University of Maine at Farmington

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University of Maine at Farmington
Former names
Western State Normal School (1864–1878)
Northern State Normal School (1878–1889)
Farmington State Normal School (1889–1945)
Farmington State Teachers College (1945–1965)
Farmington State College (1965–1968)
Farmington State College of the University of Maine (1968–1971) [1]
Type Public university
EstablishedAugust 24, 1864;161 years ago (1864-08-24)
Parent institution
 University of Maine System
Chancellor Dannel Malloy
President Joseph McDonnell
Students1,614 (fall 2024)
Undergraduates 1,191 (fall 2024)
Postgraduates 423 (fall 2024)
Location
Farmington, Maine
,
U.S.

44°40′0″N70°8′50″W / 44.66667°N 70.14722°W / 44.66667; -70.14722
CampusRural
NewspaperThe Farmington Flyer
Colors Maroon, gold, and gray
   
Nickname Beavers
Sporting affiliations
 NCAA Division III – NAC
MascotBeaver
Website umf.maine.edu
University of Maine at Farmington logo.svg
University of Maine at Farmington

The University of Maine at Farmington (UMaine Farmington or UMF) is a public liberal arts college in Farmington, Maine. It is part of the University of Maine System and a founding member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. [2]

Contents

History

In March 1863, a Normal School Act passed into law, and that fall, Farmington was chosen from a list of possible locations for a normal school. Founded in 1864 as the state's first publicly funded normal school, the first class graduated from the Western State Normal School in 1866. Over the following hundred years, the school's name would change several times: Northern State Normal School (1878), Farmington State Normal School (1889), Farmington State Teachers College (1945), and Farmington State College (1965). [3]

Farmington State College merged into the University of Maine System in 1968, initially known as the Farmington State College of the University of Maine, before taking on its current name in 1971. [4]

Many early graduates attended the school for its liberal arts offerings alone. Among these were the Stanley brothers, famous for building the Stanley Steamer automobile, and John Frank Stevens, engineer of the Panama Canal. Comedian Bob Marley also graduated with a degree in community health.

In 2016, the University of Maine at Farmington Education Center was named in honor of its longtime president Theodora J. Kalikow, who served from 1994 to 2012. Now called the Theodora J. Kalikow Education Center, the LEED-Silver certified building is home to the UMF College of Education, Health and Rehabilitation. [5]

Athletics

The UMaine Farmington Beavers compete in the NCAA Division III North Atlantic Conference. The school's official colors are maroon, gold, and gray.

UMaine Farmington has 12 NCAA varsity teams, including men's teams in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, and soccer; and women's teams in basketball, cross country, field hockey, soccer, softball, and lacrosse. The university also fields skiing and snowboarding programs that compete through the United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association (USCSA). [6]

In addition to outdoor athletic fields and Dearborn Gymnasium, UMF has a Fitness and Recreation Center that houses a cardio fitness area, a weight room, courts, a walking track, and a 25-yard swimming pool open to students and the community. [7]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ "A History of Leadership". Mantor Library, University of Maine Farmington. mantorlib.mainememory.net. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  2. ↑ "University of Maine at Farmington". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "University of Maine at Farmington celebrates 150 years of excellence". Portland Press Herald. 28 September 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  4. ↑ "University of Maine System – Farmington". maine.edu. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  5. ↑ "Farmington college adds geothermal energy system". Bangor Daily News. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  6. ↑ "UMF president Joseph McDonnell outlines new initiatives". Sun Journal. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  7. ↑ "Fitness & Recreation Center remains vital to campus and town". Portland Press Herald. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
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