University of New Hampshire

University of New Hampshire. The University of New Hampshire is a public land-grant and space-grant research university in Durham. It is the flagship institution of the University System of New Hampshire and was founded in 1866 in Hanover in association with Dartmouth College. The university is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" and operates several notable research facilities, including the Hubbard Center for Genome Studies and the Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space.

History

The institution was originally founded in 1866 as the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts in Hanover, under the provisions of the federal Morrill Act of 1862. It was initially affiliated with Dartmouth College. In 1893, after a contentious political process, the college moved to Durham, thanks to a major land grant and financial gift from farmer Benjamin Thompson. The institution was renamed the University of New Hampshire in 1923. Key historical developments include its designation as a sea grant college in the 1970s and its pivotal role in establishing the University System of New Hampshire in 1963, which consolidated it with other institutions like Keene State College and Plymouth State University.

Academics

The university comprises several colleges, including the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, and the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics. It offers over 200 degree programs and is particularly noted for its research and academic strengths in oceanography, environmental science, engineering, and business. The Carsey School of Public Policy is a nationally recognized research center. The university manages significant external research funding, with major projects supported by agencies like the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The UNH School of Law, located in Concord, is also part of the university.

Campus

The main campus is situated on 2,600 acres in the seacoast town of Durham, featuring a mix of historic and modern architecture. Notable facilities include the Dimond Library, the Memorial Union Building, and the Whittemore Center arena. The university also operates the UNH Manchester campus in Manchester and the UNH College of Professional Studies across the state. The university owns and manages numerous research properties, including the Kingman Research Farm, the Woodman Horticultural Research Farm, and the Jackson Estuarine Laboratory on the Great Bay. The UNH Dairy Bar is a historic campus landmark.

Athletics

The university's athletic teams, known as the Wildcats, compete in the NCAA Division I, primarily in the America East Conference, with ice hockey teams competing in Hockey East and women's gymnastics in the East Atlantic Gymnastics League. The Wildcats have won numerous conference championships, particularly in ice hockey, skiing, and women's lacrosse. The main athletic facilities are the Whittemore Center (hockey), Wildcat Stadium (football, lacrosse, track and field), and the Lundholm Gym (basketball, gymnastics). The program has produced many notable athletes, including Olympic skiers and professional hockey players.

Notable alumni and faculty

Prominent alumni include astronauts Richard M. Linnehan and Lee Morin, former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, novelist John Irving, and television journalist Arthel Neville. Notable former faculty include pioneering marine biologist C. Lavett Smith, Nobel Prize-winning physicist John H. Van Vleck (who taught briefly at the institution), and poet Charles Simic. Other distinguished alumni are National Football League executive Mike Lombardi, NASA payload specialist Drew Feustel, and former Governor of New Hampshire John H. Sununu.

Category:Universities and colleges in New Hampshire Category:Land-grant universities and colleges Category:University of New Hampshire Category:1866 establishments in New Hampshire