The University of Miami has a total student body slightly in excess of 15,000. In 2006, the average weighted grade point average for students granted admission to the university was 4.0 and the median SAT score was 1260. Sixty-two percent of UM students ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school class. As of the 2006-07 academic school year, UM's undergraduate tuition (excluding room and board) is $31,232 per year.
UM's campus spans 240 acres (1 km²) in Coral Gables. Several university satellite campuses are located off the primary campus, including the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (located on Virginia Key) and the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine (located at Jackson Memorial Hospital in the city of Miami). UM is the second largest private employer in South Florida.
The current president of UM is former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala. The school colors are orange, green and white, which represent the fruit, leaves, and blossoms of the orange tree.
UM is also home to the Iron Arrow Honor Society, a selective and prestigious student honor organization.
In 2004, UM's BankUnited Center (formerly the Convocation Center) was the site of the first nationally televised U.S. presidential debate of the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, featuring President George W. Bush and U.S. Senator John Kerry.
Academic rankings
Academics
The University of Miami has been regularly ranked among the top tier of U.S. colleges and universities. U.S. News & World Report, in its most recent 2006-07 review of U.S. colleges and universities, ranked the University of Miami's academic programs the 54th best in the nation.
School of Business
Also in 2006, BusinessWeek ranked UM's School of Business Administration the 44th best among all U.S. undergraduate business programs. In 2006 and again in 2007, the School of Business Administration also was ranked by the Wall Street Journal as the ninth best regional business school in the nation and the best full-time business program in the state of Florida.
School of Law
U.S. News & World Report's 2007 ranking of law schools ranked the University of Miami School of Law 65th best among the nation's 180 accredited law schools.
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
For the third year in a row, the University of Miami’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute was ranked the best hospital in the country for ophthalmology in U.S. News and World Report's 2006 survey of “America’s Best Hospitals”[1].
Student diversity
The Princeton Review, an annual review of colleges and universities published for prospective college students, ranked the University of Miami the 13th most diverse student body among all U.S. colleges and universities, in its 2006 edition. In the same edition, the publication included the University of Miami in its list of the nation's "Top Southeastern Colleges."
Organization
Most of the University of Miami's academic programs are located on its primary campus in Coral Gables, which houses eight schools, two colleges, and the University of Miami School of Law.
A few graduate and undergraduate programs, however, are located off of the primary Coral Gables campus. These include the University of Miami's Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, which has its own campus at the University of Miami's Jackson Memorial Medical Center complex in downtown Miami. The University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science is located on Virginia Key in Biscayne Bay. Several other University of Miami academic programs, including its bilingual Continuing and International Education classes, are offered at the Koubek Center in Miami's Little Havana.
UM has eight academic schools and colleges:
UM has three graduate-level schools:
UM also has a Department of Continuing and International Education.
Athletics
The distinctive 'Split-U' logo, the official logo of University of Miami athletic teams
The university's sports teams are called the 'Miami Hurricanes' and compete in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Its traditional athletic rivals include the Florida State University Seminoles and the University of Florida Gators (though the Hurricanes have not played the Florida Gators in the regular season since joining the ACC).
Team colors are green, orange, and white. The school mascot is 'Sebastian the Ibis'. The ibis was selected as the school's mascot because, according to university legend, it is the last animal to flee an approaching hurricane and the first to reappear after the storm, making it a symbol of leadership and courage.
The school's athletics logo is a simple green and orange letter "U." Nike is the official supplier of uniforms, apparel, and various athletic equipment to all University of Miami sports teams.
Sebastian the Ibis, the official mascot of the University of Miami
Football
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UM has been particularly successful in football, with one of the premier collegiate football programs in the nation. The Hurricanes have won five Division I national championships (1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, and 2001). UM won exactly half of the Division I national football championships between 1983 to 1991, with four national championships in eight years. All five of UM's national championships have come since 1983, making it the most successful college football program of the past 25 years (Nebraska is second during that time span with three national championships).
UM has produced two Heisman Trophy winners, Vinny Testaverde (in 1986) and Gino Torretta (in 1992). UM also has more of its graduates as active National Football League (NFL) players than any other university in the nation. Three former UM football players--Ted Hendricks, Jim Kelly, and Jim Otto--have been voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the highest accolade afforded former NFL players, following hugely successful NFL careers.
The current head coach of the UM football team is Larry Coker. The team plays its home games at the historic Miami Orange Bowl, located off-campus, in the city of Miami.
Baseball
In addition to its success in football, UM has experienced national success with its baseball program. Hurricane baseball teams have won four national championships (1982, 1985, 1999 and 2001) and are a mainstay at the College World Series, having reached the event 21 times in the 32 seasons since 1974.
Other sports
The university fields 15 athletic teams, in accordance with Title IX equality requirements. Men's teams compete in football, baseball, basketball, cross-country, diving, tennis, and track and field. Women's teams compete in basketball, cross-country, diving, golf, rowing, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.
2006 custodial workers' strike
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On February 26, 2006, University of Miami custodial workers, who are contracted to the university by a Boston, Massachusetts-based company, UNICCO, voted to strike, citing unfair labor practices, substandard pay, and lack of health benefits. The strike, which involved prominent political and labor leaders and gained national attention, began on the evening of February 28, 2006 and ended on May 1, 2006.
A worker vote on unionization, taken in June 2006, led to the first official presence of the SEIU union in South Florida. The unionized UM workers and SEIU are currently engaged in unionization attempts at other South Florida-based universities and local shopping malls.
University of Miami points of interest
Notable alumni
Arts & Entertainment
Actors and actresses
Musicians
Athletics
Major League Baseball (MLB)
Current MLB players
National Basketball Association (NBA)
Current NBA players
Former NBA players
National Football League (NFL)
Current NFL players
- Ken Dorsey - quarterback, Cleveland Browns
- Jeff Feagles - punter, New York Giants
- Frank Gore - running back, San Francisco 49ers
- Devin Hester - cornerback, wide receiver, kick returner, Chicago Bears
- Edgerrin James - running back, Arizona Cardinals
- Kelly Jennings - cornerback, Seattle Seahawks
- Andre Johnson - wide receiver, Houston Texans
- Ray Lewis - linebacker, Baltimore Ravens
- Jerome McDougle - defensive end, Philadelphia Eagles
- Willis McGahee - running back, Buffalo Bills
- Bryant McKinnie - offensive tackle, Minnesota Vikings
- Dan Morgan - linebacker, Carolina Panthers
- Santana Moss - wide receiver, Washington Redskins
- Sinorice Moss- wide receiver, New York Giants
- Jarrett Payton - running back, Tennessee Titans
- Clinton Portis - running back, Washington Redskins
- Ed Reed - defensive back, Baltimore Ravens
- Antrel Rolle - cornerback, Arizona Cardinals
- Warren Sapp - defensive tackle, Oakland Raiders
- Jeremy Shockey - tight end, New York Giants
- Sean Taylor - defensive back, Washington Redskins
- Vinny Testaverde - quarterback, New York Jets
- Jonathan Vilma - linebacker, New York Jets
- Reggie Wayne - wide receiver, Indianapolis Colts
- Vince Wilfork - defensive tackle, New England Patriots
- Kellen Winslow II - tight end, Cleveland Browns
Former NFL players
Business
Law
Politics
Television
References
External links