The University of North Dakota at Grand Forks was founded in 1883 by the Dakota Territorial Assembly, six years before North Dakota became a state. The cornerstone for the first building was laid that autumn. Four faculty members met the 11 students who entered the University on opening day, September 8, 1884. The first class was graduated in 1889.

Unlike most state institutions of higher education west of the Mississippi, UND did not begin as an agricultural school or only as a teachers college. Organized initially as a College of Arts and Sciences, with a Normal School for the education of teachers, UND soon evolved into a full-fledged multi-purpose university. Instruction of graduate students (the first master’s degree was awarded in 1895) and the conducting of research were under way before the end of the 19th century. Depressions, drought, wars and financial crises have more than once threatened its future, but the University has been able to withstand these challenges and to prosper as an institution of national caliber.

The University of the 1990s would be recognizable to its founders. UND was the only institution of higher education in the state to be originally established as a university, with all of the implications of that title. A university has an obligation to preserve knowledge, to disseminate knowledge, and to create new knowledge. The University of North Dakota has served as a capstone for the entire system of public education in the state, and from its earliest year has embraced all levels of higher education—undergraduate, professional and graduate—and maintained an active program of research and service. Through these eleven decades the University has created a tradition in instruction, research, and service which has served as a model for other institutions. Consistent with the intent of the founding legislators, the University has served as a standard-bearer and leader for higher education in the state.

The fall 1999 enrollment, 10,392, included 8,499 undergraduate students, 1,459 graduate students, 205 law and 228 medical students. About 57 percent of the on-campus students identified themselves as North Dakotans, 25 percent as Minnesotans. Non-residents represented all of the states and 65 foreign countries. About half of the students were older than age 21. Fifty percent were women and about 8 percent were married.

In the fall of 1999, the University enrolled 1,501 new freshmen, 716 new transfer students and 527 new graduate and graduate professional students, bringing the total number of students matriculated during its history to more than 193,000. Degrees granted during fiscal 1997-98 included 1,607 undergraduate degrees, 436 graduate degrees, and 113 graduate professional degrees, 58 law and 55 in medicine. The number of degrees granted since the first commencement in 1889 total 87,319.

The following mission statement is on file with the State Board of Higher Education:

The University of North Dakota serves the state, the country and the world community through teaching, research, creative activities, and service. State-assisted, the University’s work depends also on federal, private, and corporate sources. With other research universities, the University shares a distinctive responsibility for the discovery, development, preservation and dissemination of knowledge. Through its sponsorship and encouragement of basic and applied research, scholarship, and creative endeavor, the University contributes to the public well-being.

The University maintains its legislatively enacted missions in liberal arts, business, education, law, medicine, engineering and mines; and has also developed special missions in nursing, fine arts, aerospace, energy, human resources and international studies. It provides a wide range of challenging academic programs for undergraduate, professional, and graduate students through the doctoral level. The University encourages students to make informed choices, to communicate effectively, to be intellectually curious and creative, to commit themselves to lifelong learning and the service of others, and to share responsibility both for their own communities and for the world. The University promotes cultural diversity among its students, staff, and faculty.

In addition to its on-campus instructional and research programs and its branch campuses, the University of North Dakota separately and cooperatively provides extensive continuing education and public service programs for all areas of the state and region.

The University of North Dakota has been accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools since the Association was organized in 1913. UND received its most recent NCA accreditation in 1994. Most individual colleges, schools and departments are members of accrediting associations in their respective fields. The address and telephone number of the North Central Association are: 30 N. LaSalle St., Suite 2400; Chicago, IL 60602-2504; telephone (800) 621-7440 or (312) 263-0456; Fax (312) 263-7462.

The academic year is divided into two semesters, each approximately 16 weeks in length: the first, beginning near the end of August and ending prior to Christmas; the second, beginning in mid-January and extending to mid-May. A Summer Session begins in May and concludes in August. The UND Summer Session offers the variety of four-week, six-week, eight-week, and twelve-week courses and choices of credit and non-credit workshops, institutes, and special programs of various lengths. See the academic calendar on page iv.