University of the District of Columbia

University of the District of Columbia
Established	1851 (1851)
Type	Public, land grant, HBCU
Endowment	$21.8 million
Chairman	Joseph L. Askew, Jr., Esq.
President	Allen L. Sessoms
Provost	Graeme Baxter, J.D.
Undergraduates	5,137
Postgraduates	234
Location	Washington, DC, United States
Campus	Urban
Colors	Red and Gold
Athletics	NCAA Division II
Sports	basketball, cross country, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field, volleyball
Nickname	Firebirds
Affiliations	Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Website	www.udc.edu

The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is a historically black, public university located in Washington, D.C. UDC is one of only a few urban land-grant universities in the country and a member of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund. It is also the only public university in the District of Columbia.

History

The Normal School for Colored Girls was established in 1851 and by 1879, the name was changed to Miner Normal School. The Washington Normal School was established in 1873 for girls, and was renamed the Wilson Normal School in 1913.

n 1929, the United States Congress made both schools four-year teachers' colleges and designated Miner Teachers College for African Americans and Wilson Teachers College for whites. In 1955, the two schools merged and were renamed the District of Columbia Teachers College.

In 1967, Congress awarded the University of the District of Columbia land-grant status and a $7.24 million endowment (USD), in lieu of a land grant.

Beginning with the 2009-10 academic year, UDC's programs were split into two separate institutions under an umbrella "university system"-style setup. A new Community College of the District of Columbia (CCDC) assumed UDC's associate's degree, certificate, continuing education, and workforce development programs, while UDC continued with only its bachelor's and graduate degree programs. While CCDC will maintain an open enrollment policy, a high school diploma no longer guarantees admission into UDC. These changes were in response to UDC's low graduation rate, where only 7.9% of students complete their degrees within six years.

Academics

UDC offers over 175 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The Division of Community Outreach and Extension Services (COES) offers a variety of practical, nonacademic educational programs and training.

UDC Guard Force

UDC has its own guard force who are responsible for guarding and protecting university property, staff, faculty and students. The guard force works 24/7 and utilizes the catchy phrase "We are here for you!" which is printed in the sides of all vehicles belonging to the guard force. The guard force are commissioned as District of Columbia Special Policemen and carry .38 revolvers, handcuffs and flashlights in order to accomplish their mission.

Schools and colleges

• College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability & Environmental Sciences (CAUSES)
• College of Arts & Sciences
• School of Business & Public Administration
• School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
• David A. Clarke School of Law (formerly the Antioch School of Law)
• Research and Graduate Studies
• Community College of the District of Columbia

International programs

A 1996 academic partnership with the Modern Academy In Maadi, in Maadi, a southern suburb of Cairo, Egypt, encourages the material, physical, and intellectual growth of students, faculty, and staff of both institutions through Cairo-based UDC Bachelor degrees, Computer Science and Business Administration management programs. In July 2001, the partnership included Accounting and Finance options in Business, Computer Engineering and Information Technology and Electronic Engineering and Communication Technology and graduate studies in Business Administration (MBA).

The UDC's adult education department had a collegial relationship with the University of Nairobi for several years, including faculty exchange and doctoral student sponsoring.

Campus

The main (Van Ness) campus of UDC is located at Connecticut Avenue and Van Ness St. in Northwest Washington, DC. UDC is primarily a commuter school and opened its first residential accommodations or dormitories in August 2010 by leasing an apartment building across the street from its campus. UDC plans to open a new residence hall on its main campus by 2012 that could house as many as 300 students. A new $40 million student center is expected to open in 2012.

Student activities

Athletics

The athletic teams are called the Firebirds and the team colors are Red and Gold. The school competes in the NCAA Division II.

Greek- letter organizations

National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations:

• Alpha Phi Alpha (Omicron Omicron chapter)
• Omega Psi Phi (Omicron Gamma chapter)
• Kappa Alpha Psi (Beta Kappa chapter)
• Phi Beta Sigma (Gamma Lambda chapter)
• Iota Phi Theta (Theta chapter)
• Alpha Kappa Alpha (Beta Lamda chapter)
• Delta Sigma Theta (Beta Iota chapter)
• Sigma Gamma Rho (Beta chapter)
• Zeta Phi Beta (Kappa Alpha chapter)

Non-NPHC organizations:

• Delta Mu Delta Honor Society
• Omicron Delta Epsilon Honor Society
• Pi Sigma Alpha
• Psi Chi

Student media

UDC publishes The Trilogy, a student-paper highlighting campus events and national and local news. The Flightpath yearbook focuses on graduating students and the years' activities.

Television

UDC Cable Television, Channel 19, is the District Government's non-commercial, adult education program service.

UDC Cable TV 98 supports teaching, research and public service with Educational-access television and instructional programming. Cable TV 98 operates an audio and video recording service center, electronic field and studio production and a video training center for Public-access television production.

Notable alumni

Name	Class year	Notability	References
Denis G. Antoine		Ambassador of Grenada to the United States of America and (permanent) representative to the Organization of American States (OAS)
Gloria Green-Ridley		the first African American to receive the James Davenport Memorial Award (2005).
Thelma Thompson		president of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Clarence Holbert		designed the currency of Eritrea
Richard Pennington	1988	Chief of Police Atlanta, Georgia
Melvin R. Wright		Associate Judge, Superior Court of the District of Columbia
Robert P. Owens		Federal Immigration Judge
Norma Holloway Johnson	1955	Former United States federal judge who ruled on Kenneth Starr's probe of the Clinton administration.
Lennox Yearwood	1998	President of the Hip Hop Caucus
Kali Troy		Voice over actress
Aldon Lynn Nielsen		Poet
Cathy L. Lanier		Chief of Police with the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia
Branislav Andjelić	1991	Serbian Internet pioneer, economist and politician
Lyn McLain		Cofounder of the DC Youth Orchestra Program
Carolyn Harris	1969	Library conservationist
Rasheim Wright		Jordanian basketball player.

See also

• Normal School for Colored Girls
• Felix Grant

External links

• Official website
• Official Athletics website