UMUC Receives 2011 Institution Award From the Council of College and Military Educators

ADELPHI, Md., Feb. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- University of Maryland University College (UMUC) announced today that it has received the 2011 Institution Award from the Council of College and Military Educators (CCME), a not-for-profit organization founded to promote, encourage and deliver quality education to servicemembers and their families in all branches of the U.S. armed services. UMUC received the award at CCME's annual symposium this week in Tampa, Fla.

The Institution Award is given to a college or university that supplies quality education programs to the armed services. This year, CCME selected UMUC due to its dedication, leadership and numerous accomplishments in providing quality, voluntary off-duty education programs. Belinda Jones, president of CCME, presented the award at a special banquet on Feb. 17.

"UMUC is deeply honored to receive such a prestigious award recognizing our contributions to providing educational programs and support to servicemembers and their families," said UMUC President Susan C. Aldridge, PhD. "UMUC has a rich history in providing education to servicemembers at home and abroad, and we are proud to be recognized for our dedication in enriching the lives of those who protect our country every day."

For more than 60 years, UMUC has provided educational services to the United States military, both at home and abroad. Founded in 1947, UMUC was able—through a contract with the Department of Defense—to provide GI Bill-guaranteed education to soldiers in Europe. Today, the university has operations across the United States, Europe and Asia, and offers educational services and instruction online and on-site to servicemembers at dozens of locations around the world, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

"It is so important in Maryland that we make quality college education accessible to anyone who works hard for a better future," said Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley. "I am so proud that UMUC has received this prestigious award for its outstanding commitment to providing educational services to the brave men and women who serve our nation and their families."

About University of Maryland University College

University of Maryland University College, headquartered in Adelphi, Maryland, is the largest public university in the United States, serving 90,000 students and offering 130 undergraduate and graduate programs online and on-site. In addition, UMUC is one of the largest public providers of online higher education in the nation. UMUC boasts a 60-year history of service to the military and currently enrolls an estimated 50,000 military service members, veterans, and their family members each year. The university offers face-to-face instruction at 21 locations throughout Maryland and educational services in 28 countries and more than 150 locations worldwide, including the Middle East. UMUC is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and is a constituent institution of the University System of Maryland, an agency of the State of Maryland.

SOURCE University of Maryland University College