Eastern Michigan University
Encyclopedia
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university
Public university
A public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities. A national university may or may not be considered a public university, depending on regions...

 located in Ypsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,362. The city is bounded to the north by the Charter Township of Superior and on the west, south, and east by the Charter Township of Ypsilanti...

. Ypsilanti
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,362. The city is bounded to the north by the Charter Township of Superior and on the west, south, and east by the Charter Township of Ypsilanti...

 is 35 miles (56.3 km) west of Detroit and eight miles (13 km) east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School. Today, the university is governed by an eight-member Board of Regents, who are appointed by the Governor of Michigan for eight-year terms. The school belongs to the Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...

 and was re-accredited by the North Central Association in 2001. Since 1991 EMU athletics has gone by the name "Eagles
Eastern Michigan Eagles
The Eastern Michigan Eagles, formerly known as the Eastern Michigan Hurons, are the athletic teams for Eastern Michigan University. Altogether, they have won three NCAA Division II national championships and 13 NAIA Division I national championships in five different sports The Eastern Michigan...

". Then in 1994, "Swoop
Eastern Michigan Eagles
The Eastern Michigan Eagles, formerly known as the Eastern Michigan Hurons, are the athletic teams for Eastern Michigan University. Altogether, they have won three NCAA Division II national championships and 13 NAIA Division I national championships in five different sports The Eastern Michigan...

" was officially adopted by the university as the school's mascot. Currently, EMU comprises five colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, Health & Human Services, Technology an Honors College and a Graduate School. The university's site is composed of an academic and athletic campus spread across 800 acres (3.2 km²), with over 120 buildings. EMU has a total enrollment of more than 23,000 students.

History


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
Normal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...

 created outside the original 13 colonies. One hundred and twenty-two students started classes March 29, 1853. Adonijah Welch
Adonijah Welch
Adonijah Strong Welch was a United States Senator from Florida and the first president of Iowa State Agricultural College ....

 served as Michigan State Normal School's first principal. Michigan created a state educational system modeled on that of Germany. The normal schools were to train teachers for common schools, which were being established rapidly in new towns in the state. 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. Just like many other universities during World War I, the Great Depression and World War II, the school survived and expanded further. 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 a university gaining the title Eastern Michigan University after establishing the Graduate School (graduate classes were offered since 1939). Between 1959 through 1980 the College of Education
Eastern Michigan University College of Education
The Eastern Michigan University College of Education was established in 1959. Eastern Michigan University has had a long history of developing educators since its founding in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School. Eastern Michigan prides itself as the largest producer of educational personnel in the...

, College of Arts and Sciences
Eastern Michigan University College of Arts and Sciences
Eastern Michigan University College of Arts and Sciences is one of the Colleges at Eastern Michigan University. Today there are more than 125 programs of study in the College of Arts and Science...

, Graduate School, College of Business
Eastern Michigan University College of Business
Eastern Michigan University College of Business is one of the Colleges at Eastern Michigan University. EMU's College of Business is housed in the Gary M. Owen building in downtown Ypsilanti...

, College of Health and Human Services
Eastern Michigan University College of Health and Human Services
The Eastern Michigan University College of Health and Human Services is one of several colleges at Eastern Michigan University. The college was established the College of Human Services in 1975. The college is housed in the Marshall Building, next to the College of Education...

 and College of Technology
Eastern Michigan University College of Technology
Eastern Michigan University College of Technology is one of the Colleges at Eastern Michigan University. The College of Technology was established in 1980 and is housed in Sill & Roosevelt Halls. The College consists of 1525 undergraduate and 452 graduate students...

 were established. In 2005, the Honors Program became the Eastern Michigan University Honors 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. 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
Susan Martin
Susan W. Martin is the president of Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan. When she took office on July 7, 2008, Martin became the first female president in the University’s 160 year history...

, Ph.D., who took office as EMU's twenty-second president on July 7, 2008.
University Enrollment
Year
Enrollment


Under Michigan's 1964 state constitution, Eastern Michigan University is governed by an eight-member Board of Regents. The Regents are appointed by the governor, "with the advice and consent of the Senate", and serve eight-year terms. The Regents, in turn, elect the president of the university

Academics

Eastern Michigan University offers degrees and programs at the bachelor's, master's, specialist's and doctoral levels. Undergraduate students can select from more than 200 majors and minors, and graduate students have the choice of more than 170 programs. EMU has six Academic Divisions and eight University Sites which include satellite campuses. Just like many other large universities EMU does offer online courses and degrees through EMU Online. EMU also offers special out reach academic programs such as Early College Alliance @ EMU
Early College Alliance @ EMU
The Early College Alliance is an early college program based at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan that allows its students to earn sixty free credits of EMU classes It began in 2007, becoming the ninth early college program in Michigan...

.
College/School founding
College/school
Founded

College of Arts and Sciences
Eastern Michigan University College of Arts and Sciences
Eastern Michigan University College of Arts and Sciences is one of the Colleges at Eastern Michigan University. Today there are more than 125 programs of study in the College of Arts and Science...

 
1959
College of Education
Eastern Michigan University College of Education
The Eastern Michigan University College of Education was established in 1959. Eastern Michigan University has had a long history of developing educators since its founding in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School. Eastern Michigan prides itself as the largest producer of educational personnel in the...

 
1959
Graduate School 1959
College of Business
Eastern Michigan University College of Business
Eastern Michigan University College of Business is one of the Colleges at Eastern Michigan University. EMU's College of Business is housed in the Gary M. Owen building in downtown Ypsilanti...

 
1964
College of Health and Human Services
Eastern Michigan University College of Health and Human Services
The Eastern Michigan University College of Health and Human Services is one of several colleges at Eastern Michigan University. The college was established the College of Human Services in 1975. The college is housed in the Marshall Building, next to the College of Education...

 
1975
College of Technology
Eastern Michigan University College of Technology
Eastern Michigan University College of Technology is one of the Colleges at Eastern Michigan University. The College of Technology was established in 1980 and is housed in Sill & Roosevelt Halls. The College consists of 1525 undergraduate and 452 graduate students...

 
1980
Honors College 2005

Academic Divisions

The University has seven Colleges and Schools.
  • College of Arts and Sciences
    Eastern Michigan University College of Arts and Sciences
    Eastern Michigan University College of Arts and Sciences is one of the Colleges at Eastern Michigan University. Today there are more than 125 programs of study in the College of Arts and Science...

  • College of Business
    Eastern Michigan University College of Business
    Eastern Michigan University College of Business is one of the Colleges at Eastern Michigan University. EMU's College of Business is housed in the Gary M. Owen building in downtown Ypsilanti...

  • College of Education
    Eastern Michigan University College of Education
    The Eastern Michigan University College of Education was established in 1959. Eastern Michigan University has had a long history of developing educators since its founding in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School. Eastern Michigan prides itself as the largest producer of educational personnel in the...

  • College of Health and Human Services
    Eastern Michigan University College of Health and Human Services
    The Eastern Michigan University College of Health and Human Services is one of several colleges at Eastern Michigan University. The college was established the College of Human Services in 1975. The college is housed in the Marshall Building, next to the College of Education...

  • College of Technology
    Eastern Michigan University College of Technology
    Eastern Michigan University College of Technology is one of the Colleges at Eastern Michigan University. The College of Technology was established in 1980 and is housed in Sill & Roosevelt Halls. The College consists of 1525 undergraduate and 452 graduate students...

  • Honors College
  • Graduate School

College of Arts and Sciences

Today there are more than 125 programs of study in the College of Arts and Science (CAS). The College of Arts and Sciences oversees facilities such as Ford Gallery, Sherzer Hall, Kresge Environmental Education Center, the Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Research Facility, and Pease Auditorium. The College of Arts and Sciences oversees the largest number of academic facilities and is the largest college at EMU. The CAS offices and most of the CAS departments are housed in Pray-Harrold Hall.

College of Business

The College of Business (COB) was established in 1964. The school serves approximately 3400 graduate and undergraduate students. The College of Business offers 20 undergraduate majors and minors, five graduate degrees, and ten graduate certificate programs. EMU's College of Business is housed in the Gary M. Owen building in downtown Ypsilanti. Students are able to access the COB by taking The Ride's
Ann Arbor Transportation Authority
The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority , which brands itself as "The Ride," is the public transit system serving the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, Michigan, area....

 EMU route to the College of Business, which runs in a loop around campus. The College of Business has the First Ethos Week and Ethos Honor Society in the country.

College of Education

Eastern Michigan has had a long history of developing educators since its founding in 1849. Eastern Michigan prides itself as the largest producer of educational personnel in the country since 1991. The College of Education is divided into 3 departments: Leadership and Counseling, Special Education, and Teacher Education and offers over 85 majors and minors and over 30 graduate degrees. The College of Education is housed in Porter Hall. Eastern Michigan University's Department of Special Education is among the oldest special education program in the United States, started In 1923.

College of Health and Human Services

Eastern Michigan University established the College of Human Services in 1975. Eventually the university changed the name to the College of Health and Human Services on April 21, 1982. Today the home of the College of Health and Human Services is housed in the Marshall Building, next to the College of Education (Porter Hall). The College of Health and Human Services includes majors such as Social Work, Dietetics, Clinical Laboratory Science, Health Administration and Nursing.

College of Technology

The College of Technology (COT) was established in 1980 and is housed in Sill & Roosevelt Halls. The College consists of 1525 undergraduate and 452 graduate students. The College of Technology offers over 25 undergraduate and 10 graduate programs.

Honors College

The EMU Honors Program started in 1984 with approximately 230 students. The program started under the guidance of Robert Holkeboer who was the dean of the Graduate School. In July 2005 the program became a college within the university. Today Honors Housing is in Downing Hall. Past locations included Wise Hall, Jones, and Goddard Halls. Today the Honors College Office are housed in Starkweather Hall.

Graduate School

In 1959 Eastern Michigan College established the Graduate School. The establishment of the graduate school made Eastern Michigan a University. Eastern has offered graduate courses since 1939. Today the Graduate School is housed in Boone Hall. The Graduate School provides oversight, and service for all graduate programs at the University.

Campus

EMU is located in Ypsilanti
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,362. The city is bounded to the north by the Charter Township of Superior and on the west, south, and east by the Charter Township of Ypsilanti...

, a city 35 miles (56.3 km) west of Detroit and eight miles (13 km) east of Ann Arbor. Detroit Metro Airport is a fifteen-minute drive from campus. The school is a culturally diverse learning and teaching community set in a small city environment, amid a major metropolitan area. Students, attracted by the school's atmosphere and location, come not only from the Metro Detroit area but from the entire state of Michigan; EMU is well known both nationally and internationally. The university's site is composed of an academic and athletic campus spread across 800 acres (3.2 km²), with 122 buildings. The EMU campus includes several buildings with sculpture by Corrado Parducci
Corrado Parducci
Corrado Giuseppe Parducci was an Italian-American architectural sculptor who was a celebrated artist for his numerous early 20th Century works.-Early life and education:...

. Just like many larger campuses Eastern Michigan University has it own department of public safety
Eastern Michigan University Department of Public Safety
The Eastern Michigan Department of Public Safety is located in the Public Safety building, formerly called the Hoyt Conference Center, on the campus of Eastern Michigan University...

.

University sites

University Sites
Site
Location

EMU Ypsilanti, MI
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,362. The city is bounded to the north by the Charter Township of Superior and on the west, south, and east by the Charter Township of Ypsilanti...

EMU–Brighton Brighton, MI
Brighton, Michigan
Brighton is a principal satellite city of Metro Detroit located in the southeast portion of Livingston County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,444. Brighton forms part of the South Lyon-Howell-Brighton Urban Area...

EMU–Detroit Detroit, MI
EMU–Flint Flint, MI
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...

EMU–Jackson Jackson, MI
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...

EMU–Livonia Livonia, MI
Livonia, Michigan
Livonia is a city in the northwest part of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Livonia is a very large suburb with an array of traditional neighborhoods connected to the metropolitan area by freeways. The population was 96,942 at the 2010 census, making it Michigan's 9th largest...

EMU–Monroe Monroe, MI
Monroe, Michigan
Monroe is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 20,733 at the 2010 census. It is the largest city and county seat of Monroe County. The city is bordered on the south by Monroe Charter Township, but both are politically independent. The city is located approximately 14 miles ...

EMU–Northern Michigan Traverse City, MI
Traverse City, Michigan
Traverse City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. The population was 14,674 at the 2010 census, with 143,372 in the Traverse...

Kresge Environmental Center Lapeer, MI
Lapeer, Michigan
Lapeer is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is the county seat of Lapeer County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,841. Most of the city was incorporated from land that was formerly in Lapeer Township, though portions were also annexed from Mayfield Township and Elba...


The University has the main campus and eight University Sites which include satellite campuses.
The earliest off-site campus is EMU-Jackson. Courses have been offered in Jackson Michigan since the 1970s. Course catalog records show that courses have been offered at the Kresge Environmental Center dating back to at least 1976. EMU has held courses in Flint and Traverse City since 1987. EMU-Livonia began offering courses in 2000. In 2001, EMU-Detroit began holding classes at the Northwest Activities Center. EMU opened its Monroe location in 2002. The last off-campus site, EMU-Brighton, opened in 2003. EMU and Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids...

 offers a joint doctoral program in Educational Leadership at the Eberhard Center located in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...

. The Eberhard Center
Eberhard's
Eberhard's or Eberhard was a supermarket chain based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The company ceased operations in the early 1990s succumbing to increased competition, and the inability to keep up with evolving supermarket trends. Between 1985 and 1986 Spartan Stores was in negotiations to buy...

 facility is part of the GVSU
Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids...

 downtown campus. This location is sometimes referred to as EMU-Grand Rapids but is not officially listed as a university site.

Student life

for a list of EMU Student life buildings, see Student Life Buildings


Just like many large universities EMU provides many opportunities outside of the classroom. The university has plays, musicals, student organizations, and various social activities for students. On-campus hangouts include the Student Center
Eastern Michigan University Student Center
The Eastern Michigan University Student Center is Eastern Michigan University's student union. Since its opening in 2006 the EMU Student Center replaced McKenny Union as the student hub of campus life. The building is simply referred to as "The Student Center" by students faculty and staff. The...

, Halle Library
Bruce T. Halle Library
The Bruce T. Halle Library often simply referred to as Halle Library, is the sole library on the Eastern Michigan University campus. It includes computer labs, study spaces, the Holman Learning Center , a distance-learning classroom, the Faculty Development Center, the IT Help Desk, a multi-media...

, and dining facilities like the Eastern Eateries and the Commons (DC1). EMU's office of Campus Life provides many co-curricular opportunities for both resident students and commuter students which include Friday night movies, Laugh Lounge and Sky Lounge. In addition to activities on campus, EMU's campus life office also organizes occasional "Eastern Excursions" to cities such as Detroit, Cleveland, and Chicago. Off-campus hangouts include Depot Town
Depot Town
Depot Town is a commercial area, with some residences above storefronts, in Ypsilanti, Michigan's historic district. Depot Town proper consists of East Cross Street from the Huron River to North River Street, and a small area on the 300-block of North River Street. However, several blocks in the...

, Frog Island, Riverside Park, downtown Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...

 and The Ugly Mug coffee shop.

Student organizations

Student Organizations at Eastern are housed under Campus Life. Most academic departments on campus have at least one student organization for students who are interested in that subject area. Students work with volunteer organizations such as Habitat for Humanity both during the school year and on breaks. Other clubs include the Muslim Student Organization, Phi Theta Kappa, and the LGBTA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender/Transsexual Association). Eastern Michigan University has over 340 student clubs and organizations.

Greek Life

Fraternities Sororities
  • Alpha Kappa Lambda
    Alpha Kappa Lambda
    Alpha Kappa Lambda is an American collegiate social fraternity for men founded at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1914...

  • Alpha Phi Alpha
    Alpha Phi Alpha
    Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...

  • Arm of Honor
  • Delta Sigma Phi
    Delta Sigma Phi
    Delta Sigma Phi is a fraternity established at the City College of New York in 1899 and is a charter member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference. The headquarters of the fraternity is the Taggart Mansion located in Indianapolis, Indiana...

  • Delta Tau Delta
    Delta Tau Delta
    Delta Tau Delta is a U.S.-based international secret letter college fraternity. Delta Tau Delta was founded in 1858 at Bethany College, Bethany, Virginia, . It currently has around 125 student chapters nationwide, as well as more than 25 regional alumni groups. Its national community service...

  • Iota Phi Theta
  • Kappa Alpha Psi
    Kappa Alpha Psi
    Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...

  • Omega Psi Phi
    Omega Psi Phi
    Omega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...

  • Phi Beta Sigma
    Phi Beta Sigma
    Phi Beta Sigma is a predominantly African-American fraternity which was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. The founders A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I...

  • Phi Sigma Kappa
    Phi Sigma Kappa
    -Phi Sigma Kappa's Creed and Cardinal Principles:The 1934 Convention in Ann Arbor brought more changes for the fraternity. Brother Stewart W. Herman of Gettysburg wrote and presented the Creed, and Brother Ralph Watts of Massachusetts drafted and presented the Cardinal Principles.-World War II:The...

  • Phi Sigma Phi
    Phi Sigma Phi
    Phi Sigma Phi is a US national fraternity founded on July 30, 1988. There are now 11 chapters of Phi Sigma Phi nationwide. The current National President is Shawn Head.-History:...

  • Sigma Nu
    Sigma Nu
    Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...

  • Tau Kappa Epsilon
    Tau Kappa Epsilon
    Tau Kappa Epsilon is a college fraternity founded on January 10, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University with chapters in the United States, and Canada, and affiliation with a German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent...

  • Alpha Gamma Delta
    Alpha Gamma Delta
    Alpha Gamma Delta is an international women's fraternity, who are mainly sluts, founded in 1904 at Syracuse University. The Fraternity promotes academic excellence, philanthropic giving, ongoing leadership and personal development, and a spirit of loving sisterhood. Also known as "Alpha Gam" and...

  • Alpha Kappa Alpha
    Alpha Kappa Alpha
    Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle...

  • Alpha Sigma Tau
    Alpha Sigma Tau
    Alpha Sigma Tau is a national Panhellenic sorority founded on November 4, 1899, at Michigan State Normal College...

  • Alpha Xi Delta
    Alpha Xi Delta
    Alpha Xi Delta is a women's fraternity founded on April 17, 1893 at Lombard College, Galesburg, Illinois. Alpha Xi Delta is one of the oldest women's fraternities as well as one of the ten founding fraternities of the National Panhellenic Conference...

  • Delta Sigma Theta
    Delta Sigma Theta
    Delta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University...

  • Delta Zeta
    Delta Zeta
    Delta Zeta is an international college sorority founded on October 24, 1902, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Today, Delta Zeta has 158 collegiate chapters in the United States and over 200 alumnae chapters in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada...

  • Phi Sigma Sigma
    Phi Sigma Sigma
    Phi Sigma Sigma , colloquially known as "Phi Sig," was the first collegiate nonsectarian fraternity, welcoming women of all faiths and backgrounds...

  • Sigma Delta Tau
    Sigma Delta Tau
    Sigma Delta Tau is a national sorority and member of the National Panhellenic Conference, was founded March 25, 1917 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. The original name, Sigma Delta Phi, was changed after the women discovered a sorority with the same name already existed...

  • Sigma Kappa
    Sigma Kappa
    Sigma Kappa is a sorority founded in 1874 at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Sigma Kappa was founded by five women: Mary Caffrey Low Carver, Elizabeth Gorham Hoag, Ida Mabel Fuller Pierce, Frances Elliott Mann Hall and Louise Helen Coburn...

  • Sigma Nu Phi
  • Sigma Sigma Sigma
    Sigma Sigma Sigma
    Sigma Sigma Sigma , also known as Tri Sigma, is a national American women’s sorority with membership of more than 100,000 members. Sigma Sigma Sigma is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference and hosts chapters on more than 110 college campuses and 89 alumnae chapters in communities all...

  • Zeta Phi Beta
    Zeta Phi Beta
    Zeta Phi Beta is an international, historically black Greek-lettered sorority and a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.Zeta Phi Beta is organized into 800+ chapters, in eight intercontinental regions including the USA, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean...


  • Beyond student organizations EMU offers a variety of Greek organizations on campus. The Greek system provides fraternities and sororities that students can join, many of which have houses within walking distance of campus. Just like most universities EMU has a National Pan-Hellenic Council
    National Pan-Hellenic Council
    The National Pan-Hellenic Council is a collaborative organization of nine historically African American, international Greek lettered fraternities and sororities. The nine NPHC organizations are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Divine Nine"...

    , College Panhellenic Council
    National Panhellenic Conference
    The National Panhellenic Conference , founded in 1902, is an umbrella organization for 26 national women's sororities.Each member group is autonomous as a social, Greek-letter society of college women and alumnae...

     and Interfraternity Council  Interfraternity Council comprises eight fraternities, and the Panhellenic Council is made up of nine sororities. National Pan-Hellenic Council consists of 8 historically African-American fraternities and sororities, five fraternities and three sororities.

    One of the fraternities on campus, Arm of Honor claims to be the oldest active local fraternity in the United States. Arm of Honor was founded on EMU's campus in 1895. Alpha Sigma Tau
    Alpha Sigma Tau
    Alpha Sigma Tau is a national Panhellenic sorority founded on November 4, 1899, at Michigan State Normal College...

    , a national Panhellenic
    National Panhellenic Conference
    The National Panhellenic Conference , founded in 1902, is an umbrella organization for 26 national women's sororities.Each member group is autonomous as a social, Greek-letter society of college women and alumnae...

     sorority
    Fraternities and sororities
    Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...

     was founded at EMU on November 4, 1899. Greek Life at EMU hosts a yearly event called Greek Week. Greek Week is a week of events that center around Greek unity and spirit. The week often occurs in the beginning of April. Other traditions include Greek Awards. The yearly awards are based on the University's Greek Standards and Assessment Program (GSAP).

    Campus Media

    The Eastern Echo
    Eastern Echo
    The Eastern Echo is the independent student newspaper of Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The paper is funded through advertising revenue. The paper is published Monday and Thursday during the fall and winter semesters. It is published weekly during the spring semester...

    , EMU's independent student newspaper, is published three times a week during the fall and winter semesters and once a week during the spring semester, as well as publishing content online. The paper won eight awards in the 2005 Division 1 Michigan Collegiate Press Association contest, including second place in the general excellence category. The newspaper, which is funded through advertising revenue, is not under the editorial control of the university.

    Also part of the EMU Student Media Office is Cellar Roots, the school's student-run literary and fine arts magazine. Cellar Roots celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2006 with a week of events that highlighted the history of the publication. Cellar Roots is a five time winner of the National Pacemaker award for design, an award often equated with the Pulitzer Prize for the college level, as well numerous other awards.

    EMU hosts two radio stations WQBR
    WQBR (AM)
    WQBR-AM is the student radio station of Eastern Michigan University. Originally broadcasting via carrier current at 640 AM and receivable throughout EMU's campus , the signal has since switched to 610 AM, and can no longer be heard more than ten feet from the transmitter site in the Quirk Building...

     640 AM and WEMU
    WEMU
    WEMU is the public broadcasting service of Eastern Michigan University.A National Public Radio affiliate whose primary market is Washtenaw County and the surrounding area, WEMU carries the standard NPR news magazines All Things Considered and Morning Edition...

     89.1 FM. WEMU
    WEMU
    WEMU is the public broadcasting service of Eastern Michigan University.A National Public Radio affiliate whose primary market is Washtenaw County and the surrounding area, WEMU carries the standard NPR news magazines All Things Considered and Morning Edition...

     is a National Public Radio member station. The radio station, which features jazz music, has many student employees and broadcasts many EMU athletic games. WQBR
    WQBR (AM)
    WQBR-AM is the student radio station of Eastern Michigan University. Originally broadcasting via carrier current at 640 AM and receivable throughout EMU's campus , the signal has since switched to 610 AM, and can no longer be heard more than ten feet from the transmitter site in the Quirk Building...

     stands for Quirk Building Radio, where the station was once hosted in Quirk. Today WQBR
    WQBR (AM)
    WQBR-AM is the student radio station of Eastern Michigan University. Originally broadcasting via carrier current at 640 AM and receivable throughout EMU's campus , the signal has since switched to 610 AM, and can no longer be heard more than ten feet from the transmitter site in the Quirk Building...

     is no longer hosted in Quirk but now in King Hall.

    Traditions

    Like most institutions, Eastern has several campus-wide traditions throughout the school year. Longstanding traditions include Homecoming
    Homecoming
    Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni of a school. It most commonly refers to a tradition in many universities, colleges and high schools in North America...

    , Martin Luther King, Jr. Week
    Martin Luther King, Jr.
    Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...

     and the use of the Pray-Harrold Kiosk by students.

    The Pray-Harrold Kiosk is a large cement pillar located outside between Porter Hall and Pray-Harrold. The Pillar is painted by various organizations for campus awareness, advertisements and organization unity.

    During Eastern's fall semester, traditions include Fajita Fest, Community Plunge, and Homecoming
    Homecoming
    Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni of a school. It most commonly refers to a tradition in many universities, colleges and high schools in North America...

    . Fajita Fest occurs during the school's orientation and welcoming weekend in September. The event brings more than 300 campus offices, and student organizations together in University Park & Bowen Field House
    Bowen Field House
    Bowen Field House is a 5,400 seat multi-purpose arena in Ypsilanti, Michigan on the Eastern Michigan University campus. It opened in 1955 and was home to the Eastern Michigan Eagles men's and women's basketball teams until the Convocation Center opened in 1997...

     to showcase campus organizations and services. Community Plunge also occurs during orientation and offers the opportunity for students, staff and faculty to participate in service in the Ypsilanti
    Ypsilanti, Michigan
    Ypsilanti is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,362. The city is bounded to the north by the Charter Township of Superior and on the west, south, and east by the Charter Township of Ypsilanti...

     community.

    During Eastern's winter semester campus traditions include Martin Luther King, Jr. Week
    Martin Luther King, Jr.
    Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...

    , Ethos Week, The Gold Medallion Awards, and Relay For Life. Martin Luther King, Jr. Week occurs around Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The university holds various speakers, learning opportunities, creative expression, community building, events, and awards in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. and his dream. Ethos Week is lead by the COB
    Eastern Michigan University College of Business
    Eastern Michigan University College of Business is one of the Colleges at Eastern Michigan University. EMU's College of Business is housed in the Gary M. Owen building in downtown Ypsilanti...

     and is the only week of its kind in the nation. Ethos Week is a week-long annual event occurs in March. The event promotes business ethics and to further ethics education. The Gold Medallions Awards are split into two ceremonies. The Gold Medallion Awards started in 1982 and is organized by Eastern's Student Affairs Division to recognize faculty, students and staff. In 1996, the Student Gold Medallion Awards were established. The award ceremony recognizes student leaders, student organizations, divisional programs, activities or service. Eastern's Relay For Life
    Relay For Life
    Relay For Life is the main volunteer-driven cancer fundraising event of the American Cancer Society. Originating in the United States, the Relay For Life event has spread to 21 countries. Relay events are held in local communities, campus universities, military bases, and in cyberspace...

     event is a 24-hour, yearly event that is held in University Park that started in 1985. The event is centered around supporting the American Cancer Society
    American Cancer Society
    The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...

    . The event brings in campus organizations from the entire campus. The event has been held at various times during the year but in recent times the event is held in early April before the school-year ends.

    Residence Halls & Apartments

    for a list of EMU Residence Halls and Apartments, see EMU Residence Halls & Apartments.


    Eastern Michigan University has 14 residence halls. The first year center includes Walton, Putnam, Phelps, Sellers residence halls. Downing (honors housing), Best and Wise Halls house first-year and upperclassmen students. Additional upperclassman residence hall options include the Village, Pittman, Hill, and Buell. Eastern also offers apartment and family housing options in Brown, Munson, Cornell Courts, and Westview apartments. According to the university, between 3,000 and 5,000 students live on campus. In the fall of 2010, EMU began housing some full-time students in the Village Complex from Washtenaw Community College
    Washtenaw Community College
    Washtenaw Community College is a community college located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Founded in 1965, WCC welcomes more than 13,000 people from over 100 different countries for study each year and grants certificates and degrees to over 1,400 students annually...

    , which is less than half a mile away.

    In 2011, Eastern Michigan became the first university in Michigan and the eighth nationwide to offer a targeted program to house single parents with their children on campus. Called "Keys to Degrees", the program will house single-parent families near each other in one of Eastern Michigan's on-campus apartment complexes, and will offer extra academic and personal support to enrollees.

    Dining

    for a list of dining facilities, see EMU Dining.

    Eastern Michigan University Dining Services is a combined office with Housing. EMU has numerous dining and satellite operations. The larger dining facilities on campus include the Commons (DC1), the Eateries, Crossroads Marketplace, and the Student Center. Satellite operations and several Convenience Stores across campus. Dining offers a unique service called "Room Service" where students living in the Village & Towers Complex can have food delivered to their rooms.

    Athletics

    for information about EMU Athletic Bands, see EMU Athletic Bands.
    for information about EMU Athletic Facilities, see EMU Athletic Facilities.


    Eastern Michigan athletic teams have been successful on a national level, winning three NCAA Division II national championships and 13 NAIA
    National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
    The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...

     Division I national championships in five different sports (baseball, men's cross country, men's swimming and diving, men's indoor track and field, and men's outdoor track and field).

    EMU has also been NCAA Division I national runner-up twice in 1940 and 1976. In 1940, the men's cross country team finished second to Indiana University
    Indiana University Bloomington
    Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. IU Bloomington is the flagship campus of the Indiana University system. Being the flagship campus, IU Bloomington is often referred to simply as IU or Indiana...

    . In 1976, the baseball team was defeated by the University of Arizona
    University of Arizona
    The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...

     in the final game of the College World Series
    College World Series
    The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...

    .

    Eastern's men's basketball
    Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball
    The Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball team has appeared in four NCAA Division I tournaments, and have a 3-4 record, tied for third best among Michigan colleges...

     team has appeared in four NCAA Division I tournaments, and have a 3-4 record, tied for third best among Michigan colleges. In the 1996 Men's Basketball Tournament
    1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
    The 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1996, and ended with the championship game on April 1 at Continental Airlines Arena in...

    , Eastern Michigan defeated the Duke Blue Devils
    Duke University
    Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...

     in the opening round.
    The Eagles have the most MAC
    Mid-American Conference
    The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...

     championships in a single sport, 29, in men's swimming and diving (1978, 1980–1996, 1998, 2000–2005, and 2007–2010).

    The 2006–2007 season was a successful one for Eastern Michigan, as they won an EMU and Mid-American Conference record eight conference titles: Men's Cross Country, Men's Swimming And Diving, Women's Swimming And Diving, Softball, Men's Indoor Track, Women's Gymnastics, Men's Golf and Men's Outdoor Track. This beat the school's previous record of five titles as well as the previous MAC record of six.

    Traditionally, Eastern's football
    Eastern Michigan Eagles football
    The Eastern Michigan Eagles are a college football program at Eastern Michigan University. They compete in Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Mid-American Conference...

     teams have struggled, and the program has had problems attracting fans, partially due to their proximity to the University of Michigan
    University of Michigan
    The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...

    . In 1987, EMU won its first Mid-American Conference title then defeated 17½-point favorite San Jose State in the California Bowl
    California Bowl
    The California Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game played annually at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, California, from 1981 to 1991. The games matched the championship teams from the Big West Conference with teams from the Mid-American Conference...

    .

    There have been small successes though, such as a 6-4 record against rivals Western Michigan
    Western Michigan University
    Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....

     and Central Michigan
    Central Michigan University
    Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...

     in the 5 years under coach Jeff Genyk from 2004 to 2008, setting a school record for a 5 year span against Western and Central.

    Nicknames

    For information about the teams' nicknames, see EMU team name history.

    Since the 1991 season, Eastern Michigan University athletic teams have gone by the nickname "Eagles." Prior to the 1991 season EMU used the name "Hurons". EMU used the Hurons name and Indian logo from 1929 until 1991. EMU changed the logo after the Michigan Department of Civil Rights
    Michigan Department of Civil Rights
    Michigan Department of Civil Rights is a department of the Michigan State Government formed in 1965 to support the work of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission of Michigan's Constitution of 1963.-History:...

     issued a report suggesting that all schools drop such logos. During the Michigan State Normal College years the school went by the nicknames such as "Normalites" and "Men from Ypsi" and various other titles.

    Alumni & Faculty

    Eastern Michigan University has more than 145,000 living alumni, more than 100,000 of whom still reside in Michigan. Some notable Eastern Michigan University alumni include personalities such as Dann Florek
    Dann Florek
    Ezekial Dann Florek , professional name Dann Florek, is an American actor and director.-Early life:Florek was born in Flat Rock, Michigan. He attended Eastern Michigan University, but never graduated...

    , Tara Wall
    Tara Wall
    Tara Wall is a columnist and deputy editorial page editor for The Washington Times. She is also a CNN political contributor. Tara is a former newscaster, Republican National Committee senior advisor and George W. Bush appointee....

     and Greg Mathis
    Greg Mathis
    Greg Mathis is a retired Michigan 36th District Court judge and syndicated television show judge. His show Judge Mathis is produced by Telepictures Productions, and distributed by Warner Brothers. It is seen five days a week in most television markets in North America...

    . Some political and business officials that include Rodney E. Slater
    Rodney E. Slater
    Rodney Earl Slater was the United States Secretary of Transportation under U. S. President Bill Clinton.-Education:...

    , Marilyn Jean Kelly
    Marilyn Jean Kelly
    Marilyn Jean Kelly is a jurist in the U.S. state of Michigan. Mrs. Kelly is serving her second term in office as a Justice on the Michigan Supreme Court...

    , Jack Roush
    Jack Roush
    Jack Roush is the founder, CEO, and co-owner along with John Henry of Roush Fenway Racing, a NASCAR team headquartered in Concord, North Carolina, and is Chairman of the Board of Roush Enterprises....

    , John Harvey Kellogg
    John Harvey Kellogg
    John Harvey Kellogg was an American medical doctor in Battle Creek, Michigan, who ran a sanitarium using holistic methods, with a particular focus on nutrition, enemas and exercise. Kellogg was an advocate of vegetarianism and is best known for the invention of the corn flakes breakfast cereal...

     and Bruce T. Halle.

    External links

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