Upper Iowa University hosts Independence High School group during college visit tour

Upper Iowa University hosted 17 high school juniors and seniors from Independence, Iowa, on a special week-long Iowa college tour experience.

FAYETTE, Iowa (July 9, 2013) – The Upper Iowa University Office of Admissions hosted 17 high school juniors and seniors from Independence, Iowa, recently as one of the last stops on their Iowa college tour week. The packed week was made possible by a $10,000 grant from Building Directions for Families, a non-profit organization that provides funding for the decategorization of youth in Iowa.

The tour was divided into five segments including stops in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Des Moines, Ames, Waterloo, Waverly, Calmar, Decorah and Dubuque.

At Upper Iowa University, President Bill Duffy greeted the group to kick off their visit. It was the first time they had met a college president on any of their stops. Admission counselors treated them to a tour of campus and explained UIU's unique "two-at-a-time" class schedule and opportunities with UIU's Office of Student Development. The students even visited with Pete the Peacock and danced to many of UIU's favorite pep songs.

About Upper Iowa University Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs and leadership development opportunities to some 6,200 students—nationally and internationally—at its Fayette campus and learning centers worldwide. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and independent study. For more information, visit www.uiu.edu.

Contact:
Monica Bayer Heaton
Associate Vice President for Communication and Marketing
Phone 563-425-5773
Cell: 515-291-2070
heatonm@uiu.edu

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Upper Iowa University hosts record attendance science camp conducted by ISUE

Children in fourth- through eighth-grade recently attended a STEM camp coordinated by Iowa State University Extension on the Upper Iowa University Fayette, Iowa, campus.

FAYETTE, Iowa (July 3, 2013) – The Upper Iowa University campus was the host site for a week-long science-based camp coordinated by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (ISUE) in Fayette, Iowa. The camp had the highest attendance of similar middle school camps.

The camp, targeted towards 4th to 8th graders, was made possible by a grant received from the Fayette Community Foundation. The grant allowed ISUE to purchase two robots and a laptop for its growing student body. This camp is part of Iowa Governor Terry Branstad's support of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) educational initiative.

"This is an opportunity to get the local community involved and to further youth interest in robotics, science and technology," said Dr. James Jacobs, assistant professor of Information Technology in Upper Iowa University.

The week-long camp operated with a specific theme for each day. The first day of the camp focused on animal science and biology. Students not only learned about farm animals, they were also able to witness the dissection of a pig's heart. The second day covered the topic of food science and students learned about the science behind cheese and were able to produce their own home-made mozzarella cheese. The third day, which was supervised by Dr. Jacobs, explored the subject of robotics. Students learned about Lego robotics and increased their knowledge of information computing. The fourth day covered the fundamentals of physics, and the final day concentrated on renewable energy with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources leading the discussion.

Later in the day, students participated in a community service opportunity. They were given protective vests and guided to the UIU bike trail to pick up trash.

Photos from the camp can be viewed at www.flickr.com/photos/upperiowauniversity.

About Upper Iowa University Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs and leadership development opportunities to some 6,200 students—nationally and internationally—at its Fayette campus and learning centers worldwide. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and independent study. For more information, visit www.uiu.edu.

Contact:
Monica Bayer Heaton
Associate Vice President for Communication and Marketing
Phone 563-425-5773
Cell: 515-291-2070
heatonm@uiu.edu

View the original article here

Upper Iowa University hosts artist/activist and puts new technique into practice

Dylan Langerman-Aten from Fayette, Iowa, showcases a recent work of art inspired by an Upper Iowa University workshop with muralist Sharon De La Cruz.

FAYETTE, Iowa (May 22, 2013) – This spring, visiting artist Sharon De La Cruz worked with Upper Iowa University students to create a graffiti-style mural in the stairwell of Edgar Fine Arts Hall, the home of Upper Iowa's Art Department. The mural, with the theme of climate change, shows a television-headed monster spewing multicolored squares that coalesce into the image of a polar bear drowning in the melted Arctic Sea.

De La Cruz taught the students about various forms of stencil-making, along with techniques for achieving an airbrush-like effect with paint. As a working artist and activist for social change in New York City, De La Cruz commented on the focus and technical skill of the Upper Iowa students, saying they jumped right in and got to work without fear. The art students have been applying the skills they've learned in their current painting class as well, carrying the artist's visit beyond her time on campus.

Under the watchful eye of visiting artist Sharon De La Cruz, Upper Iowa University art students created a graffiti-style mural in the stairwell of Edgar Fine Arts Hall with the theme of climate change.

About Upper Iowa University Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs and leadership development opportunities to some 6,200 students—nationally and internationally—at its Fayette campus and learning centers worldwide. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and independent study. For more information, visit www.uiu.edu.

View the original article here