Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University (EMU, EMich, Eastern Michigan or simply Eastern), is a public research university in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Founded in 1849 as the Michigan State Normal School, it was the fourth normal school (teachers' college) established in the United States and the first American normal school founded outside New England. In 1899, the Michigan State Normal School became the first normal school in the nation to offer a four-year curriculum and gained the name Michigan State Normal College. In 1959, the college became a university and gained its current name of Eastern Michigan University.
Former names
Michigan State Normal School (1849–1899)
Michigan State Normal College (1899–1956)
Eastern Michigan College (1956-1959)
"Equity, Exemplar, Excellence"
1849[1]
$94.01 million (2022)[2]
James M Smith[3]
Rhonda Longworth
1,014 (2023/24)[4]
851 (2023/24)[4]
13,352 (Fall 2023)[4]
11,129 (Fall 2023)[4]
2,223 (Fall 2023)[4]
Large Suburb, 800 acres (3 km2)
Green and white[5]
EMU is one of the eight research universities in the state of Michigan and is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".[6] It is governed by an eight-member board of regents whose members are appointed by the governor of Michigan and confirmed by the Michigan Senate for eight-year terms.
The university comprises eight colleges and schools:[7] College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Education, College of Health and Human Services, GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology, School of Music & Dance, the Honors College, and the Graduate School. The university is composed of an academic and athletic campus spread across 800 acres (3.2 km2), with over 120 buildings. EMU's total enrollment is currently over 13,000 students. In the fall of 1990, total enrollment was 25,954 students. For the last ten years, EMU has experienced a steady yearly decrease in total fall enrollment.
In 1991, Eastern Michigan Athletics started competing as the "Eagles" and the school mascot, Swoop, was officially adopted by the university three years later in 1994.[8] The Eastern Michigan Eagles compete in the NCAA Division I Mid-American Conference.[8] EMU Athletics utilizes Rynearson Stadium for its football games, Oestrike Stadium for its baseball games, and the multipurpose George Gervin GameAbove Center (formerly the EMU Convocation Center) for its basketball games.
EMU has more than 145,000 living alumni.[83] Notable politicians and public servants from Eastern Michigan include 7th Governor of North Dakota Frederick Fancher, 31st Governor of Michigan Fred W. Green, Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Marilyn Jean Kelly, Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Marvin B. Rosenberry, U.S. Senators Royal Copeland, Charles E. Potter, U.S. Representatives William W. Chalmers, William Horace Frankhauser, Patrick H. Kelley, Carl D. Pursell, Henry F. Thomas, Frank W. Wheeler, and Alfred Lucking, and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater.
Billionaire Bruce T. Halle, founder of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Jack Roush are all also EMU alums. Other notable EMU alumni include Dann Florek, Winsor McCay, Nagarjuna, Greg Mathis, Dave Coverly, Ryan Drummond.
EMU alumni in the NBA include Earl Boykins, Kennedy McIntosh, and "the Iceman" George Gervin.
NFL player Maxx Crosby attended Eastern Michigan University and will have the Football stadium named after him in 2024.[84]
Other notable NFL Players include Charlie Batch and T. J. Lang also attended Eastern Michigan.