Alumni History and University Traditions

It Begins with a Name

UNC wasn’t always the University of Northern Colorado. That name came to be in the spring of 1970, after the institution had grown in size and academic offerings.

What became UNC began on April 1, 1889, when the governor of Colorado signed the bill creating the Colorado State Normal School to train qualified teachers for the state’s public schools. Greeley citizens raised the necessary money for the first building, and the cornerstone was laid on June 13, 1890. The school opened its doors on October 6 with a staff of four instructors and 96 students. Certificates were granted upon the completion of a two-year course. Normal still finds its way onto UNC-licensed apparel.

In 1911, the school’s name was changed to Colorado State Teachers College by the state legislature. By then, the college was offering four years of undergraduate work and granting the Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1935, the name Colorado State College of Education was adopted to recognize the fully developed graduate program, which had been started in 1913. Early in 1957, the state legislature approved shortening the name to Colorado State College.

Then, in April 1970, to recognize the further growth of programs and offerings, the state approved the name that is now known across the global Bear Network, the University of Northern Colorado.

During that time of change and since then, the UNC Alumni Association has served the institution and its graduates as a way to remain connected, involved, and informed. Today, the UNC Alumni Association celebrates traditions that span our unique history and diverse community.

Becoming the Bears

Until 1925, the official name of the athletic teams was the Teachers. Since then, we have been called the Bears, due to the bear carving atop an Alaskan Tlingit Indian totem pole that came to the school in 1914.

Nicknamed Totem Teddy, it served as a school symbol until 2003, when it was properly returned to the Tlingits under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. A bronze bear sculpture, titled Northern Vision, now takes its place and currently resides on the north side of the University Center.