Utica University
| File:UClogo.jpg | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Established | 1946 |
| President | Todd S. Hutton |
| Undergraduates | 2,429 |
| Postgraduates | 523 |
| Location | , , |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Nickname | Pioneers |
| Mascot | TRAX |
| Website | www.utica.edu |
Utica College (or UC) is a private university located in Utica New York. The history of the college dates back to the 1930s when Syracuse University began offering extension courses in the Utica area. Syracuse University established Utica College as a four-year institution in 1946, and in 1995, UC became a financially and legally independent institution. Utica College continues to offer the Syracuse University degree to undergraduates through a unique arrangement with that institution. UC is officially mentioned in Syracuse's Charter, Article 1, Section 3: "Utica College shall be represented by the President, appointed ex officio, and by the dean of the college, and another representative selected by the college."[citation needed]
Campus
Utica College was originally located in downtown Utica, NY in what is now called Oneida Square. In 1961 the school moved to its current 128-acre (0.5 km2) campus, located in the western area of the city, close to its borders are the towns of Whitestown and New Hartford. The campus can be accessed from both Burrstone Road and Champlin Avenue.
When first completed, the current campus consisted of Hubbard Hall (academic classrooms), Addison Miller White Hall (administration), Gordon Science Center, DePerno Hall (faculty offices), and the Frank E. Gannett Memorial Library. Gannett Library is located on the Champlin Avenue side of the campus and provides students with access to over 200,000 volumes.
The original dormitories, North and South Hall, are still in use as well as Alumni Hall, an apartment-style dormitory. The Ralph F. Strebel Center is the student center which houses the Pioneer Cafe, the college radio station WPNR, the Utica College bookstore, and the school newspaper The Tangerine. Increased enrollment at the turn of the millennium prompted the administration to expand. Recent construction projects include an addition to the main academic building in 2002, and three dormitories: New Hall and Conference Center, Tower Hall and Bell Hall. Construction is now complete on the new F. Eugene Romano Hall, Phase I of UC's new Science and Technology Center, which will be 23,000 square feet (2,100 m2) of classrooms, laboratories, and clinical space as well as technological upgrades. Phase II of the expansion project is currently underway.
In Fall 2006, the college enrolled 2,429 undergraduate students and 523 graduate students. There are nearly 20,000 Utica College alumni.
Academics
Utica College offers around 40 majors, 24 minors, several Master's degree programs, and a number of pre-professional and special programs. Utica College also offers programs in teacher education which lead to certification.
Utica College is well-known for its health science education. It is one of the leading colleges in both occupational therapy and physical therapy. One of its strongest social science programs is in child life psychology. The college has also received national attention for its economic crime programs. In fact, Utica College was the first institution in the world to offer a Master's degree in Economic Crime Management.[citation needed]
Notable Alumni
- Sherwood Boehlert, B.A 1961, congressman from January 1983 to January 2007
- Frank Lentricchia, B.A 1962, literature professor at Duke University
- John M. McHugh, B.A 1970, congressman from January 1993 to present
- Michael McKeon, B.A. 1985, Partner of Mercury Public Affairs, Director of Communications and chief spokesman for Governor George Pataki, New York City newspaper reporter
Athletics
UC offers 21 Division III intercollegiate sports affiliated with the NCAA, Empire 8 Conference and the ECAC. UC student athletes engage in spirited competition throughout the entire academic year and are well supported by members of the College community and the greater Utica area alike.
Teams are known as the Pioneers and compete in the Empire 8 Athletic Conference along with Elmira, Alfred, Hartwick, Ithaca, Nazareth, RIT and St. John Fisher. The men's and women's hockey teams compete in the ECAC West athletic conference. The women's water polo team competes in the Collegiate Water Polo Association's Northern Division. The school's mascot is a moose named Trax.
Intramural activities are also an extremely important aspect of the success of the UC Athletic Department. Almost 70% of the student population engages in intramural activities.
Facility use is at an all-time high as UC students, faculty, and staff pursue a healthy array of recreational opportunities in the Harold T. Clark Athletic Center. Recent renovation to the fitness center offers the UC community one of the best nautilus and free weight exercise experiences in the area.
For more information on UC Athletics Facilities: UC Athletic Facilities
The student body's overall interest in athletics was significantly bolstered by the addition of football and ice hockey teams in 2001. The football, field hockey, soccer and lacrosse teams play in Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. The 1,200 seat venue was completed in 2001 and boasts a modern field turf playing surface. The ice hockey teams compete at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. The Aud, as it is commonly called, was built in 1959 and provides seating for over 4,000 fans. The men's hockey team led the nation in Division III home attendance in the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 seasons. The basketball teams play on campus at the Harold Thomas Clark Jr. Athletic Center, which also has a pool and racquetball courts.
In November 2007 the Utica College football team set an NCAA record in their 72-70 loss to Hartwick College in four overtimes. The record for highest combined score in NCAA football since statistics have been kept. Also, Utica holds the NCAA record for most points scored in a loss.
For more information visit the official home of the Utica College Pioneers: www.ucpioneers.com