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Undergraduate Education

As a world-class institution, the University of Minnesota is dedicated to teaching and scholarly research. Prospective students often ask, "What are the advantages of being an undergraduate at a research university?"

The answer is that our faculty are the creators of knowledge—they write award-winning academic articles and books, perform profound scientific experiments, dazzle the world with new engineering marvels, and create new works of art. Our faculty bring their latest research and creative activity into their undergraduate classes and achieve national and international recognition for their teaching.

For these reasons, the University of Minnesota attracts outstanding students and is committed to providing them with an exceptional educational experience through programs such as:

• Center for Academic Planning and Exploration
  Providing personalized services to develop Action Plans for making decisions about academic majors and career paths.
• Community Engagement Scholars Program
  Getting students involved in the local community through volunteering, service-learning classes, and other unique opportunities
• Northrop
  Reopening in March 2014 as the cultural and academic hearth of the Twin Cities campus.
• Orientation and First-Year Programs
  Ensuring that all incoming students experience a seamless transition to collegiate life and become engaged members of the campus community.
• President’s Emerging Scholars Program
  Enriching participants’ academic experiences through professional advising, peer mentoring, and other opportunities for engagement.
• SMART Learning Commons
  Supporting students to develop research, technology, and writing skills.
• Strengths Initiative
  Enhancing student engagement and well-being which leads to improved retention, graduation and life success.
• Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program
  Connecting students with faculty mentors to participate in various forms of research.
• University Honors Program
  Guiding and challenging students from across the University as they develop into broad, creative, independent, and informed thinkers.