University of Northern Iowa Homepage Stories & News

UNI campus

UNI announces fall semester plans

The University of Northern Iowa recently announced plans to return to a higher level of in-person campus classes and operations for the Fall 2021 semester.UNI campus

UNI Business and Community Services

UNI’s Business and Community Services continues to help gauge the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Iowa

The University of Northern Iowa Institute for Decision Making (IDM) and Strategic Marketing Services (SMS), in partnership with the Iowa Economic Development Authority, recently launched the third Iowa COVID-19 Business Impact Survey to assess the current impacts of the pandemic on Iowa’s businesses and nonprofit organizations.UNI Business and Community Services

2+2 education program

Landmark distance education program celebrates 25th anniversary

Just over 25 years ago, the Des Moines Area Community College reached out to the University of Northern Iowa with a problem: Rural areas of Western Iowa were having trouble attracting quality teaching candidates.

The solution to this issue is still flourishing today - the 2+2 Elementary Education Program, now the longest-running partnership between a university and community college in the state. The program is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the largest student class in its history.

UNI football coach Mark Farley

Panthers win big

While many things were unusual about the past year in sports, UNI’s tradition of excellence on and off the playing field remains unchanged. 

Transfer honor roll badge

UNI again named a top university for transfer students

The University of Northern Iowa has been named to Phi Theta Kappa’s Transfer Honor Roll for the third time in four years. 

Only the top quarter of the regionally accredited institutions that applied made the international honor society’s list, which recognizes excellence in helping community college students successfully transition to institutions offering four-year degrees. UNI is one of 150 colleges nationwide to make the cut this year.Transfer honor roll badge

UNI graduation cap

UNI announces updated plan for spring commencement

The University of Northern Iowa is inviting our spring 2021 graduates to celebrate their accomplishments at modified, in-person commencement ceremonies inside the UNI-DOME in May. 

In order to comply with social distancing guidelines, three separate ceremonies for bachelor’s and master’s candidates will be held in the UNI-DOME from May 7-8. Plans for a separate doctoral candidate ceremony are expected to be announced within a few weeks.UNI graduation cap  

Gallagher Bluedorn

Tammy Pescatelli and Orlando Leyba bring comedy night to Gallagher Bluedorn

Comedy night is coming live and in-person to the Gallagher Bluedorn. Tammy Pescatelli and Orlando Leyba will bring their stand-up comedy on Saturday, March 27, 2021 to the University of Northern Iowa’s Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. 

The nyan cat

Why did a rainbow cat GIF just sell for nearly $600,000? A UNI art professor explains

Unique pieces of digital art known as NFTs (nonfungible tokens) have begun taking the art world by storm. A special anniversary version of the famous Nyan Cat gif recently sold for $560,000. And this week Christies became the first major auction house to sell an original NFT work of art. InsideUNI asked art history professor Elizabeth Sutton about this trend and what it says about our digital and real-world lives. 

What issues do you see in the future with digital art vs more traditional pieces? And what is art ultimately?   

A new digital fabric printer at UNI in action.

New fabric printer speeding up TAPP clothing production

Fabric printing in UNI’s Textiles and Apparels Program just hit double time.

The program recently acquired a Mutoh ValueJet digital fabric printer that will print fabric for student projects at nearly twice the speed of the previous model, giving students more time to design and assemble their fashion projects and gain valuable hands-on experience in a program that has seen graduates go on to leadership roles at clothing-industry giants like Cabelas and Macy’s. 

UNI alum Trevor Rayhons.

UNI alum a finalist for prestigious national PR award

Hard work has been a way of life for Trevor Rayhons since he was a child helping his father with chores on the family farm in Garner, Iowa. That work ethic combined with talent and passion have led to national recognition of his skills.