University of North Alabama

University of North Alabama

Former names	LaGrange College (1830-1855) Florence Wesleyan University (1855-1872) State Normal School of Florence (1872–1929) Florence State Teacher's College (1929–1957) Florence State College (1957–1967) Florence State University (1967–1974)
Motto	Veritas Lux Orbis Terrarum (Latin)
Motto in English	Truth and Light of the World
Type	Public university
Established	1830; 194 years ago (1830)
Endowment	$53 million[1]
President	Kenneth D. Kitts[2]
Academic staff	365
Students	8,832[3]
Location	Florence , Alabama , U.S. 34°49′N 87°41′W / 34.81°N 87.68°W / 34.81; -87.68
Campus	Urban, 130 acres (53 ha)
Colors	Purple and gold[4]
Nickname	Lions
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I – ASUN
Mascot	Leo & Una
Website	www.una.edu

The University of North Alabama (UNA) is a public university in Florence, Alabama. It is the state's oldest public university. Occupying a 130-acre (0.5 km²) campus in a residential section of Florence, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Tuscumbia, Sheffield and Muscle Shoals. The four cities compose a metropolitan area with a combined population of 140,000 people.^[5]

The University of North Alabama was one of about 180 "normal schools" founded by state governments in the 19th century to train teachers for the rapidly growing public common schools. Some closed but most steadily expanded their role and became state colleges in the early 20th century and state universities in the late 20th century. ^[6] It was founded as LaGrange College in 1830. It was reestablished in 1872 as the first state-supported teachers college south of the Ohio River. A year later, it became one of the nation's first coeducational colleges.^[7][8]