UMUC - What's with the name?

[HawkGuy]

Ok, now I understand that state school systems have different campuses such as the University of California System has UCLA, UC Berkley, UC San Diego, etc.. But the University System of Maryland there are several similar names. We have:

University of Maryland - Baltimore
University of Maryland -Baltimore County
University of Maryland - College Park
and so on, until we get to...
University of Maryland - University College

Now for the life of me I can't understand why you'd have such redundancy in a name. I get the University of Maryland, but why add on the additional "University"? Or the "College"?

Wikipedia says: "Universities such as Washington University in Saint Louis, Arizona State University, Rutgers University, California State University, Long Beach... use "University College" for the name of the division dedicated to continuing education and the needs of the non-traditional student. The University of Maryland University College is a separate institution dedicated to non-traditional education."

But does anyone know why?

[categ]

I don't think I am totally clear on your question but I will take a stab at what I think you are asking.

My understanding is the institution's name is University College and it is under the umbrella of the University System of Maryland. UMUC is geared more toward working professionals with traditional and online classes. There are divisions in Asia and Europe and a division that focuses on higher education for military members. There are 11 institution's under the University System of Maryland.

I started at Univ of Md College Park, right after high school and am going to finish up at UMUC (30 years later). I have always felt that the professors take into account that most of the students are working full time.

Hope I came close, there are a few of us attending UMUC on this board so maybe they can chime in.

[HawkGuy]

I guess the main point of my rant was to see if anyone knew why that specific name, "University College", was chosen. It just seems redundant to me to have a University of Maryland University College. Like the American Dodgeball Association of America

PS: I went there when I was stationed in Europe. I still don't get it.

[PeteDude]

I guess the main point of my rant was to see if anyone knew why that specific name, "University College", was chosen. It just seems redundant to me to have a University of Maryland University College. Like the American Dodgeball Association of America

It would appear they had to come up with some sort of distinctive name to separate that particular "campus" from the others. They may have been in a hurry, or had too few people brainstorming.

Look on the bright side-- more people have trouble with the name Excelsior College than they do with UMUC.

[matt]

Part of the problem may be that UMUC is headquartered on the same campus as UMCP (Univ MD, College Park) - which is the flagship institution. So without a geographic distinction, we wound up with "Univ College" Not the greatest name but it's ok with me.

[cookderosa]

If you check over on the distance learning board, this topic has been beaten to death.
Degree from UMUC: is it appropriate not to mention that it's from UC? - Distance Learning Discussion Forums

[HawkGuy]

Thank you for the link Jennifer. Seems I'm not the only one who was confused haha. That forum had some good info on UMUC and some discussions on HES as well.

It's interesting what a name will do.

[cookderosa]

Thank you for the link Jennifer. Seems I'm not the only one who was confused haha. That forum had some good info on UMUC and some discussions on HES as well.

It's interesting what a name will do.

>>


Yes. After I started looking at Harvard, I started researching "extension" divisions. In the end, I discovered that nearly every single college or university in the USA offered their online classes through an alternate "college" within the university- names varied. Extension is also the college that Western New Mexico University issues it's distance degrees through WNMU Home Page (that's one of the other colleges I strongly considered) My unofficial guestimate is that 50% of the people earning master's degrees couldn't name the college within the university they are earning them through. (quick- do you know?? Wonk- time's up!)
Certainly some will, especially if it's a big name, but I don't think more than half the people do. I know at WNMU and University of Illinois (my other choice) that neither mentioned the college the degree was through. In some cases, you really have to dig to find out. So, I could give a flying flip that my Harvard degree will be through the Extension college. (ohhh....I said "degree" I better not flunk out now LOL)

[Gonzo]

Interesting. I got my bachelor's from UMUC. When I started, I had no idea of the confusion that surrounded the name.

While I haven't started working on my resume, I will list my degree as being from the University of Maryland University College. Like that thread points out, anything else would be deceitful and dishonest. While it does seem redundant, I now understand the name.

"University College" denotes an institution that has no exact geographic location and caters to non-traditional students. And of course, the "University of Maryland" denotes the historical origin of the institution.

Regardless of the name, I'm glad to have my degree. Not only was it free, but in a sense, I was actually paid to go to college. So, I can't complain.

[matt]

Gonzo, I see your BS is in Info Sys Management. I finally settled on the Info Assurance major with a minor in Business Law @ UMUC. I start the major coursework in January. What did you think of the program and why did you chose the ISM major versus the other tech bachelor options?

Thanks, and congratulations on the degree!

Matt