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OUR INCREDIBLE STUDENTSLike Honors College student Daphne Shakira Naut, who was already fluent in two languages and had started on two more by the time she finished high school. Here at UML, she’s picked up a fifth language and studied abroad three times – all while supporting herself.
OUR DONORSMore than 32,000 donors have stepped forward to support Our Legacy, Our Place, raising over $150 million to support student scholarships, faculty recruitment and research, campus improvements and the Division I athletics program.
AWARD-WINNING ONLINE PROGRAMSUMass Lowell's online education programs rank among the top in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. UMass Lowell's online graduate programs in criminal justice and information technology are ranked in the top 10 in the country and No. 1 among those offered by all public institutions in New England.
GOING GREENERUMass Lowell announced it is establishing the Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy to bring together the university’s numerous efforts in areas from clean energy and energy resiliency to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and water use. The university is already ranked No. 1 among Massachusetts colleges and universities in sustainability by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
CHANCELLOR JACQUIE MOLONEYThe first woman chancellor of the university is one of us. Not only did Jacquie Moloney earn two of her degrees here – in 1975 and 1992 – but she also perfectly embodies our pioneering spirit of hard work, gratitude and making a difference. UMass Lowell was ranked among the top 15 organizations on the Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts list and the highest-ranked college or university for the third consecutive year.
Photo by Ed BrennenINTERNATIONAL STUDENTSEnrollment by international students has more than doubled since 2010, increasing from 454 to 1,175.
OUR DIVERSE STUDENT BODYDiversity matters. Students from underrepresented and minority groups have increased by 79 percent since 2007. In the fall of 2018, 36 percent of undergraduate students identified themselves as being from diverse backgrounds.
ACCESS FOR ALLUMass Lowell is committed to accessibility. Recent improvements include the elevator and building support additions to the North Quad, the regrading of the South Campus Quad, and the ongoing Coburn Renovation and Addition project that will make the entire building accessible.
GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCHWe’re bridging the gap between research and solutions that change lives. Research expenditures totaled $72.3 million in 2018, up from $36 million in 2007.
SMART FABRICShirts and shoes with wearable electronics embedded in them to measure vital signs. Building materials with built-in sensors that can detect unseen structural flaws or damage. Medical textiles that can help heal wounds. Those are some of the innovations that could come to fruition at UMass Lowell’s Fabric Discovery Center, a research and development facility that brings together researchers, industry and public agencies to develop and manufacture 21st-century materials.
HONORABLE STUDENTSThe Honors College challenges, encourages, and celebrates undergraduate students who pursue academic excellence while deepening and broadening their scholarship and creativity. More than 1,700 students are enrolled in the Honors College.
OUR FANSUMass Lowell ranks No. 14 in the NCAA for annual hockey attendance and averages more than 4,600 fans per game.
Photo by Boston Globe/ESO/M. KornmesserTHE NEW ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORYStudents will get a chance to embark on a visual tour of our solar system and beyond when a new astronomical observatory opens on South Campus.
CYBER RANGEUMass Lowell’s new center for cybersecurity education, research and workforce development uses real-world scenarios to prepare people for careers in the growing field, which is expected to see more than 3 million job openings by 2021.
SUCCESS STORIESAlum Erin Keaney of Nonspec is on a mission to make prosthetics affordable around the world. She’s raised $1 million to make prosthetic legs out of medical-grade plastic.
LIFE-SAVING TECHNOLOGYA research team led by Asst. Prof. Gulden Camci-Unal of the Department of Chemical Engineering is developing new “breathable” biomaterials that can repair heart muscle damaged by disease or heart attack. The work is supported by a three-year grant worth nearly $300,000 from the American Heart Association.
Photo by Ed BrennenMARTY MEEHANA former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Meehan is the 27th president and the first undergraduate alumnus to lead the five-campus University of Massachusetts system. He was elected to the presidency after eight successful years as chancellor of his alma mater, UMass Lowell, during which he led the university to top-tier national status.
Photo by Tory WesnofskeOPRAHDuring her visit to campus in November 2018, Oprah Winfrey brought in more than $3 million for student scholarships through "A Conversation with Oprah Winfrey" with Chancellor Jacquie Moloney, matching a raised $1.5 million with her own on-the-spot donation.
VETERANSFive new inductees joined the UMass Lowell Military Alumni Veterans Hall of Fame on Nov. 1, each bringing an array of service to the nation, with 115 years in uniform among them. The event was organized by the university’s Veterans Services office, which serves more than 1,000 student veterans, the largest veteran population of any university in Massachusetts.
Photo by Cambridge SevenAMAZING ROIThe university ranks 29th among public research universities in the U.S. for graduates’ return on investment (ROI) and No. 1 among New England public research universities for 20-year ROI.
Photo by Ed BrennenALUMNI WHO STAY TRUE TO THEIR SCHOOLUMass Lowell is fortunate to have so many alumni who stay connected, whether they are packing the stands at the Tsongas Center to cheer on the hockey team, serving on college advisory boards, offering job advice through career panels or at campus career fairs or serving as judges in pitch contests and DifferenceMaker competitions. Their involvement strengthens the university in so many ways.Pictured here, twin brothers Bhavan (left) and Bhuvan Somayanda, who both earned master's degrees in plastics engineering in 2015, recruited for their company, Applied Medical, at the Career Fair.
Photo by Tory WesnofskeINCLUSIVITYUMass Lowell is committed to supporting students, faculty and staff in developing more effective inclusive practices and behaviors. One small example is the 40+ gender-neutral restrooms on campus.
Photo by K. WebsterWOMEN IN STEMMaking WAVES is a campuswide effort to address barriers to professional advancement for women and minority faculty in STEM fields. A five-year, $3.5 million National Science Foundation grant is supporting the research initiative.
OUR CITYLowell today is a creative and diverse city that’s easy to navigate and full of locally owned shops and restaurants. It’s steeped in history while offering a forward-looking vibrancy that includes a thriving business community and cultural scene, with museums and annual outdoor concerts and festivals.
ATHLETIC EXCELLENCEWe love our River Hawks, and we show it. All 16 of our teams – including our national powerhouse ice hockey team – compete in the NCAA’s Division I.
STUDENT AMBASSADORSIf you want to know what’s happening at the university, who better to ask than the students? Our students are our best ambassadors, and that’s why we established a formal Student Alumni Ambassador program to foster relationships between alumni and the entire university community.
Photo by Ed BrennenOUR FREQUENCYWUML 91.5 is one of the longest-running, 100 percent student-run college radio stations in the nation. Founded in a dorm room by Ed Bonacci ’54, it’s played the best in “underground music” – and provided a voice for emerging artists and the Lowell community – since 1952.
LIVING-LEARNING COMMUNITIESUMass Lowell offers over 20 Living-Learning Communities (LLCs) in which more than 1,700 students participate. LLCs provide students with the chance to live in an engaged, like-minded community of students and fellow scholars.
Photo by Ed BrennenOUR BIRDUMass Lowell’s teams and mascot, Rowdy, have been known as River Hawks since the 1990s. The name pays tribute to the birds of various species who, like the university, call the banks of the Merrimack River home.
OUR REAL-LIFE AVIAN MASCOTSHigh above the University, perched atop 18-story Fox Hall, lives the fastest, wildest couple on campus. Two endangered peregrine falcons selected Fox Hall’s roof for their love nest, and thanks to help from the University and the U.S. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, their romance has flourished, with the birth of several offspring.
WE'VE GOT CREDAll of the university’s academic programs for which accreditation exists have been accredited by the most prestigious organization in each field.
KNOCKING IT OUT OF THE PARKA partnership between the City of Lowell and the university, Edward A. LeLacheur Park is home to the River Hawks baseball team and has been the long-time home field for the Lowell Spinners, a minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. It’s also just a short fly ball from the Campus Recreation Center and several residence halls.
FINE EXHIBITSUMass Lowell is home to two art galleries that host a variety of exhibits throughout the year. University Gallery hosts four to six major exhibitions every year, displaying the work of both emerging artists and seasoned practitioners with global reputations. Mahoney Gallery showcases artwork by students in the B.F.A. program as well as selected alumni exhibitions.
ACCLAIMED WRITERSOur expanding and dynamic creative writing faculty – including poets Sandra Lim and Maggie Dietz and authors Andre Dubus III and Maureen Stanton – enrich students’ lives daily while preparing them for careers in writing and teaching.
HARDWORKING FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTSUMass Lowell has been recognized as a national leader in preparing students who are the first in their families to attend college for success on campus and beyond. The Center for First-Generation Student Success has named UMass Lowell a First Forward Institution. The honor shines a light on UMass Lowell’s River Hawk Scholars Academy, which helps first-year, first-generation students start their college careers on solid ground.
Photo by Katharine WebsterTEACHERS WHO GO BEYOND THE CALLAssoc. Prof. of Education Iman Chahine has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to do research in ethno-mathematics. She will spend nine months in South Africa training teachers and evaluating math lessons and materials she developed, based on Zulu and Ndebele arts and culture.
GIVING BACKUMass Lowell students, faculty and staff annually record 214,700 hours of academic and non-academic service in the community.
OPPORTUNITYSofia Savoca chose UMass Lowell for the opportunity to be in the Honors College and to study civil engineering. She's found a dozen new opportunities since arriving on campus, such a paid internship at a multinational engineering and architectural firm and working as a research assistant on an intersection analysis project for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
Photo by Kevin HarkinsSYMPHONIC BAND CAMPThe Mary Jo Leahey Symphonic Band Camp has been around for 23 years, reaching into the community and making kids’ lives better through music. Named for founding visionary Mary Jo Leahey ’37, who passed away in 2011, the weeklong summer camp brings students from around the region to campus. UMass Lowell music majors have an opportunity to work, alongside faculty and staff, with 130 students in grades 8-12 from across New England. It’s all there for the university’s future music educators – teaching, conducting, logistics, classroom management.
Photo by Ed BrennenNON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTSSix decades after dropping out of South Boston High School, 78-year-old Gerry Devlin earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from UMass Lowell.
Photo by U.S. MintOUR QUARTERLowell is among the newest quarters in the U.S. Mint’s America the Beautiful series. Featuring an early 1900s mill girl and loom, the coin came to be thanks to UMass Lowell employee and alumna Ellen Anstey.
TRAVELINGUMass Lowell offers more than 300 traditional study abroad opportunities on six continents, and there are dozens of faculty-led programs and structured exchanges with partner universities. Professional staff members in the Office of Study Abroad and International Experiences have helped thousands of students have life-changing experiences across the globe.
Photo by Tory WesnofskeGROWTHFor the third year in a row, UMass Lowell’s total enrollment topped 18,000, an increase of more than 57 percent since 2007. The Chronicle of Higher Education has ranked UMass Lowell in the top 10 fastest-growing public doctoral institutions in the nation for the last four years.
Photo by Katharine WebsterOUR COMMUNITYResearch Prof. David Turcotte has devoted years of work to helping Lowell residents live healthier lives through research on asthma. His most recent project focuses on bringing asthma education and interventions to low-income, elderly residents of the city. The project, conducted with the help of community partners, evaluated possible triggers of asthma and provided residents with vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters, mattress and pillow protectors, and less toxic cleaning products.
NEW SPACESUMass Lowell has opened 14 new properties since 2009, including state-of-the-art academic and research buildings, new residence halls and student centers.
Photo by Ed BrennenOUR FABULOUS DEANSOver a dessert of gooey s’mores and rich hot chocolate, the Manning School of Business recognized nearly 60 freshmen and first-year transfer students who made the fall semester Dean’s List at a recent reception at University Crossing’s Moloney Ballroom. Hosting the event for the first time as dean of the Manning School, Sandra Richtermeyer invited the students and their families to campus to celebrate.
TSONGAS INDUSTRIAL HISTORY CENTERA partnership between the university’s College of Education and the Lowell National Historical Park, the Tsongas Industrial History Center offers grade school students the opportunity for hands-on learning about the American Industrial Revolution through activities and tours where history – and science – happened.
Photo by Ed BrennenMAKING A DIFFERENCEUMass Lowell DifferenceMaker students are engaged in creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship. Love of the Game, a student-run community outreach program, began as a DifferenceMaker project and is now in its fifth year of hosting sports clinics on campus for people with developmental disabilities.
ICONIC BUILDINGSThe fancy new ones are nice and all, but there’s nothing like Coburn, Southwick, Falmouth, Kitson, Cumnock and Alumni halls.
WE CAN MAKE CONCRETE FLOATFor more than 30 years, our students have kicked butt at the annual American Society of Civil Engineers’ regional concrete canoe competition. UMass Lowell competes against dozens of universities from around North America in the quest to design, build and race concrete canoes weighing over 100 pounds.
PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND TRADEMARKSThe UMass system is 13th in the United States for intellectual property generated in the system.
MUSICOurs was the nation’s first public music education school. Our alumni win Grammys and Emmy Awards and widespread respect for their talent.
OUR VIEWA glistening river bouncing over rocks and around bends. Historic red brick buildings framed by a deep blue sky. Mountain ranges to the north. A small-city landscape of steeples, mansard roofs and the crenelated towers of public and cultural buildings.
Photo by Tory WesnofskeCOMMENCEMENTThis May, for the first time in university history, UMass Lowell held three Commencement ceremonies to help accommodate UML’s largest graduating class ever – more than 4,500 students. There is no more joyful day on campus. Even Rowdy weeps.
Photo by Ed BrennenRISING RANKINGSThe better-positioned UMass Lowell is in the marketplace, the more valuable your degree is – no matter when you graduated.
ENDOWMENTSGifts to UMass Lowell’s Our Legacy, Our Place campaign have more than doubled campus's endowment to $84.7 million and increased the number of endowed scholarships and faculty research funds to more than 520.
WE PUT OUR MONEY WHERE WE LIVEUMass Lowell delivers $921.9 million in positive economic impact to the region and supports more than 7,000 jobs on and off campus, according to the Donahue Institute.
STUDENT ACTIVITIESStudents have an awesome time here. Hard not to, with more than 250 clubs and organizations to choose from.
Photo by Lowell National ParkLOWELL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARKNot many schools share locations with a national park, but UMass Lowell does. The park preserves and celebrates Lowell’s legacy as a hub of the U.S. Industrial Revolution. Walking tours, canal boat rides, hands-on exhibits and talks are all on offer for those interested in exploring the city’s roots.
SECOND CHANCESAfter a life-changing health scare, Sean Flaherty recommitted himself to academics. He graduated from the Manning School of Business with a perfect 4.0 GPA and landed his "dream job" at a water sustainability company in New York.
OUR UNDERWORLDAh, yes, the tunnels – those popular subterranean passageways on North Campus that for decades have been the route of choice between buildings on cold, snowy or rainy days.
THE WAY(S) WE WEREMassachusetts State Normal School at Lowell (1894-1932), Lowell Textile School (1895-1928), Lowell Textile Institute (1928-1953), State Teachers College at Lowell (1932-1960), Lowell Technological Institute (1953-1975), Massachusetts State College at Lowell (1960-1968), Lowell State College (1968-1975), University of Lowell (1975-1991), University of Massachusetts Lowell (1991. uml.edu/125
Photo by Ed BrennenGOOD HEALTHStudents traded in their vape pens for UML gear donated by the university bookstore during “Escape the Vape,” a two-day event hosted by the peer health education student group Healthy H.A.W.K.S.
OUR BUILDING NAMESOlsen and Olney. Dugan and Durgin. Confusing? Sometimes. Ours? Always.
Photo by Imelda JosonWE'RE CENTEREDUMass Lowell is home to 23 research centers and institutes where cutting-edge exploration is taking place.
Photo by Tory GermannGREAT RESTAURANTSLowell’s population is a rich ethnic stew – and so are its eateries. Thanks to the various communities who call Lowell home, the city has off-the charts Greek, pho, Hawaiian poké, vegan, brick-oven pizza, sushi, Mexican and BBQ spots, just to name a few.
Photo by K. WebsterACADEMIC SUPPORTFaculty and academic support staff are here for students from day one through graduation day, and numerous programs like UMass Lowell’s new advising system, Early Alert and academic boot camp help students stay on track. Centers for Learning and Academic Support Services offers tutoring in-person or online, writing help, study groups and more.
THE TSONGAS CENTERSince the University acquired the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell in 2010, it’s transformed the facility into a premier venue for sports and entertainment in the region.
OUR UNIVERSITY PROFESSORSThe highest distinction bestowed on a UMass Lowell faculty member, the title recognizes exemplary contributions to teaching, research and service. The 2019 Distinguished University Professor is Music Prof. William Moylan, architect of UMass Lowell’s nationally acclaimed Sound Recording Technology program.
PROFESSIONAL CO-OPSThis year, the Professional Cooperative Education program is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The program has grown to provide co-op work experiences at 566 companies around the country to 2,665 students from 16 majors and concentrations.
THE BELLEGARDE BOATHOUSEAfter more than $1 million in renovations, the UMass Lowell Bellegarde Boathouse became the home of university and community boating programs. Situated on the north bank of the Merrimack River, the boathouse provides one of the region’s most spectacular views of the waterfront and sunsets.
GREEK LIFEGreek life at UMass Lowell is made up of four sororities and six fraternities. These organizations make up about 300 undergraduate students across all majors and years.
THE WORLD IN YOUR HANDSUMass Lowell has international partnerships with 38 educational institutions in 23 nations. Between team-taught courses, student exchanges and research partnerships, we’re building bridges and advancing the public good. And we’re not doing all the traveling: A growing number of international students are making UMass Lowell their destination.
Photo by Ed BrennenFINANCIAL AIDWe meet more than 90 percent of student need (but our goal is 100). In 2018, UMass Lowell awarded more than $192 million in financial aid, with an average of $15,400 per award.
UMASS LOWELL MARCHING BANDThey marshal precision and master the sounds of everything from Souza to Sabbath. Basketball and hockey games wouldn’t be the same without them. They celebrate new beginnings and provide a sense of pomp, circumstance and solemnity at campus events. UMass Lowell’s marching band brings together students from every college who want to share their musical talents and school spirit.
SOLID SALARIESUMass Lowell is ranked No. 1 among public research institutions in New England and No. 24 in the nation for starting salaries for its graduates.
STARTUPSThe UMass Lowell Innovation Hub, or iHub, has locations in both Lowell and Haverhill and connects the region’s technology startups and entrepreneurs to campus resources that facilitate the development, manufacturing and commercialization of their innovations.
Photo by Colleen GordonMILL NO. 5Live music, yoga, movies, coffee, vinyl records, an apothecary, a cheesemonger and even an occasional farmer’s market. Mill No. 5, located in a renovated factory downtown, is a haven of hip.
LEARNING BY DOINGAt UMass Lowell, we engage students early in their college career to participate in meaningful, practical research experiences that enrich learning in campus research labs, at community organizations and with local startups, to name a few. The result? Our students are way ahead of the game when they graduate.
BOWLINGDuring Opening Week every fall semester, the campus hosts dozens of fun events for students – including bowling in the lobby of the University Crossing student center.
Photo by Ed BrennenMENTORSThe River Hawk Scholars Academy is piloting a new mentorship program that matches 20 first-generation college students with local employees from Salesforce, the cloud computing and customer relationship management software giant.
ART ON CAMPUSIncreasingly, student art is enlivening buildings across the UML campus. Recently, Andrew Fournier '19 saw his "River" installed in the Pulichino Tong Business Center.
ROOFTOP GARDENSRows of kale, Swiss chard and collard greens are growing on the new Green Roof vegetable garden at University Crossing, a collaboration between Mill City Grows and UML’s Urban Agriculture Program, Student Government Association and Office of Sustainability.
Photo by courtesyINNOVATIONRover the River Hawk, an Industrial Capstone Senior Design project that engineering students are building to clean debris from the city’s canals, received a Green Design award from the Lowell Sustainability Council and a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan.
OUR CHAMPIONSUMass Lowell athletic teams have won 15 NCAA national championships.
Photo by Bob EllisMAKING STRIDESUMass Lowell alum Noelle Lambert was a star on the UML women’s lacrosse team when a moped accident severed her leg and almost took her life. Noelle inspired so many with her triumphant return to lacrosse. She created the Born to Run foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing child amputees with the specialty prosthetics to allow them to run again.
OUR SUITE LIFEOur rooms, suites, apartments and Living-Learning Communities (on East Campus, South Campus and in downtown Lowell) make our students feel right at home. Everything on campus is a short walk, shuttle bus or bike ride away.
COBURN HALLThe College of Education will return in 2020 to its historic home in the earliest academic building on campus – after a top-to-bottom expansion and renovation, complete with updates that will help train the educators of tomorrow.
Photo by Ed BrennenSMART CLASSROOMSInside the new Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) classrooms on the renovated third floor of Olsen Hall, there are no desks facing a professor’s podium at the front of the room. Instead, the rooms are equipped with tables for six (referred to as “pods”) along the room’s perimeter, each centered around a 55-inch touchscreen monitor. Students wirelessly connect their laptops, tablets or phones to their group’s pod to collaborate on work.
COFFEEStarbucks. Brew'd Awakening. Einstein Bros. Coffee and Cotton. There are no shortages of places to get your caffeine fix in Lowell.
CLUB SPORTSIn addition to Division l competition, UMass Lowell is home to more than 30 club sports teams drawing nearly 1,000 participants. From ballroom dancing to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, there are teams for just about every interest. And if you don’t see one you like, you can start your own with the help of Campus Recreation staff.
ROBOTSWith funding from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI), robotics experts from UML, Carnegie Mellon University, Brigham Young University and Tufts University are working together to give humanoid robots and other autonomous systems the ability to assess themselves in terms of how well they can perform a given task or why they cannot complete the job.
PUPPIESTippy is the Honors College mascot. Tippy holds #TippyTime for stress relief and just plain fun. She's a regular visitor to the library and hangs out in the Honors College with her "uncle" Julian Zabalbeascoa, communications and study abroad coordinator for the college. You can follow Tippy on Instagram: @honorscollegeuml.
CAMPUS SAFETYOur 34-officer police department patrols the university and nearby neighborhoods 24/7. A university-wide alert system updates the community in real time on their mobile devices and email. The campus is equipped with a complex digital system that includes815 security cameras, 1,550 card readers, 850 panic alarms, 100 intrusion alarms and 253 emergency phones. Seminars are available to educate students on self-defense and how to stay safe and make healthy decisions.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE PROGRAMIf you’re looking for a safe, organized and affordable way to enjoy the great outdoors – be it on a day or weekend trip around New England or a longer excursion to another part of the country – the Outdoor Adventure Program provides the experience and resources to make it happen.
AMBITIOUS GRADUATE STUDENTSLike Fang Zhang. Since coming to UMass Lowell from China, he has joined, founded and/or led numerous student organizations, including the Pair-Up Program, a multicultural organization that pairs U.S. and international students; the Graduate Student Association; and the Student Alumni Ambassador program, among others. He’s a diversity peer educator, and last year, he won both the MLK Distinguished Service Award and the Graduate Student of the Year Award. He was recently elected vice president and COO of the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students. And he just got his U.S. citizenship!
STAFF1,150 staff members keep things running smoothly at UMass Lowell.
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPSBAE Systems is one of UMass Lowell’s many corporate partners. The partnership runs deep: Whether it’s a question of employment opportunities, resource donations or joint-project collaborations, the interests of the university and the Nashua-based company are well-aligned.
WE KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKINGWe are a research university, and the Center for Public Opinion is just one of the ways in which we flex our cross-disciplinary muscle. The Center polls on political and public opinion trends, and it all enhances our students’ experiences. Thanks to the rigor and integrity with which we conduct our polls, the results are widely reported and respected.
MERRIMACK RIVERThe UMass Lowell Kayak Center is open to the public as well as the university community. We offer rentals, instruction, tours and fun with kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards on the Merrimac River.
OUR SENSE OF HUMORLarry Siegel, vice chancellor for student affairs and university events, keeps a collection of $5 bills and a couple of higher denominations – in all, 41 bills totaling $134 – mounted on the back of a cabinet door. All the bills are signed by people at the university who lost bets to Siegel. “I don’t care about the money. It’s just fun,” he says.
WINTER BREAKNeed to rest and recharge? Winter break is right around the corner.
ALLEN HOUSEThe oldest (and maybe most beautiful) building on campus – and the only one listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Some of Jack Kerouac’s most precious possessions – including rudimentary handmade cat carriers he constructed for his beloved felines, travel souvenirs and his writing desk – have found a home as part of the Kerouac Retrieved exhibit at the Allen House.
Photo by K. WebsterFAMILY TIESFor many River Hawks, attending UMass Lowell is all in the family. Take Harry Rider ’19, who was the fourth generation of his family to graduate from UML.
Photo by Tory GermannTHE BAT LABAt the Baseball Research Center, students are engaged in sports engineering research and equipment testing. They are investigating ways to reduce bat breakage, uncovering new testing methods for examining the properties of baseballs and researching impact mechanics to improve helmet performance. More than 100 students have contributed to research projects that have been funded by Major League Baseball and sporting goods manufacturers.
UNFORGETTABLE PROFESSORSJim Nehring, an associate professor of education, won the Manning Prize for Teaching Excellence at UMass Lowell this year. Nehring is a strong advocate for public education that couples academic rigor with inquiry-based, student-centered learning.
Photo by Edwin AguirreWE SHOOT FOR THE STARSUMass Lowell will have a planet-finding telescope soaring to the edge of the atmosphere. The telescope is being built and tested at the university’s Lowell Center for Space Science and Technology (LoCSST) by teams of UML students, faculty researchers, scientists and engineers.
UMASS LOWELL FIGHT SONG“River Hawk Pride,” which debuted in 2014, is the university’s first-ever fight song. Written by long-time Director of University Bands Dan Lutz (music) and Associate Director Deb Huber (lyrics), the song sums up the River Hawk spirit: “UMass Lowell we will always be, a team of strength in unity!”
STRESS RELIEFMassages, baby animals, group fitness classes, arts and crafts – we offer all of these things during exam periods to help students relieve stress.
Photo by Ed BrennenSERIOUS BUSINESSDell wanted to analyze 2 million records from its supply chain to maximize computer sales efficiency. Enterprise Bank wanted to know which mobile banking services its customers use and why. Those were among the eight industry-partner capstone projects that the first cohort of Master of Science in Business Analytics students completed before graduating from the Manning School of Business last spring.
APPSUMass Lowell has convenient apps like Parking Spaces and Roadster Routes designed to save time and provide quick access to the information you need, like where to park, bus routes and more.
THE MOBILE LABWith our high-tech mobile simulation lab, students in the Solomont School of Nursing can visit area schools and demonstrate what it’s like to work in the profession.
WE PUSH THE BOUNDARIESUMass Lowell researchers are breaking new ground by taking fresh approaches to longstanding problems. For instance, a research team led by Asst. Prof. Natalie Steinel of the Department of Biological Sciences is studying fish with tapeworm parasites with the goal of improving our knowledge of the human immune system. The researchers are studying the interactions between the host and parasites in fish to understand how the fish’s immune system can be manipulated. If they can determine how a parasite can modify the host’s immune response, they could potentially target those same pathways to design new immunosuppressive drugs for humans, Steinel says.
Photo by Ed BrennenGOING THE EXTRA MILEThis year, more than three dozen Japanese students who completed online courses flew to campus for commencement – the largest group yet to make the trip.
BICYCLESUMass Lowell’s Outdoor Center and Bike Shop keeps up with the university’s growth as a bicycle-friendly campus and with students’ growing interest in outdoor programs. As of October 2019, UMass Lowell has been awarded an upgraded Silver Designation as a Bicycle Friendly University from the League of American Bicyclists.
PHILANTHROPYDuring the third annual Days of Giving, 3,302 members of the UML community – including students, faculty, staff, alumni, family members and friends – made contributions online and at regional events, raising a record $420,500 for their favorite programs, colleges, clubs and sports teams.
RECREATIONThe Campus Recreation Center is always abuzz with activity between basketball and racquetball courts, studios that host group fitness classes and a gym complete with free weights, benches, spinning bikes, rowing machines and more.
BEING OF SERVICEService learning gives students the opportunity to work with community organizations, tackling real life issues and gaining course credit in the process. Projects range from developing a business plan for a local not-for-profit and working with foster children to creating energy solutions for a village in Peru.
OUR WORK ETHICUMass Lowell students are known for being hard-working. Like Kelly Skelton, who plans to earn his undergraduate and MBA degrees in just four years – and with zero debt – while juggling multiple jobs and extracurricular activities.
WELL-BEINGUMass Lowell is proud to be a JED Campus Program member. Working with mental health experts, our counseling staff developed a customized support plan and strives for engagement to strengthen the community well-being.
LOWELL FOLK FESTThe Lowell Folk Festival is a three-day spectacular in late July filled with performers from around the world and a bounty of food offerings.
STUDENTS WHO LEADStudent-founded counterterrorism project Operation250 won a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. Pictured here is honors graduate Tyler Cote '17, the first full-time employee of Operation250.
Photo by Sergio VelazquezOUR TOBACCO-FREE CAMPUSUMass Lowell’s campus has been tobacco-free since September 2014, following a yearlong, student-driven campaign to clear the air.
SPACE HAUCSPACE HAUC (pronounced “Space Hawk”), is UMass Lowell’s first student-built satellite. A team of 100 students from physics, math, computer science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer engineering have been working on the satellite, which is funded with a two-year, $200,000 grant from NASA. The team is building and testing the satellite’s components at the university’s Lowell Center for Space Science and Technology.
THE STRING PROJECTFounded in 2001, the UMass Lowell String Project is a music education and community engagement initiative that provides music instruction to K-12 students from the Merrimack Valley. While learning to play string instruments, students discover how music can build positive relationships with their peers and within the community.