The University of Maryland at College Park grows from a local agricultural college founded in 1856, making it the second university to grow from agricultural roots after Michigan State, founded in 1855. The University of Maryland System has 12 institutions located on campuses in Central Maryland and the Eastern Shore.
In 1949, the U.S. Defense Department requests the University of Maryland to send professors to a military base in post-war Germany to teach college courses to active duty soldiers. It is the first university to operate this program which soon expands to bases throughout Europe and into Asia. It has often been said that “the sun never sets on the University of Maryland.”
This global program becomes the University of Maryland University College on the College Park campus, catering to part time students.
In 2019 the University College changes its name to University of Maryland Global Campus to better reflect its mission. The Global Campus, the largest institution in the University system, has educated tens of thousands of non-traditional students all over the world.
The Global Campus is among the many firsts at the University of Maryland.
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