St. Mary's College of Maryland: Difference between revisions
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==Nitze Scholars Program== |
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St. Mary's College has a leadership cohort named after [[Paul H. Nitze]], a former trustee of the college. The program is designed for students with histories of leadership and academic success and also those with an emphasis on international affairs. Members of the Nitze Scholars Program<ref>[http://www.smcm.edu/nitze St. Mary's College of Maryland | Nitze Scholars Program<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> receive a $3000 per year stipend and must maintain a [[GPA]] of 3.5 or higher in order to remain in the program. Also included in the program are two leadership seminars and a study-tour linked to the second seminar. |
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Most students are invited to join the Nitze Scholars Program before the start of their freshman year. However, a limited number of current freshmen at St. Mary's College are also allowed to apply for admission. The application consists of an essay and a service resume. Approximately twenty students are granted admission to the program each year. |
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'''Nitze Fellows''' |
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Within the Nitze Scholars Program is a two-credit tutorial concerning a series of visits by Paul H. Nitze Senior Fellows. Nitze Senior Fellows visit St. Mary's College several times throughout their assigned year to give lectures and meet with Nitze Scholars and other St. Mary's College students. |
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Former Nitze Fellows include: [[Kathleeen Kennedy Townsend]] (2007-2008); [[David Sanger]] (2006-2007); [[Edward P. Jones]] (2005-2006); [[Diane Rehm]] (2004-2005); [[Dr. Josiah Ober]] (2003-2004); [[Norine Johnson]] (2002-2003); [[Mario Livio]] (2001-2002); [[Wole Soyinka]], [[Henry Rosemont]], [[Michael Ellis-Tolaydo]], [[Lucille Clifton]] (Spring 2001); [[Judge Penfield Jackson]] (Fall 2000); [[Richard Lewontin]] (Spring 2000); [[Benjamin J. Cardin]] (Fall 1999). |
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==College culture == |
==College culture == |
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Revision as of 08:06, 9 April 2008
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| Type | Public coeducational liberal arts college |
|---|---|
| Established | 1840 |
| President | Jane Margaret O'Brien |
Academic staff | 134 |
| Undergraduates | 1950 |
| Postgraduates | N/A |
| Location | , , |
| Campus | Rural, 315 acres (approx. 1.3 km²) |
| Colors | Blue, Gold, & White |
| Nickname | Seahawks |
| Website | www.smcm.edu |
St. Mary's College of Maryland, established in 1840, is a public liberal arts college located in St. Mary's City, Maryland. It is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. It is designated as a Public Honors College (the only one in the state of Maryland and one of only a few around the U.S.). It is a small college, with fewer than 2,000 students. The institution offers baccalaureate degrees in 20 disciplines, with psychology, biology, and economics being among the most popular.
History
St. Mary’s College of Maryland came into existence (on paper only) by an act of the Maryland State Board of Higher Education in 1966. The first bachelor’s (B.A.) degrees were awarded in 1971.
The predecessor institution was St. Mary’s Seminary Junior College (1949-1968), and before that it was St. Mary’s Female Seminary Junior College (1927-1949). Both of these “junior colleges” were actually the last two years of high school plus the first two years of college, making up a four-year institution. After finishing at St. Mary’s with an associate in arts degree (A.A.), girls from that period would often continue on to a university, study for two more years, and receive their B.A.
The original St. Mary’s Female Seminary was founded by an act of the Maryland legislature in 1840. It was a boarding school that included the elementary grades as well as grades 9-12. But education did not go beyond the 12th grade. Occasionally, boys from the neighboring areas were allowed to take classes.
In 1840, the word “seminary” meant only that it was an academy, a high school, not a religious institution. In fact, St. Mary’s was established by the legislature to be strictly non-denominational.
The institution was not named for Saint Mary herself but for St. Mary's City, the colonial site of Lord Baltimore’s experiment in religious toleration.
For roughly the first 100 years (1840-1937) the head of the institution was called a “principal.” When the school received accreditation as a junior college and became part of the Maryland state budget in 1937, the term “principal” was changed to “president.”[1]
General information
The campus borders the St. Mary's River. St. Mary's College was designed as a "living monument" to the first settlers of St. Mary's City, which was the first capital of Maryland and the fourth oldest permanent settlement in British North America, founded in 1634.
St. Mary's, although a state-operated institution, is independent of the University System of Maryland; it opted out of the system in 1992 during a state-wide fiscal crisis. The school does participate in the consortium of Maryland public colleges and universities (USMAI), through which library materials from 16 institutes are accessible. In early 2006, St. Mary's joined the University of Maryland Academic Telecommunications System (UMATS), which interconnects the University System of Maryland with several other networks, including the Internet and Internet2 networks.
St. Mary's mascot is the Seahawk, which is a nickname for the ospreys that can be found nesting in the near off-shore areas. The school colors are Navy Blue, Yellow Gold, and White. The Seahawks compete in NCAA Division III. St. Mary's athletics are recognized for the storied varsity baseball team and the nationally-ranked varsity sailing team.
Academic Disciplines
Majors[2]
International Languages and Cultures (Chinese, French, German, Latin American Studies, or Spanish)
Natural Science
Public Policy Studies
Theater, Film, and Media Studies
Minors[3]
Department-based Minors
International Languages and Cultures (Chinese, French, German, Latin American Studies, or Spanish)
Cross-Disciplinary Minors
African and African Diaspora Studies
Democracy Studies
Museum Studies
Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Nitze Scholars Program
St. Mary's College has a leadership cohort named after Paul H. Nitze, a former trustee of the college. The program is designed for students with histories of leadership and academic success and also those with an emphasis on international affairs. Members of the Nitze Scholars Program[4] receive a $3000 per year stipend and must maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher in order to remain in the program. Also included in the program are two leadership seminars and a study-tour linked to the second seminar.
Most students are invited to join the Nitze Scholars Program before the start of their freshman year. However, a limited number of current freshmen at St. Mary's College are also allowed to apply for admission. The application consists of an essay and a service resume. Approximately twenty students are granted admission to the program each year.
Nitze Fellows
Within the Nitze Scholars Program is a two-credit tutorial concerning a series of visits by Paul H. Nitze Senior Fellows. Nitze Senior Fellows visit St. Mary's College several times throughout their assigned year to give lectures and meet with Nitze Scholars and other St. Mary's College students.
Former Nitze Fellows include: Kathleeen Kennedy Townsend (2007-2008); David Sanger (2006-2007); Edward P. Jones (2005-2006); Diane Rehm (2004-2005); Dr. Josiah Ober (2003-2004); Norine Johnson (2002-2003); Mario Livio (2001-2002); Wole Soyinka, Henry Rosemont, Michael Ellis-Tolaydo, Lucille Clifton (Spring 2001); Judge Penfield Jackson (Fall 2000); Richard Lewontin (Spring 2000); Benjamin J. Cardin (Fall 1999).
College culture
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 | This section possibly contains original research. (November 2007) |
- Students may be tossed by their friends into St. John's Pond. This practice is called "ponding," and it generally marks a special occasion, the most common being a birthday.
- Watching the sunset over the St. Mary's River is a regular evening activity for many students.
- In the 80's and early 1990's, the college often appeared on the Playboy's top 10 party schools in the US. This is no longer the case, as the school banned the popular "closed container" rule in 1995.
- Hallow-Greens is an annual all-student costume event. While the college offers no planned events for October 31, it is an on-campus alternative for students considering driving off-campus during Halloween.
- The Cardboard Boat Race takes place during Homecoming/Parent's Weekend. Teams must make a boat entirely out of materials provided for them (cardboard, plastic, and balsa wood) and race it in a small loop on the St. Mary's River by the college boathouse and docks. There are cash prizes for the winners.
- World Carnival weekend, midnight breakfast, frisbee golf, sailing, ultimate frisbee, and kayaking.
- Over 1600 students live on-campus in traditional-style residence halls, suites, apartments, and townhouses.
- There is a direct link between the Student Body and the Board of Trustees through the Student Trustee - a voting member of the board.
- Students participate on faculty, administrative, and Board of Trustee committees.
- There are many opportunities for leadership development on campus, including Resident Assistants (RA), Orientation Leaders (OL), Judicial Board members, Multicultural Academic Peer Program (MAPP) Mentors, Student Government Association (SGA), and Programs Board among many others.
- There are 13 varsity sports including: Fall – Field Hockey, Men’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer, and Volleyball; Winter – Men’s Swimming, Women’s Swimming, Men’s Basketball, and Women’s Basketball; Spring: Baseball, Men’s Lacrosse, Women’s Lacrosse, Men’s Tennis, Women’s Tennis; Sailing.
- Students actively participate in intramural and club sports, including: Men’s Rugby, Women’s Rugby, Women’s Softball, Cheerleading, Crew, Dance, Cross Country & Track, Equestrian, Fencing, Golf, Mountain Biking, Birdwatching, Ultimate Frisbee, and Wrestling.
- Students (and faculty and staff) are very environmentally aware and support recycling and sustainability efforts on campus.
- There are three living-learning centers on campus: International Languages & Cultures (ILC) House; Women In Science House (WISH), and the Eco-House.
- There are two Substance and Alcohol Free Environment (SAFE) suites on campus. Some other students join the IBA.
St. Mary's Sailing
St. Mary's College has three different sailing teams on campus, as well as a sailing club, and a windsurfing club. The Varsity Sailing Team and Offshore Sailing Team both compete in intercollegiate events around the country and occasionally in international regattas held in venues such as Europe. The Keelboat Sailing Team competes in racing events held by One Design or PHRF (Handicap) organizations in the Chesapeake Bay and other East Coast locations.
Sailing fleet
- 1997 Taylor 40 ML
- 1999 Henderson 30
- 2 Pearson Ensigns
- 36 FJs
- 6 420s
- 2 Larks
- 2 Techs
Sailing team accolades
St. Mary’s College of Maryland has a long history of sailing championships. Currently, the co-ed and women's teams are ranked first in the nation by Sailing World magazine. In 2004, the College won the annual Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA)/Layline North American Team Race Championship. In 2006, the women's team won the Atlantic Coast Championship, defeating many venerable schools, including Harvard, Yale, Georgetown, and the U.S. Naval Academy. Since 1991 the college has won 11 national sailing championships and produced more than 100 ICSA All-American sailors.[5]
Notable faculty
- Jane Margaret O'Brien, or Maggie as she is referred to by students, became the first female president of the college as a four-year institution when she was appointed in 1996.
- Lucille Clifton, poet and two-time finalist for a Pulitzer Prize.
- Michael Glaser, current poet laureate of Maryland.
Notable trustees
- Benjamin Bradlee, Vice President at Large, The Washington Post.
- Steny Hoyer, U.S. Representative, House Majority Leader of the United States House of Representatives.
- Gary Jobson, professional sailor.
- William Donald Schaefer, former Governor (1987-1995) and Comptroller of Maryland (1999-2007).
Notable organizations
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Omicron Delta Kappa: an organization of students, faculty, and staff which recognizes superior scholarship, leadership and exemplary character. Membership in OΔK is a mark of highest distinction and honor. The Society recognizes achievement in scholarship; athletics; campus or community service, social and religious activities, campus government; journalism, speech and the mass media; and the creative and performing arts.
- An active Student Government Association (SGA) which sponsors over 70 clubs ranging from the Anime Club, Billiards Club, and Circle K to the Mens & Women’s St. Mary’s Ultimate (Frisbee) Team (SMUT).
Notable alumni
- James Carroll, Maryland politician.
- William R. Craft, Jr., poet, publisher.
- Julie Croteau, women's baseball pioneer.
- Michael McMahon, environmental attorney.
- John F. Slade III, former member of Maryland House of Delegates, 1964.
- Paul Reed Smith, renowned luthier.
