International Profile
University Overview
The University of Minnesota, with its four campuses, is one of the few comprehensive universities in the country and world 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. Through its strategic positioning plan, the University is making strides to become one of the top three public research universities in the world within a decade.
Population
| Fall '08 | Total | Twin Cities Campus |
| Students | 66,312 | 51,140 |
| Faculty / Staff | 19,718 | 14,554 |
History
The University of Minnesota was founded in 1851, seven years before the territory of Minnesota became a state. Financial problems forced the school to close during the Civil War, but reopened in 1867 with the help of Minneapolis entrepreneur John Sargent Pillsbury. Known as the father of the University, Pillsbury, who was a University regent, state senator, and governor, used his influence to establish the school as the official recipient of public support from the Morrill Land-Grant Act, designating it as Minnesota’s land-grant university. The Duluth campus joined the University in 1947; the Morris campus opened in 1960, and the Crookston campus in 1966.
Notable Accomplishments
- Invention of the first heart pacemaker, the “black box” for aircraft, and the retractable seat belt.
- Release of more than 80 new crop varieties that have greatly increased yields worldwide
- Development of the taconite process for iron ore
- Invention of the heart-lung machine and its use in the worlds’ first successful open-heart surgery
- Development of the widely used Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
- Five alumni have received Nobel Prizes
Colleges & Professional Schools
Twin Cities Campus
- Biological Sciences
- Carlson School of Management
- Continuing Education
- Dentistry
- Design
- Education & Human Development
- Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences
- Graduate School
- Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
- Law School
- Liberal Arts
- Medical School
- Nursing
- Pharmacy
- Public Health
- Technology
- Veterinary Medicine
Coordinate Campuses