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. It’s nickname is the Firebirds and the University is member of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Their colors are Red and Gold and their motto is An Invitation to Success.

Location:
4200 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20008
Phone: (202) 274-6155
Website: www.udc.edu

Type: 4-year, Public
Awards offered:
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree

Campus setting:
City: Large
Campus housing: No
Student population: 5,521 (5,311 undergraduate)
Student-to-faculty ratio: 14 to 1

History

• The Normal School for Colored Girls was established in 1851 and by 1879, the name was changed to Miner Normal School.
• The Washington Normal School was established in 1873 for girls, and was renamed the Wilson Normal School in 1913.
• In 1929, the United States Congress made both schools four-year teachers' colleges and designated 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.

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. UDC plans to open a new residence hall on its main campus by 2012 that could house as many as 300 students. A new $40 million student center is expected to open in 2012.

Faculty

• Number of faculty members: 619
• Student-faculty ratio: 14:1
• Full-time faculty members: 383
• Part-time faculty members: 232
• Faculty members with doctorates or other terminal degrees: 44%

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.

We also service Four-year Baccalaureate who are:

• undeclared students
• veterans or members of the armed forces
• first-time entering transfers
• first-year or second-year students on academic probation

Facilities

• UDC has its own guard force who are responsible for guarding and protecting university property, staff, faculty and students.
• 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.
• Created the first community college in the District of Columbia (CCDC) and built new facilities across the city to support its programs
• Launched the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES) with an emphasis on preparing students for green-collar industries and research
• Introduced the National Center for Urban Education, designed to reinvent teacher education

Alumni

The Office of Alumni Relations engages alumni in a wide range of programs that include:

• Produce reunions' activities.
• Plan social, cultural and athletic events.
• Co-sponsor with the Division of Student Affairs the monthly Alumni Author and Speaker's Series.
• Host recruitment activities, seminars and workshops.
• Create networking opportunities for students and alumni as they build relationships to bond with one other and their alma mater.
• Join efforts with UDCNAS, the University's official alumni volunteer organization, on mutual alumni objectives such as Homecoming, Golf Tournament and other fund-raising programs.

Achievements

• In 2010, UDC was named “Emerging Business of the Year” by the DC Chamber of Commerce.
• UDC is expected to receive $10.75 million in federal funding to support expansion of the new Community College and other programs at the university.

In honor of our 160th anniversary, we have planned a year-long celebration with events designed to present our history of scholarship and achievement to our city and beyond.

Sources: University of the District of Columbia