The University of Minnesota
When the University of Minnesota was founded as a preparatory school in 1851, Minnesota had been a territory for just two years, and statehood was still seven years away. The school was built on the east bank of the Mississippi River with little more than the pioneer's faith in education.
The University has since grown into the single greatest center of creativity in the state. The students it educates, the ideas it generates and the medical, scientific, agricultural and economic activities it stimulates represent an enormous resource that contributes directly to Minnesota's economic, intellectual and cultural life.
Today, the UM is an international research institution, a land-grant school with a strong tradition of education and public service and a metropolitan university. The campus is among the most comprehensive in the nation, with 18 colleges that offer a full range of academic and professional degrees.
The University of Minnesota has embarked on a course designed to build on its tradition of excellence to make the University one of the top five public institutions of higher education in the nation. Research is key among its special capabilities and the resulting accomplishments have improved and saved the lives of people throughout the world. Among the many achievements that have come from UM researchers have been the continuing success of the world's leading kidney transplant program at UM Hospital and Clinics, the development of the successful wheat variety known as 'Eva', the world's first total body X-ray scanner, the isolation of uranium isotope U-235, and the elimination of dozens of poultry and livestock diseases. In addition to fostering research projects that have obvious benefits, the 'U' is a center for the basic research that makes scientific breakthroughs possible. UM has the 15th-largest library system in North America, one that includes more than 39,000 subscriptions to periodicals and 4.5 million volumes.
Service to the people of Minnesota is another way the 'U' plays an important role in the quality of life in the state. More than 150 programs reach out to Minnesotans, solving problems and bringing to communities the UM's vast store of knowledge.
The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul offer more than any individual could ask for in an urban setting. More than 2.5 million people live in the area, yet the warm hospitality and high quality of life still remain.
Business opportunities are plentiful for graduates as the area boasts a large concentration of Fortune 500 companies. A variety of cultural and sports events also brings Minnesotans in touch with the 'U'. Large crowds attend Gopher football, hockey and basketball games. The Twin Cities has hosted the World Series, the Stanley Cup, the Super Bowl, the U.S. Open, and the NBA Championship.
At the University of Minnesota, students are exposed to knowledge - the newest and the most ancient - and emerge prepared to tackle today's problems.
