About Smith
The best way to describe the culture at the Smith School is competitive, yet cooperative. Once students step inside the doors of Van Munching Hall and meet classmates for the first time, students will find themselves among a diverse group of some of the most talented minds anywhere in the world. Yet, there is the understanding that each mind has a unique and valuable contribution to make. Embracing this ideal lends itself to an attitude of respect among students and provides the foundation of our culture.
The environment at Smith is unlike any other. Students will forge life-long friendships through collaboration over challenging coursework and through celebration of each other's successes. There is no doubt students will be enriched by experiences here, both on a personal and professional level.
Central to the mission of the Smith School is the fostering of norms and habits of professional conduct. Graduate business students have the opportunity to participate in building a worthy, purposeful, and progressive academic experience. It is essential at all times that an atmosphere conducive to intellectual pursuits be maintained at the school. Members of the Smith School community are expected to behave in a dignified and professional manner. Integrity and ethical conduct are expected for interactions inside and outside of the classroom. As investors in the future of the school, members of the class should actively participate in meetings and committees that influence the direction of the school. Not only should students champion the progress of the Smith School, but they should also contribute ideas to address areas of challenge.
Smith School Background
The Smith School is one of 12 schools and colleges within the University of Maryland, College Park. In 1998, the business school was named for Robert H. Smith. Robert H. Smith [1928-2009] saw potential in the University of Maryland's business school which led him to make a landmark gift that changed the course of the school's future. Robert H. Smith was a 1950 alumnus of the College of Business and Management (major: Accounting) and was married to Clarice Smith, who attended the University from 1952 to 1953. Smith was Chairman, Charles E. Smith Commercial Realty and Chairman, Charles E. Smith Residential. His family company is best known for developing and building the Crystal City complex in Northern Virginia.
The main building in College Park where classes are held is Van Munching Hall. The building is named for Leo Van Munching, Jr. [1926-2016] a 1950 graduate of the University of Maryland who has given $13.5 million to finance construction and undergraduate business programs at the Smith School. Classes for evening and weekend students are also held in Baltimore, MD at the University of Maryland BioPark; Rockville, MD at the Universities of Shady Grove; and Washington, DC at the Ronald Reagan Building.
The Smith School has over 150 full-time and over 80 part-time faculty members, many of whom are internationally renowned scholars. Students can get to know the professors by visiting the faculty website. In addition to offering top-ranked academic programs, the Smith School provides services directly to the Washington, DC metropolitan area's corporate and government communities.
The University of Maryland's Smith School of Business is accredited by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), the premier accrediting agency for bachelors, masters and doctoral degree programs in business administration and accounting.
University of Maryland
The University of Maryland, College Park is one of 12 state-supported institutions and regional centers of higher education in Maryland, part of the University System of Maryland. It is Maryland's flagship public university and one of the nation's leading research institutions. With more than 40,000 undergraduate and graduate students, UMD is a large and diverse community. The beautiful 1,200 acre campus is located in College Park, a small town in Prince George's County, just 9 miles (14 km) northeast of Washington, DC.
In order to facilitate a visit to campus, take a look at the campus map. All buildings can be located by name and number and the map contains visitor parking information.
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742, USA
(301) 405-1000
Directions to the University of Maryland
Getting to the University of Maryland
Getting to Van Munching Hall