History of University of Minnesota in Timeline
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities, located in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, is a public land-grant research university and the flagship institution of the University of Minnesota System. It encompasses 19 colleges, schools, and other academic units, offering a wide range of programs and research opportunities.
May 1, 1900: First Publication of The Minnesota Daily
The Minnesota Daily was first published on May 1, 1900.
1906: Golden Gophers and Badgers Did Not Play
With the exception of 1906, the Golden Gophers and Badgers have played each other every year since their first game.
1908: Program of Mortuary Science Inaugurated
In 1908, the University of Minnesota inaugurated the Program of Mortuary Science, becoming the first state university in the United States to do so.
1909: School of Nursing Established
In 1909, the School of Nursing was established at the University of Minnesota, marking the first continuous nursing school on a university campus in the United States.
January 13, 1922: KUOM Receives First AM Broadcast License
On January 13, 1922, the campus radio station, KUOM "Radio K", received the first AM broadcast license in the state and began broadcasting as WLB.
1930: Publication of Ski-U-Mah Humor Magazine
The Ski-U-Mah humor magazine was published from about 1930 to 1950.
1934: Golden Gophers Win National Championship
In 1934, the Golden Gophers won a national championship, starting a three-peat.
1936: Golden Gophers Win National Championship
In 1936, the Golden Gophers won a national championship, completing a three-peat.
1949: Nursing School Opened to Male Students
In 1949, the University of Minnesota's School of Nursing opened its doors to male students.
1950: Publication of Ski-U-Mah Humor Magazine
The Ski-U-Mah humor magazine was published from about 1930 to 1950.
1954: First Successful Open-Heart Surgery
In 1954, C. Walton Lillehei and F. John Lewis performed the world's first successful open-heart surgery using cross-circulation at the University of Minnesota.
1955: Development of the Bubble Oxygenator
In 1955, Richard DeWall and Lillehei developed the bubble oxygenator at the University of Minnesota, which set the stage for modern heart-lung machines.
1958: First Artificial Heart Valve Implant
In 1958, Lillehei performed the first artificial heart valve implant in a human, and Earl Bakken developed the first portable pacemaker, introduced into practice by Lillehei.
1964: Baseball Team NCAA Championship
The Golden Gophers baseball team won a NCAA championship in 1964.
1967: First Successful Kidney/Pancreas Transplant
In 1967, the world's first successful kidney/pancreas transplant was performed at the University of Minnesota.
1968: First Bone Marrow Transplant
In 1968, the University of Minnesota performed a bone marrow transplant.
1969: Black Students' Takeover of Morrill Hall
In 1969, Black students took over Morrill Hall, which led to the creation of the Department of Afro-American Studies.
1970: Student Strike Against War
In 1970, students went on strike against the war.
1981: Golden Gophers Played Last Game in Memorial Stadium
In 1981, the Golden Gophers played their last game in Memorial Stadium.
1982: Golden Gophers Play Home Games in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Between 1982 and 2008, the Minnesota Golden Gophers played their home games in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
1984: Gophers Ranked 2 Seed in NCAA Tournament
With vacated seasons removed, the Golden Gophers have gone 9-10 in the NCAA tournament with a highest ranking of the 2 seed in 1984.
1991: Development of the Honeycrisp Apple
In 1991, the honeycrisp apple was developed at the University of Minnesota.
1993: KUOM Merges to Become Radio K
In 1993, KUOM merged with a smaller campus-only music station to become what is now known as Radio K.
1993: Completion of Weisman Art Museum
In 1993, the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, designed by Frank Gehry, was completed at the University of Minnesota.
1994: Postseason Appearance Vacated Due to NCAA Sanctions
Due to NCAA sanctions for academic fraud, the Golden Gophers postseason appearances from 1994 was vacated.
1995: Postseason Appearance Vacated Due to NCAA Sanctions
Due to NCAA sanctions for academic fraud, the Golden Gophers postseason appearances from 1995 was vacated.
1996: Postseason Appearance Vacated Due to NCAA Sanctions
Due to NCAA sanctions for academic fraud, the Golden Gophers postseason appearances from 1996 was vacated.
1997: Final Four Appearance Vacated Due to NCAA Sanctions
In 1997, the Golden Gophers made a Final Four appearance, but it was later vacated due to NCAA sanctions for academic fraud.
1998: Postseason Appearance Vacated Due to NCAA Sanctions
Due to NCAA sanctions for academic fraud, the Golden Gophers postseason appearances from 1998 was vacated.
1998: First Living Donor Pancreas Transplant
In 1998, a living donor pancreas transplant was performed at the University of Minnesota.
2000: Completion of McNamara Alumni Center
In 2000, the McNamara Alumni Center was completed at the University of Minnesota.
November 2001: The Wake Student Magazine Founded
In November 2001, The Wake Student Magazine was founded in an effort to diversify campus media at the University of Minnesota.
2001: Listed as a "Public Ivy"
Minnesota is listed as a "Public Ivy" in 2001 Greenes' Guides The Public Ivies: America's Flagship Public Universities.
February 2002: The Wake Student Magazine Achieves Student Group Status
In February 2002, The Wake Student Magazine achieved student group status at the University of Minnesota.
2002: Completion of Architecture Building Addition
In 2002, the addition to the Architecture building, designed by Steven Holl, was completed at the University of Minnesota, and it won an American Institute of Architects award for its innovative design.
2002: Great Conversations Episodes Made
Since 2002, several episodes of Great Conversations, featuring discussions between University faculty and experts, have been made on campus and broadcast on local PBS station KTCI channel 17.
2003: Radio K Adds Low-Power FM Signal
In 2003, Radio K added a low-power (8-watt) signal on 106.5 MHz FM overnight and on weekends.
April 2004: Funding Restored to The Wake
In April 2004, $60,000 in funding was restored to The Wake after the Student Services Fees Committee had initially declined to fund it, allowing the magazine to continue publishing.
2004: Golden Gophers Women's Basketball Team Make Final Four Appearance
In 2004, the Golden Gophers women's basketball team, under Pam Borton, made a Final Four appearance.
2005: Sexual Assaults at the University
Between 2005 and 2015, sexual assaults at the University of Minnesota remained the same or increased despite six sexual assault resources and many anti-crime programs on campus.
2005: Liminal Literary Journal Begun
In 2005, Liminal, a literary journal, was created by The Wake due to the absence of an undergraduate literary journal at the University of Minnesota.
2005: The Wake's Funding Request Partially Restored
In 2005, The Wake faced challenges when its request for additional funding to publish weekly was denied and then partially restored.
2005: Radio K Adds Translator
In 2005, a 10-watt translator began broadcasting from Falcon Heights on 100.7 FM at all times for Radio K.
2005: Conservatives Formulate The Minnesota Republic
In 2005, conservatives on campus began formulating a new publication named The Minnesota Republic.
2005: Gophers Ranked 3 Seed in NCAA Tournament
In 2005, the Golden Gophers women's basketball team was ranked a 3 seed in the NCAA tournament.
February 2006: First Issue of The Minnesota Republic Released
The first issue of The Minnesota Republic was released in February 2006.
September 2006: The Minnesota Republic Receives Funding
In September 2006, funding by student service fees started for The Minnesota Republic.
2006: The Wake Named Nation's Best Campus Publication
In 2006, The Wake was named the nation's best campus publication by the Independent Press Association.
2008: Golden Gophers Play Home Games in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Between 1982 and 2008, the Minnesota Golden Gophers played their home games in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
2008: Dominic Jones Convicted of Sexual Assault
In 2008, Minnesota Gophers football player Dominic Jones was convicted of sexual assault.
2008: Campus Connector Ridership
In 2008, the University of Minnesota's Campus Connector system carried 3.55 million riders.
July 2009: Dominic Jones' Conviction Upheld, Sentence Reduced
In July 2009, an appeals court upheld Dominic Jones' conviction for sexual assault, but reduced his four-year prison sentence to one year.
September 12, 2009: TCF Bank Stadium Opened
On September 12, 2009, the Golden Gophers moved back to campus when their new home, TCF Bank Stadium, opened with a game against the Air Force Falcons.
2010: Completion of Bruininks Hall
In 2010, Bruininks Hall (formerly STSS) was completed at the University of Minnesota.
2010: Sexual Assaults on Campus Reported
More than 1,000 sexual assaults on campus were reported between 2010 and 2015.
February 17, 2012: Women's Hockey Team Lost to North Dakota
The Golden Gophers women's hockey team lost to North Dakota on February 17, 2012, starting a 49 game winning streak.
2013: Medical Amnesty Legislation Passed
In 2013, the Undergraduate Student Government was instrumental in passing legislation for medical amnesty in the Minnesota Legislature.
2013: Women's Hockey Team Finished Undefeated
In the 2012–2013 season the Golden Gophers women's hockey team finished undefeated at 41–0.
2013: Gophers Women's Ice Hockey Team Competes in WCHA
Since the 2013 school year, the only Minnesota team that does not compete in the Big Ten is the women's ice hockey team, which competes in the WCHA.
April 2014: Golden Gophers Win NIT Championship
In April 2014, the Golden Gophers defeated SMU to win the NIT championship at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
2014: Campaigns Against Racism Begin
In 2014, campaigns against racism known as Whose Diversity? began.
2014: Graduate and Professional Student Assembly Splintered
In 2014, the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly splintered into the Council of Graduate Students and the Professional Student Government.
2015: Campaigns Against Racism Continue
In 2015, campaigns against racism known as Whose Diversity? continued.
2015: Sexual Assaults on Campus Reported
More than 1,000 sexual assaults on campus were reported between 2010 and 2015.
2015: Times Higher Education World University Rankings
The 2015 Times Higher Education World University Rankings placed Minnesota 46th worldwide.
2015: Women's Rugby Club Wins Midwest Conference Championship
The Golden Gophers women's rugby club team won the Midwest conference championship in 2015.
February 2016: Confirmation of Gravitational Waves
In February 2016, the existence of gravitational waves was confirmed by scientists, a project in which the University of Minnesota participated.
2016: Conviction of Daniel Drill-Mellum
In 2016, Daniel Drill-Mellum was convicted for the rapes of two fellow students and received a six-year prison sentence.
2016: Sexual Assault Accusation
In the fall of 2016, a woman accused several Gophers football players of sexually assaulting her.
2016: Minnesota Daily Publishing Frequency Change
Since the fall semester of 2016, The Minnesota Daily has been published twice a week during the normal school season.
2016: Women's Hockey Team Won National Championship
The Golden Gophers women's hockey team won its sixth NCAA National Championship in 2016.
2016: Women's Rugby Club Wins Midwest Conference Championship
The Golden Gophers women's rugby club team won the Midwest conference championship in 2016.
February 2017: University of Minnesota Panel Clears Football Players
In February 2017, a University of Minnesota panel cleared four of the 10 Gopher football players accused of sexual assault.
2017: Women's Rugby Club Wins Midwest Conference Championship
The Golden Gophers women's rugby club team won the Midwest conference championship in 2017.
January 2018: Northrop Mall Listed in National Register of Historic Places
In January 2018, the Northrop Mall Historic District at the University of Minnesota was formally listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
June 2018: Campus Population Statistics
As of June 2018, approximately 3,900 system members made up about 11% of the campus population.
2018: Baseball Team Won Big Ten Championship
The Golden Gophers baseball team won a Big Ten championship in 2018.
2019: Gophers Win 19 NCAA Championships
As of 2019, the Minnesota Golden Gophers have won 19 NCAA championships.
August 2020: University of Minnesota Settles Sexual Assault Lawsuit
In August 2020, the University of Minnesota agreed to pay $500,000 to a woman who accused several Gophers football players of sexually assaulting her in the fall of 2016.
2020: University Performance Ranking
In 2020, the Center for Measuring University Performance ranked Minnesota 16th in the nation in terms of total research.
2020: Merit Scholarship Awards
In 2020, the University of Minnesota sponsored 97 Merit Scholarship awards.
2020: Nature Index Ranking
The 2021 Nature Index, ranked Minnesota 53rd in the world based on research publication data from 2020.
June 2021: TCF Bank Stadium Renamed Huntington Bank Stadium
In June 2021, TCF Bank Stadium was renamed Huntington Bank Stadium to reflect the acquisition of TCF Bank by Huntington Bank.
2021: University of Minnesota World Ranking
In 2021, the University of Minnesota was ranked as the 40th best university in the world by the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).
2021: National Merit Scholars
In the 2020–2021 academic year, 112 freshman students were National Merit Scholars at the University of Minnesota.
2021: Labor Coalition Efforts Highlighted Poor Conditions
In the 2021 academic year, labor coalition efforts highlighted poor wages, poor stipend conditions, and administrative disrespect for graduate student workers.
2021: National University Ranking
Minnesota was ranked 25th in the United States in Washington Monthly's 2021 National University Rankings.
2021: Gymnastics Team Won Big Ten Title
The Golden Gophers women's gymnastics team won a Big Ten title in 2021.
2022: Research and Development Expenditures
In 2022, the National Science Foundation ranked the University of Minnesota 22nd among American universities for research and development expenditures, totaling $1.202 billion.
2022: Labor Efforts Materialized into Campaign and Vote
In the 2022 academic year, labor efforts materialized into a campaign and a vote.
2022: Gymnastics Team Made NCAA Tournament
The Golden Gophers gymnastics team made the NCAA tournament in 2022.
2022: Graduate School Rankings
U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of Minnesota Law School at 22nd, the University of Minnesota Medical School, which was 4th for family medicine and 5th for primary care, the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, which ranked 3rd, the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, which ranked 9th, the University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development, which ranked 10th for education psychology and special education, and the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, which ranked 10th in 2022.
2023: Student Enrollment Statistics
As of fall 2023, there were 30,469 undergraduates at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus, including 6,736 first-time, degree-seeking freshmen, and 11,233 graduate students.
2023: Men's Hockey Team Made NCAA Championship Game
In 2023, the Golden Gophers men's hockey team made it to the NCAA championship game, but lost to the Quinnipiac Bobcats.
2023: Formation of Graduate Labor Union
In 2023, the Graduate Labor Union-United Electrical (GLU-UE) was formed, representing graduate student workers at the University of Minnesota.
2023: Student Body Size
In 2023, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities had 54,890 students at the start of the 2023-24 academic year, making it the ninth-largest main campus student body in the United States.
2023: Incoming Undergraduates Applications
In fall 2023, the University of Minnesota received more than 39,000 applications for incoming undergraduates.
March 2024: Olympic Medals Won
As of March 2024, current and former students of the University of Minnesota have won a total of 90 Olympic medals.
2024: University Ranking
In 2024, the University of Minnesota was ranked as the 26th best university in the United States by the Academic Ranking of World Universities.
2024: Freshmen ACT and SAT Scores
In 2024, the middle 50 percent Composite ACT score for enrolled freshmen was between 27 and 33, and the middle 50 percent Composite SAT scores were 1350–1500.
2025: MPact 2025 Commitment 5, Action Item 5.4
The University of Minnesota's commitment to a safe inclusive campus is articulated through the comprehensive University of Minnesota Safety Plan, aligned with MPact 2025's Commitment 5, Action Item 5.4, emphasizing the need to assess and improve campus safety continually.
2027: Class of 2027
The Class of 2027 consisted of approximately 6,700 students.
2028: Class of 2028
The Class of 2028 consisted of approximately of 7,300 students.
