UNI ROTC program to remain on campus under new U.S. Army structure

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa is pleased to share its Army ROTC program will remain on campus under a revised U.S. Army Cadet Command restructuring plan.

This follows a late June announcementthat UNI's program had been identified for inactivation as part of a nationwide "rebalance and optimization" impacting ROTC programs across the country. University officials and partners in the Iowa National Guard immediately began exploring alternative options to maintain opportunities for students and cadets.

This week, the Army communicated updated guidance confirming UNI's ROTC program will stay in Cedar Falls. Under the new structure, the program will transition to an extension unit of the University of Iowa's ROTC program. UNI cadets will continue to complete all four years of their training on the UNI campus.

"The Army's decision affirms the strength of UNI's ROTC program and ensures that students can continue to pursue their education and military training right here in Cedar Falls," said UNI President Mark Nook. "Many individuals, from our faculty and staff to the Iowa National Guard and Army, made it possible to find a path forward for our cadets."

"We are proud of our longstanding partnership with the Army and of the generations of leaders who have come through this program," said Brenda Bass, dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. "UNI's ROTC program is academically strong and has some of the best facilities in the region. We are grateful to Army ROTC Cadet Command and the Iowa National Guard for their innovative collaboration that will allow UNI's proud ROTC legacy to continue."

UNI has a long history of preparing student-leaders for military and civilian careers while contributing to regional officer commissioning and military readiness. This year, the university will celebrate 40 proud years of UNI ROTC with a special reunionplanned during the weekend of UNI Homecoming.

Learn more about the experiences of UNI ROTC cadets in their own words by watching a new video on YouTube. For more information about UNI's Army ROTC program visit csbs.uni.edu/rotc