| University Of Maine At Farmington |
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The University of Maine at Farmington, established in 1864 as Maine ’s first public institution of higher education, is Maine’s selective public liberal arts college, offering programs in teacher education, human services and arts and sciences. The University of Maine at Farmington is part of the University Of Maine System . The school is also at times referred to as UMaine Farmington or UMF for short. Farmington is located in Franklin County , approximately 40 miles from Maine's capital city of Augusta . The town is surrounded by numerous lakes, streams, ponds, mountains and various wildlife. HISTORY In 1857 , a convention of teachers from Maine's Franklin County resolved, "That the interests of our common schools, and the teachers having them in charge, not only require the fostering care of the State, but most imperatively demand the immediate establishment of that long neglected source of improvement, a State Normal School ... and as teachers of Franklin County, we would respectfully, yet earnestly, request the early attention of our present Legislature to the endowment and establishment of such an institution." In March 1863, amidst much heated argument, a Normal School Act finally passed into law, and that fall, Farmington was chosen from a list of possible locations for the first normal school, making the University of Maine Farmington the first public institution of higher education in the entire State of Maine. On August 24 , 1864 , 31 students gathered in an attic above a downtown commercial building, called Beal’s Hall, where they met until they were able to move into their new building that winter. The new home of what was to be called the Farmington Normal School was described as "rough, crude, and plenty humble" by UMF historian Richard P. Mallett. Today, Merrill Hall, the university’s original Main Street home and now the oldest public building on a Maine campus, is anything but rough, crude, and humble. When the first class graduated from the Western State Normal School on May 25 , 1866 , State Superintendent Rev. Dr. Ballard said, "The whole drew forth warm commendation from the literary gentlemen present, and all felt satisfied that the diploma given to each member of the graduating class was indeed a testimonial to good character, diligence in study, ample attainments, and a compliance with the rules of the school. The persons most interested in its work and care, saw on that day a rich compensation for the solicitude of the enterprise, which had thus far, at least, been regarded as an experiment..." Ballard’s remarks show that success was not a foregone conclusion, and there was much room for satisfaction among those who had fought for Maine’s first teachers’ college. The Western State Normal School stood out among teachers’ colleges for its commitment to integrating a strong liberal arts program into teacher training, for it was thought that only those with a strong background in the liberal arts could effectively teach the arts and sciences. Obvious as this may seem, it was not the rule among teachers of the time. The classic emphasis on memorizing lessons may have grown from the danger of exposing unlettered teachers to inquisitive pupils. Many early graduates attended the school for its liberal arts offerings alone. Among these were the Stanley brothers, famous for building the Stanley Steamer automobile; and John Frank Stevens , engineer of the Panama Canal . Interest in the liberal arts continued unabated until the college offered its first degree programs in the liberal arts in 1971. By the 1974-75 school year, nearly 300 students were enrolled in liberal arts majors. ACADEMICS The University of Maine at Farmington has consistently been ranked among the top schools in the Liberal Arts and comprehensive college categories by U.S. News & World Report in its College And University Rankings for nine consecutive years (1998-2006). UMF is the only college of its kind in New England to receive that distinction. The University's enrollment cap of just 2,000 students enables UMF to offer a 15:1 student/faculty ratio and an average class size of 19. UMF offers majors in Art, Biology, Business Economics, Community Health/School Health Education, Computer Science, Creative Writing, Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Special Education, Elementary Education, English, Environmental Planning and Policy, Environmental Science, Geology/Chemistry, Geology/Geography, Geography, History, International Studies, Mathematics, Music/Arts, Philosophy/Religion, Political Science/Social Science, Psychology, Rehabilitation, Secondary Education (with concentrations in Biology, English, Language Arts, Mathematics, Mathematics/Computer Science, Physical Science, Science, Social Science), Sociology/Anthropology, Special Education (with concentrations in Emotional Disturbance, Learning Disabilities, Mental Retardation), Theater/Arts, or Women's Studies. With the approval of the Arts and Sciences Committee, students may choose to design their own academic program through Interdisciplinary Studies or an Individualized Major. UMaine Farmington's programs in education are nationally accredited by the prestigious National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Also, Kiplinger's Personal Finance has named UMF one of the 100 best values in public colleges as well as the best value in Maine. ATHLETICS The UMaine Farmington Beavers compete in the NCAA Division III North Atlantic Conference , which also includes Bay Path , Becker , Castleton State , Elms , Johnson State , Lasell , Lesley , Mount Ida , and Maine rivals Husson , Maine Maritime , and Thomas . The school's official colors are maroon and white, though black is traditionally employed as a complement. UMaine Farmington offers eleven varsity teams, including men's teams in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, and soccer, and women's teams in basketball, cross country, field hockey, soccer, softball, and volleyball. There are also club teams in cheerleading, competitive skiing, women's lacrosse, ice hockey, men's and women's rugby, swimming, and men's and women's ultimate frisbee. Recent NAC champions include men's cross country (2003-2005), women's basketball (2004, 2006), women's cross country (2004-2005), women's field hockey (2003-2004), women's soccer (2003), and women's softball (2005); recent NCAA tournament appearances include women's basketball (2006), women's field hockey (2004), women's soccer (2003), and women's softball (2005). In addition to the outdoor athletic fields and Dearborn Gymnasium, UMF has a Health and Fitness Center that houses has a cardio fitness area with machines; a fully-equipped and supervised weight room with free weights and weight machines; four multipurpose courts; a 1/8 mile walking/jogging track; and a 25-yard swimming pool for the use of UMF students and members of the area community. EXTERNAL LINKS
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