University of Minnesota - Scholastics, Athletics & Tradition, Entertainment

The University of Minnesota, with its four campuses, is one of the most comprehensive universities in the country and ranks among the most prestigious universities in the United States. It is both the state land-grant university, with a strong tradition of education and public service, and a major research institution, with scholars of national and international reputation.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a classic Big Ten campus in the heart of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area offering nationally recognized, highly ranked programs among a world-class setting for lifelong learning. This world-class institution of undergraduate and graduate education and scholarly research consistently ranks among the top 20 public universities in the nation, based on sources such as the National Research Council, U.S. News & World Report, and other rankings.

Among the University of Minnesota programs ranking among the top 10 in the nation are pharmacy, public health, and health services administration. These programs are known as national and international leaders.

Top programs require outstanding faculty. Based upon the most recent survey of the National Research Council, the scholarly quality of the University of Minnesota’s faculty ranks among the top 10 public institutions in the nation. Honors and awards such as McKnight, Fulbright, Danforth, Guggenheim, Pulitzer, Rhodes, MacArthur, and Bush also attest to the quality of the University’s scholars.

The University of Minnesota Alumni Association, representing the Twin Cities campus, has about 50,000 members and more than 80 affiliated alumni groups worldwide that connect alumni and volunteers to the University.

With more than 45,000 subscriptions to periodicals and journals and 5.7 million volumes on the Twin Cities campus alone, the University Libraries system is the 17th largest in North America, lending more books and journal articles to other libraries than any other academic library in the nation. The online catalog provides computerized access to more than 3.6 million bibliographic records, and it is a gateway to vast sources of electronic information.

Athletics & Tradition

The Gophers on the Twin Cities campus field 11 men’s intercollegiate teams and 12 women’s teams in the Big Ten Conference, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association-Women's League, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

School traditions include the Regents' Seal of an antique lamp representing the metaphysical sciences; the telescope, the physical sciences; the plow, the industrial arts; and the palette with brushes, the fine arts. The Latin motto means "a common bond for all the arts."

The school colors are maroon and gold. First used sometime between 1876 and 1880, the colors were not officially approved by the regents until March 1940.

School Songs include "Hail! Minnesota" written by Truman Rickard, a member of the class of 1904, for use in a class play. A second verse was written by University student Arthur Upson in 1905. In 1945, the song became the official anthem of the state of Minnesota. The "Minnesota Rouser," sung at most University athletic events, was written by Floyd M. Hutsell in 1909 in response to a contest sponsored by the Minneapolis Tribune. Hutsell, a Minneapolis choir director and voice teacher, won $100 in the contest to choose a fight song for the University.

Entertainment

Check out the U of M events calendar giving daily schedules of activities and events around campus. Campus life includes many opportunities to appreciate all avenues of the arts including museums, galleries, theaters, venues for film and music, student centers, minicourses, studios, programs, dance, and design.

The U of M campus is never short of entertainment - movies, music, dance, and theater. Take a look at what the U has to offer and you'll be guaranteed good times!

Text taken from University of Minnesota homepages

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