UMass Amherst Neurobiologist Gerald Downes
UMass Amherst: A Land Grant Research University; a World-Class Reputation
The University of Massachusetts Amherst, founded in 1863, is the flagship of the five-campus UMass system and home to world-class faculty and students. UMass Amherst incorporates innovative teaching methods involving new communication and information technology, yet remains an immersive, residential campus offering students a comprehensive array of academic programs. True to its land grant roots, UMass Amherst is engaged in research and creative work in all fields and is classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a doctoral university with the “highest research activity” or R1.
Consistently rated as a “Top Producer of Fulbright Students,” UMass Amherst is one of the nation’s top 30 public universities, as ranked by the US News and World Report. Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy remarks that our ranking “reflects our ongoing commitment to academic excellence: “Our outstanding faculty, staff, alumni, and students continue to garner national recognition for our campus as one of the best public universities in the country.” UMass has multiple departments in the top 30 graduate programs in the US, including Linguistics (ranked 2nd) Stockbridge School of Agriculture (5th), Computer Science (ranked 20th overall, and 11th in Artificial Intelligence), Public Health (25th) Isenberg’s part-time MBA (25th); Audiology (30th) and Sociology (ranked 30th overall, 6th in the Sex and Gender, and 13th in the Sociology of Population subfields). Moreover, UMass-Amherst online education reflects the quality of on-campus education. UMass-Amherst Online is ranked 16th in online bachelor’s programs, and Isenberg’s online MBA program is also 16th in the nation.
UMass Amherst is home to over 30,000 students and 1,300 full-time faculty, and is the largest public university in Massachusetts. Diversity at UMass is more than an ideal, given the size of our institution, it is a vibrant opportunity coupled with a serious commitment to excellence and diversity. Enriching our excellence through diversity is a prominent goal at UMass Amherst. As emphasized in our diversity strategic plan, we aim to achieve “socially just learning and working environments that foster a culture of excellence through diverse people, ideas, and perspectives.” UMass believes increasing diversity in the faculty body is critical to enhancing the culture of excellence and rising prominence.
