The University of Minnesota is one of America's major research universities. It regularly ranks among the top ten in the United States in receipt of federal grants for research and development. The University offers students a comprehensive range of programs, collaboration with faculty in cutting-edge research, and the opportunity to learn from colleagues drawn from around the world. The Minneapolis campus is divided by the Mississippi River into East and West Banks, each with a distinctive character.

The College of Liberal Arts, at the center of a major research university and home to 500 faculty in 30 departments, strives to provide an education that emphasizes both breadth and depth of learning in the fundamental disciplines of knowledge. The goal of CLA's undergraduate liberal arts education is to prepare the graduate to be well-rounded, broad-thinking, and fair-minded; adaptable, creative, and ethical; an analytical thinker, articulate speaker, and excellent writer. CLA endeavors to prepare each graduate to engage in dynamic lifelong learning, regardless of the individual career path.

The University of Minnesota Libraries is one of the University's and the State's greatest intellectual and capital assets. Housed in five major facilities and eleven branch sites, the University Libraries is comprised of over 5.7 million print volumes, 45,000 serial subscriptions, 5.7 million microforms, 2.6 million government documents, and 400,000 maps, making it the 17th largest research library in North America. To support such a large and complex institution as the University of Minnesota, the Libraries acquires, catalogs, and maintains information in practically every field of knowledge, in every language, from every time period, and in every conceivable format. The Libraries has outstanding collections in the history of medicine, social welfare, computing, architecture, American poetry, Afro-American literature, children's literature, history of European expansionism, cartography, British colonialism in India, Scandinavian studies, forestry, engineering and technical standards, and federal and international government documents. The Libraries serve Minnesota and South Dakota as the regional depository for all publications distributed by the U.S. Government Printing Office.

Up-to-date computer facilities are available to all students registered at the University of Minnesota at several locations around campus. The University assigns all registered students an e-mail account, and each student has access to the Internet. The International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) in the Office of International Programs is designed specifically to service international students and scholars. ISSS has a professionally trained staff to offer advice, counseling, and programs about academic, immigration, and financial matters in the United States.

Non-native English speaking international students will be able to improve their English language skills by participating in the many special organizations that exist for international students. In addition to student organizations, they may find assistance in the Minnesota English Center and the English Department. The Minnesota English Center offers classes for non-native speakers at a variety of levels. Students take an admissions test and are directed to the appropriate level of study. The classes are part of a non-credit program. The English Department's composition program offers tutoring and assistance in writing to students registered in any course at the University, on a walk-in basis.

Visit http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/ At this website you can take a virtual tour of the campus, learn more about academic offerings at the University, and explore student life.