miami hurricanes

The University of Miami, sometimes called UM or The U, is a private university, founded in 1925, with its main campus in the city of Coral Gables in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States.

Overview

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 routinely 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 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:

• School of Architecture
• College of Arts and Sciences
• School of Business Administration
• School of Communication
• School of Education
• College of Engineering
• Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music
• School of Nursing and Health Studies

UM has three graduate-level schools:

• University of Miami School of Law
• Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
• Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.

UM also has a Department of Continuing and International Education.

Athletics

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.

Football

Main article: Miami Hurricanes football

The University of Miami is the most successful Division I football program of the past quarter century. During this period, UM has won five Division I national championships (1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, and 2001), the most of any Division I school in the nation (Nebraska is second during this period with three national championships). Amazingly, between 1983 and 1991, UM won exactly half of the Division I national football championships, with four national championships in eight years.

UM has produced two Heisman Trophy winners, Vinny Testaverde (in 1986) and Gino Torretta (in 1992). UM also has more of its graduates on current NFL rosters than any other university in the nation, leading some to label the UM football program "NFL U". 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. While UM's baseball program has not given birth to as many professional careers as its football team, it is known as a primary collegiate breeding ground for future Major League Baseball careers, with four UM graduates currently active on MLB teams.

The team is currently coached by Jim Morris, the former head coach of the Georgia Tech baseball team.

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.

UM has proven highly competitive in each of these additional sports and has, at various times, been ranked among the nation's best in each of them. UM's men's and women's swimming and diving teams are considered among the nation's best, and its men's basketball team has given birth to several NBA players in recent years; three UM alumni are currently on NBA rosters.

2006 custodial workers' strike

Main article: University of Miami 2006 custodial workers' strike

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

• BankUnited Center (formerly the Convocation Center)
• Bill Cosford Cinema
• Jerry Herman Ring Theatre
• John C. Gifford Arboretum
• Lowe Art Museum
• Miami Orange Bowl
• Otto G. Richter Library
• Student Wellness Center
• Tom Kearns Sports Hall of Fame

Notable alumni

Arts & Entertainment

Actors and actresses

• Steven Bauer – actor, "Manolo Ray" in Scarface.
• Jeff Garlin – comedic actor, "Jeff Greene" on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm.
• Charles Grodin – talk show host and actor.
• Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson – actor, former professional wrestler.
• Nancy Kulp – actress, "Miss Hathaway" in The Beverly Hillbillies.
• Ray Liotta – actor, "Henry Hill" in Goodfellas.
• Finesse Mitchell – comedian, former repertory performer on Saturday Night Live.
• Saundra Santiago – actress, "Det. Gina Navarro Calabrese" in Miami Vice.
• Sylvester Stallone – television and movie actor.

Musicians

• Ann Curless - singer, member of Exposé.
• Gloria Estefan – musician, member of UM Board of Trustees.
• Jerry Herman – Broadway composer and lyricist, Hello Dolly!.
• Bruce Hornsby – musician.
• Enrique Iglesias – musician.
• Steve Morse - guitarist, Deep Purple.
• Jon Secada – musician.
• Grace Slick – lead singer, Jefferson Airplane.

Athletics

Major League Baseball (MLB)

Current MLB players

• Pat Burrell – left fielder, Philadelphia Phillies.
• Alex Cora – shortstop, Boston Red Sox.
• Aubrey Huff – third baseman, Houston Astros.
• Jason Michaels – left fielder, Cleveland Indians.

National Basketball Association (NBA)

Current NBA players

• Guillermo Diaz – shooting guard, Los Angeles Clippers.
• James Jones – small forward, Phoenix Suns.
• John Salmons – small forward, Sacramento Kings.

Former NBA players

• Rick Barry – TBS professional basketball broadcaster; former power forward, Golden State Warriors (Basketball Hall of Fame member).

National Football League (NFL)

Current NFL players

• Phillip Buchanon - cornerback and kick returner, Houston Texans
• Vernon Carey – offensive tackle, Miami Dolphins
• Najeh Davenport - running back, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Ken Dorsey – quarterback, Cleveland Browns
• Jeff Feagles – punter, New York Giants
• Bubba Franks - tight end, Green Bay Packers
• Frank Gore – running back, San Francisco 49ers
• Devin Hester – cornerback and 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
• Clinton Portis – running back, Washington Redskins
• Ed Reed – defensive back, Baltimore Ravens
• Antrel Rolle – cornerback, Arizona Cardinals
• Mike Rumph - cornerback, Washington Redskins
• Warren Sapp – defensive tackle, Oakland Raiders
• Jeremy Shockey – tight end, New York Giants
• Sean Taylor – defensive back, Washington Redskins
• Jonathan Vilma – linebacker, New York Jets
• Reggie Wayne – wide receiver, Indianapolis Colts
• Vince Wilfork – defensive tackle, New England Patriots
• D.J. Williams - linebacker, Denver Broncos
• Kellen Winslow II – tight end, Cleveland Browns

Former NFL players

• Jessie Armstead - former linebacker, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants and Washington Redskins
• Bennie Blades - former cornerback, Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks
• Jerome Brown – former defensive tackle, Philadelphia Eagles
• Ted Hendricks – former linebacker, Oakland Raiders (Pro Football Hall of Fame member)
• Michael Irvin – ESPN professional football broadcaster; former wide receiver, Dallas Cowboys
• Jim Kelly – former quarterback, Buffalo Bills (Pro Football Hall of Fame member)
• Bernie Kosar – former quarterback, Cleveland Browns
• Jim Otto – former center, Oakland Raiders (Pro Football Hall of Fame member)
• Vinny Testaverde – former quarterback, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Business

• Maurice R. "Hank" Greenberg – former CEO, American International Group.
• Michael Johns – health care executive, former White House speechwriter.
• Drew Rosenhaus – National Football League agent.
• Martin Zweig – investment advisor, author of Winning on Wall Street.

Law

• Roy Black – criminal defense attorney, obtained acquittal of William Kennedy Smith.

Politics

• Dante Fascell – former Member of Congress.
• Alex Penelas – former Miami-Dade Mayor and U.S. Senate candidate.

Television

• Jill Arrington – college football sideline reporter, ESPN.
• Roy Firestone – sports journalist, HDNet.
• Suzy Kolber – professional football sideline reporter, ABC Sports and ESPN.
• Marilyn Milian – judge, The People's Court television program.
• Jackie Nespral – NBC television news anchor.
• Trista Rehn – "The Bachelorette".
• Cristina Saralegui – Spanish-language television personality.

See also

• "Miami mafia", an informal, but influential group of University of Miami alumni.

References

External links

• University of Miami Official Web Site.
• University of Miami School of Law Official Web Site.
• University of Miami School of Medicine Official Web Site.
• University of Miami Official Athletics Web Site.
• Famous University of Miami alumni.
• WVUM (90.5FM), University of Miami student radio station.