About Us – UDC Foundation

The University of the District of Columbia is simultaneously historic and modern. Public higher education in the District is rooted in the school for “colored girls” that Myrtilla Miner founded in 1851 in Washington, D.C., which and which became the University of the District of Columbia. Our mission of educating the underserved and disadvantaged has not changed

UDC has evolved into one of the nation’s few truly comprehensive public institutions of higher learning – one that creates access to the regional workforce through stackable workforce credentials, and associate’s, bachelor’s, and graduate degrees.

UDC offers 82 undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees at four colleges (Art & Sciences; Business & Public Administration; Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences; and Engineering & Applied Sciences). It has a highly ranked, community-oriented School of Law. At the branch campuses of its Community College, it specializes in developmental learning and early college instruction, and confers workforce credentials, professional certifications, and associate degrees.

The Equity Imperative is a streamlined, focused and refined Strategic Plan designed to regenerate the University of the District of Columbia as a Public Higher Education Model of Urban Student Success.

The strategies it lays out—which were informed by input from town halls held around the city and suggestions gathered internally from students, faculty, staff, and our Board of Trustees—are transforming the University into a powerful source of hope, education, creativity, research, and urban resilience as they guide many members of our community toward the middle class. Our tactics are affordable and our mission is essential to the future health and stability of the District. Every dollar invested supports the success of the Equity Imperative.