Misplaced Pages

Maharishi International University: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 21:05, 7 January 2008 editLittleolive oil (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers25,080 edits →Planned buildings: date no longer accurate← Previous edit Revision as of 21:10, 7 January 2008 edit undoLittleolive oil (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers25,080 edits →Sustainable architecture: more neutral wordingNext edit →
Line 209: Line 209:


=== Sustainable architecture === === Sustainable architecture ===
The University aims to create a campus in accord with Natural Law. Green and energy-efficient principles of architecture and community planning include Maharishi Sthapatya Veda® design, an ancient system of country, town, village, and home planning in tune with nature and that connects individual life with cosmic life. Over 40 old buildings have been demolished and over a dozen new buildings have been erected according to Vedic Architecture. Administrators report that students enjoy more clarity, energy, and harmony living and attending classes in the new buildings. The University's efforts to create a sustainable campus includes, green and energy-efficient architecture and community planning including Maharishi Sthapatya Veda® design, an ancient system of country, town, village, and home planning said to be aligned with nature and said to connect individual life with cosmic life. Over 40 old buildings have been demolished and over a dozen new buildings have been erected according to Maharishi Sthapatya Veda® design.


== Research == == Research ==

Revision as of 21:10, 7 January 2008

Maharishi University of Management
MottoEngaging the Managing Intelligence of Nature
TypePrivate
Established1971
PresidentBevan Morris
Academic staff47 full-time, 10 part-time
Students930
AddressMaharishi University of Management
Fairfield, Iowa 52557, Fairfield, Iowa, United States
CampusRural, 272 acres (1.1 km)
ColorsGreen and Gold   
Websitehttp://www.mum.edu
File:Maharishi University of Management logo 1.jpg

Maharishi University of Management (M.U.M.), formerly known as Maharishi International University, was founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, creator of the Transcendental Meditation technique. The campus is located in Fairfield, Iowa, USA, on the grounds of the former Parsons College.

The university is accredited through the Ph.D. level by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and offers Consciousness-based Education with degree programs in the arts, sciences, business, and humanities.

Maharishi University of Management cites high rankings on "benchmarks of effective educational practice" from the National Survey of Student Engagement and also the results of the ACT alumni survey that show a high level of alumni satisfaction.

History

Santa Barbara (1973-1974)

The first campus opened its doors in 1973 and was located in a former residential complex in a small community near Santa Barbara, California, with one hundred students and thirty-five faculty members.

Fairfield (1974-present)

Due to an expanding student body and the need for laboratories, libraries, residence halls and cafeterias, the university moved its campus in the summer of 1974 from Santa Barbara, California to the defunct Parsons College campus in Fairfield, Iowa. Accreditation by the North Central Association followed. The first Ph.D. programs were offered in 1979. Since the establishment of its research facilities, the university has been awarded over 150 federal, state, and private grants and contracts totaling over $24 million, including funding from the National Institutes of Health’s Cancer Institute; the NIH Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the National Science Foundation; the National Endowment for the Humanities; and the U.S. Department of Education. Research grants have been awarded in fields including physics, molecular biology, physiology, and preventive medicine.

In 1995, Maharishi International University officially became Maharishi University of Management (M.U.M.). The new name, the university claimed, goes beyond the conventional business discipline in that it emphasizes that gaining deep knowledge and experience has practical value in that students are said to be able to better manage their own lives

Today, after years of expansion and transformation, the University’s goals still reflect the vision of the founder, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi:

  1. To develop the full potential of the individual,
  2. To realize the highest ideal of education,
  3. To improve governmental achievements,
  4. To solve the age-old problem of crime and all behavior that brings unhappiness to the family of man,
  5. To bring fulfillment to the economic aspirations of individuals and society,
  6. To maximize the intelligent use of the environment,
  7. To achieve the spiritual goals of mankind in this generation.

Distinguishing features

The Transcendental Meditation technique

Main article: Transcendental Meditation

All students and faculty at Maharishi University of Management practice the Transcendental Meditation technique daily, which is said to offer a range of benefits.

One course at a time

Maharishi University of Management operates on a block system. Students take one course at a time for approximately a four-week period. The University feels that studying one subject at a time promotes a deeper understanding of that subject.

Entering freshmen and the Science of Creative Intelligence

Entering MUM freshmen and transfer students begin their first semester with a Science of Creative Intelligence (SCI) class, which consists of 33 taped lessons created by Maharishi. The course, the theoretical aspect of the Transcendental Meditation technique, was designed by Maharishi, and claims to offer a complete, systematic understanding of consciousness that would enable students to connect any academic discipline to a holistic paradigm, that includes connection to themselves. Entering students also participate in “Base Camp,” where they travel as a group to a semi-wilderness environment to experience the outdoors.

All Knowledge Interconnected

Students may choose from a range of majors in the arts, sciences, business, and humanities, receiving traditional training in these fields. They gain the latest knowledge of the discipline — with special emphasis on the practical, applied values of the knowledge. All disciplines are also integrated with an understanding of the theoretical aspects of human consciousness as perceived by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The knowledge of the diverse aspects of a discipline interconnected with an understanding of consciousness in both theoretical and practical aspects is said to create a more holistic awareness of the discipline.

Sanskrit

Students at MUM are required to learn Sanskrit and read Vedic literature in Devanagari in their first year. Maharishi has said that ”The perfect orderliness of the Sanskrit language creates orderliness and balance in the brain physiology, expands the memory, and purifies the physiology…."

Natural health

Maharishi University of Management emphasizes natural health. In addition to a completely tobacco-free, alcohol-free, and drug-free campus policy, natural health techniques are provided. These include guidelines for daily and seasonal routines, diet and digestion, pranayama or simple breathing techniques, simple yoga postures called asanas, personalized fitness programs, and self-pulse assessment techniques.

Daily routine

The faculty encourage students to cultivate habits and routines that help to maintain a healthy mind and body. To this end, they suggest that students maintain a regular schedule of academic work, rest, meals, and exercise. The recommended routine also helps students to develop time management skills.

Class hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Saturday. Evening study hours are generally from 7:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. Students are encouraged to have lights out before 10:00 p.m. to ensure maximum rest and freshness for the next day's activities. To assist students in maintaining their most ideal daily routine, the library and computer labs close by 9:30 p.m., and residence hall advisers implement visitor rules.

Students are also required to participate in physical activity every day. A variety of recreation, exercise classes, and sports are offered to meet most schedules. The fully equipped Recreation Center and an outdoor swimming pool are open to students at no charge.

Organic vegetarian meals

Maharishi University of Management offers an all-vegetarian, organic menu made from fresh ingredients rather than frozen or processed foods. The range of dishes includes home-style American pizza, lasagna, Chinese stir-fry, and Mexican, Greek, and Indian foods. Organic, whole-grain breads and pastries are produced in university kitchens, while a local, organic, dairy farm supplies milk, yogurt and ice cream. University organic farms and greenhouses supply some of the produce, picked at their peak of freshness and cooked within a day. A buffet-style dining room includes outdoor dining when weather permits. The campus meal plan includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week.

Programs

Undergraduate

Bachelor

Minor


Graduate

Master

Ph.D.

Tuition and financial aid

U.S. students

More than 90% of US undergraduate students that apply for financial aid have been awarded enough funding to cover most of their tuition, fees, housing and meals costs. Students are encouraged to eat on campus for the convenience and because of the freshly prepared food offered seven days a week. Total cost estimates for the 2007-8 academic year run about $24,000 for tuition and an additional $6,430 for housing, meals and fees. This does not include personal expenses, travel, or books.

US Graduate student aid packages often cover 100% of the students' financial needs.

International students

Undergraduate and graduate students may be eligible for financial aid. There are different packages available through the financial aid office. Awards vary depending on the program.

All international students need to supply an additional $2,900 for personal expenses, emergencies, and books annually. The University also offers merit-based scholarships to recognize outstanding academic achievements.

Campus

Maharishi University of Management has 272 acres (1.1 km) surrounded by wooded areas, fields, and two small lakes, and is located 50 miles (80 km) west of the Mississippi River. The original campus included 80 buildings, many of which have been demolished in favor of new buildings using Maharishi Sthapatya Veda architecture and environmentally conscious design. As of 2007, the University has over 45 buildings on campus, including 17 main classroom and administrative buildings. A master plan for reconstruction includes attention toward environmental conservation, incorporating renewable energy and state-of-the-art building technologies.


Administrative and teaching

The Dreier Building, the first building on campus designed according to Maharishi Sthapatya Veda architecture, houses the offices of Admissions, Alumni, Campus Reconstruction, Development, the Dean of Faculty, the Dean of Women and Men, the Enrollment Center, the Executive Vice-President, Legal Counsel, Human Resources, and six classrooms.

The current Student Union houses the Cosmic Cafe, Annapurna Dining Hall, Bookstore, Fine Arts Department, Student Activities, Student Union Theatre, art, photography, digital media, film, dance, and ceramics classes.

The Library Building houses the main library, classrooms, administrative offices, multimedia computer lab, Unity Art Gallery, Campus Security and Facilities Management. The library catalog includes 140,000 volumes, 60 reference databases, and Internet Reference Resources, 7,000 electronic books, 12,000 full-text periodicals, special collections including the Science of Creative Intelligence® Reserve Collection, Journal of Modern Science and Vedic Science, Ph.D. Dissertations by university students, and a Vedic Literature Collection. A campus-wide closed-circuit television network includes 10,000 hours of videotaped and audio taped courses, conferences and presentations. Additional facilities include network plug-in ports for laptop users, support for international distance education students, and DVD/video rentals with over 1,500 titles. Interlibrary loans include books and articles and access to University of Iowa Library and worldwide Libraries.

Other buildings include:

  • A fieldhouse;
  • A K-12 Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment, which includes a separate digital media center and a greenhouse;
  • The McLaughlin Building, which houses the Computer Science Department and Mathematics Department;
  • The Maharishi Veda Bhavan Building, which houses the Education Department, Maharishi Vedic Science Department, and the Center for Educational Excellence;
  • Henn Mansion, a restored 1857-building, housing the Resource Development Office, Literature and Writing department, Public Affairs, and International Student Advisor Office.
  • Gate Ridge Court Building houses the Department for the Development of Consciousness, the Management Department, accounting, and a number of classrooms;
  • Two Golden Domes for Research in Consciousness classes.

Residential buildings and amenities

  • 14 former fraternity houses, now used as residence halls;
  • Six new Maharishi Sthapatya Veda arcitecture residence halls;
  • Five Hi-Rise residence halls;
  • Hildenbrand Residence Hall;
  • Faculty and staff apartments and homes;
  • Verrill Hall, which houses communications, custodial services, housing, mail room, the Press, Press Marketing, KHOE 90.5 FM radio station, and video studios;
  • An 80,000-square-foot (7,000 m) Recreation Center.

Planned buildings

  • A new 50,000 sq ft (5,000 m) Student Center;
  • A Taste of Utopia Hall.

Others

There is an outdoor swimming pool, an organic foods market dubbed The Golden Dome Market, said to be the first supermarket built according to Maharishi Sthapatyaveda, and a Motor Pool for university vehicles.


Sustainable architecture

The University's efforts to create a sustainable campus includes, green and energy-efficient architecture and community planning including Maharishi Sthapatya Veda® design, an ancient system of country, town, village, and home planning said to be aligned with nature and said to connect individual life with cosmic life. Over 40 old buildings have been demolished and over a dozen new buildings have been erected according to Maharishi Sthapatya Veda® design.

Research

Maharishi University of Management has had studies published in numerous scientific journals . As well, the university has received over $20 million in funding from different branches of the National Institutes of Health in Washington, D.C. The university's Department of Physiology and Health Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention received $8 million from the NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) to establish the first research center specializing in natural preventive medicine for minorities in the U.S. In the past decade, Institute director Dr. Robert Schneider and national collaborators received grants totaling over $10.5 million for research on prevention-oriented natural medicine. Studies were published in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension. Other Institute research findings were published in periodicals such as The American Journal of Cardiology, Psychosomatic Medicine, Ethnicity and Disease, and The American Journal of Managed Care. The Insititue for Natural Medicine and Prevention has a consortium of major medical centers they collaborate with including the University of Iowa College of Medicine in Iowa City, Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention trains future researchers such as graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and physicians, in the area of natural medicine approaches.

Student life

The international flavor of the student body lends itself to unique learning opportunities both in and outside the classroom. Many students share the common goal of world peace, and through the Global Student Council — a group of student-run committees — there are many opportunities for students to develop leadership skills and work with national and international organizations.

Residence halls

Single rooms are standard for all students to ensure quiet time and privacy. All rooms are fully furnished and include high-speed Internet connections. Most residence halls are equipped with exercise and TV rooms. Family homes are available in a 200-unit Utopia Park located on the northern part of campus, and housing can also be found throughout the surrounding town of Fairfield. The University is now in the process of designing its first “green” residence hall, a fully nontoxic building with earth-friendly energy and water systems.

Seven new “home-style” residence halls opened in early 2005, each with eight private bedrooms and baths plus a central kitchen and living room area. The new residence halls were built according to the ancient principles of Vedic architecture to promote the health, happiness, and well-being of the residents. Geothermal technology is used to conserve energy, and natural materials were used whenever possible.

Sports and recreation

A 60,000-square-foot (6,000 m) indoor facility is equipped with a weight room, gymnastic equipment, basketball hoops, volleyball courts, tennis courts, ping-pong tables, track, and a 28-foot (9 m) rock-climbing wall. Outside are 10 tennis courts, a soccer field and a swimming pool with an adjoining sand volleyball court. The swimming pool is open June to mid-September, and there is an indoor pool in Fairfield available throughout the year. There is also a soccer stadium, the home field of the University soccer team. Players represent as many as 16 countries, and the team has been three-time undefeated champion of its league. Within a five-minute walk is a small two-lake reservoir, suitable for flat water kayaking, canoeing and windsurfing. A 17-mile (27 km) walking and cycling trail surrounds the lakes. Bicycles, canoes, and cross-country skis are available for student use through the Recreation Center.The Department of Exercise and Sport Science offers three-day adventure trips (on weekends between courses) that are professionally supervised. These can include alpine skiing, rock climbing, white-water kayaking on the Wolf River in Wisconsin, horseback riding,and canoe trips.

Activities

The Global Student Council hosts numerous events throughout the year, and the Student Activities department supports and helps staff these events. Cultural festivals are organized by students from different nations and include food fests with music and costume. Annual EcoFairs include panel discussions with experts in renewable energy and sustainable living, sustainable agriculture, green building processes and methods, and renewable water filtration systems for home or business, plus a fashion show using only organic fabrics. Talent variety shows, open mike evenings, games night at the Cosmic Café, and national day celebrations honoring the over 50 nations represented on campus occur all year long. The Student Union Theater hosts films and live performances, while a large downstairs ballroom is the site of everything from Latin dance classes to fashion shows. The library offers DVD/video rentals of over 1,500 titles.

Alumni

Some noted alumni include Ronald J.D. Parker, Jennie Rothenberg, and Geoff Gilpin.

Gallery

References

  1. "Bios and Photos". Retrieved 2007-04-25.
  2. * "'Flunk-Out U' alumni reunite". CNN. June 2, 2003. Retrieved 2004-04-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. "About Maharishi University of Management". Retrieved 2007-03-01. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. "National Survey of Student Engagement". Retrieved 2007-09-01. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. "Alumni of Maharishi University of Management". Retrieved 2007-03-01. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. Maharishi International Bulletin (1979-1981)

Further reading

External links

Transcendental Meditation
Programs
Organizations
Education
People
Places
Media
Categories: