Upper Iowa University

Alexander-Dickman Hall, built in 1855, is the oldest building on the Fayette Campus and constructed of native limestone.

In 1854, Elizabeth Alexander, a pioneer living near what is now Fayette, Iowa, proposed the idea of a college to her husband, Robert, who donated $10,000 toward the cause. Their son-in-law, Samuel Robertson, donated $5,000 and 10 acres (40,000 m²) of land. In 1856, the first Board of Trustees meeting was held; articles of Incorporation were adopted; and classes began January 7, 1857. The university was affiliated with the Methodist Church until 1928.

In 1861, a company of male students and faculty members enlisted in the Army to fight in the American Civil War. Student-soldiers participated in 17 major battles, carrying a flag hand-sewn by UIU women students. In 1917, UIU male students joined the armed forces during World War I, while women students organized American Red Cross classes on campus; the UIU gym became a barracks, and the athletic field was the scene of military drills. By 1920, a systematic program of extension work throughout northeast Iowa had begun, with Upper Iowa referred to as "a pioneer in the field."[4] Those students who joined the service to fight in World War II took advantage of the G.I. Bill to complete their education, which dramatically increased Upper Iowa enrollment between 1947 and 1950. Record enrollments were also seen after the Vietnam War (1952–1970).[5]

In 1972, Upper Iowa launched an external degree program that included Independent Study and Online Programs. In 1984 to present, UIU expanded to open locations across the U.S. Upper Iowa was approved by the Higher Learning Commission to offer graduate degrees in 1995, and in 1999 started its International Program by establishing centers in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The Andres Center for Business and Education was built in 2004

It was also during 1994 to 2003 that UIU underwent an aggressive landscaping and building renovation that brought changes to its Fayette campus. This included the construction of Lee Tower Residence Halls, the acquisition of a new physical plant building and the construction of a recreation center. In 2004, the new Andres Center for Business and Education was built, and Alan G. Walker was appointed the 20th president of the University. During summer 2009, the largest capital improvement project broke ground on the Fayette campus — $75 million — which will include a new student center, suite-style housing, and a Liberal Arts academic building.[6]

Upper Iowa's traditional 100-acre (0.40 km²) residential campus is in Fayette, Iowa. Fayette County is ranked at 26th in the Midwest list of “Best Places to Live.”[7] Student-faculty ratio is 14:1; teaching is by tenured or full-time faculty of whom nearly 75 percent have doctorate degrees; advising is done by faculty; there are free on-campus tutor centers; and there are more than 40 registered fraternities, sororities, clubs and organizations on campus.

The Fayette campus is primarily for undergraduate students, but a master's degree in education is also offered, along with two-week IXEL classes in the summer. Students can choose from 40 majors, with the most popular being Elementary Education and Teaching, Marketing/Marketing Management, General, and Natural Resources/Conservation. The Pleggenkuhle Prairie, donated by the Pleggenkuhle family to UIU, is 3 acres (12,000 m²) of virgin prairie northwest of Hawkeye. It is used as a teaching tool for students to learn about the prairie ecosystem and to conduct prescribed burns and research projects at the site.

The academic facilities on the Fayette campus are state-of-the-art due to an aggressive renovation of the old buildings over the past decade and new construction currently underway. The Fayette campus has free wireless Internet access. The recreational facilities include free student events, a free fitness center, and free golf at the local 18-hole course. The university has rock wall climbing and specially designed ropes course.

Upper Iowa University participates in the Higher Learning Commission Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) alternative path for accreditation, has a UIU chapter of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society, and 165 student athletes were honored in 2010 for academic excellence.[8] Average ACT score is 22; average high school grade point average is 2.94; tuition for 2009-2010 is $22,350, with 100 percent of UIU students receiving need- and/or merit-based financial aid.[9]

Upper Iowa University awards more than $100,000 each year in merit-based scholarships to its current students.[10]

In 2005, Upper Iowa University was accepted into full membership of the NCAA Division II athletics and became a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Peacock colors are blue and white. UIU was an NCAA Division III member of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference until 2003.

The statue of Colonel David B. Henderson stands in front of the Upper Iowa University library. Andrew Carnegie donated $25,000 to the University to honor his friend.

• William V. Allen, United States Senator from Nebraska, 1893 – 1901.
• William F. Albright, archaeologist who worked on the Dead Sea Scrolls
• William Andres, Former President of Dayton Hudson, now known as Target
• Minnie Bronson, anti-suffragist, 1881
• Raymond F. Chandler, Former Sergeant Major of the Army
• Richard C. Clark, former United States Senator from Iowa, 1973–1979
• Mike Eischeid, football player and punter in the National Football League for 9 seasons, 1963
• Rick Heller, college baseball coach at Upper Iowa, Northern Iowa, Indiana State, and Iowa
• David B. Henderson, the first Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from west of the Mississippi, 1861
• Roger Halvorson, Iowa House of Representatives
• Mary Lundby, Iowa State Senate, 1971
• Carl Magee, inventor of the modern parking meter, 1896
• John Mott (attended), leader of the Y.M.C.A. movement and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1946 for his work with prisoners of war
• Larry Nemmers, National Football League game official (side judge 1985-90; referee 1991-2007) B.S. Biology, 1965
• Gerald C. Olesen, U.S. Air National Guard general, Assistant Adjutant General of Wisconsin
• George Safford Parker, founder of the Parker Pen Company, 1882
• Roger C. Schultz, United States Army Lieutenant General and Director of the Army National Guard, B.S. Management, 1980
• Rob Taylor, Iowa House of Representatives[12]
• Claude Welch, President and Dean, Graduate Theological Union
• C.T. Wilson - Member, Maryland House of Delegates

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Upper Iowa University.

• Official website
• Official athletics website