Editing Upper Iowa University (section)

==History==
[[File:Alexander Dickman.jpg|thumb|left|[[Alexander-Dickman Hall]], built in 1855, is the oldest building on the Fayette Campus and constructed of native limestone.]]
In 1854, Elizabeth Alexander, a pioneer living near what is now Fayette, Iowa, proposed the idea of a college to her husband, Robert, who donated $10,000 toward the cause. Their son-in-law, Samuel Robertson, donated $5,000 and {{convert|10|acre|m2}} of land. In 1856, the first Board of Trustees meeting was held; [[articles of Incorporation]] were adopted; and classes began January 7, 1857.{{clarify|reason=What is the history of the name? It was not founded as Upper Iowa University.|date=April 2019}} The university was affiliated with the [[Methodist Episcopal Church|Methodist Church]] until 1928.

In 1861, a company of male students and faculty members enlisted in the Army to fight in the [[American Civil War]]. Student-soldiers participated in 17 major battles, carrying a flag hand-sewn by UIU women students. In 1917, UIU male students joined the armed forces during [[World War I]], while women students organized [[American Red Cross]] classes on campus; the UIU gym became a barracks, and the athletic field was the scene of military drills. By 1920, a systematic program of extension work throughout northeast Iowa had begun, with Upper Iowa referred to as "a pioneer in the field."<ref>Alderson, S. 1965. ''The Palimpsest'', vol. XLVI, no. 3, pp. 166/167.</ref>  Those students who joined the service to fight in [[World War II]] took advantage of the [[G.I. Bill]] to complete their education, which dramatically increased Upper Iowa enrollment between 1947 and 1950.  Record enrollments were also seen after the [[Vietnam War]] (1952–1970).<ref>Regan, S. 2008. The Pioneering spirit: ''Upper Iowa University celebrating 150 Years 1857-2007''. Cedar Rapids: WDG Publishing.</ref>

In 1972, Upper Iowa launched an external degree program that included Independent Study and Online Programs. In 1978, [[Darcy C. Coyle]] was named president, a post in which he served until 1984, when he became President Emeritus.

In 1984 to present, UIU expanded to open locations across the U.S. Upper Iowa was approved by the Higher Learning Commission to offer graduate degrees in 1995, and in 1999 started its International Program by establishing centers in [[Hong Kong]], [[Singapore]], [[Malaysia]], and [[Vancouver]], British Columbia, Canada.

[[File:AndresCenter.jpg|thumb|The Andres Center for Business and Education was built in 2004]]
It was also during 1994 to 2003 that UIU underwent an aggressive landscaping and building renovation that brought changes to its Fayette campus.  This included the construction of Lee Tower Residence Halls, the acquisition of a new physical plant building and the construction of a recreation center.  In 2004, the new Andres Center for Business and Education was built, and Alan G. Walker was appointed the 20th president of the university. During summer 2009, the largest capital improvement project broke ground on the Fayette campus &mdash; $75 million &mdash; which will include a new student center, suite-style housing, and a Liberal Arts academic building.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.uiu.edu/ |title=Upper Iowa University: Affordable, scholarships, financial aid, accelerated degree programs |access-date=2009-08-21 |archive-date=2009-08-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090819105938/http://www.uiu.edu/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 2023, in response to a worsening financial situation, the university cut its academic programs in sociology, information systems, information technology, intensive English and sports administration, several of its sports programs and two of its satellite campuses.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2023/05/25/upper-iowa-university-layoffs-professors-deans-as-usda-debt-looms-financial-exigency/70256765007/ |last=Jett |first=Tyler |date=2023-05-25 |access-date=2023-09-11 |title=Declaring 'financial exigency,' Upper Iowa makes more cuts, laying off professors, deans |work=[[Des Moines Register]] }}</ref> The university's accreditor issued a public disclosure notice to warn the public about the university's financial distress.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hlcommission.org/download/_PublicDisclosureNotices/Public%20Disclosure%20Notice%20-%20Upper%20Iowa%20University[41].pdf |title=Public Disclosure Upper Iowa University Designation: Financial Distress |access-date=2023-09-11 |publisher=[[Higher Learning Commission]] }}</ref>