The University of Central Oklahoma, the state's oldest institution of higher education, was mandated by the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature on December 20, 1890 as the Territorial Normal School in Edmond. The original purpose of the school was to train teachers.

Today approximately 410 full-time and 350 adjunct faculty teach a total of over 15,500 students enrolled in five undergraduate colleges and a college of graduate studies and research. However, as proven by a program of dramatic new teacher education initiatives, the University has not forgotten its original mission.

No other university in the state is better positioned to tackle the challenges of the future than is UCO. With $54 million in construction recently behind us and more on the way, we are moving toward new horizons that will bring even greater rewards and accolades to the university community.

UCO can boast of state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, but the real measure of a university lies in the education of its students.

We are committed to providing strong academic programs that inspire intellectual curiosity, analytical thinking and effective communication skills. Student support services and activities that encourage broader horizons, increased appreciation for diversity and enhanced appreciation for the arts are vital - as are experiences that empower students for leadership roles in an ever-changing world.

UCO is dedicated to leadership and helping students learn so that they may become productive, creative, ethical, and engaged citizens. Our students thrive in an atmosphere that is friendly and caring, yet demanding and challenging. Add to this our commitment to scholarship, our strength in teaching, our investment in technology and our dedication to leadership experiences, and you have a solid foundation in higher education for a bold and prosperous future.

Our roots are deeply embedded in tradition, but our branches are constantly reaching skyward, always in search of new horizons.