A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees at all levels (bachelor, master, and doctorate) in a variety of subjects. A university provides both tertiary and quaternary education. The word university is derived from the Latin universitas, meaning corporation, since the first medieval European universities were simply groups of scholars.

History

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Because of the above definition, there is some controversy regarding what is the world's oldest university. If we consider university simply as a higher education institution, then it is Shangyang, which originated before the 21st century BC in China. In the western world, the choice is between Takshashila, Nalanda and Al-Azhar University. If we consider the original meaning of the word (from the latin "universitas": a corporation of students), then universities are a medieval European phenomenon and the oldest university is the University of Bologna in northern Italy (founded in 1088 and known as "Alma Mater Studiorum").

Students at Takshashila University, founded in Taxila (Pakistan) from around the 7th century BC, were given academic titles after graduating from one of its many courses. Nalanda University, founded in Bihar (India) from around the 5th century BC, also gave academic titles to its graduates, while also offering post-graduate courses. Al-Azhar University, founded in Cairo (Egypt) in the 10th century, offered a variety of post-graduate degrees, and is usually regarded as the first full-fledged university.

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USA Cycling Collegiate News

November Collegiate Cycling Update
jhansen@usacycling.org Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:01:42 -0000
Be sure to check out 2010 Collegiate Rule Changes, National Rankings, Changes to the MTB Omnium, and How to Qualify for Cross Nats... Also in this issue: Reaction to 'Real Risks of a Real Good Time' - Union College Heads South - Club of the Year Award - Conference Cross Seasons Underway - MTB Natz Wrap-Up - Collegiate Cycling in the News - How to Change the Rules - How to Renew Your Club's License - Interviews with Kevin Long of the ACCC and Andrew Armstrong of the Board of Trustees - National Collegiate Racing Calendar
October Collegiate Cycling Update
jhansen@usacycling.org Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:03:24 -0000
All the latest on collegiate cycling: Team Banned from Competition After Party; Conference Championship Roundup; Dual Conference Race Analysis; Track Nationals Recap; Mountain Nationals Preview; Why the High Prices at Natz?; How to Petition the Board; Team of the Month: Mars-Hill College; Interview with Matthew Reynolds, CD for SCCCC; Interview with New Board Member Matt Jones; National Collegiate Racing Calendar
2009-2010 Collegiate season kicks off on the track next weekend
kkahn@usacycling.org Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:45:17 -0000
The 2009-2010 collegiate cycling season is set to get underway with the USA Cycling Collegiate Track National Championships in Trexlertown, Pa., September 24-26. Schools from across the nation will converge on T-town to begin the quest for the 2009-2010 overall titles awarded at the end of the school year. Points are accumulated at track, mountain bike, cyclo-cross, and road national championship races.
Dual conference Mountain Bike race slated for this weekend
kkahn@usacycling.org Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:35:04 -0000
The Southeastern Collegiate Cycling Conference and the Atlantic Collegiate Cycling Conference will meet the weekend of September 19-20 to participate in the first-ever dual conference mountain bike race for either conference. The competition is expected to be intense as the racers will certainly be passionate about representing their conferences.
Interview with Bill Wykoff, Conference Director for the NWCCC
jhansen@usacycling.org Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:19:14 -0000
Every month we'll be interviewing a different conference director from around the country. These directors are unpaid volunteers that dedicate a full-time job's worth of time and energy to collegiate cycling. These individuals are what makes collegiate cycling function, and without the donation of their time, we would be lost. So let's find out what makes these dedicated individuals tick!
How Your Team Can be Team of the Month
jhansen@usacycling.org Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:14:39 -0000
Every month USA Cycling will recognize a different collegiate club in this space, in an effort to share ideas and inspiration between teams and schools.

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