About the University of the District of Columbia
The University of the District of Columbia is the only public institution of higher education in the District of Columbia. Chartered in 1974 from three other institutions of higher learning, this Historically Black College/University maintains an open admissions policy, and is the only urban land-grant institution in the nation.
The University fulfills many missions in serving the citizens of the District of Columbia. Responsive to the occupational needs of District residents, the University is not only a graduate and baccalaureate degree granting institution, it is also a community college. Ever mindful of these responsibilities, the University continues to design programs and produce competitive graduates in response to the needs of the District.
The University also offers courses designed to upgrade the skills of District residents who are already on the job or who wish to become more competitive to qualify for jobs. Also, as an urban land-grant institution, the University ensures that its core charge of teaching, research, and public service, as specified in the Morrill Act, is in vanguard for improving the quality of life of the residents of the District of Columbia.
And as an open admissions university, the University provides broad opportunities for a diverse student population -- for those under-prepared as well as for those adequately prepared for higher education -- to enable them to become productive citizens with marketable skills. The University believes that its role in developing the under-prepared student is critical to the success of its students as well as to the future financial health and well-being of the District of Columbia.
The University also boasts a large international student population. More than 25 nations are represented in the student body, truly making this the University of Diverse Cultures. These visiting students are fully embraced by the university community, and their exposure to District residents helps foster international good will and understanding.
Mission Statement
The University of the District of Columbia is an urban land-grant institution of higher education with an open admissions policy. It is a comprehensive public institution offering quality, affordable post-secondary education to District of Columbia residents at the certificate, associates, baccalaureate, and graduate levels. These programs will prepare students for immediate entry into the workforce, for the next level of education, for specialized employment opportunities, and for lifelong learning.
University Goals
The ultimate goal of any institution of higher learning is to produce quality graduates that can prosper in and contribute to their communities. The University of the District of Columbia is currently conducting a Strategic Review study in which every shareholder in the University - students, faculty, academic leadership (including the Board of Trustees), alumni, staff, and citizens of the District - are given an opportunity to explore and define new goals for the University, and produce a blueprint for the future. The study is helping the University to define a path to the goal of moving UDC to the next higher plane of academic excellence while continuing to satisfy the needs of the citizens of the District of Columbia.
Currently, the University works to meet the following student-centered goals:
- Student Access. To ensure the legislative entitlement of the residents of the District of Columbia to comprehensive public post-secondary education.
- Student Choice. To offer a broad variety of programs within its available resources to provide reasonable choices for post-secondary education to the residents of the District of Columbia that will lead to a meaningful employment opportunities.
- Student Achievement. To set high standards for student achievement and to provide quality instruction and support services to enable students to meet those standards.
- Land-grant Functions. To be innovative in carrying out the traditional land-grant functions of teaching, research, and public service to solve urban community problems and to improve the overall quality of urban living in the District of Columbia.
- Institutional Quality. To ensure institutional excellence in management and leadership, academic programs, support services, instruction, research, and public service.
- Institutional Growth and Development. To be responsive to new and emerging job market demands in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area.
- Advancement of Knowledge. To advance knowledge at the local, national and international levels through various innovative strategies in teaching, research, and public service as America's only public, urban land-grant institution.
Responsibilities of The University
The University of the District of Columbia strives to ensure that the institution continues its mandated mission to meet the comprehensive post-secondary education needs of the residents of the District of Columbia. Education, across the continuum, is central to the development of the city, not only in the present, but also in planning and building for the future. It is the foundation for the active participation of all of the citizens of the District of Columbia - economically, socially, morally, culturally and politically.
The University places education at the highest priority in plans to revitalize the city, without placing limits on what citizens can achieve and how they can contribute. University students come to the institution with a wide variety of educational interests, and to the extent that feasible, ever effort is made to meet their needs.
The University shares with the rest of the region the responsibility of building a community of learners, able to access a multitude of educational options, as well as access entry and exit points along the educational pipeline. In this way, the city is assured of a world-class workforce, current in their skills and talents, advancing as rapidly as the industry base demands.
The University reaffirms its commitment to excellence through service, as it prepares its students for the global, technological challenges of life in the 21st Century. |
