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 sixth-year Specialist and Specialist in Education degrees, 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 14,000. 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 in 2001:

"The University of Northern Iowa is a comprehensive institution committed to providing a diverse, dynamic learning environment, founded on a strong liberal arts curriculum and characterized by excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. The university focuses both on undergraduate education that emphasizes a personalized learning environment and on selected masters, doctoral and other graduate programs that provide students with specialized educational experiences. UNI programs incorporate scholarship and 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 International Association for Management Education (AACSB), 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 American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, the National Association of Industrial Technology, and the National Recreation and Park Association/American Association for Leisure and Recreation. 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 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.).

University of Northern Iowa Academic Calendar 2004-2006

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Last Modified: August 6, 2004