The University of Montana is a public research university in Missoula, Montana, United States. Founded in 1893, the university is the flagship institution of the five-campus University of Montana System and its second largest campus. It is a land-grant and space-grant university accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The main campus comprises seven academic buildings; there are also branch campuses in Billings, Butte, Helena, Great Falls, Havre, and Missoula College.
The school’s sports teams compete in Division I of the NCAA and are known as the Grizzlies. They participate in the Big Sky Conference for most varsity sports except football which competes as an FCS Independent School within NCAA Division I. The University of Montana has over 200 student organizations; 90% of undergraduates are involved in some form of extracurricular activity such as athletics or clubs. It hosts numerous performers throughout the year including nationally touring comedians and musicians along with lectures from well-known speakers such as politicians or astronauts to smaller more local acts such as students or faculty members at various events such as Grizfest or Homecoming Week.