St. Mary's College of Maryland

St. Mary's College of Maryland

Type	Public coeducational liberal arts college
Established	1840
President	Jane Margaret O'Brien
Academic staff	134
Undergraduates	1950
Postgraduates	N/A
Location	St. Mary's City , Maryland , USA
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, secular 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 few around the U.S.). It is a small college, with fewer than 2,000 enrolled students. The institution offers baccalaureate degrees in 20 disciplines, of which psychology, biology, and economics are 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), in turn preceded by St. Mary’s Female Seminary Junior College (1927-1949). Both of these “junior colleges” actually combined the last two years of high school and the first two years of college, composing a four-year institution. After earning an associate's degree at St. Mary's girls would often continue studies at another university, where they would study for two more years and receive a B.A.

The original St. Mary’s Female Seminary was founded by an act of the Maryland legislature in 1840. In 1840, the word “seminary” meant only that it was an academy or a high school, not a religious institution. St. Mary’s was established by the legislature to be strictly non-denominational. It was a boarding school that included the elementary grades as well as grades 9-12, though education did not go beyond the 12th grade. Occasionally boys from the neighboring areas were allowed to take classes.

The institution was not named after St. Mary's City, the colonial site of Lord Baltimore’s experiment in religious toleration. The institution was built upon land that once had been inhabited by the colonists two hundred years before.

For roughly the first 100 years (1840-1937) of its existence, the head of St.Mary's was called the “principal.” When the school received accreditation as a junior college and included within the Maryland state budget in 1937, the term “principal” was changed to president.”

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.

As of fall 2006, thirty-five countries and thirty-five states are represented within the student body.

Relationship with Historic St. Mary's City

St. Mary's College of Maryland the Historic St. Mary's City have a close relationship. Students are often hired to work within the historic site, and those who aren't working are frequently found to be walking or biking along the miles of trail throughout Historic. Current students may visit the historical site for free.

The Maryland Heritage Project is an effort to bring together the College, Historic St. Mary's City, Trinity Episcopal, a church located near the St. Mary's campus, and the wider community. Two new buildings, to be used jointly by the College and Historic St. Mary’s City, are being built on campus. One of the buildings is a new interpretive center, which will showcase artifacts from St. Mary’s City history – from the colony established in 1634, to the farmlands that replaced that colony in the 18th century, to the founding of the monument school in the mid-19th century, and beyond. The second building will be an academic building that will replace Anne Arundel Hall, a current St. Mary's academic building. This building will include Historic St. Mary's City's research offices and faculty offices and classrooms for St. Mary's College in anthropology, democracy studies, history, international languages and cultures, and museum studies. It will host collection-based courses and summer institutes.

Academic Disciplines

Majors

Anthropology
Art and Art History
Biochemistry
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Economics
English
History
Human Studies
International Languages and Cultures (Chinese, French, German, Latin American Studies, or Spanish)
Master of Arts in Teaching
Mathematics
Music
Natural Science
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science
Psychology
Public Policy Studies
Religious Studies
Sociology
Student-Designed
Theater, Film, and Media Studies

Minors

Department-based Minors

Art History
Art Studio
Biology
Computer Science
Economics
Film and Media Studies
History
International Languages and Cultures (Chinese, French, German, Latin American Studies, or Spanish)
Mathematics
Music
Philosophy
Political Science
Religious Studies
Theater Studies

Cross-Disciplinary Minors

African and African Diaspora Studies
Asian Studies
Democracy Studies
Environmental Studies
Museum Studies
Neurosciences
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 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.

Previous Nitze Fellows include: Kathleen Kennedy Townsend (2007-2008); David E. 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 Thomas Penfield Jackson (Fall 2000); Richard Lewontin (Spring 2000); Ben Cardin (Fall 1999).

Student Life

More than 1600 students live on-campus in traditional-style residence halls, suites, apartments, and townhouses. Within the residences there are three living-learning centers on campus: an International Languages & Cultures (ILC) House; a Women In Science House (WISH), and an Eco-House. Furthermore, there are two Substance and Alcohol Free Environment (SAFE) suites on campus.

There are many opportunities for leadership development on campus, including positions as Resident Assistants (RA), Orientation Leaders (OL), on the school's student Judicial Board, as Multicultural Academic Peer Program (MAPP) Mentors, within the active Student Government Association (SGA), and among the various Programs Boards.

The Student Trustee, a voting member of the Board of Trustees, is chosen from among the students to act as a direct link between the Student Body and the Board of Trustees. Aside from the Student Trustee position, students also participate in numerous other committees with faculty and other members of the administration.

Food

There are many places in which students may get food on campus.

• The Great Room, the main cafeteria on campus, offers a wide variety of foods. Within the Great Room one can choose from stir fry, sushi, vegetarian options, crepes, international cuisine, baked goods, comfort foods, and various other foods. On weekdays breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served; on weekends, there is only brunch and dinner available.
• The Grab-and-Go, which caters to students who don't have time between classes for meals, is located in one of the residence halls, Lewis Quad. Meals are typically simple, consisting of sandwiches, salads, chips, fruits, or packaged foods.
• The Upper Deck offers many foods, frequently grilled, such as pizza, sandwiches, subs, soups, and salads.
• A Quizno's restaurant is located next to the Upper Deck and offers food typical of the chain.
• The Daily Grind is the campus' coffee shop and convenience store. Here one can find general food products, as well as order smoothies, tea, or coffee.
• The Co-Op offers vegetarian and vegan options for those who prefer alternative food options.

On-Campus Traditions and Events

• 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.
• New students attend a convocation ceremony at the State House of 1634 in Historic St. Mary's City. Afterwards students are invited to sign the President's book.
• Hallow-Greens, which takes place on a weekend near Halloween is an annual all-student costume event.
• 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 takes place late in the Spring semester. Clubs across campus are invited to participate in this event which celebrate diversity in music, food, and culture.
• Midnight breakfast is held during finals week each semester. Admission is free, and many students participate in karaoke during the night.
• The Black Student Union Fashion Show
• The Christmas in April auction is an annual fund-raiser in which students, faculty, and staff bid for humorous items such as singing telegrams or cooked dinners from the Admissions Staff.
• Polar Bear Splash: an annual effort to raise awareness for Global Warming. More than one hundred students take a swim in the freezing St. Mary's River during this mid-winter event.

Off-Campus Events

• Oyster Festival: The oyster-shucking contest at this annual festival is the last stop before the international championships of oyster shucking.
• St. Mary's County Fair: A "true hometown" county fair, complete with 4-H events, prize-winning animals, food, arts and crafts, and a carnival too.
• Point Lookout Ghost Tour: Twelve miles south of the College, Point Lookout State Park includes the remains of a Civil War prison for Confederate soldiers, many of whom died of malaria waiting for the War to end. A tour of their ghostly remains is held on Halloween.
• Concerts at Calvert Marine Museum: Big names perform at this outdoor venue, right across the bridge in Calvert County: Bob Dylan, The Allman Brothers, Travis Tritt, Martina McBride, Eddie from Ohio.

The Center for the Study of Democracy

"The Center for the Study of Democracy is a joint initiative of St. Mary's College of Maryland and Historic St. Mary's City. It explores contemporary and historical issues in democracy. As the first capital of Maryland, St. Mary's City was an early example of the stirrings of American democracy. 'Liberty of conscience' in religion, representative political practices, freedom of the press, and minority rights are a part of St. Mary's City's history. The Center focuses on an interdisciplinary understanding of early Maryland as an "emerging democracy," and applies the lessons of the region's history to a domestic and international discussion of democracy's role in the modern world. The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) We the People initiative awarded the Center a $500,000 challenge grant in September 2004. The Center has until April 2008 to raise $1.5 million in private and non-federal funds to meet the matching requirements."

Varsity Sports

There are 13 varsity sports at St. Mary's College:

During the Fall, students can participate in Field Hockey, Men’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer, and Volleyball.
In the Winter students take part in Men’s Swimming, Women’s Swimming, Men’s Basketball, and Women’s Basketball.
Spring offers students opportunities in Baseball, Men’s Lacrosse, Women’s Lacrosse, Sailing, Men’s Tennis, and Women’s Tennis.

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.

The Sailing Fleet

Keelboats

• 1997 Taylor 40 ML
• 1999 Henderson 30
• 2 Pearson Ensigns

Dinghies

• 36 FJs
• 6 420s
• 2 Larks
• 2 Techs

Accolades

Sailing

St. Mary’s College of Maryland has a long history of sailing championships. The co-ed and women's teams have been ranked first in the nation by Sailing World magazine for the past two years. 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.

Basketball

In the spring of 2008, St. Mary's Men's Basketball team was ranked 24th in the nation after making an appearance at the 2007-2008 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament.

Student Clubs

St. Mary's College hosts more than 90 student-run, SGA-sponsored clubs.

Academic Clubs: Asian Studies Club, Economics Clubs, English Club, History Club, Math Club, Philosophy Club, Physics Club, Sign Language Club, Sociology/Anthropology Club.

Interest Clubs: Academic Team, Anime Club, Billiards Club, Black Student Union, Camera Club, Cheerleading Club, Community Garden Club, Computer/Linux Club, Cycling Club, Dance Club, Fine Arts Club, Fishing Club, FUSE, Gaming Club, Global Justice League, Heroscape Club, Hillel Club, International Club, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Jane Austen Society, Magic: The Gathering, Meditation Club, National Alliance of Mental Illness, Newman Society, Outdoors Club, Out of State Club, Paintball Club, Parking Club, Pre-Law Advisory Network, Quaker Society, Racias Hispanas, Saferide, Seahawk Recreational Shooting Club, Student Education Association, Student Environmental Action Coalition, St. Mary's Advising Students in Health, St. Mary's American Chemical Society, St. Mary's Triangle and Rainbow Society, St. Mary's Recreational Clay Shooting Club, Take One Improv, Tolkien Society, We Love the Co-Op, White Water Club, World of Warcraft, WSMC (radio), Youth Alliance for the Revival of Needlework.

Musical Clubs: Crazy Pianos, Gospel Choir, Interchorus (co-ed a capella), SMC-men (men's a capella), The Nightingales (women's a capella).

Political Clubs: College Democrats, College Others, College Republicans.

Publications: Avatar (literary magazine), The Dove (yearbook), Point News (college newspaper).

Service Clubs: Circle K, For Goodness Sake, Habitat for Humanity, Rotaract, Sister to Sister.

Sports Clubs: Crew Club, Cross Country & Track, Dodgeball Club, Equestrian Club, Fencing Club, Longboarding Club, Men's Rugby, Rockclimbing Club, Sailing Club, Softball Club, Water Polo Club, Windsurfing Club, Women's Rugby, Women's St. Mary's Ultimate (Frisbee) Team.

Organizations

• Alpha Kappa Delta (Sociology)
• Beta Beta Beta (Biology)
• Omicron Delta Epsilon (Economics)
• Omicron Delta Kappa (Leadership): 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.
• Phi Alpha Theta (History)
• Phi Beta Kappa (National)
• Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science)
• Psi Chi (Psychology)
• Sigma Tau Delta (English)

St. Mary's does not have any sororities or fraternities.

National Rankings

• Listed as on of Newsweek's 25 Hottest Universities for Loving the Great Outdoors
• #11 - Princeton Review's Happiest Students
• #19 - Princeton Review's Most Beautiful Campus
• Listed as one of Princeton Review's Best Northeastern Colleges
• Listed as one of Princeton Review's Best Value Colleges

Notable faculty

• Jane Margaret O'Brien, called "Maggie" by students, was the first female president of the college as a four-year institution (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 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.

External links

• St. Mary's College of Maryland Official website
• The College Waterfront
• St. Mary's Rugby Alumni