Colleges and Universities
Iowa State University
Est. 1858

Iowa State University (ISU) is a Carnegie Doctoral/Research-Extensive university located in Ames, Iowa. It was officially founded in March 1858, with the establishment of State Agricultural College and Model Farm.

In 1862, the Iowa legislature voted to accept the terms of the Morrill Act, and Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts was founded. The college was renamed Iowa State University of Science and Technology in 1959 (now common as Iowa State University).

This public land-grant and space-grant university offers graduate, graduate, and professional degree programs in its nine colleges. The colleges are Agriculture, Business, Design, Engineering, Education, Graduate, Family and Consumer Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine.

Highly effective first-year programs, a variety of majors, and some leading research in the biological and physical sciences, are included in academic studies. Distance education is available through ISU Extension's Continuing Education and Communication Services.

As a leading institution in research and technology transfer accomplishments, ISU has launched research and technology transfer initiatives in areas such as agricultural biotechnology, plant and animal genomics, bioinformatics, "smart" materials, agricultural product and market development, human nutrition, and human computer performance.

Some of the research units associated with the university are Ames Laboratory, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, Information Assurance Center, Information Infrastructure Institute, Center for Integrated Animal Genomics, Iowa Energy Center, and Plant Sciences Institute.

The university has more than 160 buildings, of which most are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, in its 2,000-acre park-like campus. Campanile, a landmark built in 1897-1898, houses the Stanton Memorial carillon bells.

The Iowa State Center is a four-building conference, athletic, and performance complex. Brunnier Art Museum, in the Scheman Building of the complex, and the Farm House Museum on the central campus, provide an extensive collection of artworks.

Since 1922, the university has been celebrating VEISHEA (one of the largest student-run celebrations in the world) every spring.

Reiman Gardens, a 14-acre educational display garden, offers a spectacular view at the south entrance. The conservatory complex of the garden includes the conservatory and greenhouses, a butterfly wing, a restaurant, an auditorium, and a gift shop.

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