Diversity

The University of Iowa has a proud tradition of celebrating diversity.

University of Iowa Firsts

The first public university in the country to admit women and men on an equal basis (1855)
One of the first public U.S. universities to grant a law degree to a woman (Mary B. Hickey Wilkinson, 1873), to grant a law degree to an African American (G. Alexander Clark, 1879), and to put an African American on a varsity athletic squad (Frank Kinney Holbrook, 1895)
In 1907 Iowa had the nation's first female college newspaper editor
Iowa was the first university with a program to rehabilitate children with disabilities
First tax-supported college to establish a school of religion
First Big Ten institution to promote an African American to an administrative vice president’s position (Dr. Philip Hubbard, promoted in 1966)
The first state-university to officially recognize the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Allied Union (1970)
Iowa became the first public university in the country to offer insurance benefits to employees' domestic partners (1993)

Minority Enrollment—Fall 2010

Minority enrollment comprises 10.3% of the total enrollment:

African American 2.5%
Asian 3.6%
Hispanic 3.6%
Native American 0.4%
Native Hawaiian 0.1%
Two or more races 0.8%

Eight percent of the student body are international students representing 97 countries.

Diversity Initiatives

Center for Diversity and Enrichment

The Center for Diversity and Enrichment brings together under one umbrella a variety of programs, offices and services that work to create a welcoming climate for students, staff and faculty from communities underrepresented in higher education. More...

Office of Graduate Ethnic Inclusion