UMass Boston
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The University of Massachusetts Boston, or UMass Boston, is a coeducational public research university located in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is part of the University of Massachusetts system. The University prides itself in maintaining a faculty that hold more Doctoral Degrees from Harvard University, and other Ivy League universities, than any other institution in the United States, including Harvard. (source located at www.umb.edu)

Enrollment

UMass Boston has an enrollment of approximately 13,300 graduate and undergraduate students, making it one of the largest urban universities in Massachusetts and New England.

Faculty

UMass Boston boasts an internationally distinguished faculty of 818 members including Lloyd Schwartz who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Criticism in 1994 and Monet expert Paul Tucker. About 98% of the faculty holding their Doctoral Degrees from Harvard and other Ivy League institutions, are experts in their respective fields. UMB currently offers over 90 fields of study.

An Urban University

The university is nationally recognized for its mission to educate its students from an urban point of view. In other words, UMass Boston educates its students to go out and make a difference in the world and most particular, the greater Boston area.

History

The school was established in 1964 and is part of the Greater Boston Urban Education Collaborative, but over time has absorbed and merged with other schools, notably Boston State College (absorbed in 1982), dating back to 1852. The University of Massachusetts Boston was to provide the opportunity for superior education at moderate cost to the people of greater Boston. It is located on Columbia Point peninsula. The harbor walk along the perimeter of Columbia Point offers exquisite views of the harbor, the skyline of the city of Boston, and the Boston Harbor Islands National Park including: Georges Island, Spectacle Island, Thompson Island and others. UMass sponsored Harbor Cruises are accessible from this point on the UMass campus. Sailing programs are also offered from this location.

The university originally comprised five buildings including McCormack and Wheatley Hall, The Science Center, The 11 floor Healey Library and the Quinn Administration Building. Soon thereafter, the Clark Athletic Center was added which is fully equipped with an ice hockey arena and basketball court that formerly hosted the NBA's Summer Basketball League every summer. The Clark Center also hosted the first presidential debate between then Texas Governor George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore in 2000.

Most recently the Campus Center has been built. It is where most of the student activities occur. There are some difficulties with most of the older building because the school is build on a land fill. The lower levels had to be closed off for a time. There is now talk of major reconstruction for the school.

The university is situated right on Boston Harbor approximately three miles south of downtown Boston. Many classrooms, therefore, boast magnificent views of the harbor and the Boston skyline. In addition, in 2004, a state of the art campus center opened, providing the university with a new entrance and modern facilities to foster student life. The university shares Columbia Point with the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum and the Massachusetts State Archives.

The current chancellor of the university is J. Keith Motley, who serves under the University of Massachusetts System president, Jack Wilson. J.Keith Motley is the first Black chancellor in the University's history.

Student life

The mission of the Office of Student Life at the University of Massachusetts Boston is to provide opportunities for student growth and development which complement the traditional academic mission in the classroom. We strive to meet the changing needs and demands of our urban commuter population by making successful use of university and professional resources.

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs phone: 617-287-5800 fax: 617-287-5811 student.affairs@umb.edu

The school colors are blue and white, and the school mascot is The Beacon.

The school is a commuter college and has no dorms.

UMass Boston's independent, student run and financed newspaper is The Mass Media, which can be accessed online at http://umassmedia.com

UMass Boston's undergraduates are represented by the Undergraduate Student Senate, a body comprising 30 members that meets twice a month. It can be accessed online at http://www.sga.umb.edu. UMass Boston's graduate students are represented by the Graduate Student Assembly. UMass Boston's graduate student employees (teaching assistants, research assistants, and administrative assistants) are represented by the Graduate Employee Organization/UAW Local 1596--UMass Boston Chapter.

UMass Healey Library is participating in an Institute of Museum and Library Science diversity internship program in conjunction with Simmons College.

Patrick Day currently serves as the university's vice chancellor for student affairs.

UMass Boston's Department of Athletics currently sponsors Men's Intercollegiate Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Outdoor Track, Soccer and Tennis along with Women's Intercollegiate Softball, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Cross Country, Volleyball, Outdoor Track, Tennis and Soccer. A competitive intercollegiate men's and women's Sailing Team is formed as a student club. All of UMass Boston's sports teams compete in the NCAA Division III.

The Yearbook The Mass Media - the student newspaper The Watermark - a literary magazine

The Undergraduate Student Senate and the Graduate Student Assembly represent their student constituents to the University community and support programming and activities for their student populations, especially through undergraduate clubs and graduate professional organizations.

www.clubs.umb.edu

Administration

Administration J. Keith Motley, Ph.D. Chancellor

Paul J. Fonteyn, Ph.D. Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Winston Langley, Ph.D. Associate Chancellor

Christopher Hogan Chief of Staff to the Chancellor

Ellen M. O'Connor Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance

Charlie Titus Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Recreation, Special Programs and Projects

Kathleen S. Teehan Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management

Arthur Bernard Vice Chancellor for Government Relations and Public Affairs

Patrick K. Day Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Darrell C. Byers Vice Chancellor for University Advancement

Sharon Kennedy Director of Marketing and Communications

Anne Scrivener Agee Vice Provost for Information Technology

Notable alumni

The UMass Boston campus, viewed from Squantum Point Park in Quincy

• Cory Atkins, (B.S. 1979), member of the Mass. House of Representatives (served 1999 - present)
• Daniel E. Bosley, (M.S. 1996), member of the Mass. House of Representatives (served 1986 - present)
• Christine E. Canavan, (B.S. 1988), member of the Mass. House of Representatives (served 1993 - present)
• Joseph Patrick Kennedy II, (B.A. 1976), current President of Citizens Energy Corporation and former member of the US House of Representatives (served 1986-1999)
• Thomas Menino, (B.A. Community Planning, 1988). Mayor of the City of Boston
• Robert Travaglini, B.S. 1974. former President, Massachusetts State Senate
• Steve Sweeney, B.A. 1974, Comedian
• Joseph Abboud, World Famous Fashion Designer
• Sam Davis, Entrepreneur, founder of Davis Consulting Group, founder of Project I Rise

External links

• UMass Boston's official web site
• The Mass Media student newspaper
• Graduate Employee Organization website
• LinkedIn Group for University of Massachusetts at Boston Alumni