The campus caters to pedestrians and bicyclists: it is compact enough to cross in a 20-minute walk. A free ride on a campus bus can halve that time. Hancher Auditorium brings the world's finest musicians, dancers, actors, and entertainers to the University. It is part of the Iowa Center for the Arts, which includes the Museum of Art and cultural/educational programs in music, theater, art and art history, dance and literary arts. American and foreign film classics are presented at the University's Bijou Theatre at modest rates. Iowa City has more book shops, coffee shops, restaurants, record shops, and movie theaters in its downtown area - just across the river from the College of Dentistry - than cities many times its size. Iowa City is alive with festivals and ethnic celebrations. Music, drama, and dance can be found on stage or on street corners. Sculptures adorn campus green spaces and plazas, and works by local artists and craftspeople entice visitors to outdoor markets.
Organizations for students in the College of Dentistry facilitate communication among the faculty, administration, and students and offer many social opportunities. The Iowa American Student Dental Association is the local chapter of the American Student Dental Association. The organization, open to all dental students, sponsors guest speakers, produces the student publication, The Probe, and holds annual events such as a picnic to welcome freshmen, the Apollonian Frolic (a spring dinner dance), and golf, softball, volleyball, and basketball tournaments.
Other organizations represented at Iowa include the American Dental Education Association , the American Association of Women Dentists, the American Society of Dentistry for Children, and the Student National Dental Association.
There are many opportunities for student participation. Students may choose to participate in Table Clinics where dental research is presented, demonstrate new technologies and dental materials for the state dental meeting, build a float for the homecoming parade, or help staff a health fair.
Two dental fraternities, Psi Omega and Delta Sigma Delta, also provide academic and social activities for students.
Iowa City is a comfortable place to live. Many dental students live in local Iowa City/Coralville apartments or University-operated family housing in the Hawkeye Drive, Hawkeye Court and Parklawn apartment complexes. Information may be obtained from the Office of Dental Student Admissions, (319) 335-7157 or send e-mail to elaine-brown@uiowa.edu..