- University of the District of Columbia
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University of the District of Columbia 
Established 1851 Type Public, land grant, HBCU Endowment $21.8 million Chairman Joseph L. Askew, Jr., Esq. President Allen L. Sessoms [1] Provost Graeme Baxter, J.D. Undergraduates 5,137 Postgraduates 234 Location Washington, DC,
United StatesCampus 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.
Contents
History
The Normal School for Colored Girls was established in 1851 and by 1879, the name was changed to "Miner Normal School". Washington Normal School was established in 1873 for girls, and renamed the "Wilson Normal School" in 1913. In 1929, the United States Congress made both schools four-year teachers' colleges and renamed as "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." A new Community College of the District of Columbia (CCDC) assumed UDC's Associate Degree, Certificate, Continuing Education and Workforce Development programs with UDC going forward with just its bachelor and graduate degree programs. While CCDC will maintain an open enrollment policy, a high school diploma no longer guarantees admission into UDC.[2] These changes were in response to UDC's low graduation rate, where only 7.9% of students complete their degrees within 6 years.[3]
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).[4]
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.[3] UDC plans to open a new residence hall on its main campus by 2012 that could house as many as 300 students.[3] A new $40 million student center is expected to open in 2012.[3]
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
- Phi Beta Sigma
- Iota Phi Theta
- Alpha Kappa Alpha (Beta Lamda Chapter)
- Delta Sigma Theta
- Sigma Gamma Rho
- Zeta Phi Beta
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.[5]
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) [6] Gloria Green-Ridley the first African American to receive the James Davenport Memorial Award (2005). [6] Thelma Thompson president of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore [6] Clarence Holbert designed the currency of Eritrea [6] Richard Pennington 1988 Chief of Police Atlanta, Georgia [6] Melvin R. Wright Associate Judge, Superior Court of the District of Columbia [6] Robert P. Owens Federal Immigration Judge [6] 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
References
- ^ "U.D.C. President". University of the District of Columbia. 2008. http://www.udc.edu/president/udc_president.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
- ^ "About CCDC". UDC. http://ccdc.usdc.edu/about_ccdc. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
- ^ a b c d Johnson, Jenna (August 30, 2010). "The right spot for a UDC student to live". Washington Post: p. B1.
- ^ "U.D.C. Programs". University of the District of Columbia. 2008. http://www.udc.edu/programs/programs.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ^ "U.D.C. Cable T.V. Channel 8". University of the District of Columbia. 2008. http://www.udc.edu/cable_tv_19/index.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ^ a b c d e f g "U.D.C. Success Stories". The Welcome Center. University of the District of Columbia. 2008. http://www.udc.edu/welcome/success_stories.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
External links
Colleges and universities in the District of Columbia Research Universities Master’s Colleges and Universities Specialized colleges Thurgood Marshall College Fund Alabama A&M University · Alabama State University · Albany State University · Alcorn State University · Bluefield State College · Bowie State University · Central State University · Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science · Cheyney University of Pennsylvania · Chicago State University · Coppin State University · Delaware State University · Elizabeth City State University · Fayetteville State University · Florida A&M University · Florida A&M University Law School · Fort Valley State University · Grambling State University · Harris-Stowe State University · Howard University · Howard University School of Law · Jackson State University · Kentucky State University · Langston University · Lincoln University (Missouri) · Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) · Medgar Evers College · Mississippi Valley State University · Morgan State University · Norfolk State University · North Carolina A&T State University · North Carolina Central University · North Carolina Central University School of Law · Prairie View A&M University · Savannah State University · South Carolina State University · Southern University and A&M College · Southern University at New Orleans · Southern University at Shreveport-Bossier City · Southern University Law Center · Tennessee State University · Texas Southern University · Thurgood Marshall School of Law · Tuskegee University · University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff · University of the District of Columbia · University of District of Columbia Law · University of Maryland Eastern Shore · University of the Virgin Islands · Virginia State University · West Virginia State University · Winston-Salem State University · York CollegeCoordinates: 38°56′38.2″N 77°3′55.2″W / 38.943944°N 77.065333°W
Categories:- Historically black universities and colleges in the United States
- Land-grant universities and colleges
- Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities
- American Association of State Colleges and Universities
- Universities and colleges in Washington, D.C.
- University of the District of Columbia
- Educational institutions established in 1851
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
- Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities
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