CYCLONE CAMPUS LIFE

Since it opened in 1869 as Iowa's land-grant university, Iowa State University has worked to bring educational, economic, social and cultural progress to our state, nation and world.

Today, Iowa State is a broad-based university of international stature, whose more than 26,000 students come from all 50 states and nearly 118 other nations, and include more National Merit Scholars than all but six other public universities in the nation. Students can choose from among more than 200 programs of study leading to baccalaureate degrees in the colleges of Agriculture, Business, Design, Education, Engineering, Family and Consumer Sciences and Liberal Arts and Sciences, including many ranked among the top 10 nationally. The College of Veterinary Medicine offers the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and graduate students can choose from among 200 fields of study leading to master's, doctor of philosophy and specialist degrees.

Peterson's
Competitive
Colleges Guide

"Iowa State combines the advantages of a college town with the close proximity of the state capital. The University also combines the advantage of a large state institution with a faculty ratio of 14:1. Finally, Iowa State combines a great academic reputation with national caliber athletic programs. What a great place to be."

- Charlie Partridge,
Director of Football Operations

"George Washington Carver, a noted scientist and ISU's first African American student and faculty member, was an accomplished musician, artist, orator and student leader. Today, ISU's legacy of providing diverse activities for students continues. The campus remains rich in academic, cultural, artistic and athletic opportunities. Events such as the Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity (ISCORE), Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, and over 50 multicultural student organizations create an environment that ensures cultural diversity is encouraged, valued and celebrated."

- Mike Grant,
Assistant Football Coach

The Greek system is nationally recognized, as is the residence hall system, which is organized into a series of individually named, self-governing "houses," providing students with a more autonomous and personalized living setting. The residence hall system is undergoing a $100 million improvement and renovation program to provide a higher quality living environment for students. The lectures program has won national awards, and Iowa State offers nearly 500 clubs and organizations for students to pursue interests and develop leadership skills. An extensive intramural program boasts one of the highest participation rates in the nation, offering all popular sports and such unique activities as innertube water basketball, broomball and mud volleyball.

In 1997, Iowa State opened a new Student Health Center to provide improved and expanded medical and rehabilitation services, nutrition and wellness programs, and health education for its students. A new indoor ice arena, a cooperative effort between the city of Ames and Iowa State University to support the rapid growth of recreational and competitive ice skating, opened last winter.

They Were Iowa Staters . . .

o Lynda K. Anderson, President, First National Bank-Chicago
o Terry Anderson, Former Middle East Bureau Chief, The Associated Press
o John Vincent Atanasoff, inventor of the electronic digital computer
o Robert Bartley, Editor, The Wall Street Journal
o C. Robert Brenton, Chairman, Brenton Bank & Trust
o George Washington Carver, honored scientist
o Carrie Chapman Catt, founder of the League of Women Voters
o Lauro Cavazos, former U.S. secretary of education
o Vance D. Coffman, CEO and chairman, Lockheed Martin Corporation
o Ann Cooper, National Public Radio South Africa correspondent
o Vine Deloria, Native American rights leader
o Thomas R. Harkin, U.S. Senator, Iowa
o Isaiah Harris, President of Consumer Services, BellSouth Corporation
o Jock Johnson, Group Vice President of Metropolitan Milwaukee MCA
o Jerry Knight, Washington Post business writer
o Tom Knudson, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner
o Robert Kowalski, best-selling medical author
o Cal Lewis, Consulting Principal at Herbert Lewis Kruse Blunck Architecture
o Richard D. McCormick, CEO, U.S. West
o Owen J. Newlin, President, Iowa Board of Regents
o James J. Renier, retired CEO, Honeywell
o Hugh Sidey, Time magazine's former White House columnist
o Lee Teng-Hui, former President of Taiwan
o Henry A. Wallace, Vice President of the U.S., 1941-45

The ISU campus is extremely active. A variety of campus organizations provide students with opportunities to get involved in their special interest areas. Students can choose from more than 500 groups.

Both the Greek and residence hall systems are strong. About 2,700 students participate in fraternities and sororities, and ISU residence halls house more students than most colleges and universities. A unique "house" system, with each floor named and considered a separate entity, makes dorm rooms seem like home.

In order to expand the opportunities available to students living on campus at Iowa State, the Department of Residence has begun renovating, remodeling and rebuilding its residence halls and student apartments. The ongoing, multi-million dollar project has goals of improving student retention, offering greater amenities and services to students, providing more specialized housing options, and increasing academic support within the residence system.

Successful projects that have already been completed include a renovation and restructuring of Maple Hall in the Richardson Court neighborhood and rebuilding of Hawthorn Court apartments for single upper class students. Construction is underway on new suite-style residence halls and a community center in the Union Drive neighborhood.

Student-athletes who are part of the residence hall system participate in dormitory-wide and intramural events. An extensive intramural program boasts one of the highest participation rates in the country, offering such unique events as innertube water basketball, broomball and mud volleyball.

Nearby dining halls serve a wide variety of good and nutritious food, and even accept favorite recipes from home as part of a regular contest, with the winning entry becoming a part of the food service menu.

The Iowa State Center, which boasts one of the nation's finest facilities of its kind, consists of the C.Y. Stephens Auditorium, the J.W. Fisher Theater, the Carl Scheman Continuing Education Center and the James H. Hilton Coliseum. Concert facilities draw some of the top names in entertainment.

Every spring, Iowa State celebrates VEISHEA. VEISHEA is Iowa State's annual open house and the largest student-run festival in the nation, complete with parade, exhibits, and thousands of alumni.