Photo: St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Retrieved from: www.eduinreview.com
St. Mary’s College of Maryland bears a long history of iconic structure and academic excellence. Maintaining its unique structure as a publicly funded institution that retains an independent Board of Trustees has been a vital accomplishment of the College, used to ensure that each student reaps the benefits through the various campus offerings. This includes delegating funding specifically to the advancement of the curriculum and core programs offered, such as the popular English Language and Literature program or the astounding and nationally recognized Music and Theatre program. Since St. Mary’s College of Maryland is state-funded, students can take advantage of the scholarship and financial aid opportunities to help them advance their studies.
Providing students with an innovative and challenging atmosphere both inside and outside of the classroom is an important part of the mission, best showcased through the variety of campus events and extra-curricular activities. Faculty members are dedicated to maintaining a strong support system for all students, helping them to research, learn and challenge their academic success in order to achieve their long-term goals.
School History
Founded in 1840, when the Maryland legislature held a lottery to establish a female boarding school for local young women. The school would be located in their heart of St. Mary’s City and designated funding for the construction of the campus. Four years later in 1846, the College was incorporated by a legislation act that established the foundation for operation. After operating as a boarding school during its early years, it was not until 1927 that the school was recognized as a junior college. In fact, the school became the first junior college in the state of Maryland. In 1964, the school assumed its current name as St. Mary’s College of Maryland and was chartered to offer a four-year degree.
St. Mary’s College of Maryland is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education since 1959.
In 1992, the College solidified its foundation and academic status when it was designated as Maryland’s public honors college by the state General Assembly. It was at this same time that St. Mary’s College of Maryland was granted institutional status in order to guarantee consistent and stable funding from the state. In honor of the rich history of the College, the now famous HeritageScapes was created to ensure that the history of the school, campus and town carry on throughout generations.
Campus Life
The St. Mary’s College of Maryland campus offers students a wide range of opportunities and excitement. Athletics are a big part of campus activities and student involvement as many participate in both varsity and intramural sports. However, the majority of students also like to participate in the communications aspect on campus, actively involved in the campus radio station, The Hawk Radio. First year students can enjoy an in-depth orientation that introduces them to all of the campus offerings and amenities such as dinning and student services. The Health Center is available for all students and offers both early mornings and late evening hours to accommodate all student schedules.
Students at St. Mary’s College of Maryland have their choice of over 65 clubs and organizations to participate in, building their character and leadership skills. Many students participate in the Student Government Association, which is responsible for many campus safety and advocacy compliance between students and administrators. The Office of Student Affairs is available to all students to assist in aspects of daily life and activities. Staff members dedicate themselves to helping students engage in personal and academic enrichment opportunities as well as organize student mentorship sessions when needed. To ensure that all students are aware of the various events and activities held on campus, members of the student body maintain an interactive Student Events Calendar that is updated daily.
Residence life on campus truly brings the entire student body and faculty members together into a close-knit community. With the majority of students housing on campus, or in one of the off-campus housing facilities, residence life is a vital part of completing the learning experience. All housing facilities are arranged by special interest and academic major, it helps students to acclimate to college life easier – being amongst their peers with like interests, pursuing like goals.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is an important part of any college experience and deserves an extensive amount of resources t showcase this to students. As such, St. Mary’s College of Maryland has established an assortment of resources for students to explore in order to find the most ideal funding for their circumstances. Since St. Mary’s College of Maryland is a state-funded school, the majority of students receive scholarships upon admission based on merit, athletic and artistic based achievement.
All students are encouraged to visit the Office of Financial Aid before the start of the school year to ensure that all funding options are explored with the same consideration. The work study program offered on campus enables student’s additional opportunity to reduce the cost of tuition and personal expenses while attending school. Members of the Financial Aid staff are available to assist students in the application process, as well as to offer counseling to both students and their families.
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