The United Methodist University (UMU) is a
private
Private or privates may refer to:
Music
* " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation''
* Private (band), a Denmark-based band
* "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...
institution of higher learning located in
Monrovia
Monrovia () is the capital city of the West African country of Liberia. Founded in 1822, it is located on Cape Mesurado on the Atlantic coast and as of the 2008 census had 1,010,970 residents, home to 29% of Liberia’s total population. As th ...
in the West African nation of
Liberia
Liberia (), officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to Liberia–Sierra Leone border, its northwest, Guinea to its north, Ivory Coast to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean ...
. Established in 1998 and opened in 2000, the school had 9,118 students as of 2016.
UMU is certified by the Liberian government's National Commission on Higher Education to grant both
bachelor's and
master's degree
A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice. s.
History
The United Methodist University in Liberia began to explore starting a university in the 1970s which led to adding a junior college business program at the
College of West Africa
The College of West Africa is a Methodist high school in Monrovia, Liberia. The school was opened in 1839 (as the "Monrovia Seminary"), making it one of the oldest European-style schools in Africa. It has produced many of Liberia's leaders. Alumn ...
in 1980.
The church then studied expanding the school into a full university with an exploratory committee formed in 1986.
The church planned to move forward in 1990, but the
First Liberian Civil War delayed the creation of the school, which the goal was re-affirmed in 1997.
On 9 October 1998, the
Liberian Legislature
The Legislature of Liberia is the bicameral legislature of the government of Liberia. It consists of a Senate – the upper house, and a House of Representatives – the lower house, modeled after the United States Congress. Sessions are held at ...
chartered United Methodist University, with the school, then opening in January 2000 under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Emmanuel F. Bailey.
In April 2011, the school and Starz Institute of Technology began a partnership in which Starz would operate the university's
information technology
Information technology (IT) is the use of computers to create, process, store, retrieve, and exchange all kinds of data . and information. IT forms part of information and communications technology (ICT). An information technology system (I ...
program.
The next March, UMU discontinued the program after the country's National Commission on Higher Education informed UMU it would have to end the partnership due to Starz not being an authorized degree granting school.
[ The university announced plans to start a radio station in December 2012 at a cost of US$25,000 in order to provide practical training to students in the Mass Communication Department.
]
Academics
Academic programs at UMU include Six colleges: College of Science and Technology, College of Liberal and Fine Arts, College of Theology, College of Health Sciences, College of Management and Administration, and the Joseph Jenkins Roberts College of Education.Salem State University
Salem State University (Salem State or SSU) is a public university in Salem, Massachusetts. Established in 1854, it is the oldest and largest institute of higher education on the North Shore and is part of the state university system in Massa ...
and Illinois Central College
Illinois Central College (ICC) is a public community college with its main campus in East Peoria, Illinois. It is part of the Illinois Community College System and its district, Illinois Community College District 514, is a area covering most of ...
.
See also
*List of universities in Liberia
This is a list of universities in Liberia. As of 2018, Liberia had a total of 38 government recognized universities and colleges that confer baccalaureate degrees or higher. In addition, as of 2010, there were 14 community colleges that were reco ...
References
External links
Student World Assembly
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Universities and colleges in Monrovia
Educational institutions established in 1998
1998 establishments in Liberia