University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Established | 1845 |
| Type | Private, Baptist |
| President | Dr. Jerry G. Bawcom |
| Provost | Dr. G. Graham Hatcher |
| Faculty | 221 |
| Students | 2,713 |
| Undergraduates | 2,582 |
| Postgraduates | 131 |
| Location | Belton, Texas, USA |
| Address | 9th at College; Belton, TX 76513 |
| Telephone | 1-800-727-UMHB |
| Campus | Suburban, 170 acres |
| Sports | UMHB Crusaders ("The CRU") |
| Colors | Purple, White and Gold |
| Mascot |  Crusaders |
| Affiliations | NCAA Division III |
| Website | www.umhb.edu |
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB), is a Christian co-educational liberal arts institution of higher learning with approximately 2700 students. It is located in Belton, Texas, 60 miles north of Austin on I-35. Founded in 1845, it is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. UMHB currently is ranked in Tier One of the U.S. News & World Report as one of America's best universities in the Master's West Division. The overall Student/Faculty Ratio is 15:1. It is fully accredited [1]to award degrees at the baccalaureate and master's levels. Effective summer 2007 it expects to receive accreditation of its new Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program.
UMHB has gained national recognition for its academic programs, notably in nursing, business, and education. Its NCAA Division III football program is frequently ranked in the Top 10 in the nation. In 2004 the team won playoffs all the way to the Division III National Championship, and in 2006 to the D-III quarterfinals.
Contents |
[edit] History
UMHB's history dates to the time before Texas was a state. Its original charter was granted in 1845 as Baylor University by the Republic of Texas when Texas was just a partly civilized new territory. It began operations in 1846 in the town of Independence, then the wealthiest community in Texas. The first class consisted of twenty-four male and female students meeting in a small wooden building.
Baylor College’s coeducation was shorted lived. It ended in 1851 with a split into a Female Department and a Male Department. Each began occupying separate buildings about a mile apart.
Until 1867, today’s Baylor University and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor were departments the same institution, Baylor College. In that year, the Female Department became “Baylor Female College,” governed by a separate board of trustees, and remained a women's college until 1971. The Male Department retained the name “Baylor University” and continued to accept only men students until 1886.
The changing demography of Texas made it increasingly difficult for college students to get transportation to Independence. Both colleges were relocated in 1886 to their permanent homes in Central Texas. The men moved to Waco where the school merged with coeducational Waco University and continued as Baylor University. The women relocated to Belton where it continued operations as Baylor Female College.
The Cottage Home System, the first work-study program for women in a college west of the Mississippi, was instituted on the new Belton campus in 1893 by Elli Moore Townsend, wife of the serving president. Its aim was to provide more affordable housing for women students who could not meet the expense of dormitories. The women students earned financial assistance by growing vegetables, raising livestock, and hand making crafts and quality clothing items. Initially the cottages were modest wood frame residences. In 1905, a permanent residence hall for the Cottage Home System was built by the residents themselves.
A limited number of male students, known as "Campus Boys," were allowed to attend classes through their Junior year, at which time they transferred to Baylor University in Waco for the senior year. "Campus Boys" were required to sit in the back of classes and were not allowed to participate orally. Their function was to perform "unladylike" labor tasks such as milking the cows, feeding the chickens, cleaning the barns, and carrying heavy loads.
Academically, the college has always emphasized the liberal arts and teacher preparation. Enrollment peaked at 2,372 in 1925. The growth necessitated an expensive building program which plunged the college into debt. In 1925, Baylor Female College was renamed Baylor College for Women. In 1926, it was accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Universities, and in 1927 by the American Association of Colleges. The Great Depression, plus a disastrous fire in 1929 that required immediate construction of still more buildings, brought the college to the edge of bankruptcy. It was saved by a generous gift from Mary and John G. Hardin. In gratitude the college changed its name to Mary Hardin-Baylor College in 1934.
In 1968 the Scott and White School of Nursing, named for the renowned medical center located nearby in Temple, became a part of Mary Hardin-Baylor College. It continues to be one of UMHB’s most widely respected programs. Students take a four-year course leading to the Bachelor of Science in nursing. It is accredited by both the National League for Nursing and the Board of Nurse Examiners of Texas.
In 1971, Mary Hardin-Baylor College became fully co-educational, much to the chagrin of a large number of alumnae who thought it should always remain a women's college. With the inauguration of its first graduate program, a Master's of Education, in 1978, the college achieved status as university with five schools: Arts and Sciences, Creative Arts, Business, Education, and Nursing. It was renamed the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
[edit] Firsts
Some notable milestones in UMHB's history:
- First work-study program for women in a college west of the Mississippi (1893)
- Baptist Student Union model for other campuses (1920)
- First school of journalism in a college for women in America
- Second institution in Texas to offer the degree of Bachelor of Journalism (1921)
- First Texas Baptist college accepted into full membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1926).
UMHB has continued to make history as a leader in the fields of education, business, nursing, and church leadership; in athletics through conference and national play; and in other important areas of campus life.
[edit] Academics
UMHB's 221 faculty members are committed to Christian higher education.
There are 49 undergraduate majors and 6 graduate degree programs, including several Master's degree and one doctoral program. Qualified students can participate in engaged learning through internships with businesses and industries. Study abroad programs are offered on six continents. Former President George H. W. Bush, management expert Dr. Ken Blanchard (author of the “One-Minute Manager” books), and Former First Lady Barbara Bush were recent distinguished guest speakers on campus.
UMHB is comprised of seven colleges:
- College of Business
- College of Christian Studies
- College of Education
- College of Humanities
- College of Nursing
- College of Sciences
- College of Visual and Performing Arts
UMHB offers graduate study programs leading to six graduate degrees:
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Administration
- Master of Arts in Psychology and Counseling
- Master of Arts in Religion
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Education
- Master of Science in Information Science
The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) is called "Leadership in Education Administration. It has two tracks, one geared toward higher education and the other to K-12. It is a three-year program consisting of 60 semester hours of classes and a doctoral dissertation. Travel commitments include trip to Austin higher education think tanks, political representatives, and Texas Education Agency, and a study trip to Washington, D.C. in the second year. An international trip is planned for the third year. The courses are designed to allow administrators and educators to earn a doctorate without having to give up their employment. Classes are held two or three days a month on Friday and Saturday, and some months will also include Thursday classes.
[edit] Famous Graduates
Distinguished alumnae of Mary Hardin-Baylor College include: Margaret Houston, eldest daughter of Republic of Texas President Sam Houston; Texas' first female governor, Miriam 'Ma' Ferguson; and Oveta Culp Hobby, the first Director of the Women's Army Corps and the first Secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, now known as the Department of Health and Human Services.
UMHB comes from a rich Baptist tradition, although the university emphasizes Christ-centeredness instead of denominationalism. The uniquely Christian influence on the campus makes it a desirable alternative to larger, more secular campuses. UMHB accepts students of all faiths or persuasions. The student body, faculty and administration include a diversity with representation from all across the U.S. and many other parts of the world.
[edit] Sports
The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor competes in NCAA Division III non-scholarship athletics as a member of the American Southwest Conference.
UMHB sponsors twelve varsity athletic programs with six men's and six women's sports. The Lady Crusaders compete in basketball, golf, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. The men compete in baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer and tennis.
UMHB became a full member of the NCAA Division III following the 1999-2000 school year after holding dual membership in the NCAA and NAIA during a provisional period as UMHB moved to the NCAA. The Lady Crusader golf team made the final NAIA competition for a UMHB athletic program one to remember as the UMHB women won the 2000 NAIA Women's Golf National Championship. In addition to the national title, UMHB athletic programs have posted seven national runner-up finishes in the department's history. The women's basketball and men's baseball teams both posted national runner-up finishes in the NAIA. The football team finished as the NCAA national runner-up in 2004 and the Lady Crusader golf team posted four straight second-place finishes at the NCAA National Tournament from 2002-2005. Since joining the ASC, UMHB athletic programs have won or shared a combined total of 13 conference championships.
The football program made it to the Division III National Championship in 2004, falling to Linfield College 28-21. In 2006, UMHB Varsity Football went as far as the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III National Championships and finished eighth in the nation in the final American Football Coaches Association's Division III Top 25 Poll,
[edit] External links
- UMHB Website
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
- Satellite image from Google Maps or Microsoft Virtual Earth
- Handbook of Texas Online entry.
