Information about University Of Iowa

The University of Iowa
Established	February 25, 1847
Type	Public university
Academic term	Semester
Endowment	US $830 million (2/17/07) NACUBO
President	Sally Mason
Faculty	1,705
Students	29,979
Undergraduates	20,738
Postgraduates	5,388
Location	Iowa City, Iowa, USA
Campus	Urban, 1,900 acres (7.7 km²)
Sports	Hawkeyes
Colors	Black and Old gold
Mascot	Herky the Hawk
Website	uiowa.edu

The University of Iowa, also commonly called Iowa or U of I, is a major coeducational research university located on a 1,900 acre (8 km) campus in Iowa City, Iowa, US, on the banks of the Iowa River in East Central Iowa.

History and distinctions

The State University of Iowa was founded February 25, 1847, as Iowa's first public institution of higher learning, only 59 days after Iowa became a state. In spite of its original name, it is not to be confused with Iowa State University. According to The Public Ivies: America's Flagship Public Universities (2001) by Howard and Matthew Greene, The University of Iowa is one of America's "Public Ivy" institutions of higher education, defined by the authors as a public institution that "provides an Ivy League collegiate experience at a public school price." The first faculty offered instruction at the University in March 1855 to students in the Old Mechanics Building, situated where Seashore Hall is now. In September 1855, the student body numbered 124, of which, 41 were women. The 1856-57 catalogue listed nine departments offering Ancient Language, Modern Language, Intellectual Philosophy, Moral Philosophy, History, Natural History, Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, and Chemistry.

The original campus was composed of the Iowa Old Capitol Building and the 10 acres of land on which it stood. Following the placing of the cornerstone July 4, 1840, the building housed the Fifth Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Iowa (December 5, 1842) and then became the first capitol of the State of Iowa (December 28, 1765). Until that date it had been the third capitol of the Territory of Iowa. When the capitol of Iowa was moved to Des Moines in 1857, Old Capitol became the first permanent "home" of the University.

In 1855, Iowa became the first public university in the United States to admit men and women on an equal basis. Additionally, the University was the world's first university to accept creative work in theater, writing, music, and art on an equal basis with academic research.

The university was one of the first institutions in America to grant a law degree to a woman (Mary B. Hickey Wilkinson, 1873), to grant a law degree to an African American (G. Alexander Clark, 1879), and to put an African American on a varsity athletic squad (Carleton “Kinney” Holbrook, 1895)[1]. The university offered its first doctoral degree in 1898.

It established the first law school west of the Mississippi River, and was also the first to use television in education (1932) and pioneered the field of standardized testing. Additionally, Iowa was the first Big Ten institution to promote an African American to an administrative vice president’s position (Dr. Phillip Hubbard, promoted in 1966).

The university is also the home of the renowned Iowa Writers' Workshop and the National Advanced Driving Simulator (a virtual reality driving simulator.) U.S. News & World Report has ranked UI Hospitals and Clinics among "America’s Best Hospitals" ever since the rankings began in 1990. The University is currently home to ISCABBS, an aging public bulletin board system that was the largest Internet community in the world prior to the commercialization of the world wide web.

The university is one of 60 members of the Association of American Universities. Its Law Library is ranked #1 in the nation by the National Jurist.

On November 1, 1991, three faculty and one staff member of the department of physics and astronomy were killed, along with one administrator, when physics graduate student Gang Lu went on a shooting rampage, presumably because he was turned down for a prestigious award. The shooting spree also left one student permanently paralyzed. On April 13, 2006, a tornado struck the University and adjacent Iowa City, causing moderate damage throughout the campus and town. Despite the damage, injuries were relatively light in the area, although one person in a neighboring county was killed.

The school has recently come under fire for spending over $200,000 in searching for a new university president to replace the vacant position left by David J. Skorton after assuming the presidency of Cornell University in January 2006. The search has been unsuccessful, leading to tensions among faculty and staff members. On December 7, 2006, it was reported that the university faculty senate was seeking to give a vote of no confidence to two members of the Iowa Board of Regents.

In June of 2007, the school conducted interviews with four candidates for the office of President. On June 20, 2007 television station KCRG reported that Sally Mason had been selected as the next President at Iowa.[2] The Board of Regents later confirmed that Mason had been selected as the next President of Iowa.[3]

Academics

Bachelors, master's, and doctoral programs are offered through the Henry B. Tippie College of Business, the College of Dentistry, the College of Engineering, the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the College of Public Health, the College of Education, the College of Law, the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, the Graduate College, the College of Nursing, and the College of Pharmacy. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Iowa's undergraduate program 60th in the National Universities category, tied with Boston University, Purdue University, Rutgers, Ohio State University, and Texas A&M University.

The University is noted for its College of Nursing, which ranks in the top fifteen for all six categories used to rank nursing schools by U.S. News. Iowa places first in the nation in both nursing service administration and gerontological/geriatric nursing graduate programs. In the other categories, Iowa is ranked no worse than eleventh.

The Tippie College of Business also achieved fame when it was named by Business Week as one of the top fifty business schools in the nation.

Iowa Writers' Workshop

Founded in 1936, the Writers' Workshop is perhaps the most well known part of the University. Since 1947, the workshop has produced thirteen Pulitzer Prize winners. In total, twenty five people affiliated with the Writers' Workshop have won a Pulitzer Prize for writing.

Notable attendees of the Workshop include former faculty member Robert Penn Warren, author of All the King's Men, former student Michael Cunningham, author of The Hours, and former faculty member Kurt Vonnegut, author of books such as Cat's Cradle, Breakfast of Champions, and Slaughterhouse Five.

Campus

The University of Iowa's main campus is located in Iowa City, with the campus bordered by Park Road to the north and Dubuque and Gilbert Streets roughly to the east. U.S. Highway 6 traverses the university campus. The Iowa River flows through the campus dividing it into west and east sides.

Of architectural note is the Pentacrest at the center of The University of Iowa campus. The Pentacrest is the location of five major campus buildings: Old Capitol, Schaeffer Hall, MacLean Hall, Macbride Hall, and Jessup Hall. The Old Capitol was once the primary government building for the state of Iowa, but it is now a museum of Iowa history.

Also on the eastern side of campus includes four residence halls, the Iowa Memorial Union, the Pappajohn Business Building, and the buildings for biology, chemistry, engineering, psychology, and physics.

The Colleges of Law, Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Public Health are on the western bank of the Iowa River, along with the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and Voxman Music Building. Additionally, five residence halls (Hillcrest, Slater, Reinow, Quadrangle) and Parklawn), Kinnick Stadium, and Carver-Hawkeye Arena are located on the west campus.

The Oakdale Campus, which is home to some of the university's research facilities and the driving simulator, is located north of Interstate 80 in adjacent Coralville.

The Pentacrest

Main article: Pentacrest

The Pentacrest is sometimes referred to as the center of academic life at the University, especially for Liberal Arts students. It is composed of five buildings; the Old Capitol and four lecture halls, Schaffer, MacBride, MacLean, and Jessup. A variety of classes are held in these four buildings, mostly relating to the Liberal Arts. MacBride Hall and the Old Capitol also contain museums of natural history and Iowa state history, respectively.

Student life

Given the size of the university, it is difficult to generalize what student life is like at the University of Iowa. There are hundreds of student organizations, including groups focused on politics, sports, games, lifestyles, dance, song, and theater, among other things.

More so than many colleges, Iowa is known as a "party school". Many students participate in drinking, often at the many bars in or around Iowa City. Students have to be nineteen to get into the bars, and must be twenty-one to drink legally. Iowa was ranked by The Princeton Review as America's twelfth biggest party school in their annual list. The Iowa City Police Department generally brings in upwards of $10,000 every weekend for drinking related fines.

With so many students, it is not difficult to find things to do other than drinking, including movies, plays, restaurants, bowling, and a variety of other activities. The University also tries to sponsor events that give students an alternative to the typical drinking scene.

Athletics

Main article: Iowa Hawkeyes

The school's sports teams, the Hawkeyes, participate in the NCAA's Division I-A and in the Big Ten Conference.

Football

Main article: Iowa Hawkeyes football

Iowa's football team plays its home games at historic Kinnick Stadium, named after former Iowa football player Nile Kinnick who won the Heisman Trophy in 1939. Kinnick Stadium hosts 70,585 fans. The stadium unveiled a new look in 2006 with the completion of a 90 million dollar renovation. The renovation included new stands in the south endzone, a new press box, and a statue of Nile Kinnick. In recent years, the football team has enjoyed much success, earning six national bowl appearances since 2001 including shared Big Ten titles in 2002 and 2004. However, the program suffered a rough year in 2006. After starting out 5-1, the team went 1-5 over it's final six games including losses to perennially poor Indiana and Northwestern teams. Iowa lost to Texas in the Alamo Bowl.

Iowa battles Iowa State University annually for the Cy-Hawk Trophy, a traveling award. The Hawkeyes have dominated the series with the Cyclones, holding a 36-18 advantage following a 27-17 win in 2006. Iowa also has a Big Ten rivalry with Minnesota. The two schools' football teams meet yearly to battle for Floyd of Rosedale, a traveling trophy in the shape of a bronzed pig. In 2004, Iowa and Wisconsin unveiled the Heartland Trophy, a bronze bull, to be played for in their annual rivalry. The Hawkeye football team has won eleven Big Ten football titles.

Other sports

The school is also famous for its collegiate wrestling program. Through 2006, the Hawkeyes wrestlers have won 20 national titles and 31 Big Ten titles. Coach Dan Gable's Gang won nine straight NCAA team championships (1978 to 1986) and twice won three in a row (1991 to 1993 and 1995 to 1997). Iowa's 48 NCAA Champions have won a total of 74 NCAA individual titles, crowning six three-time and 13 two-time champions. Furthermore, Iowa's 130 all-Americans have earned all-America status 261 times, including 16 four-time, 27 three-time and 30 two-time honorees. Sports Illustrated named the Iowa program one of the top sports dynasties of the 20th century.[4] The program again made the news on March 29, 2006 when it was announced that wrestling coach Jim Zalesky's contract will not be renewed. About a month later, Iowa hired former 4 time All-American and Olympic champion Tom Brands as the new head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes. The University of Iowa wrestling program has consistently held an edge over in-state rival Iowa State.

Carver-Hawkeye Arena seats 15,500 for Iowa basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, and wrestling.

The trampoline was invented by University members George Nissen and Larry Griswold around 1935. Griswold, was the assistant gymnastics coach and Nissen was a tumbler on the gymnastics team.

On June 23, 2006 it was announced that former University of Wyoming athletic director Gary Barta had been named the new athletic director of the University. Barta replaced Bob Bowlsby, who left the University on July 9^th to become the new athletic director of Stanford University.

The University of Iowa also has several club sports teams that compete in Baseball, Rugby, Lacrosse, Volleyball, Soccer, Ice Hockey, and several other sports.

Fight Song and Alma Mater

Fight Song

The word is "Fight! Fight! Fight! for IOWA,
Let every loyal Iowan sing;
The word is "Fight! Fight! Fight! for IOWA,"
Until the walls and rafters ring (Go Hawks!)
Come on and cheer, cheer, cheer, for IOWA
Come on and cheer until you hear the final gun.
The word is "Fight! Fight! Fight! for IOWA,"
Until the game is won.

Alma Mater

Come all alums of Iowa,
And blend your voices true;
Sing praises to our Alma Mater,
As good Hawkeyes do.


Let's keep within our hearts a fire
To magnify her fame;
Bring credit to these noble halls,
Where glory and honor reign.


The day is near when comrades here
Will bid farewell and part;
But each Hawkeye carries on
Thy spirit in his heart.


Oh, Iowa, Iowa, we drink a toast to you;
We pledge our everlasting love
For dear old Iowa U
Alma Mater, Iowa
''

Notable people

Main article: List of University of Iowa people

As with any major public university, many University of Iowa alumni have achieved fame or notoriety after graduating. These people include athletes, film and television actors, and technological innovators. From its Iowa Writers' Workshop, the University boasts a number of Pulitzer Prizes winners (most recently Writer's Workshop faculty member Marilynne Robinson for her novel Gilead in 2005 ), as well as numerous National Book Awards and other major literary honors. Some of the notable alumni include NFL tight end Dallas Clark, actor Tom Arnold, and Pulitzer Prize winning writer Tennessee Williams.

Iowa's 1,700+ faculty members includes three Pulitzer Prize winners, five former clerks to U.S. Supreme Court justices, and numerous members of the nation’s most prestigious scholarly academies:

• Howard Hughes Medical Institute (4)
• American Academy of Arts and Sciences (11)
• Institute of Medicine (16)

Past University Presidents

• Amos Dean (1855-1859)
• Silas Totten (1859-1862)
• Oliver Spencer (1862-1867)
• James Black (1868-1870)
• George Thacher (1871-1877)
• Josiah Pickard (1878-1887)
• Charles Schaeffer (1887-1898)
• George MacLean (1899-1911)
• John Bowman (1911-1914)
• Thomas Macbride (1914-1916)
• Walter Jessup (1916-1934)
• Eugene Gilmore (1934-1940)
• Virgil Hancher (1940-1964)
• Howard Bowen (1964-1969)
• Willard Boyd (1969-1981)
• James O. Freedman (1982-1987)
• Hunter R. Rawlings III (1988-1995)
• Mary Sue Coleman (1995-2002)
• David Skorton (2003-2006)
• Sally Mason (2007-)

Iowa's most recent presidents have left to become presidents at several of the most prestigious colleges and universities of the United States: Dartmouth College (James O. Freedman in 1987), The University of Michigan (Mary Sue Coleman in 2002), and Cornell University (Hunter R. Rawlings III in 1995 and David Skorton in 2006).

See also

• Iowa Electronic Markets, a futures market run by the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business.

External links

• Official website
• Official Iowa athletics site
• * Maps and aerial photos for Coordinates:
• Maps from , Google Maps, Live Search Maps, Yahoo! Maps, or MapQuest
• Topographic maps from TopoZone or TerraServer-USA

•  • [ e] University of Iowa
Academics	College of Business • College of Law
Athletics	Iowa Hawkeyes • Iowa Hawkeyes football • Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball • Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling • Kinnick Stadium • Carver-Hawkeye Arena • Duane Banks Field • Iowa Fieldhouse • Big Ten Conference • Floyd of Rosedale • Cy-Hawk Trophy • Heartland Trophy • On Iowa • Iowa Fight Song • Roll Along Iowa • Hawkeye Victory Polka • Herky
Campus	Old Capitol • University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics • Pentacrest
Student Life	Hawkeye Marching Band • The Hawk's Nest

•  • [ e] Big Ten Conference
Illinois (Fighting Illini) • Indiana (Hoosiers) • Iowa (Hawkeyes) • Michigan (Wolverines) • Michigan State (Spartans) • Minnesota (Golden Gophers) • Northwestern (Wildcats) • Ohio State (Buckeyes) • Penn State (Nittany Lions) • Purdue (Boilermakers) • Wisconsin (Badgers) Television Channel: Big Ten Network

•  • [ e] Committee on Institutional Cooperation
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