University of Maine at Farmington

This article is about the University of Maine at Farmington. For the flagship campus in Orono, see University of Maine.
Not to be confused with University of Farmington.
University of Maine at Farmington
Former names
Western State Normal School (1864-1878)
Northern State Normal School (1878–1889)
Farmington State Normal School (1889-1945)
Farmington State Teachers College (1945-1965)
Farmington State College (1965-1968)
Farmington State College of the University of Maine (1968–1971)[1]
TypePublic university
EstablishedAugust 24, 1864; 160 years ago (1864-08-24)
Parent institution
University of Maine System
ChancellorDannel Malloy
PresidentJoseph McDonnell
Students1,614 (fall 2024)
Undergraduates1,191 (fall 2024)
Postgraduates423 (fall 2024)
Location
Farmington, Maine
,
U.S.

44°40′0″N 70°8′50″W / 44.66667°N 70.14722°W / 44.66667; -70.14722
CampusRural
NewspaperThe Farmington Flyer
ColorsMaroon, gold, and gray
     
NicknameBeavers
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division III – NAC
MascotBeaver
Websitewww.umf.maine.edu
University of Maine at Farmington

The University of Maine at Farmington (UMaine Farmington or UMF) is a public liberal arts college in Farmington, Maine. It is part of the University of Maine System and a founding member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges.

History

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In March 1863, a Normal School Act passed into law, and that fall, Farmington was chosen from a list of possible locations for a normal school. Founded in 1864 as the state's first publicly funded normal school, the first class graduated from the Western State Normal School in 1866. Over the following hundred years, the school's name would change several more times: Northern State Normal School (1878), Farmington State Normal School (1889), Farmington State Teachers College (1945), and Farmington State College (1965).

Farmington State College was finally merged into the University of Maine System in 1968, initially known as the Farmington State College of the University of Maine, before taking on its current name in 1971.

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. Comedian Bob Marley graduated with a degree in community health.

Interest in the liberal arts continued unabated, and 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.[2]

In early 2016, the University of Maine at Farmington Education Center was named in honor of its longtime President Theodora J. Kalikow, who served from 1994 to 2012. Now named the Theodora J. Kalikow Education Center, the LEED-Silver certified building is home to the UMF College of Education, Health and Rehabilitation.[3] The 44,500 square foot building features a geothermal heating and cooling system as well as recycled and sustainable construction materials.

Athletics

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The UMaine Farmington Beavers compete in the NCAA Division III North Atlantic Conference. The school's official colors are maroon, gold, and gray.

UMaine Farmington has 12 NCAA 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 lacrosse. Athletics sponsors varsity men's and women's programs in alpine and Nordic skiing and snowboarding that compete through the United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association (USCSA). There are also club teams in cheerleading, ice hockey, men's rugby, women's rugby, and men's and women's ultimate disc sport.[4] Recent NAC champions include men's cross country (2003–2005), women's basketball (2004, 2006, 2007), women's cross country (2004–2005), women's field hockey (2003–2004, 2006, 2007), women's soccer (2003), women's softball (2005) and men's basketball (2010). Recent NCAA tournament appearances include women's basketball (2006), women's field hockey (2004, 2006, 2007), women's soccer (2003) and women's softball (2005). In 2010 the men's basketball team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III National Tournament.[citation needed]

In addition to the outdoor athletic fields and Dearborn Gymnasium, UMF has a Fitness and Recreation Center that houses a cardio fitness area with machines, a weight room, 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.[5]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "A History of Leadership". Mantor Library, University of Maine Farmington. mantorlib.mainememory.net. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  2. ^ "History of UMF". University of Maine at Farmington (UMF). Archived from the original on 2009-07-17. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  3. ^ "UMF names Education Center in honor of former president Theodora J. Kalikow, public invited–April 26 | Inside UMF". www2.umf.maine.edu. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
  4. ^ Ultimate Sport Archived 2006-05-03 at the Wayback Machine. UMF. Accessed 2009-03-07.
  5. ^ Fitness & Recreation Center. UMF. Accessed 2009-03-07.
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