University of Northern Iowa

About the University of Northern Iowa

The University of Northern Iowa prides itself on putting “Students First,” and has a reputation for providing exceptional undergraduate education, as well as complementary programs at the master’s, specialist and doctoral levels. Building on its historic excellence in teacher education, the university has developed outstanding programs in business, natural sciences, humanities and fine arts, and social and behavioral sciences.

One of three state universities, UNI enjoys national recognition for its high educational standards. U.S. News and World Report has ranked UNI second among Midwest public universities for 12 consecutive years.

The university's size—just more than 13,000 students—allows it to offer faculty, facilities and academic choices of a large university, while retaining a friendly, small-college atmosphere on a compact, park-like campus. With more than 40 major buildings on 940 acres, the campus can still be crossed in an easy 15-minute walk.

Experiential learning opportunities such as undergraduate research, internships, student teaching, international study programs, community volunteering and cooperative education encourage a classroom connection to real-world experience. A rigorous liberal-arts core curriculum equips students with a broad understanding and knowledge of how to apply and acquire new information throughout life.

Activities on campus are plentiful for both students and the community. The university offers a full calendar of fine- and performing-arts events offered by music and theatre students, many of which take place in the acoustically outstanding Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. The GBPAC also hosts numerour national touring acts as part of its artistic series. UNI sponsors 17 varsity intercollegiate sports, seven men’s programs and 10 women’s programs.

For more information, see www.uni.edu.

About the School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services (HPELS)

The School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services (HPELS) is one of the oldest such programs in the United States. Coursework was first offered on physical education in 1878 and a Department of Physical Culture was established in 1896. In 1978, the School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services was established, combining the Men’s and Women’s Physical Education, Health, and Recreation programs and today has five academic divisions: Athletic Training; Health Promotion and Education; Leisure, Youth and Human Services, Physical Education; and Liberal Arts. The School enrolls about 1,150 majors and minors and offers undergraduate and graduate majors in health promotion and school health education, physical education (teaching and non-teaching), athletic training, leisure services and youth/human service administration.

Major facilities include a nationally award winning Wellness/Recreation Center and recently dedicated Richard O. Jacobson Human Performance Center. Resources include five aerobic/dance studios, six racquetball courts, two multipurpose courts, 1/10th mile jogging tack, fitness/conditioning area, leisure pool, instructional pool with seating for 300, 40-ft climbing wall, and eight seminar and classrooms. Laboratories in the Wellness/Recreation Center include those serving studies in the following areas: biomechanics, biostatistics, early childhood motor development, exercise physiology and psychomotor behavior. The center also houses a computer instructional laboratory, student computer center, rhythm and movement studio, and wellness resources laboratory. The Human Performance Center promotes a unique public/private partnership and includes space dedicated to sports medicine and aimed at healthy youth development.