Eastern Michigan College (1956–1958) only existed for a short time. With the additions of departments and the large educational enrollment after World War II, 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. In 1959 the school became a university, gaining the title Eastern Michigan University after establishing the Graduate School (graduate classes were offered since 1939). In the same year, the 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 of October 14, he gave a speech at the
University of Michigan, challenging students to serve their country abroad in the name of peace. This was the beginning of the
Peace Corps. Several expansions in colleges followed the establishment of the 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 1972, Patricia Swan became the first African-American homecoming queen. Between 1960 and 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), and Hoyt/Pittman/Hill Halls (1969). Between 1964 and 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). 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 the Eagles. This was chosen from three recommendations, the other two names submitted being the Green Hornets and Express. Eventually in 1994, EMU adopted the mascot "Swoop" for the university. 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. In May 2000, President Bill Clinton delivered the commencement address at Eastern Michigan University's Convocation Center. Six years later, the university gained national attention when student
Laura Dickinson was sexually assault and murdered on campus in her residence hall room. Orange Taylor III, also a student, was convicted of the murder. A subsequent investigation by Detroit law firm
Butzel Long found that EMU had violated the
Clery Act by not notifying students and named Jim Vick, Vice President of Student Affairs, as the main source of the cover-up. Several senior administrators were subsequently fired, resigned, or disciplined; among those who were fired were university president John Fallon and Vice President for Student Affairs Jim Vick. In July 2007, the U.S. Department of Education fined EMU then-record $350,000 for violating the Clery Act by not reporting the crimes to students. On December 13, 2007, EMU settled with the family and estate of Laura Dickinson for $2.5 million; the settlement does not include any admission of liability by EMU. 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 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 first female president was
Susan W. Martin, Ph.D., who took office as EMU's twenty-second president on July 7, 2008, and served until July 7, 2015. The university's current interim president is
Kim Schatzel, who took office on July 8, 2015. ==Presidents==