Our University

Founded in 1889, as the State Normal School of Colorado and tucked between the Rocky Mountains and Colorado’s stunning high plains, the University of Northern Colorado has grown from its roots as a teacher’s college into an institution with international draw and status.

UNC is a public doctoral research university that strives to cultivate the unique potential of each of its approximately 9,000 students and is positioned to advance knowledge through discovery because of its just-right size, expert faculty and tradition of research and hands-on learning. By immersing students in innovative teaching and research methods in the classroom and in the field, UNC provides its students with an exceptional educational experience. UNC’s talented and dedicated faculty are housed in its five colleges: Education and Behavioral Sciences; Humanities and Social Sciences; Kenneth W. Monfort College of Business; Natural and Health Sciences; and Performing and Visual Arts.

Acclaimed for its expertise in a broad array of academic disciplines, UNC offers more than 100 undergraduate programs and 120 graduate programs on campus, off campus and online. Undergraduate students study in a liberal arts tradition that supports them in exploring broadly, making connections, thinking critically, and using what they learn to make a difference in the world around them. UNC also offers more than 60 extended campus programs throughout the state and online, meeting an increasing demand among adult learners and working students in industry-relevant disciplines. Of UNC’s 120 graduate programs, almost half are taught at satellite locations or online. Research, scholarship, and creative works are essential components of academic life for both faculty and students at UNC. Many undergraduate degree programs require a research experience and most graduate programs require a thesis, capstone project, or dissertation. UNC faculty purposefully connect research and teaching by bringing what they learn from their research into the courses they teach and by inviting students to join their work. Faculty and student work on research, scholarship, and creative works focuses on knowledge creation as well as the application of knowledge to solve real world problems. Surveys of current and former students show that they value these relationships and see them as one of the primary benefits of attending UNC.

There is no typical UNC student. UNC prides itself on being a university where students do not have to conform in order to belong. Whatever their unique talents may be, UNC helps students reach their fullest potential. The university prepares students not only to have successful careers, but also to lead fulfilling lives, engage in intelligent public discourse, participate in government, and thrive in a changing, global world. UNC has a long history of serving students who are often underrepresented at research universities. More than 40% of UNC undergraduates are the first in their family to go to college, one third are underrepresented minorities, and more than one-quarter are eligible for federal need-based financial aid.

Linked to our community since we were founded in 1889, UNC is an important part of the Greeley community and works to actively foster a collaborative and mutually beneficial relationship with our city and its residents. Greeley is a warm and welcoming place and a location we are proud to call our home. Recently ranked as the fourth fastest growing Metropolitan Statistical Area in the United States, Greeley is a community on the move where a robust economy offers a number of enriching opportunities to residents of all ages.

Our Direction: Rowing, Not Drifting 2030

Our strategic plan, Rowing, Not Drifting 2030, brings to life our vision for the university which takes shape in the form of our vision statement, five vision elements, and outcomes that serve as the foundation in support of and in service to UNC students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community. It guides the work of our five phases over the next decade, as well as the implementation of our supporting key actions and tactics.

The five vision elements that serve as our foundation are:

Our Imperatives: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

UNC is dedicated to strengthening and advancing our collective work related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we aspire to become a Hispanic Serving Institution. As a diverse team, we develop and learn more together. We value the individuality of each person and recognize how diversity enhances our campus. When you join the UNC family, you can expect to be part of a growing inclusive, innovative, and equity-minded community that expects intentional collaboration among faculty, staff, students, and local partners.