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The University of Miami (also known as UM or just The U) is a private university founded in 1925 with its main campus in the city of Coral Gables in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States.

A view of Lake Osceola on the University of Miami campus, facing Eaton Residential College and the School of Architecture.

The University of Miami has a total student body slightly in excess of 15,000. In 2006, the average weighted grade point average for students granted admission to the university was 4.0 and the median SAT score was 1260. Sixty-two percent of UM students ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school class. In the 2006-2007 academic year, 19,000 students applied to the university, 8,360 (44%)^[2] were admitted, and 2,000 accepted the invitation to form the freshman class of 2006.^[3]

As of the 2006-07 academic school year, UM's undergraduate tuition (excluding room and board) is $31,232 per year.^[4]

Unlike some private universities which are located within their namesake city such as the University of Chicago, UM's main campus spans 260 acres (1 km²) in Coral Gables, an affluent Miami suburb located immediately south of the city of Miami. Several university satellite campuses are located off the primary campus, including the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (located on Virginia Key) and the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine (located at Jackson Memorial Hospital in the city of Miami). UM is the second largest private employer in South Florida.

The current president of UM is former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala. The school colors are orange, green and white, which represent the fruit, leaves, and blossoms of the orange tree.

UM is also home to the Iron Arrow Honor Society, a prestigious and selective honor organization for University of Miami students.

In 2004, UM's BankUnited Center (formerly the Convocation Center) was the site of the first nationally televised U.S. presidential debate of the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, featuring President George W. Bush and U.S. Senator John Kerry.

In the 2006-07 issue of U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges", the University of Miami is ranked 54th among 254 "National Universities".^[5] UM is also one of 146 colleges named a "Best Southeastern College" by the The Princeton Review in its most recent 2006 edition.^[6]

In 2006, BusinessWeek included UM's School of Business Administration in its "Top 50" U.S. collegiate business programs, ranking UM the 44th best U.S. undergraduate business program in the nation.^[7] The Wall Street Journal ranked the UM School of Business Administration 14th in the regional ranking category.^[8]

U.S. News & World Report's 2007 ranking of law schools ranked the University of Miami School of Law 65th among the nation's 180 accredited law schools.^[9]

For the third year in a row, the University of Miami’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute was ranked the best hospital in the country for ophthalmology in U.S. News and World Report's 2006 survey of “America’s Best Hospitals." ^[10]

The Princeton Review, in its current 2007 issue, ranks the University of Miami as the fourth most diverse student body among all U.S. colleges and universities.

Walkway leading to the Otto G. Richter Library on the campus of the University of Miami.

Most of the University of Miami's academic programs are located on its primary campus in Coral Gables, which houses eight schools, two colleges, and the University of Miami School of Law.

A few graduate and undergraduate programs are located off of the primary Coral Gables campus. These include the University of Miami's Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, which has its own campus at the University of Miami's Jackson Memorial Medical Center complex in downtown Miami. The University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science is located on Virginia Key in Biscayne Bay. Several other University of Miami academic programs, including its bilingual Continuing and International Education classes, are offered at the Koubek Center in Miami's Little Havana.

UM has eight academic schools and colleges:

• School of Architecture
• College of Arts and Sciences
• School of Business Administration
• School of Communication
• School of Education
• College of Engineering
• Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music
• School of Nursing and Health Studies

UM has three graduate-level schools:

• University of Miami School of Law
• Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
• Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.

UM also has a Department of Continuing and International Education.

The UM Department of Community Service, comprised of volunteer medical students and physicians from UM's Leonard M. School of Medicine, provides free medical and other community services in Miami and surrounding communities.

• Bowman Foster Ashe, 1926-52
• Jay F. W. Pearson, 1952-62
• Henry King Stanford, 1962-81
• Edward T. Foote II, 1981-2001
• Donna Shalala, 2001-present

The distinctive 'Split-U' logo, the official logo of University of Miami athletic teams

The university's sports teams are called the "Miami Hurricanes" and compete in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Its traditional athletic rivals include the Florida State University Seminoles and the University of Florida Gators. However, since 1987, the Hurricanes have only played the Florida Gators four times (twice during the regular season and twice for bowl games in the 2001 Sugar Bowl and the 2004 Chick-fil-A Bowl). The Hurricanes and the Gators have not played since UM began ACC play in the 2004 season, but the rivalry will be renewed in 2008 when UM is scheduled to meet the Gators in Gainesville.

In order to comply with Title IX equality requirements, the university only fields 15 athletic teams. Men's teams compete in football, baseball, basketball, cross-country, diving, tennis, and track and field. Women's teams compete in basketball, cross-country, diving, golf, rowing, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. Notably, the university does not field a men's soccer team and had to cut its men's rowing team and men's diving team (which had produced a number of Olympic medalists, including Greg Louganis), in order to comply with Title IX.

Team colors are green, orange, and white. The school mascot is 'Sebastian the Ibis'. The ibis was selected as the school's mascot because, according to university legend, it is the last animal to flee an approaching hurricane and the first to reappear after the storm, making it a symbol of leadership and courage.

The school's athletics logo is a simple green and orange letter "U." Nike is the official supplier of uniforms, apparel, and various athletic equipment to all University of Miami sports teams.

Sebastian the Ibis, the official mascot of the University of Miami

Main article: Miami Hurricanes football

The University of Miami is the most successful Division I collegiate football program of the past quarter century, winning more national championships than any other Division I collegiate football program. During this time, the University of Miami has won five Division I national football championships (1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, and 2001); the University of Nebraska is second during this period with three.

UM has produced two Heisman Trophy winners, Vinny Testaverde (in 1986) and Gino Torretta (in 1992). Four former UM football players--Ted Hendricks, Michael Irvin, Jim Kelly, and Jim Otto--have been voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame following their NFL careers. Two other former UM players, Ottis Anderson and Ray Lewis, have been named Super Bowl MVPs (Super Bowl XXV and Super Bowl XXXV respectively).

On November 24, 2006, following one of the worst seasons in decades (6-6), UM dismissed its current head football coach, Larry Coker, who helped lead UM to its 2001 National Championship and came close to winning another one in 2002 but then stumbled greatly in subsequent seasons. Two weeks following Coker's dismissal, UM Defensive Coordinator Randy Shannon was promoted to the position of head coach.

The team plays its home games at the historic Orange Bowl, located off-campus in the city of Miami.

Main article: Miami Hurricanes baseball

Alternate Ibis logo introduced in 2000

In addition to its success in football, UM has experienced national success with its baseball program, winning four national championships (1982, 1985, 1999 and 2001) and reaching the College World Series 22 times in the 33 seasons since 1974. Five UM graduates are currently active on MLB teams.

The team is currently coached by Jim Morris, the former head coach of the Georgia Tech baseball team. Former coach Ron Fraser was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in July 2006. The team plays its games on the UM campus, at Mark Light Field.

UM's men's basketball team has produced three players who are currently on NBA rosters. Rick Barry, who played his collegiate basketball at UM, is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Barry is the Hurricanes only consensus All-American in basketball and led the nation in scoring his senior year with a 37.4 average during the 1964-65 campaign.

The university actually temporarily dropped the program after the 1972 season, with the Board of Trustees citing inadequate facilities, sagging attendance, and serious financial losses as the reasons for the decision.^[11] The program was revived before the 1985-86 season, though UM would be minimally competitive over the next several years. The program's fortunes turned around in 1990 when Miami hired Leonard Hamilton as head basketball coach and accepted an invitation to join the Big East. By the end of the decade, Hamilton had turned UM into one of the better basketball programs in the Big East and had guided UM to three straight NCAA tournament appearances (1998-2000), including a #2 seed in the 1999 tournament and a Sweet 16 appearance in 2000. The 1998 tournament appearance was UM's first since 1960.

Hamilton left at the end of the 2000 season to become head coach of the NBA's Washington Wizards and was replaced by Perry Clark. Clark had some success in his second season (2001-02), leading UM to a school record 24 wins and a #5 seed in the NCAA tournament. The 2002-03 season saw Miami move into its newly completed on-campus arena, the BankUnited Center. Despite a win over powerhouse North Carolina to christen the new arena, Clark's teams performed woefully over the next two seasons, leading to his dismissal following the 2003-04 season (UM's last season in the Big East). Clark was replaced by Frank Haith, whose teams have proven competitive in UM's first two seasons as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Main article: University of Miami 2006 custodial workers' strike

On February 26, 2006, University of Miami custodial workers, who are contracted to the university by a Boston, Massachusetts-based company, UNICCO, voted to strike, citing unfair labor practices, substandard pay, and lack of health benefits. The strike, which involved prominent political and labor leaders and gained national attention, began on the evening of February 28, 2006 and ended on May 1, 2006.

A worker vote on unionization, taken in June 2006, led to the first official presence of the SEIU union in South Florida. The unionized UM workers and SEIU are currently engaged in unionization attempts at other South Florida-based universities and local shopping malls.

• BankUnited Center (formerly the Convocation Center)
• Bill Cosford Cinema
• Jerry Herman Ring Theatre
• John C. Gifford Arboretum
• Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
• Lowe Art Museum
• Mark Light Stadium
• Miami Orange Bowl
• Otto G. Richter Library
• Student Wellness Center
• Tom Kearns Sports Hall of Fame

• Steven Bauer – actor, "Manny Ribera" in Scarface.
• Majel Barrett – actress, "Number 1", "Nurse Christine Chapel" and "Lwaxana Troi" in Star Trek.
• Lewis Cleale – theater actor, singer, Sunset Boulevard, Spamalot.
• Jeff Coopwood – actor, singer, television host, Timbuktu!, "Voice of the Borg" in Star Trek: First Contact.
• Michael Dunn – actor, "Dr. Miguelito Loveless" in The Wild Wild West.
• Jeff Garlin – comedic actor, "Jeff Greene" on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm.
• Galen Gering – actor, "Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald" on NBC's Passions.
• Charles Grodin – actor, former television talk show host (attended but did not graduate).
• Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson – actor, former professional wrestler.
• Nancy Kulp – actress, "Miss Hathaway" in The Beverly Hillbillies.
• Ray Liotta – actor, "Henry Hill" in Goodfellas.
• Finesse Mitchell – comedian, former repertory performer on Saturday Night Live.
• Jo Ann Pflug – actress, Lt. Maria "Dish" Schneider in MASH.
• Saundra Santiago – actress, "Det. Gina Navarro Calabrese" in Miami Vice.
• Steve-O – comedic actor, MTV's Jackass (attended but did not graduate).
• Sylvester Stallone – television, movie actor (attended but did not graduate).

• Ann Curless – dance-pop singer, songwriter, member of Exposé.
• Gloria Estefan – Latin pop singer, songwriter, member of UM Board of Trustees.
• Ben Folds – rock music pianist, Ben Folds Five (attended but did not graduate).
• Jerry Herman – Broadway composer, lyricist, Hello Dolly! and La Cage aux Folles.
• Bruce Hornsby – jazz musician.
• Enrique Iglesias – rhythmic contemporary musician.
• Amy Lee – jazz saxophonist, member of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band.
• Will Lee – bassist, band member on Late Show with David Letterman.
• Pat Metheny – jazz guitarist (attended but did not graduate).
• Steve Morse – rock music guitarist, Dixie Dregs, Deep Purple and Kansas.
• Jon Secada – Latin pop singer, songwriter.
• Grace Slick – psychedelic rock singer, songwriter, Jefferson Airplane.
• Ed Toth – rock music drummer, Doobie Brothers.

• Pat Burrell – left fielder, Philadelphia Phillies.
• Alex Cora – shortstop, Boston Red Sox.
• Aubrey Huff – third baseman, Baltimore Orioles.
• Charlton Jimerson – center fielder, Houston Astros.
• Jason Michaels – left fielder, Cleveland Indians.

• Steve Hertz – third baseman, Houston Colt .45s (now the Houston Astros).
• Charles Johnson – catcher, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, Florida Marlins (twice), Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Devil Rays (attended but did not graduate).

• Robert Hite – shooting guard, Miami Heat.
• James Jones – small forward, Phoenix Suns.
• John Salmons – small forward, Sacramento Kings.

• Rick Barry – TBS professional basketball broadcaster; former power forward, Golden State Warriors (Basketball Hall of Fame member).

• Phillip Buchanon – cornerback, kick returner, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• Rashad Butler – offensive tackle, Carolina Panthers.
• Vernon Carey – offensive tackle, Miami Dolphins.
• Najeh Davenport – running back, Pittsburgh Steelers.
• Ken Dorsey – quarterback, Cleveland Browns.
• Kevin Everett – tight end, Buffalo Bills.
• Jeff Feagles – punter, New York Giants.
• Bubba Franks – tight end, Green Bay Packers.
• Frank Gore – running back, San Francisco 49ers.
• Orien Harris – defensive end, Pittsburgh Steelers.
• Devin Hester – cornerback, return specialist, Chicago Bears.
• Edgerrin James – running back, Arizona Cardinals.
• Kelly Jennings – cornerback, Seattle Seahawks.
• Andre Johnson – wide receiver, Houston Texans.
• William Joseph – defensive tackle, New York Giants.
• Ray Lewis – linebacker, Baltimore Ravens (attended but did not graduate).
• Marcus Maxey – cornerback, Kansas City Chiefs.
• Darrell McClover – linebacker, Chicago Bears.
• Jerome McDougle – defensive end, Philadelphia Eagles.
• Willis McGahee – running back, Baltimore Ravens.
• Rocky McIntosh – linebacker, Washington Redskins.
• Bryant McKinnie – offensive tackle, Minnesota Vikings.
• Dan Morgan – linebacker, Carolina Panthers.
• Santana Moss – wide receiver, Washington Redskins.
• Sinorice Moss – wide receiver, New York Giants.
• Chris Myers – offensive guard and center, Denver Broncos.
• Roscoe Parrish – wide receiver, Buffalo Bills.
• Clinton Portis – running back, Washington Redskins.
• Ed Reed – defensive back, Baltimore Ravens.
• Antrel Rolle – cornerback, Arizona Cardinals.
• Brett Romberg – center, St. Louis Rams.
• Mike Rumph – cornerback, Washington Redskins.
• Warren Sapp – defensive tackle, Oakland Raiders.
• Jeremy Shockey – tight end, New York Giants.
• Sean Taylor – defensive back, Washington Redskins (attended but did not graduate).
• Vinny Testaverde – quarterback, New England Patriots.
• Jonathan Vilma – linebacker, New York Jets.
• Reggie Wayne – wide receiver, Indianapolis Colts.
• Vince Wilfork – defensive tackle, New England Patriots.
• D.J. Williams – linebacker, Denver Broncos.
• Leon Williams – inside linebacker, Cleveland Browns.
• Kellen Winslow II – tight end, Cleveland Browns.
• Eric Winston – offensive tackle, Houston Texans.

• Ottis "O.J." Anderson – running back, New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals.
• Jessie Armstead – former linebacker, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants and Washington Redskins.
• Bennie Blades – former cornerback, Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks.
• Brian Blades – former wide receiver, Seattle Seahawks.
• Jerome Brown – former defensive tackle, Philadelphia Eagles.
• Chuck Foreman – former running back, Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots.
• Ted Hendricks – former linebacker, Oakland Raiders (Pro Football Hall of Fame member).
• Michael Irvin – ESPN professional football broadcaster; former wide receiver, Dallas Cowboys (Pro Football Hall of Fame member).
• Jim Kelly – former quarterback, Buffalo Bills (Pro Football Hall of Fame member).
• Cortez Kennedy – former defensive tackle, Seattle Seahawks.
• Bernie Kosar – former quarterback, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins.
• Russell Maryland – former defensive tackle, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers and Oakland Raiders.
• Jim Otto – former center, Oakland Raiders (Pro Football Hall of Fame member).
• Randy Shannon – former linebacker, Dallas Cowboys, current University of Miami head football coach.
• Gino Torretta – former quarterback, Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.

• Greg Louganis – 4-time gold medalist, 1-time silver medalist, 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform, 1976, 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympics.

• Lauryn Williams – silver medalist, 100 meters, 2004 Summer Olympics.

• Ralph Alvarez – president, McDonald's Corporation.
• Micky Arison – CEO, Carnival Corporation, owner of NBA's Miami Heat (attended but did not graduate).
• Lyor Cohen – CEO, U.S. Recorded Music Divisions, Warner Music Group.
• Maurice R. "Hank" Greenberg – former CEO, American International Group.
• Michael Johns – health care executive, former White House speechwriter.
• Drew Rosenhaus – National Football League agent.
• Martin Zweig – investment advisor, author of Winning on Wall Street.

• Roy Black – criminal defense attorney, obtained acquittal of William Kennedy Smith.
• Vincent Bugliosi – former prosecutor, obtained conviction of Charles Manson in the Tate-LaBianca murders, author of Helter Skelter.

• Pat Cannon – former Member of Congress.
• Manny Diaz – Mayor of the City of Miami.
• Dante Fascell – former Member of Congress.
• Patricia Ireland – former president, National Organization for Women.
• Bob McEwen – former Member of Congress.
• Alex Penelas – former Miami-Dade Mayor. former U.S. Senate candidate.
• Bernard Siegel – founder, executive director, Genetics Policy Institute.

• Jill Arrington – former college football sideline reporter, ESPN.
• Judge Alex Ferrer – syndicated television judge.
• Jamie Colby – anchor, correspondent, Fox News Live.
• Roy Firestone – sports journalist, HDNet.
• Herb Greenberg – business journalist and commentator, CNBC.
• Suzy Kolber – professional football sideline reporter, ABC Sports and ESPN.
• Dan Le Batard – sports journalist, The Miami Herald and ESPN.
• Marilyn Milian – judge, The People's Court television program.
• Jackie Nespral – news anchor, NBC affiliate WTVJ, Miami.
• Jorge Ramos – news anchor, Noticiero Univision.
• Trista Rehn – The Bachelorette.
• Gene Roddenberry – producer, writer, creator, Star Trek (attended but did not graduate).
• Cristina Saralegui – Spanish-language television personality.

• JMWAVE – a major center for CIA operations against Fidel Castro's Cuba, based at the University of Miami in the 1960s.