Now in its second century of service to the state, region and nation, the University of Northern Colorado has grown from its beginning as the State Normal School to a maturing, multipurpose university. Its primary mission is to provide quality instruction while developing focused research and public service roles.

UNC maintains its historic role as a teacher education leader while offering more than 2,000 courses in nearly 100 degree programs through its Graduate School and five undergraduate colleges: Humanities and Social Sciences, Business, Education and Behavorial Sciences, Natural and Health Sciences and Performing and Visual Arts. The Graduate School offers 19 doctoral, five doctoral minors, two specialist and 31 master's degree programs.

Facts about UNC Location: Greeley, Colo. Population: 90,000 Founded: 1889 Enrollment: 12,300 President: Kay Norton Athletic Director: Jay S. Hinrichs Affiliation: NCAA Division I Conference: Big Sky Nickname: Bears Colors: Blue and Gold Band: Pride of the Rockies Athletic Phone: (970) 351-2534 Ticket Office: (970) 351-4TIX

History
Construction on UNC began on April 1, 1888, with the signing of the law that created the first State Normal School. The cornerstone of the first building was laid on June 13, 1890, and classes began on October 6, 1890, with 96 students and four faculty.

The school has seen several name changes since its inception as the State Normal School in 1889. Prior to becoming the University of Northern Colorado in 1970, the institution had previously been known as Colorado State Teachers College (1911-35), Colorado State College of Education (1935-57) and Colorado State College (1957-70).

UNC Today
As UNC enters the new millennium, it enrolls more than 11,000 students from 49 states and 45 different countries. Since 1916, it has been fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, as well as more than 20 other special agencies that have reviewed specific areas, including: American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business, American Chemical Society, American Psychological Association, American Speech-Language Association, Colorado State Board of Nursing, Council on Education for Public Health, National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and the American Dietetic Association.

UNC has been classified by the Carnegie Commission as one of only 29 public Doctorate Level I universities nationally, and UNC's teacher education programs have consistently ranked the institution among the top 10 in the U.S. for the past 60 years. In addition, UNC has had six graduate programs (education leadership and policy studies, jazz studies, rehabilitation counseling, special education, audiology and speech-language pathology) named to the 1998 edition of U.S. News and World Report's Guide to Best Graduate Programs. The school has twice been named to "America's Guide to the 100 Best College Buys" list of best education bargains in the United States.

Location
The University of Northern Colorado is located in a residential area of Greeley, Colorado, a city of approximately 90,000, nestled between the South Platte and Cache La Poudre Rivers in sight of the beautiful Colorado Rockies. The campus is approximately 50 miles north of Denver, 50 miles south of Cheyenne and 50 miles east of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Athletics Mission Statement
The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Northern Colorado supports and contributes to the university's mission to be a leading student-centered institution that promotes effective teaching, lifelong learning, the advancement of knowledge, research and a commitment to service.

To achieve that aim, the Department of Athletics: