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The University of Dubuque is a private, coeducational college located in Dubuque, Iowa commonly referred to in the university community and surrounding areas as UD. It is one of three post-secondary four year institutions in the city of Dubuque. The school is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, and includes a Theological Seminary for the training of ministers. The school grants both undergraduate and graduate level degrees. The current President of the University is the Rev. Jeffrey Bullock.
Background
History
The German Theological College and Seminary - the forerunner to the University of Dubuque - was founded by the Rev. Adrian Van Vliet in the 1852 in order to train ministers. Van Vliet believed that the large number of immigrants - particularly German farmers and miners - would need ministers for the religious communities that they would establish. He would first train two boys for the ministry in the basement of his church at 17th and Iowa streets.Initially the school was Van Vliet's private concern. In 1864 the Presbytery of Dubuque assumed control of the insititution, and it became known as The German Theological Seminary of The Northwest. In 1870 the Presbyterian Church of the United States took control of the school, and in 1871 Rev. Jacob Conzett became the leader of the school. The school then moved to a brick building on the northern side of 17th street, where it would remain for the next 35 years. During Conzett's tenure the school was able to pay off all its debts and build up over $50,000 worth of invested capital.
In 1902 Dr. Cornelius Steffens helped the school expanded its cirriculum. Three years later a liberal arts school and academy were added to the school, and the first college degrees were granted in 1906.
The school moved to its present location at 2000 University Ave in 1907. The first buildings constructed at this new location were McCormick gymnasium, Steffens Hall, and Van Vliet Hall. McCormick and Van Vliet Halls are still present today. Steffens Hall was torn down in the 1970s and replaced with Blades Hall, but the some of the archways were left intact and can still be seen today.
A new, large addition named the Stoltz Sports Center was made to the McCormick gymnasium. The original McCormick building was also renovated to include a new indoor swimming pool, racquetball courts, a hall of fame, and a multi-purpose area.
In 1911 the college became coeducational. In 1916 the school dropped the word German from its name due in part to anti-German sentiments inflamed by the First World War, and the school became known as Dubuque College. In 1920 the school adopted its current name, the University of Dubuque.
The school has been involved in inter-collegiate sports for a number of years. There was a brief period in the 1920's when the school had withdrawn from inter-collegiate activities. This was done in 1925 after University officials became opposed to commercialism of sports, and of recruiting athletes with offers of free tuition as well as room and board. There were also concerns about the salaries that some coaches had received which were felt to be excessive when compared to other department heads. This lasted until 1928, when the school decided to begin participating in inter-collegiate athletics again.
Currently, the University of Dubuque is a NCAA Division III school, and is part of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference - which in addition to the University of Dubuque is also comprised of Buena Vista University, Coe College - Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Central College, Cornell College - Mount Vernon, Iowa, Luther College - Decorah, Iowa, Loras College - Dubuque, Iowa, Simpson College, and Wartburg College - Waverly, Iowa. Men's varsity sports include football, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, both in and outdoor track and field, tennis, and wrestling. Women's varsity sports include basketball, soccer, golf, cross-country, softball, volleyball, track and field, and Tennis.
The University of Dubuque became one of the first schools to offer international studies majors. By 1991 international students made up about 20% of the freshman class, with another 15% of the remaining students coming from 29 different countries. The University of Dubuque also offers courses through an extension program in several eastern countries.
In the late 1990s the school underwent a restructuring process which resulted in the dismissal of many of the more experienced faculty, and changes to the programs that were offered at the school. While controversial, the school administration has said that the process—while painful—did improve the school's financial situation.
Further controversy surfaced in October of 2005 when Dr. Paul Jeffries - a philosophy and religion professor - filed suit against the University for a dispute regarding revocation of his tenure, which the Board of Trustees had unanimously granted only weeks prior to its revocation.
Parking has been an issue for a number of years within the University community and its neighbors. Because of students parking on residental streets surrounding the University, the city and the school enacted regulations regarding parking on the streets around the school. On some streets resident students are not allowed to park, others students in general cannot park, and some streets are entirely no parking zones.
In recent years, the school has embarked on a number of building projects, including a new technology center, an expanded library, and a remodeled science building. The Dunlap technology center was the first new building project to be completed. This new center offered computer labs, additional classroom space, faculty offices, and a new large auditorium space. Secondly the library was remodeled and expanded. It was renamed the Charles C. Myers Library. The Goldthorp science building is also currently undergoing renovation and expansion, and the new Myers Teaching and Administrative Center is also currently under construction.
The school has also built additional housing for seminary students on land it has owned for a number of years adjacent to Dodge Street across from Plaza 20 - whose main tenant is K-Mart. This land had sat empty for many years until this housing was built. Prior to this various proposals for use of the land were considered, such as selling the land to Wal-Mart so they could build a store there. That proposal had been abandonded due to space concerns, traffic concerns, and the opposition of neighbors to that plan.
One notable graduate of the University of Dubuque is the actor Tony Danza. Danza does return to visit the school from time to time, especially during homecoming and other school events.
Field of Dreams
Along with many places in Dubuque County, the University of Dubuque was featured in the movie Field of Dreams. The former Ficke-Laird Library is shown along with Blades Hall and Van Vliet Hall in a scene where Kevin Costner's character is researching Terrance Mann. The movie did make it appear that the library was in Van Vliet Hall - which is incorrect. Van Vliet Hall is currently the administration building, although a new administration building is currently under construction. Also where Annie parked the family pickup truck was and still is in a no parking zone.External links
Dubuque, Iowa | Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Presbyterianism | Universities and colleges affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA) | Universities and colleges in Iowa
"University of Dubuque"