University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota is a large university with several campuses spread throughout the state of Minnesota, USA. There are four primary campuses: Twin Cities, Duluth, Crookston, and Morris. In addition, University services are available in Rochester, and a campus was open in Waseca for a time.

The University is referred to locally as The U or The U of M (though that phrase often refers to the University of Michigan outside of the region).

The University of Minnesota was founded in Minneapolis in 1851 as a college preparatory school, seven years prior to Minnesota's statehood. As such, the U is not officially a unit of state government. The school was closed during the American Civil War, but reopened in 1867. Minneapolis businessman John Sargent Pillsbury is known today as the "Father of the University", and aided the campus through financial troubles as a regent, state senator, and governor. The Morrill Land Grant Colleges Act also helped provide funding for the U.

In 1869 the school reorganized and became an institution of higher education. William Watts Folwell served as the first president of the University.

The colors of the University are Maroon and Gold.

Twin Cities Campus

The Twin Cities campus[?] is the largest in the system, with over 45,000 students, making it one of the largest three campuses in the United States. This campus is actually divided into a few parts. The Saint Paul campus is where a lot of agricultural education takes place, and is located next to the state fairgrounds. The Minneapolis campus sits astride the Mississippi River, and the halves are referred to as the East Bank and the West Bank. The Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses are connected via a dedicated bus transitway.

Because of the large size, the name "University of Minnesota" is often used to refer specifically to the Twin Cities campus.

The mascot for the Twin Cities campus is Goldy the Gopher[?], and the sports teams for this campus are called the Golden Gophers[?] or just The Gophers. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A and in the Big Ten Conference.

Other Campuses

• The Duluth campus[?] joined the University system in 1947. Their mascot is the Bulldog.
• The Crookston campus[?] joined the University system in 1966. Their mascot is Regal the Eagle[?].
• The Morris campus[?] joined the University system in 1960. Their mascot is the Cougar.
• The Rochester campus[?] has offered classes since 1966.
• Waseca opened in 1971, but was closed in 1992.

External links

• http://www.umn.edu/
• http://www1.umn.edu/systemwide/factshistory