UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY

 

Recognitions and Accomplishments

Last Updated: 2/09/12

Academic Dashboard l Athletics l Civic Engagement/Volunteerism/Service Learning l External Relationships/Community Engagement l Fundraising/Development l Leadership and Governance l Marketing and Communications l Organizational Performance l Technology Enhancements

Academic Quality Improvement Program - The Higher Learning Commission  Collegiate Learning Assessment - CLA Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve - ESGR Get Educated.com G.I. Jobs - 2011 Military Friendly Schools Governor's Volunteer Award President's Honor Roll Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities - Military Advanced Education NACMA NCAA OEDB Division II Athletics Directors Association (DII ADA)

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Academic DashboardAcademic Dashboard

  • Established a single academic curriculum approval process to include the first graduate program council
  • Added eleven (11) new majors (8 undergraduate and 3 graduate)
  • Increased the number of all full-time faculty by 90%
  • Increased the number of Fayette campus full-time faculty by 74%
  • Secured membership and participation in the North Central Association’s Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP)
  • ACT scores have improved by 3.7% from 2004-2009
  • Joined the Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) program which has shown Upper Iowa among the top 25% of colleges nationally for enhancing student learning. (2006-2010)
  • Re-instituted a position to function as the chief academic officer for the University (2008)
  • Instituted a study abroad program, an international visiting faculty program, and reintroduced a body of 63 international students to the principle campus in Fayette (2008-2010)
  • UIU scored high in NCAA Division II Academic Success Rate (ASR) data and also showed marked improvement in 2010. Per NCAA ASR, UIU student-athletes enrolled in the class of 2002 posted a six-year ASR of 96%, a 4.35% increase of the 2000 cohort and 2.13% increase over the 2001 cohort rate. The average D-II student-athlete ASR for the 2002 cohort posted 70%.  
  • The Division II Athletics Directors Association (DII ADA) honored 29 UIU student-athletes with the 2009-10 DII ADA Academic Achievement Award in recognition of their academic accomplishments. The NSIC Conference was represented by four member institutions: Upper Iowa University, U-Mary, Wayne State and Minnesota-Crookston, and honored a total of 127 student-athletes.
  • The NCSA (National College Scouting Association) Athletic Recruiting's Collegiate 2011 Power Rankings that assesses the academic and athletics standards of all NCAA athletic programs across the country placed Upper Iowa University 45th amongst Division II colleges in Comprehensive Study of Both Academics and Athletics. The rankings are calculated for each Division I, II and III college and university by averaging student-athlete graduation rates, academic rankings provided by U.S. News & World Report, and the strength of athletic departments as determined by the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup. (2011)
  •  The average incoming freshmen GPA has increased 14% from fall 2004 to this year's fall class.
  • The Fall 2011 freshmen profile at UIU also shows that the average incoming ACT score for freshmen has increased by 4.3% over this same time and exceeds the national average. (2011)
  • A record 189 student-athletes were named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll (2011)
  • 43 student-athletes were named as recipients of the D-II Athletic Directors Association Achievement Awards (2011)
  • 8 Peacocks were named to Northern Sun Conference All-Academic Teams (2011)
  • 8 student-athletes garnered national academic honors in wrestling, men's golf and women's golf (2011)
  • Five wrestlers claimed NCAA All-American honors (2011)    [Top]

 

AthleticsAthletics     

  • Completed transition from NCAA Division III to NCAA Division II status (2007)
  • Secured membership in new intercollegiate athletic conference (2007)
  • Achieved six conference championships since joining the new athletic conference (2007)
  • Added one new women’s sport (2007)
  • The women’s golf team won the NCAA Regional Championship and finished in 8th Place Nationally (2009)
  • The wrestling team placed third in the nation at the 2010 NCAA D-II National Championships to garner a team trophy—the first ever NCAA Championship team trophy earned by a UIU athletic team since joining D-II—and an individual National Champion wrestler (2010).
  • UIU hosted the NCAA D-II National Wrestling Championships in Cedar Rapids (2008). UIU was again awarded the honor of hosting the 2012 NCAA D-II Nationals but, due to unforeseen circumstances (the city of Cedar Rapids planned a total renovation of the C.R. Civic Center after the record-breaking floods of 2008), the 2012 NCAA Nationals will be held elsewhere.
  • The wrestling team earned a 4th place finish at Nationals, including an individual National Champion wrestler (2011).
  • UIU President Alan G. Walker served as Chair of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Board of Directors and Executive Committee. (2011-12)
  • The women's golf team qualified for their fifth straight NCAA Regional event. (2011)
  • The men's golf team sent one student-athlete to the NCAA regional event as an individual (2011).

  • Peacock wrestling ranked #3 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Preseason Coaches' Poll, the highest preseason ranking the team has had in its short NCAA Division II history. Six Peacocks were also listed among the top eight individuals nationally in each of the ten weight classes (2012).    [Top]

 

Civic Engagement/Volunteerism/Service LearningCivic Engagement/Volunteerism/Service Learning

 

External Relationships/Community EngagementExternal Relationships/ Community Engagement

  • Established the first position of Director of External Affairs and supported the election of this member of the staff to State’s House of Representatives (appointed vice chair of education and appropriations) and began hosting an annual reception for legislators.
  • Established a regional economic development corridor and website promoting businesses/communities located along corridor (2010)
  • Awarded the first Upper Iowa Business Development (UIBD) grant in 2008; a second grant in 2009, creating two new retail businesses on Fayette’s Main Street; and a third in 2010, establishing four new retail establishments on Fayette’s Main Street, including a University operated coffee shop/bookstore
  • Established Heartlanding, a student-and-faculty-operated information technology services center supporting local businesses and not-for-profits (2009)
  • UIU awarded Duane Kramer Sports Tourism Award for hosting 2008 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships in Cedar Rapids, IA
  • Ten (10) corporate training partners have been added since 2004
  • UIU signed an agreement with the Lawton, Okla., plant of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company that makes Upper Iowa University a preferred provider of educational services to Goodyear employees and their spouses (2011)
  • Upper Iowa University joined Northeast Iowa Community College as both institutions provided five two-year full tuition scholarships that, combined, equal a fully-funded four-year education for five of the children of a local West Union, Iowa family chosen by the Extreme Makeover Home Edition television show.  Additionally, hundreds of UIU students and UIU personnel volunteered time and funds throughout the week-long project to assist in the construction of the widow Audrey Gibbs and her six children's new home. (2011) 
  • UIU, NICC, and City of Manchester opened Manchester Regional Education Partnership (2011).    [Top]

 

Fundraising/Development

  • Since 2004, Upper Iowa University has increased annual student scholarship funding by 780%; this increase is the result of Team Peacock Scholarship fundraising efforts.
  • Endowed a business incubator grant program with a $500,000 gift (2007)
  • Reorganized the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations and re-activated the position of Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations, to fill a vacancy two decades old (2008)
  • Re-instituted a formal alumni association (2007)
  • Worked with Iowa Congressional delegation to get an appropriation for Upper Iowa University in the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill (passed by Congress and signed by the President of the United States)—Upper Iowa University’s first successful effort at securing funding through such means. Secured the following grants, totaling over $530,000:
    • $139,500 USDA Rural Development - Rural Community Development Initiative (2008 -2011)
    • $ 99,000 USDA Rural Development - Rural Business Enterprise Grant (2009-2011)
    • $238,000 U.S. Department of Education - Fund for Improving Post-Secondary Education—(Congressionally directed award) (2009-2010)
    • $ 55,279 Iowa Department of Economic Development/Iowa Board of Regents grant (2010–2012)
  • Received nearly $1MM in two substantial gifts from alumni, $125,000 and $847,000, respectively (2010)
  • Team Peacock raised a cumulative total of over $1,000,000 for UIU scholarships during its seven years of participation in RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa). Every dollar raised by Team Peacock supports scholarships for UIU students (2011).
  • In May, UIU received a $7.5 million gift from alumni Steve and Diane Harms that will fund a renovation of the current UIU football stadium complex at the Fayette campus. The gift ended the silent phase of UIU’s capital campaign and is largest single gift in school’s history (2011).
  • In July, UIU President Alan G. Walker announced the University is entering the public phase of its first-ever capital campaign, “Transforming UIU,” with a 10-year initiative goal of $25 million (2011).

  • Alumna Betty Andres and the Andres Foundation gifted $4 million to "Transforming UIU" capital campaign and the inspiration for renaming of the Education Division to the Andres School of Education (2011).

  • An innovative partnership between UIU, the City of Fayette, and CJ's Construction of North Liberty added the North Ridge Condominium development (eight new contemporary-design condominium units) to the Fayette housing market, with the potential of up to 12 more units to follow (2011).    [Top]

 

Leadership and Governance

  • Re-instituted President’s Cabinet (2004)Leadership and Governance
  • Completed two cycles of strategic planning—an initial 3-yr. plan (2004), followed by a 5-yr. plan (2008)
  • Implemented an ongoing staff development program (2005)
  • Implemented an enrollment management system (2005)
  • Implemented a performance evaluation system for senior executives (2006)
  • Installed a new senior executive leadership team that has included the following positions: Vice President of External Affairs, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial and Planning Officer, Vice President of Advancement, Vice President of Enrollment Management, Senior Vice President of International Programs, Director of Athletics, Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning and Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Academic Officer and Senior Vice President of Residential University, Senior Vice President of Academic Extension
  • Reorganized international program under new vice president and transitioned the primary business/delivery model for greater control and accountability (2007)
  • Strengthened the Board of Trustees by assisting with and/or facilitating: development of membership criteria, recruitment of additional board members, reorganization of board committees to align with the University’s strategic plan, adoption of a statement of commitment and responsibilities, on-going in-service/training, implementation of trustee annual assessment and adoption of board agenda models
  • Created position for first Institutional Effectiveness/Research professional in UIU history (2010)
  • Published first-ever Upper Iowa University Fact Book (2010-11) 

  • Created and implemented an Integrated Enrollment Center (IEC) that involved the restructuring of operational staff across the University to better support all UIU modalities—Fayette campus, 17 U.S. education centers, the Center for Distance Education programs, and international students who enroll both in Fayette as well as at UIU educational centers in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia—that includes the Office of Admissions, Financial Aid, and the Registrar, as well as a staff of academic advisors (2012).    [Top]

 

Marketing and Communications

  • Established the University’s first Marketing and Communications Department (2006)—winner of 2007 Telly and Pinnacle Awards and CASE District VI 2011 Annual Award (Silver) for Excellence in Advertising (Television Ad)Nationally ranked as one of the top online degree-granting universities by Online Education Database (OEDB) Online College Rankings (ranked #1 in 2008, ranked #4 in 2009)
  • Recognized by GetEducated.com as a "Best Buy" for the online MBA and Human Resources programs in 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2010; the MPA program in 2010; and online Criminal Justice, Business, and Management degree programs in 2011.  Ranked “Best Value in Online Education” for Psychology, Social Science, and Business Management in 2009 and Criminal Justice in 2010.
  • UIU-Waterloo Center recipient of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) State Chairman's award by Dr. Susan Dawson, chair of ESGR Veterans of Northeast Iowa (2008)
  • Upper Iowa University ranked in the top 15 percent of Military Friendly Schools in 2010 and 2011 according to G.I. Jobs magazine.
  • Upper Iowa University designated a “Top Military Friendly School” by Military Advanced Education magazine four consecutive years—2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
  • Completed first total revamp of the University website (2006)
  • Completed second total revamp of the University website to achieve a seamless, “one- flat-University” objective (2010)
  • Implemented a fully-integrated social media structure on the 2010 website revamp to include blogs, Facebook, Flickr, RSS feeds, and YouTube
  • UIU earned a national marketing award for its “Blockbuster” television ad—a “gold” recognition in the 26th Annual Educational Advertising Awards from the Higher Education Marketing Report and the HMR Publications Group). The same ad also netted two regional marketing honors: a “silver” award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VI in the "Television Ad" category, and a “silver” ADDY award from the American Advertising Federation Cedar Valley Chapter in the category of “National TV, Consumer Services.” The ad was produced in collaboration with ME&V, Cedar Falls, Iowa.
  • UIU received a “bronze” award for its website (www.uiu.edu) in the 26th Annual Educational Advertising Awards in Group 3 of the “Website” category. UIU’s partner in designing the University’s website is Stamats in Cedar Rapids.
  • Wisconsin awards the 'Green Professional' designation to UIU-Madison Center, a second-tier designation (out of three tiers) from the statewide program, after scoring more than 100 points through the Green Masters Certification process.

  • UIU received the 2011 Excellence in Concrete (EIC) Award for the concrete flooring in the UIU Student Center, one of the buildings constructed as part of Phase 1 of UIU's capital improvements made on the Fayette campus.

  • UIU ranked in SuperScholar's (online education and career information website) first annual "Smart Choice" ranking of the top 25 online colleges and universities for undergraduate degrees for 2012.    [Top]

 

Organizational Performance

  • Organizational PerformanceEarned first-ever bond rating of "BBB+ Stable" by Fitch Ratings at a time when many other colleges and universities were being downgraded (2010)
  • Achieved six consecutive years of positive year-end operating results (averaging over $3 million per year)
  • Since 2004, completed $52.3 million in capital improvements and opened four (4) new educational centers in the U.S.:  Cedar Rapids, IA (2008); Rockford, IL (2008); Fort Sill, OK (2010); and Quad Cities, IA (2011), as well as four additional locations in Malaysia. 
  • Developed a facilities master plan, which following Board approval in April 2008 resulted in the implementation of the first phase of an additional $75 million in capital improvements planned as part of the new five-year strategic plan
  • Increased enrollment by 34.7% on the Fayette campus
  • Increased overall University enrollment by 14% in five years
  • Increased size of unrestricted net assets of annual operating budget balances by 152%, from $20,422,304 (FY 03–04 year-end balance) to $51,456,399 (FY 10–11 year-end balance)
  • Increased annual operating budget by 122% in eight years
  • Increased base salaries for faculty and staff across-the-board by 30% in six years
  • Has the distinction of having the most diverse campus among all postsecondary institutions in Iowa (20% minority students).
  • Achieved an average annual enrollment growth rate of 23% for online degree programs over the past five years
  • Created a disaster resistant University by developing and exercising an emergency response plan, installing a one megawatt back-up power generator for the Fayette campus, and implementing a turn-key central storage system-based business continuity/data recovery system (2008)
  • UIU’s Fitch bond rating of “BBB+ Stable” was renewed (2011).
  • In accordance with UIU’s Mission Statement and Strategic Plan, a newly appointed Diversity Council was formed. The Council is made up of UIU faculty, staff, and administrators and will meet periodically to discuss ways to deepen the University’s commitment to promoting diversity in all of its forms, and will act as an umbrella under which the University’s many diversity-related initiatives will be organized (2011).
  • UIU Des Moines Center moved to new location in West Des Moines offering more centralized, state-of-the-art, visible facilities that combined both the Des Moines and Ankeny Centers (2011).     [Top]

 

Technology Enhancements

  • Technology EnhancementsInstalled a new fully-integrated web-enabled portal system (Jenzabar) for business operations (2007) and rolled this technology out across the University to include extension sites in the US, the online program and self-instructional programs
  • Installation of wireless Fayette campus (2007)
  • Enhanced high-speed Internet access and capacity of the Fayette campus (2010)
  • Installed the first prototype interactive television system between the Fayette campus and two academic extension centers (2010)
  • Implemented the first universal enterprise-wide email system for all faculty, staff, students, and alums (2007)
  • Established the first teaching with technology grant program for faculty (2007)
  • Established new center for the research, development, support and application of e-learning, e-commerce, and cyber-security/information assurance  (2007)
  • Implemented Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Jenzabar software at UIU-Hong Kong Center (2009)
  • Implemented Wide Area Network (WAN) to allow access to UIU database and G: Drive (University-wide) (2009)
  • Recipient of President’s Technology Grant to implement three SmartBoards in UIU-Hong Kong classrooms (2009)
  • Converted UIU to a new online platform (Pearson eLearning Studio—eCollege) (2010)
  • Implemented an initiative (AACRAO) to develop a University-wide Strategic Enrollment Management process that realigns business processes and staff as needed and utilizes an expanded and enhanced enterprise-wide data management system to support recruitment and retention of all UIU students from the time they enter the system as a prospect until they graduate with a UIU degree (2011).
  • Implemented LiveText, a comprehensive e-Portfolio, learning assessment, and accreditation management service to ensure University-wide consistency and in accordance with Strategic Initiative Six (2011). This is also one of the first projects implemented under the AACRAO initiative.
  • UIU formed a partnership with Lightstep Technologies, Inc., a Belfast, Northern Ireland firm, on an installation to enhance life-safety on UIU’s Fayette campus, which will be the first of its kind in the United States and the first installation on any university campus anywhere in the world (2011).    [Top]
 
 
 

Last Updated 2/9/12