The University of Iowa

The University of Iowa

Type	Flagship Public Space grant
Established	1847 (1847)
Endowment	$1.259 billion (2016)
President	Bruce Harreld
Provost	P. Barry Butler
Administrative staff	2,296
Students	33,334 (Fall 2016)
Undergraduates	24,476
Postgraduates	8,858
Location	Iowa City, Iowa, U.S. 41°39′N 91°32′W / 41.650°N 91.533°W / 41.650; -91.533Coordinates: 41°39′N 91°32′W / 41.650°N 91.533°W / 41.650; -91.533
Campus	Urban 1,700 acres
Colors	Black, Gold
Athletics	NCAA Division I – Big Ten
Nickname	Hawkeyes
Mascot	Herky the Hawk
Affiliations	AAU APLU BTAA URA
Website	uiowa.edu

The University of Iowa (also known as the UI, U of I, UIowa, or simply Iowa) is a flagshippublic research university in Iowa City, Iowa. Founded in 1847, Iowa is the oldest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized into eleven colleges offering more than 200 areas of study and seven professional degrees.

The Iowa campus spans 1,700 acres centered along the banks of the Iowa River and includes the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, named one of "America’s Best Hospitals" for the 25th year in a row. The university was the original developer of the Master of Fine Arts degree and it operates the world-renowned Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Iowa has very high research activity, and is a member of several research coalitions, including the prestigious Association of American Universities, the Universities Research Association, and the Big Ten Academic Alliance. The Iowa alumni network exceeds 250,000, and the university budgeted revenues and expenses of $3.513 billion for 2015.

The University of Iowa's athletic teams, the Hawkeyes, compete in Division I of the NCAA and are members of the Big Ten Conference. The Hawkeyes field 24 varsity teams and have won 27 national championships.

The University of Iowa was founded on February 25, 1847, just 59 days after Iowa was admitted to the Union. The Constitution of the State of Iowa refers to a State University to be established in Iowa City "without branches at any other place." The legal name of the university is the State University of Iowa, but the Board of Regents approved using the "University of Iowa" for everyday usage in October 1964.

The first faculty offered instruction at the university beginning in March 1855 to students in the Old Mechanics Building, located where Seashore Hall is now. In September 1855, there were 124 students, of whom forty-one were women. The 1856–57 catalogue listed nine departments offering ancient languages, modern languages, intellectual philosophy, moral philosophy, history, natural history, mathematics, natural philosophy, and chemistry. The first president of the university was Amos Dean.