University of Missouri, Columbia

The University of Missouri-Columbia (abbreviated UMC and nicknamed Mizzou) is an institution of higher learning located in Columbia, Missouri and is the main campus in the University of Missouri system. Columbia is the flagship campus of the University of Missouri system with approximately 24,000 students.

History

UMC was founded in 1839 as part of the Geyer Act[?] to establish a state university, the first west of the Mississippi River. During the American Civil War, supports of the Union wanted to move the campus to a "more loyal" area. In 1870 after much fighting, the Rolla School of Mines, in Rolla, Missouri (now known as the University of Missouri-Rolla, or UMR), was created.

In 1908, the world's first school of journalism was founded at UMC. Today, UMC is known for its journalism and agriculture programs.

UMC and UMR were in very small towns in central Missouri. To address the needs of Missouri's large cities, Kansas City and St. Louis, the University of Missouri system was formed in 1963. A private university in Kansas City was added and a new campus in St. Louis was created.

External Links

• University of Missouri System homepage (http://www.system.missouri.edu/)