In 1862, Congress passed the Morrill Act, which created a new type of university. These land-grant universities were based on the ideas that higher education should be open to all, universities should teach practical subjects (like farming, engineering and home economics) and faculty should share knowledge with people through their states. Iowa was the first state to accept the law's provisions.

Today, Iowa State is a Carnegie Doctoral/Research-Extensive university, a designation reserved for universities that offer a wide variety of baccalaureate programs and graduate studies through the doctorate.

The academic programs at Iowa State include highly effective first-year programs, a wide variety of majors, and some of the world's leading research in the biological and physical sciences. Iowa State's nine colleges offer more than 100 undergraduate degrees and nearly 200 fields of study leading to graduate and professional degrees.

Iowa State University is among the nation's leading universities in research and technology transfer accomplishments. In recent years, Iowa State has launched bold new research and technology transfer initiatives in such important areas as agricultural biotechnology, plant and animal genomics, bioinformatics, "smart" materials, agricultural product and market development, human nutrition, human computer performance, biorenewables and food safety and security.

Iowa State's nearly 2,000-acre, park-like campus includes more than 160 buildings, many of which are included on the National Register of Historic Places. The Stanton Memorial Carillon bells are housed in the Campanile, perhaps Iowa State's best-known landmark. Iowa State is located in Ames, Iowa, ranked as the second most livable small city in the nation by the New Rating Guide to Life in America's Small Cities. Ames is 30 miles north of Des Moines, Iowa's state capital and largest population center.

Reiman Gardens, a 14-acre educational display garden, provides a spectacular view at the south entrance to campus. In November 2002, the gardens opened its new conservatory complex including the conservatory and greenhouses, a butterfly wing, a restaurant, an auditorium and a gift shop. In 2001, Reiman Gardens received the All-American Rose Selections President's Award as the nation's most outstanding public rose garden.

• Department of Mathematics, Iowa State University