Eastern Michigan University: Fast Facts

The latest EMU Distinctions flier is here. (PDF file)

What distinguishes EMU from the crowd?

Overall distinguishing features and accolades:

Named a “Best Midwestern College” in 2008 for the fifth straight year.
Recognized as one of the 100 Best Campuses for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) students by the Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students, the first comprehensive campus guide to highlight the 100 most LGBT-friendly campuses in the United States.
EMU is helping to prepare middle school students for college as part of a six-year, $3.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The program, called GEAR-UP, helps low-income middle school students raise educational achievement and promote college enrollment.
A unique program called VISION (Volunteers Incorporating Service Into Our Neighborhoods) has nearly 1,600 student volunteers and work-study students placed in various local communities.
One of EMU’s eight charter schools, the Ann Arbor Learning Community, has been named one of the best charter schools in the nation by the Center for Education Reform.
For the fourth consecutive year, Diverse magazine recognized EMU for its growing number of African-American students earning undergraduate degrees. EMU is ranked 67th out of more than 300 colleges and universities for the number of bachelor degrees bestowed upon African American students.
More than 100 one-week courses are offered each summer in Traverse City and 15 one-week courses are offered each Winter Break. Continuing Education provides leadership to Eastern Michigan University by extending the University to its communities and has been in existence for more than 100 years -- EMU first offered off-campus lectures in 1904. Seven off-campus locations (Brighton, Detroit, Flint, Jackson, Livonia, Monroe and Traverse City) offer "one-stop shop" student services and free parking. Three off-campus locations (Brighton, Detroit, Livonia) offer a professional learning environment with a computer lab.
EMU has 20 centers and institutes:

Institute for Language and Information Technology
The Professional Education Center
Center for Academic Service Learning
Center for Community Building and Civic Engagement
Center for Entrepreneurship
Center for Organizational Risk Reduction - Health and Safety
Center for Product Research and Development
Center for Quality
Center for Regional and National Security
Coatings Research Institute
Institute for Community and Regional Development
Institute for Geospatial Research and Education
Institute for the Study of Children, Families & Communities
Nonprofit Activities at EMU
Small Business and Technology Development Center
Textiles Research and Training Institute
Center for Technology and Adaptive Education
Professional Education Center
Institute for Language Information and Technology
African American Center for Applied Research and Services

ACADEMICS

College of Arts and Sciences

Through a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation, departments in the College of Arts and Sciences are leading efforts to create increase the number of science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates.
For 27 years, the college has coordinated the Undergraduate Research Symposium, the oldest symposium of its kind in the nation
The award-winning forensics team placed second nationally at the National Forensics Association Tournament in April 2007.
The State Department invited Dr. Betsy Morgan, head of foreign language and bilingual studies, to participate in its prestigious English language fellow program that helps English language teachers in Honduras.
First established as a component of the college in 1975, the Department of African American Studies was the first of its kind in Michigan, and the first to offer an undergraduate degree in the subject.
The English department sponsors the innovative program Write-Link Community Connections, which is a one-week writing program introducing local high school students to professional writing fields.
Science department faculty have an extensive community outreach science program. Faculty and students participate in the local Science Olympiad and area science fairs; work with science teachers in the community; organize Washtenaw County’s U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad and work with groups like the Boy Scouts. They also host a yearly Saturday in the Lab, which attracts more than 1,800 children.

College of Business

For the fourth consecutive year, the college is one of the “Best 282 Business Schools” in the nation according to The Princeton Review.
The Society of Human Resource Management student group was awarded the 2006-07 national Superior Merit Award - placing it among the top 10 chapters nationwide. This is the fifth straight year the EMU chapter was honored.
The college signed an important agreement with Ansal Institute of Technology in India as part of its goal to develop global partnerships
The college has the first graduate Human Resources and Organizational Development program offered in China. It is a partnership with Tianjin University of Commerce.
The college adopted what is believed to be the first “Ethos Statement” in the country. It is the first page of every syllabus for every course offered in the college.
The college conducted the first “Ethos Week” in the country this year has formed the first “Ethos Honor Society” in the country.
EMU delivers the most comprehensive entrepreneurship program in the state, offering an undergraduate major and minor and a graduate certificate and specialization in the MBA (ranked in the Top 10 programs in its size by Entrepreneur magazine in 2005).
The college’s Entrepreneur Center has as its economic development arm, the Small Business and Technology Development Center network (SBTDC). Through it, EMU operates eight offices in the metro Detroit area (Wayne, Oakland and Monroe counties) and provides no-cost services to entrepreneurs and small businesses.
The college is offering the first undergraduate Supply Chain Management undergraduate major and minor in the state.
Accounting and Accounting Information Systems. The Department of Accounting is under review for separate AACSB accreditation. When complete, the College will be among the only 15 percent of business schools worldwide to have dual accreditation.
Beta Alpha Psi, the honorary accounting fraternity at EMU, has been recognized nationally as “Superior Status” eight straight years. For five straight years, the APICS chapter has been awarded national “Platinum” status five years straight, the highest recognition possible.

College of Education

The college is among the largest preparers of educational personnel in the country. The University is particularly known for preparing large numbers of teachers in high demand areas, including special education personnel, and mathematics and science teachers
The college is among the largest preparers of minority educational personnel in Michigan.
In 1991, the college launched EMU’s first doctoral (educational leadership).
One out of every four teachers in Michigan has at least one degree from EMU; nationally, 1 percent of the national educational workforce has a degree from EMU, which was a charter member of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
The college has the largest Department of Special Education in the nation and the first special education professional preparation program west of the Alleghenies.
The college is the only one in Michigan that certifies in each special education specialty area and the only university in Michigan providing professional preparation in all areas of disability.
The college used a $41,555 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to help plan and conduct a statewide summit on convergent issues impacting African American males in preK-12 education. The June 2006 summit focused on a multitude of issues impacting African American males in school and society.

Honors College

Three-quarters of Honors College graduates go on to further professional and graduate training, many with the support of graduate fellowships and national scholarships.
The Honors College residence hall is full for the fall term and its incoming students have an average GPA of 3.8.
Honors graduates have moved on to begin their studies at some of the nation’s most prestigious graduate, medical and law schools such as Yale, Northwestern, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Michigan.

College of Health and Human Services

About 65 percent of the full-time nursing faculty hold doctoral degrees in nursing and related fields – a percentage far above the national average.
Fulbright scholar Richard Douglass has just returned from Ghana where he developed a system for tele-medicine in Africa, thus bringing badly needed health care to remote villages.
The college’s dietetics program is one of the few nationally to focus on entrepreneurial opportunities and is available in an online-only format.
The prosthetics and prosthetics master’s program is nationally accredited and is one of only two kinds in the country. The program is a joint venture with the University of Michigan Orthotics and Prosthetic Center.
Graduates of the exercise science program who apply for admission into professional graduate programs (Medicine, Physician’s Assistant, Physical Therapy, Chiropractic, etc.) are accepted at a rate of 80 percent. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education and boasts an employment rate for graduates at 100 percent in the past three years.

College of Technology

Researchers at the Coatings Research Institute are improving the durability of U.S. Air Force plane surfaces under a $1 million contract from the Department of Defense. Researchers hope to develop a durable primer coating that maintains flexibility over a broad range of temperatures.
The information assurance program is recognized by the National Security Agency as a National Center of Academic Excellence. This program provides our graduates with the skills and knowledge required to protect information technology in private and government environments.
EMU is one of only three schools in the state to be designated a National Center for Academic Excellence.
The School of Cyber Crime Investigation provides the primary training for investigators in the areas of child pornography, internet fraud, identity theft, stalking and other electronic crimes. Since the program was established in 2000, it has helped train about 300 law enforcement officers from federal, state and local agencies nationwide.
The college’s Apparel, Textiles and Merchandising Program is the only program in the United States accredited by The Textile Institute of England. The program includes three unique components in apparel quality, merchandising, and textile applications and research.
The Hotel and Restaurant Management Program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration. Supports the vast Michigan tourism and hospitality industry that is second only to automotive in our state’s economy.
The Industrial Distribution Program is one of only 19 in the country with each graduate receiving three to five job offers. The program provides communication and management skills necessary for keeping products moving and inventories correct in a technology environment in many different segments of Michigan’s economy.
The college’s engineering management master’s program is entirely online for those with industrial and manufacturing experience who desire a move into more managerial positions.
The college’s quality management master’s program is entirely online and is designed for working adults.
EMU is one of only four universities nationwide with a Polymers and Coatings Program. Master’s graduates have a greater than 90 percent employment rate; four of our students won national acclaim for their posters and presentations at a recent conference, the most of any school. Numerous grants provide a variety of opportunities for practical research laboratory experience.

Athletics

EMU fields sports teams (21) than any other Mid-American Conference (MAC) School.

EMU sports teams won eight MAC championships in 2007-08, the most by any university in a single year in the history of the conference.
Eight coaches were named MAC Coaches of the Year in 2006-07

Alumni

24 Milken Family Foundation Award Winners (who receive $25,000) – the most in the nation

?? number of students who have competed as Olympic athletes
14 Michigan Education Hall of Fame Winners
14 U.S. Presidential Award winners for Science and Mathematics Teaching
6 Michigan Teachers of the Year
4 Michigan First-Year Teachers of the Year
Other winners include: National Teacher of the Year; National Student Teacher of the Year; USA Today’s All-USA Teacher Team; and National Superintendent of the Year
EMU had three first-team Academic All-Americans in 2006-07: Sarah VanMetre for basketball; Sarah Chrzanowski for diving and Corey Nowitzke for cross country. Ten EMU standouts received the MAC Scholar-Athlete Award.

Accreditations earned

EMU is a charter member and fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and other programs are accredited or affiliated with 42 professional associations. Other accreditations are:

AACSB – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

NCATE—National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education

ACEI—Association for Childhood Education International

ASHA—American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

CACREP—Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs

CEC—Council for Exceptional Children

CED—Council on Education for the Deaf

CTTE—Council on Technology Teacher Education

ELCC—Educational Leadership Constituent Council

IRA—International Reading Association

ISTE—International Society for Technology in Education

ITEA—International Technology Education Association

NAEYC—National Association for the Education of Young Children

NASM—National Association of Schools of Music

NCTE—National Council of Teachers of English

NCTM—National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

NMSA—National Middle School Association

CSWE - Council on Social Work Education (M.S.W. and B.S.W.)

CCNE - Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (M.S.N. and B.S.N.)

NASPE – National Association for Sport & Physical Education (Physical education program)

NCOPE- National Commission on Orthotics and Prosthetic Education (orthotics and prosthetics master’s program, one of only two kinds in the country)

CAATE – Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education

ACPHA - Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration

Funding and finances:

Eastern Michigan University is last among the 15 public state universities in state capital outlay funds since 1995. Every state university has received at least one capital outlay project since 1997except EMU. The average building age at EMU is now 48 years.

The estimated cost to renovate Pray-Harrold is $52.7 million. The total cost to EMU-including the renovation and new addition- would be $24.5 million, or 46.3 percent of $52.7 million. The state would pay the remaining $28.2 million. Built in the 1960s, the building’s deficiencies include inadequate technology infrastructure, inadequate heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, and inadequate handicap accessibility.

EMU supports Governor Granholm’s initial budget proposal that would have raised state support for higher education by 2.5 percent. Our state universities need the Legislature to again become a dependable and sustainable partner.

The Cherry Commission on higher education noted that states with higher percentages of college graduates also have the highest per capita income. The House proposal to cut $113 million from this year’s higher education budget essentially repeals the Cherry Commission’s recommendation for expanded higher education. The plan would return state funding of public universities to 1997 levels.

State funding for just the three largest universities totals more than the funding of the other 12 universities combined. (57 percent for MSU, U of M, and Wayne State vs. 43 percent for the other 12.) The proposal to separate will only make this worse.

Universities like ours offer things the three largest universities can’t possibility provide. We have smaller campuses and more personalized experiences. My professors can get to know me, not just my name and student number.

The 12 universities being treated as second class under this proposal are educating two-thirds of undergraduates in Michigan. It’s not fair to promote 3 universities at the expense of 12, especially when 80 percent of grads from the 12 universities remain in Michigan upon graduation.