The history of Eastern Michigan University dates back to 1849, when the state of Michigan established Michigan State Normal School. The university was founded in 1849 and opened in 1853 as Michigan State Normal School. Michigan State Normal School was the first in Michigan and the first normal school created outside the original 13 colonies. None of the original buildings from the Michigan State Normal School survived due to being built with wood frames. In 1899, the school became the Michigan State Normal College when it created the first four-year curriculum for a normal college in the nation. Normal began the twentieth century as Michigan's premier teacher-preparatory school and had become the first teacher-training school in the United States to have a four-year degree program.[1] With the additions of departments and the large educational enrollment after WWII, the school became Eastern Michigan College in 1956. In 1959 the school became Eastern Michigan University after establishing the Graduate School.[1] Today the university's total student population averages about 23,000, of whom roughly 5,000 are graduate students.
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| University Presidents | |
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| Adonijah Strong Welch | 1851–1865 |
| David Porter Mayhew | 1865–1870 |
| Charles FitzRoy Bellows | 1870–1871 |
| Joseph Estabrook | 1871–1880 |
| Malcolm MacVicar | 1880–1881 |
| Daniel Putnam | 1880–1883 |
| Edwin Willits | 1883–1885 |
| Daniel Putnam | 1885–1886 |
| John Mayhelm Barry Sill | 1886–1893 |
| Richard Gause Boone | 1893–1899 |
| Elmer A. Lyman | 1900–1902 |
| Lewis Henry Jones | 1903–1911 |
| Charles McKenny | 1912–1933 |
| John M. Munson | 1933–1948 |
| Eugene B. Elliott | 1948–1965 |
| Harold E. Sponberg | 1965–1974 |
| James H. Brickley | 1974–1978 |
| John W. Porter | 1979–1989 |
| William E. Shelton | 1989–2000 |
| Samuel A. Kirkpatrick | 2001–2004 |
| Craig D. Willis | 2004–2005 |
| John A. Fallon III | 2005–2007 |
| Susan Martin | 2008–present |
The university was founded in 1849 and opened its doors in 1853 as Michigan State Normal School. Michigan State Normal School was the first in Michigan and the first normal school created outside the original 13 colonies. Adonijah Welch served as the first principal of Michigan State Normal School from 1851 to 1865. Later in his life Welch served as a United States Senator from Florida and as the first president of Iowa State Agricultural College (now Iowa State University).[2] The normal schools were aimed to train teachers for common schools. These common schools were being established at a rapid rate in new towns throughout the state. Michigan created a state educational system modeled on that of Germany. When the school was founded, the state of Michigan had only been admitted to the union for 12 years. Michigan State Normal School was the first educator training school west of the Allegheny Mountains.[1] Students could enroll in Michigan State Normal School at a much earlier age than the typical student today. Admission requirements indicated that students enrolling in the English Course must be at least 14 years of age. On the other side, students wishing to take the Classical Course must be at least 13 years of age. When it opened, Normal could admit students with high school diplomas or pass the entrance exam. Normal was able to grant high school diplomas and teaching certificates to qualified graduates. Classes started on March 29, 1853 with a total of one hundred and twenty-two enrolled.[1] In 1853, students could choose from two programs of study. The first was a two-year plan of study called the "English Course" and the other was three-year program called "Classical Course". The English Course aimed to educate future teachers a broad range of academic subjects that would be need to be taught in primary schools. The second was a program called the "Classical Course". This program focused on language instruction for the educators who would teach at a secondary level. Tuition rates were $3 per term for students preparing to be teachers and $3 per term or $4 for Classics. Those preparing for college paid $8 a term for Classics and $6 for English. This was a method to encourage students to become educators.[1] None of the original buildings from the Michigan State Normal School survived. Many of the buildings were built with wood framed which does not sustain over time for most buildings. Many of the buildings at the heart of the campus were rebuilt.[1]
The school continued to gown rapidly in the areas of student population and variety of classes offered. During the 1880s the school when through a period of question. The idea to focus on pedagogy (or the art of teaching) and the specific techniques or to focus on a broad academic background in order to offer students a balanced education. After over two decades of debate, the current principle Richard Gause Boone chose the direction for the university. Boone chose a direction of a broader education for the students. His decision set the direction and future for what EMU is and follows today.[1] In 1889, the nearby Ypsilanti Water Tower was built. During the 1890 the two oldest building that still remain on campus (Starkweather and Welch Hall) opened. On October 22, 1896 Theodore Roosevelt visited the Michigan State Normal School campus [3]
| University Enrollment | |
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| 1853 | 122 |
| 1860 | 357* |
| 1870 | 675* |
| 1880 | 922* |
| 1890 | 715* |
| 1905 | 1,130 |
| 1910 | 1,452 |
| 1920 | 1,345 |
| 1930 | 2,250 |
| 1940 | 1,940 |
| 1950 | 2,601 |
| 1960 | 5,137 |
| 1970 | 21,410 |
| 1980 | 19,326 |
| 1990 | 26,000* |
| 2000 | 23,181 |
| 2005 | 18,775 |
| 2010 | 23,503 |
| *Data from 1860, 1970, 1880, 1890 and 1990 are averages or estimations based on articles.[4][5][6] | |
Under Richard Gause Boone, the principle lobbied to establish Normal as four-year college. In 1899, the school became the Michigan State Normal College when it created the first four-year curriculum for a normal college in the nation. Around this time Alpha Sigma Tau, a national Panhellenic sorority was founded at EMU on November 4, 1899. Normal began the twentieth century as Michigan's premier teacher-preparatory school and had become the first teacher-training school in the United States to have a four-year degree program.[1] During this time the University added ground-breaking programs. In 1900, Student athletes unofficially adopt the nickname Normalites. Athletes could wear either a “Y” for Ypsilanti or an “N” for Normal.[7] In 1901, Normal was the first school in Michigan to offer an industrial arts program. In 1915, the school was the first program in the nation to train teachers to serve the disabled. In 1940, it was the first teacher training school to offer a program in library services. During World War II, the school trained soldiers for the military. It was not until 1929 when the school adopted the nickname "Hurons".[8] July 6, 1956 The student newspaper is renamed the Eastern Echo at this time the paper is a weekly publication.[9]
Between 1900 and the 1950s, around 20 buildings were built on the present day campus. Just like many other universities during World War I, the Great Depression and World War II, the school survived and expanded further.[1] Between 1899-1955 Sherzer Hall (1903), Pease Auditorium (1914), Boone Hall (1914), Roosevelt (1924), Ford (1929)McKenny Union (1930), Briggs Hall (1937), King Hall (1939), Rackham (1940), Munson Hall (1941), Hover (1941), Pierce Hall (1948), Jones Hall (1948), Brown Hall (1949), 600 W. Forest Street (the original Presidents House, 1950), Goddard (1955) and Bowen Field House (1955) were built. Pease Auditorium was built in 1914 making it the campus' first auditorium. By 1939, residence halls were established allowing students to live on campus. The first residence hall was King Residence Hall.
With the additions of departments and the large educational enrollment after WWII, the school became Eastern Michigan College in 1956. In a similar path, Western Michigan University, Northern Michigan University and Central Michigan University all started as normal schools and eventually became universities. During the EMC's existence Strong Hall (1957), Buell Hall (1957), Downing Hall (1958), Snow Health Center (1959), and Quirk (1959) were built.
| College/School founding | |
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| College of Arts and Sciences | 1959 [1] |
| College of Education | 1959[1] |
| Graduate School | 1959[10] |
| College of Business | 1964[10] |
| College of Health and Human Services | 1975[10] |
| College of Technology | 1980[10] |
| Honors College | 2005[11] |
In 1959 the school became a university gaining the title Eastern Michigan University after establishing the Graduate School (graduate classes were offered since 1939).[1] Eastern became a university the same year as Central Michigan University.[12] In the same yearthe College of Education, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Graduate School were the first three colleges in the newly created university. On the night of October 13, 1960 Senator John F. Kennedy visited Eastern Michigan University. A few hours later in the early morning, on Oct. 14 1960 Kennedy gave a speech at the University of Michigan. During Kennedy's speech he challenged students to serve their country abroad in the name of peace.[13] This was the beginning of the Peace Corps. Several expansions in colleges followed the establishment of Eastern Michigan University. The College of Business began in 1964. Followed by the College of Human Services in 1975. The last college added was the College of Technology in 1980. Eventually the College of Human Services was renamed the College of Health and Human Services on April 21, 1982. The name change was to better reflect the various majors in the college. More recently, extended programs were added such as Continuing Education (which includes EMU Online), the Centers for Corporate Training, the World College and numerous community-focused institutes. In 1979, Pat Swan became the first African-American homecoming queen.[14]
Between 1960-2001, apartment and residence hall expansions included Cornell Courts (Phase I-1961), Wise Hall (1964), Best Hall (1965), Phelps/Sellers(1965), Cornell Courts (Phase II-1966), Westview (Phase I-1967), Walton/Putnam (1968), Westview (Phase II-1969), Hoyt/Pittman/Hill Halls (1969).
Between 1964-1999 academic, athletic, and administrative expansions included Warner Gymnasium (1964), Sill Hall (1965), Porter College of Ed. (1967), Pray-Harrold (1967), Rynearson Stadium (1968), Oestrike Baseball Stadium (1968), Mark Jefferson Science Building (1969), Alexander (1980), Olds/Robb Rec. (1982), Geddes Town Hall School (1986), Coatings Research Institute (1987), Corporate Education Center (1989) Gary Owen College of Business (1991), Pond/Lake House (1993), Terrestrial and Aquatic Research Facility (1998), the Convocation Center (1998), and the Bruce T. Halle Library (1998).
Before 1991, EMU began investigating the appropriateness of its Huron Indian logo after the Michigan Department of Civil Rights issued a report in October 1988 suggesting that all schools using such logos drop them. The report indicated that the use of Native American names, logos and mascots for athletic teams promoted racial stereotypes. The EMU Board of Regents voted on May 22, 1991 to replace the Huron name with Eagles. The Eagles was chosen from three recommendations, the other two final names submitted were Green Hornets and Express. Eventually in 1994, EMU adopted the mascot "Swoop" for the university.[15] On Oct. 30, 1996: President Bill Clinton visited EMU to present a speech on "women in the business community" which was hosted in Bowen Field House. Then in May 2000, President Bill Clinton delivered the commencement address at Eastern Michigan University’s Convocation Center. Major recent construction includes the Everett L. Marshall Building (2000) (which is home to the Eastern Michigan University College of Health & Human Services), University House (2003), and the Student Center (2006). A new student center opened in 2006 replacing McKenny Union (which was then renamed "McKenny Hall"). Recent changes include the McKenny Hall renovation (2007), expansion of The Science Complex in 2011 (formerly known as "Mark Jefferson Science Building"), the Indoor Practice Facility (2010), and the renovation of Pray-Harrold classroom building (2011).
Today the university's total student population averages about 23,000, of whom roughly 5,000 are graduate students. Most programs are undergraduate or master's level, although the university has doctoral programs in Educational Leadership, Technology, and Psychology. EMU's current President is Susan W. Martin, Ph.D., who took office as EMU's twenty-second president on July 7, 2008.
Today EMU is composed of more that 122 buildings across 800 acres (3.2 km2) of its academic and athletic campus. In addition, EMU has more than 15 residence hall and apartment complexes.
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