stevens, designer of the Panama Canal
• Chandler Woodcock, politician

External links

• University of Maine at Farmington
• Mantor Library
• WUMF 100.1 FM - UMF's student radio station
• Farmington First - the University of Maine at Farmington magazine
• UMF Affiliate, Alice James Books