The University of Northern Iowa is a comprehensive institution distinguished by its focus on undergraduate education.  The university, regarded for its history as a leader in teacher preparation, supports exemplary undergraduate programs founded on a strong liberal arts curriculum, and offers selected master’s, doctoral, and other graduate programs that provide students with specialized educational experiences.  In fall 2010, the university enrolled 13,201 students from all 99 of Iowa’s counties, 45 states and the District of Columbia, and 61 foreign countries.

The university was founded in 1876 as the Iowa State Normal School.  In 1909, it became Iowa State Teachers College, and was first accredited as a teachers college in 1913.  In 1961, the name was changed to State College of Iowa, and, in 1967, the Iowa General Assembly acted to change the status of the institution to that of a university under its present title.  The university continues to vigorously pursue its role as a leader in pre-K through 12 education and education-related issues in Iowa and the nation.  Well-known for preparing teachers, UNI’s student teaching network is a national model for the involvement of practitioners in teacher education programs and offers intercultural student teaching opportunities in a number of states and foreign countries.  UNI has the largest teacher education program in Iowa, offering 96 endorsements in all five academic colleges.  Nearly 25 percent of Iowa's teachers and 33 percent of Iowa's superintendents and principals are UNI graduates.  UNI education programs also prepare counselors, school psychologists, principals, superintendents, early childhood education providers, environmental health specialists, athletic trainers, professionals for non-profit organizations and university faculty members.

At the request of the State Board of Regents, UNI is leading the Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership (IMSEP), a state-funded initiative, in partnership with Iowa State University and the University of Iowa, to strengthen math and science education across the state.  (For more information about IMSEP, go to www.iowamathscience.org)

UNI's heritage and philosophy place great value on providing a student-centered educational experience.  Its culture has been established through the development of an open, ethical, and caring community that promotes diversity, honesty, integrity, respect, fairness, trust, and civility among its members.  The university nurtures a premier learning environment — it is small enough to offer its students individualized attention, yet large enough to provide a variety of resources and opportunities, as well as distinguished faculty.  Most classes are taught by some 850 faculty members who are committed to helping students grow intellectually and personally.  About 92 percent of UNI’s classes have fewer than 50 students, and 60 percent have 29 or fewer students.

In its efforts to meet the needs of Iowans and Iowa outside the classroom environment, UNI’s outreach efforts have provided solutions to environmental and economic/business development issues. Business and Community Services outreach programs annually serve approximately 3,500 business and community clients involving more than 29,000 community and business leaders in all 99 of Iowa's counties, according to its latest annual report.  Programs are designed to diversify, expand and strengthen Iowa's economy with a focus on entrepreneurship, community and economic development, the environment and sustainability, market research and the bioeconomy.

In a typical year, UNI, through the Continuing Education Office, offers credit courses to students in approximately 70 Iowa counties and 125 cities and towns.  The Iowa Communications Network (ICN) and the World Wide Web continue to be the primary delivery methods.  Consistent with its history as a teacher education institution, the main audience for distance education remains K-12 teachers who are seeking graduate credit for recertification, additional endorsements, or graduate degrees.  Graduate programs that prepare educators to be school principals and superintendents are UNI’s most popular off-campus programs.  The university also offers a wide variety of cultural programs, lectures, and conferences that are open to the public.

The vision of the University of Northern Iowa is that it will be a leader among the nation’s finest public comprehensive universities, characterized by a multicultural and inclusive community with high-quality teaching/learning environments, and socially responsible contributions to the State of Iowa, the nation, and the world.  To achieve these goals, the university has established priorities to provide a premier undergraduate educational experience that is the best in Iowa and among the best in the Midwest; a premier teacher education program with state leadership on pre-K through 12 issues, and with national prominence; and increased service to the State of Iowa in economic, social, and cultural development and greater accessibility to, and affordability of a four-year degree. UNI priorities also include an increase in its diversity and sustainability efforts.

For more information see http://www.uni.edu/resources/about-uni

 

University of Northern Iowa - Website