A Message from the President of the Urban College

Dr. Linda Edmonds Turner, President, Urban College of Boston

Welcome to the Urban College of Boston!

One evening not long ago as I left UCB to go home, I found myself walking behind a couple of students who had just gotten out of class and were heading toward the T. It was at least 9:00 pm or a little later. As I walked, I listened to the students ahead of me, talking about what they had learned that night, laughing and joking and thoroughly enjoying themselves. One of them turned and saw me, and exclaimed, "I just love this College!" "Tell me why," I asked, impressed by their energy and enthusiasm at that hour. "You know," she said, "I enjoy this class because the teacher wants us here."

To me, this statement sums up one of Urban College’s greatest strengths—the ability not only to provide students with a solid education, but also to show them how much they are valued. Our culture is one of respect and support.

We pride ourselves in knowing how to work with students who have job and family responsibilities, students who have not been in a classroom in many years, students whose first language is not English. In fact, we are the only college in New England to offer a bilingual certificate (English and Cantonese or Spanish) in early childhood education. All students have full access to our Learning Resource Center, whether they are enrolled in just one course or a degree program.

Applications and enrollments are on the rise, which tells us that word of our success in helping non-traditional students succeed in college-level courses is continuing to spread. At commencement ceremonies last May, 139 women and men received an associate degree or certificate. Since our founding in 1993 UCB has served more than 7,000 students and has awarded 796 associate degrees and certificates to a group of extraordinary non-traditional students.

Scholarship opportunities are expanding. In the four years since the inception of the new Malkin Scholars program 60 students have been named Malkin Scholars. These merit-based scholarships, made possible by the generosity of Moses and Hannah Malkin and offered to students in a degree program who have completed at least 33 UCB credits, pay for tuition for two courses in each term of the next academic year. Many of our students also qualify for state and federal tuition assistance, such as Pell Grants.

More graduates are pursuing baccalaureate and even master’s degrees. We now have transfer partnerships with eight area colleges that enable qualified UCB graduates to enter a bachelor's degree program as juniors. Our transfer institutions are continuing to offer scholarship and financial aid assistance to UCB graduates. For example, each year Endicott College awards the Robert M. Coard Scholarship to one graduating UCB student to continue his/her studies at Endicott College. In addition, each year we continue to have UCB graduates begin programs at Harvard University Extension School, our newest higher education partner.

UCB has helped hundreds of men and women who don’t fit the profile of a "typical" college student earn associate degrees and certificates. To learn more about our programs and services for our extraordinary students visit the rest of our website. If you have been thinking about going to college, I encourage you to take that important first step and consider Urban College of Boston.

Grow with us!

Linda Edmonds Turner, Ph.D.
President

President Linda E. Turner receives Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Pinnacle Award for Arts and Education