UMass Lowell was named the University of Lowell from 1975 to 1991, and was created from the merger of the Lowell Technological Institute and Lowell State College in 1975. These colleges in turn were originally named the Lowell Textile School, founded in 1895 to train technicians and managers for the textile industry, and the Lowell Normal School, founded in 1894 to train new teachers.
UMass Lowell is well-known for its science and engineering programs. It was the first university in the United States to offer a bachelor's degree in plastics engineering, and it is one of a few public universities in the United States to offer a degree in meteorology. UMass Lowell is also the first university to offer a masters in sound recording technology (SRT). The undergraduate SRT program has been consistently recognized as one of the best in the nation.
The Francis College of Engineering's Assistive Technology Program, which focuses on developing devices which improve quality of life for the disabled, has won numerous state and national awards for design excellence and community service.
All of the programs in the College of Management are fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International, the highest level of business school accreditation. The College of Management has been fully accredited since 1987, and the most recent AACSB reaffirmation of accreditation occurred in December 2005.
The nanotechnology program within the University was honored in 2004 by the John Adams Innovation Institute with a $5 million award for the creation of the UMass Lowell Nanomanufacturing Center of Excellence.
UMass Lowell is also known for its VLSI graduate program, Plastic engineering program, Chemical/Nuclear Engineering program, and its new Nano-technology and Nano-Manufacturing Center. The Francis College of Engineering Programs at UMass Lowell are also accredited by ABET.
The university maintains the state-of-the-art Radiation Laboratory, complete with a research reactor and Van de Graaff particle accelerator. This facility provides experimental platforms for nuclear, biological, materials testing and other scientific fields. The Radiation Laboratory also allows students in the Radiological Sciences and Protection Program to gain experience in the practical aspects of radiation safety.
The Work Environment Department, in The School of Health and Environment, is a leading Occupational Safety and Health program which is known internationally. They offer degrees in Occupational Ergonomics, Industrial Hygiene, and Sustainable Production.
Student Life
Student Organizations
The Big Seven
The Big Seven are the main organizations on campus funded directly from the student activities fee. Generally, they are the largest and most well-funded organizations on campus; other student organizations have budgets granted through the Student Government Association. They are:
Eight residence halls on campus house just over 2300 residents, including 68% of the freshmen class according to the official web site. In addition, the university runs two apartment complexes located at East Meadow Lane which houses graduates, students with families, and 21+ undergraduates.
LeLacheur Park, with the Merrimack River in the background, taken from the top of Fox Hall
UMass Lowell athletic teams compete in a variety of sports. Men and women compete in Division II, with the exception of men's hockey, which competes in Division I. The men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, ice hockey, track and field, and soccer. The women's sports are basketball, cross country, track and field, field hockey, soccer, softball, and volleyball. The University's men's hockey team plays in the Hockey East conference, and use Tsongas Arena as their home ice. Past champions include the 1988 men's basketball team, the 1991 men's cross country team, the ice hockey team (three times), and the 2005 field hockey team.
The nickname "River Hawks" came about during the school's transition into UMass Lowell, and was inspired by the campus's location by the Merrimack River. The University of Lowell's nickname was the Chiefs, which was abandoned in favor of the current name. A campus-wide poll was conducted for student input and final candidates included the Ospreys and the Raging Rapids, according to the Connector student newspaper.
University Demographics
2007 enrollment totals were 11,635 students, composed of 8,879 undergraduate students and 2,756 graduate students. In-state enrollment totals 92% of undergraduates and 71% of graduate students. International students are 1% of the undergraduate population and 14% of the graduate population. Students of color are 21% of the total undergraduate population and 18% of the graduate population. The male-female ratio is 60%/40% for undergraduates and 52%/48% for the graduate population.[1]
Encyclopedia
top
