Community impact

Innovation that enhances our lives

Sponsored research at UMass Dartmouth has more than doubled in recent years and now totals more than $20 million. As a public university, UMass Dartmouth focuses its research on areas that benefit the Commonwealth.

Specific projects have explored a variety of issues and topics: bio-terrorism…fishery management…advanced materials… improved math education…the blogosphere…complex networks…bipolar disorders…e-commerce…Portuguese-American culture…cranberries' cancer-fighting potential…wound-healing bandages…protection of estuaries…sustainability…immigration of central Americans…contemporary music's reflection of urban ills…society's pressures on young girls…safer highway surfaces…sports-related injuries…and more.

Much of the university's research is conducted in centers that promote a multi-disciplinary exchange of ideas and expertise, such as the Center for Policy Analysis, the Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture, and the Center for Marketing Research.

Information about individual centers

Building a talent pipeline

Central to the UMass Dartmouth mission is the use of education to empower individuals and communities so both can thrive in the complex, 21st century global society.

More than 1,500 skilled, smart, innovative persons graduate each year and go on to work, raise families, and contribute to the civic life of their communities. There are currently more than 44,000 UMass Dartmouth alumni. Among the members of the Class of 2008:

• 140 nurses
• 150 engineers
• 85 MBAs
• 65 accountants
• 170 artists
• 40 teachers
• 64 biologists
• 14 professional writers
• 10 marine biologists
• 17 mathematicians

Supporting K-12 schools and beyond

UMass Dartmouth considers itself a full partner in the effort to improve K-12 schools, especially those in urban areas, through research and professional development. Here is a sample of this important work:

• The Kaput Center for Research and Innovation in Mathematics Education is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Education and National Science Foundation. The Kaput Center is dedicated to revolutionizing math education in the region and around the country. Researchers focus on "democratizing" access to high level math such as algebra and calculus so that more children excel, which will make them, the state, and the nation more competitive in the global economy.
• The Center for University and School Partnerships works to provide innovative professional development programs for educators throughout the region through a series of state and national grants. The goal is to build a strong and diverse corps of teachers and school administrators that will improve the educational profile of the area.
• The SouthCoast Education Compact, a UMass Dartmouth-based compact, convenes leaders from business, higher education, and regional K-12 schools to develop strategies to raise educational attainment levels.
• Professional and Continuing Education centers have programs in Dartmouth, New Bedford, Fall River, Fairhaven, and online. These centers offer alternatives for non-traditional students seeking a higher educational level as they manage busy work and personal lives.

Fostering the arts, supporting the artist

Through art exhibits, musical performances, theatrical productions, and film series, UMass Dartmouth enlivens the spirit and the creative economy of the region.

• The Star Store building, our second arts campus, boasts an impressive gallery, spacious studios, and waterfront views, and has proven a major factor in downtown New Bedford's rebirth.
• College of Visual and Performing Arts faculty, through their involvement with galleries, studios, and museums, are leading forces in the region's emergence as a flourishing arts community.
• WUMD-FM, the university's 10,000-watt radio station, brings to southeastern New England and Cape Cod non-traditional musical genres and public affairs programming that challenges and stimulates its audience. The station can be heard worldwide at www.893wumd.org.
• And more…Theatre Company productions; concerts by the jazz ensemble, steel band, and university chorus; an annual electronic imaging show; the International Film Series; Portuguese-American authors reading their works; a Kekeli African drum and dance program; and art exhibits--only a few of the artistic and cultural activities the university brings to the community.

Thousands of hours of service

Students, faculty, and staff contribute thousands of hours annually to area communities, thus providing benefits to the community and enriching the learning experience.

• Educating about, and advocating for, sustainability represents a major initiative for the university, which has teamed with dozens of public and private groups on this critical issue.
• Through America READS, upwards of 100 students annually provide more than 6,000 hours of reading and related assistance in New Bedford elementary schools.
• Assisting seniors: Nursing students work regularly with Councils on Aging to insure that senior citizens have the information needed in emergencies.
• Helping those with mental illness: In establishing friendships between mentors and persons with a mental illness, COMPEER dispels mental health stereotypes.
• And more…Students in Free Enterprise use their business knowledge on projects to benefit the needy and educate young persons. SHARE provides computer devices that assist persons with disabilities. The Changing Lives Through Literature alternative sentencing program has cut recidivism rates among criminal offenders, and our Clemente Course uses the humanities to inspire inner-city adults.

Nurturing our host community

UMass Dartmouth enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with its host community of Dartmouth, where hundreds of our employees and alumni live and serve on public agencies and private groups.

• Bank of America Freedom Festival: The annual July 3 Freedom Festival on campus, featuring the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra and fireworks, is a free family event that attracts 20,000 people.
• Lending expertise: Faculty offer their expertise to the community on issues ranging from senior health care to wind power.