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General Information
This catalog is published for students and other persons who want to know more about the University of Northern Iowa. Its purpose is to communicate as objectively and completely as possible what the university is and what it does. The catalog is presented in sections to give a general view of the university as well as the detailed information required for informed decision making. Further information can be obtained on the university’s homepage www.uni.edu.
The University and Its Programs
History
The university was established in 1876 by enactment of the Iowa General Assembly, and opened on September 6, 1876, as the Iowa State Normal School - A school for the special instruction and training of teachers for the common schools of the state. The university offers a broad curriculum at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Four conventional baccalaureate degrees are offered: the Bachelor of Arts, the Bachelor of Fine Arts, the Bachelor of Music, and the Bachelor of Science.
Also available is the Bachelor of Liberal Studies, an external degree offered in cooperation with the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. On the graduate level, twelve degrees are offered: the Master of Accounting, the Master of Arts, the Master of Arts in Education, the Master of Business Administration, the Master of Music, the Master of Public Policy, the Master of Science, the Master of Social Work, the Professional Science Master’s, the sixth-year Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Education degree, and the Doctor of Industrial Technology degree.
The University of Northern Iowa has grown from its 1876 original campus site of 40 acres with one building - Central Hall, which originally housed orphaned children of Civil War soldiers - until it now embraces 57 principal buildings on a campus of 910 acres, with a fulltime faculty of approximately 650 and a total enrollment of approximately 13,000. In addition to its physical growth, the university continues to support programs that reach into the wider community, including the UNI Center for Urban Education (UNI-CUE), which is located in the heart of the urban area of Waterloo, Iowa. The internationally-known North American Review, which was established in 1815 in Boston and is the oldest periodical in the United States, is now published under the auspices of the University of Northern Iowa.
Location
The university is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, which has a population of approximately 35,000, with the Cedar Falls-Waterloo greater metropolitan area having a population of more than 110,000. Together with the University of Iowa and Iowa State University of Science and Technology, the University of Northern Iowa is governed by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa.
Mission
Established as the Iowa State Normal School, the institution was renamed the Iowa State Teachers College in 1909 and under this title attained a national reputation and status as a leading institution in the field of teacher education. By enactment of the Iowa General Assembly on July 5, 1961, the name of the college was changed to the State College of Iowa and degree programs were added for those not planning to teach. The change to the University of Northern Iowa was effected on July 1, 1967, following enactment by the Iowa General Assembly on the recommendation of the Board of Regents, State of Iowa. Its current statement of mission was approved by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa:
The University of Northern Iowa is a comprehensive institution dedicated to providing a personalized learning environment, founded on a strong liberal arts curriculum. It is committed to being an intellectually and culturally diverse community. The University focuses both on undergraduate education, and on selected master’s, doctoral and other graduate programs. It is characterized by excellence in three areas: teaching and learning; research, scholarship, and creative work; and service. Through its varied endeavors, UNI shares its expertise with, and provides service to, individuals, communities and organizations throughout the state, the nation and the world.
Memberships and Accreditation
The University of Northern Iowa is a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), and the Council of Graduate Schools in the United States. The university is accredited through the doctoral degree (Doctorate of Education and Doctorate of Industrial Technology) by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA); The Higher Learning Commission, 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL, 60602-2504; telephone 312-263-0456. The programs of the university are accredited by the following professional accrediting agencies: the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB - International), the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, the National Association of Schools of Music, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the Council on Social Work Education, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the National Association of Industrial Technology, and the National Recreation and Park Association Council on Accreditation. Programs are also approved by the Iowa State Department of Education, the National University Extension Association, and the American Chemical Society. In addition, the University Museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums.
The B.A. in Athletic Training major is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
The B.A. in Family Services major is an approved program for educating Certified Family Life Educators by the National Council on Family Relations.
The Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA), has conferred accreditation to the following program areas in the Department of Educational Leadership, Counseling, and Postsecondary Education at the University of Northern Iowa: Mental Health Counseling (M.A.) and School Counseling (M.A.E.).
UNI is committed to the assessment of student learning for the ongoing improvement of curriculum, programs, and services offered by the university and for accreditation processes. Assessment of academic programs is managed through the cycle of Academic Program Review, which includes both internal and external review processes. In addition to Academic Program Review, other assessment activities and the collection of data related to student learning outcomes are managed through the resources and leadership of the Office of Academic Assessment and the Office of Institutional Research.