University of Northern Iowa facts for kids
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Former names
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Iowa State Normal School (1876–1909) Iowa State Teachers College (1909–1961) State College of Iowa (1961–1967) |
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| Motto | Lux (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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Light |
| Type | Public university |
| Established | September 6, 1876 |
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Parent institution
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Iowa Board of Regents |
| Accreditation | HLC |
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Academic affiliations
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Space-grant |
| Endowment | $163 million (2022) |
| President | Mark Nook |
| Provost | Jose Herrerra |
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Academic staff
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639 |
| Students | 9,021 (Fall 2023) |
| Undergraduates | 7,739 |
| Postgraduates | 828 |
| Location |
,
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United States
42°30′54″N 92°27′38″W / 42.51500°N 92.46056°W |
| Campus | Small city, 900 acres (360 ha) |
| Newspaper | The Northern Iowan |
| Colors | Purple and gold |
| Nickname | Panthers |
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Sporting affiliations
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| Mascot | TC Panther (male) & TK Panther (female) |
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The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) is a public university located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States. UNI offers more than 90 different study programs across five main colleges. In the fall of 2023, about 9,021 students were enrolled at the university.
UNI was started in 1876 as the Iowa State Normal School. Its first goal was to train teachers for schools. It is one of three public universities in Iowa. The Iowa Board of Regents helps manage UNI and the other two universities.
Contents
History of UNI: How It Started
The University of Northern Iowa began for two main reasons in the 1800s. First, Iowa wanted to care for children whose parents had died in the Civil War. Second, Iowa needed a public school to train teachers.
In 1876, the state no longer needed the orphan home. So, lawmakers Edward G. Miller and H. C. Hemenway helped create the Iowa State Normal School.
The school's first building, Central Hall, opened in 1867. It had classrooms, common areas, and places for students to live. The school's first leader, James Cleland Gilchrist, also lived there. Central Hall was very important to the school. Students could study for two-year, three-year, and four-year degrees there. A fire destroyed Central Hall in 1965. Teachers and people from Cedar Falls donated money to build Gilchrist Hall in its place.
The school has had a few different names:
- Iowa State Normal School, from 1876 to 1909
- Iowa State Teachers College, from 1909 to 1961
- State College of Iowa, from 1961 to 1967
- University of Northern Iowa, from 1967 until now
From 2014 to 2018, UNI hosted a conference called Midwest Summer Institute: Inclusion and Communication for All. This conference focused on something called facilitated communication. In 2018, many experts asked UNI to stop hosting the conference. UNI decided to discontinue it.
UNI's Leaders: A List of Presidents
Since it began, the university has had eleven presidents.
- James Cleland Gilchrist, 1876–1886
- Homer Horatio Seerley, 1886–1928
- Orval Ray Latham, 1928–1940
- Malcolm Poyer Price, 1940–1950
- James William Maucker, 1950–1970
- John Joseph Kamerick, 1970–1983
- Constantine William Curris, 1983–1995
- Robert D. Koob, 1995–2006
- Benjamin J. Allen, 2006–2013
- William Ruud, 2013–2016
- Mark Nook, 2017–present
Academics: What Students Can Study
The University of Northern Iowa has several colleges where students can learn:
- Wilson College of Business
- Education
- Humanities, Arts and Sciences
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Graduate College
Study Abroad: Learning in Other Countries
UNI gives students a chance to study in over 25 countries. They can choose from more than 40 different programs. This opportunity is open to all students at the university. The Study Abroad Center helps students learn about other cultures and gain international experience.
English Program for Non-Native Speakers
The Culture and Intensive English Program (CIEP) helps students who are not native English speakers. It prepares them for college-level studies. UNI students can also join the Conversation Partner Program. This helps foreign students practice English and build friendships.
North American Review: A Famous Magazine
The university publishes The North American Review (NAR). This is a very old and famous literary magazine. It started in Boston in 1815. Many well-known writers have contributed to it. These include Mark Twain, Henry James, and Margaret Atwood. UNI bought the magazine in 1968.
Teaching and Research Greenhouse: Plants and Learning
The University of Northern Iowa Teaching and Research Greenhouse is a special building with many plants. It's like a botanical garden used for research and teaching. It is located on the UNI campus in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
The greenhouse has plants from many different climates. It includes 250 tropical plants and many plants from dry areas. There's also a large Aquatic Learning Center for water plants.
Athletics: The UNI Panthers
UNI's sports teams are called the Panthers. Their mascots are TC (The Cat) and his sister TK. They compete in NCAA Division I. The football team plays in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Most other sports are in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). The wrestling team is part of the Big 12 Conference.
The main sports building on campus is the UNI-Dome. It is home to the football team. The Dome also hosts concerts, high school football games, and other events. In 2006, UNI opened the McLeod Center. This arena is home to the volleyball, men's, and women's basketball teams.
UNI Athletics has had a lot of success. The men's basketball team has played in the NCAA tournament many times. In 2010, they beat the top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks. This was a huge upset and helped them reach the Sweet Sixteen for the first time. They even won an ESPY Award for Best Upset that year!
Jacqui Kalin helped the women's basketball team win back-to-back MVC Tournament titles. She was named the Jackie Stiles MVC Player of the Year twice. She holds school records for scoring, three-pointers, and free throws. Her career free throw percentage is an NCAA Division 1 record.
The football team is often ranked among the top teams in their division. In 2005, they played in the I-AA championship game. In 2007, they had an undefeated season with an 11–0 record. The volleyball, track, and wrestling teams are also very successful.
The UNI wrestling team won national championships in 1949 (Division I), 1975, and 1978 (Division II). The women's softball team won a national championship in 1977.
Many UNI athletes have become professional stars. Bryce Paup won Defensive Player of the Year in the NFL in 1995. Kurt Warner, another UNI alumnus, was named NFL MVP in 1999 and 2001.
Student Life at UNI
Student Newspapers
Students at UNI have published newspapers for a long time:
- Students Offering, 1888–1889
- Normal Eye, 1892–1911
- College Eye, 1911–1967
- Northern Iowan, 1967–present
Fraternities and Sororities
UNI has several social groups called fraternities (for men) and sororities (for women). These groups offer social activities and community service.
Fraternities
- Kappa Sigma
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon
- Chi Phi
NPC Sororities
- Alpha Delta Pi
- Alpha Xi Delta
- Alpha Phi
- Gamma Phi Beta
- Alpha Sigma Tau
Getting Around: Transportation
UNI students can ride public buses for a small fee with their student ID. The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Black Hawk County provides these buses. Routes 6, 7, 9, and 10 connect the campus to downtown Cedar Falls, downtown Waterloo, and other places.
Notable People from UNI
Many interesting people have studied or worked at the University of Northern Iowa.
Alumni: Famous Graduates
- David Johnson – professional football player
- Bryce Paup – former professional football player
- Jacqui Kalin – American-Israeli professional basketball player
- Nick Nurse – professional basketball coach
- Jane Elliott – famous educator known for her anti-racism work
- William R. Clabby – award-winning journalist for The Wall Street Journal
Faculty: Well-Known Teachers
- Robert James Waller – former professor and author of The Bridges of Madison County
- James Hearst – a well-known poet and former professor
- Norm Stewart – former men's basketball coach who later coached at the University of Missouri
See also
In Spanish: Universidad del norte de Iowa para niños
