Eastern Kentucky University

History

Central University was founded in 1874 on the present site of Eastern Kentucky University. In 1901, beset with financial difficulties and small enrollment, Central University agreed to consolidation with Centre College. The Kentucky General Assembly of 1906 enacted legislation establishing the Eastern Kentucky State Normal School No. 1. The legislation was signed into law by the governor on March 21, 1906. On May 7, 1906, the Normal School Commission selected the site of the former Central University campus to be the location of the new school. In 1922 it became a four-year institution and changed its name to the Eastern Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College, awarding its first degrees under that name in 1925. The school received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1928; then, two years later, in 1930, it changed its name again to the Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College. Eastern added graduate studies in 1935, and thirteen years later, in 1948, the General Assembly removed the word Teachers from the school's name, and granted it the right to award nonprofessional degrees. It was not until 1966 that the school was officially renamed Eastern Kentucky University. In 2010, the university awarded its first doctoral degree—in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. EKU continues to serve its service region by offering adult degree completion options and online degree programs in addition to its traditional on-campus offerings.

Campus revitalization

The years between 2012 and 2017 have been marked by a significant building campaign that has altered the campus layout, enhanced academic quality, and improved aesthetics. Funding for the multimillion dollar project has relied heavily on public-private partnerships (P3) under the leadership of current President Michael T. Benson. The recent construction efforts at the university mark the most significant period of campus facility development since President Robert R. Martin's tenure in the 1960s. Among the renovations and additions during this decade are:

Rankings

Eastern Kentucky University has achieved national recognition including mostly recently by the U.S. News & World Report 2017 Rankings:

Forbes Magazine 2016 rankings of America's Top Colleges also has recognized EKU:

Additional recognitions include:

Colleges

Honors Program

On Monday, November 4, 1987, the Faculty Senate voted to approve an Honors Program to attract high achieving students in Kentucky. The Board of Regents subsequently approved the proposal on Saturday, January 16, 1988. The first 34 students entered the program beginning in the fall semester of 1988 under the direction of Dr. Bonnie Gray, a Professor of Philosophy who was appointed by then-President Funderburk in April of that year. Dr. Gray retired in 2008 having served as a well-known and beloved Director of the Program for 20 years. The curriculum is interdisciplinary and capped by a Senior Thesis project. Students who successfully complete all program requirements receive the "Honors Scholar" designation on their diplomas.

Today, the Honors Program is nationally recognized. Each year the Program sends the largest delegation to the annual National Collegiate Honors Council Conference where students present their research. Additionally, students in the Program have received prestigious awards including the Fulbright, the Truman, the Mitchell, and the Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship. Currently, Dr. David Coleman directs the Program which consists of five full-time staff and approximately 496 students.

Libraries

Student life

More than 230 Registered Student Organizations are active on campus, including Greek chapters, political organizations, the Student Government Association, the EKU BassMasters, EKU Kendo Club and the EKU Anime Club. Many of these organizations routinely hold events, programs, and fundraisers.

Student Government Association

The Student Government Association is the formal student governing body consisting of executive, judicial, and legislative branches. The Association is a Registered Student Organization, and every student enrolled in classes at the university is considered a member.

Greek life

Eastern Kentucky University has a vital and active Greek community with a rich history of philanthropy and campus/community service.

Athletics

Referred to as the "Maroons" until the mid-1960s, the Eastern Colonels compete in the NCAA's Division I (Football Championship Subdivision in football) in the Ohio Valley Conference.

The school is best known for its Football Championship Subdivision football team, which has captured 22 OVC conference titles and two Division I-AA National Championships in 1979 and 1982. Much of the success came during the long tenure of head coach Roy Kidd from 1964 to 2002. Kidd, with a career coaching record of 314-124-8, is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Now led by first-year coach Mark Elder, the Colonels returned to the national FCS playoffs in 2011.

The EKU men's basketball team won the Ohio Valley Conference tournament championship and its automatic bid to the NCAA basketball tournament in 2005, 2007, and 2014.

The Men's and Women's Cross Country Team has also been a staple of success over the recent decade. The Men's Team has won all ten of the last ten OVC Championships, and the women have won nine of the last ten. In 2011 the Men's Cross Country Team qualified for NCAA National Cross Country Meet for the first time in school history. Since 2011, the team has qualified for the NCAA National Cross Country Meet five consecutive times.

Traditions

EKU has few notable traditions. Perhaps the most prominent, however, is the rubbing of Daniel Boone's left foot for good luck. The statue features prominently in front of the Keen John Building. More recently, Eastern President Benson has initiated the Welcome Walk at the beginning of the fall semester. First Year students gather in front of Keen Johnson Building with the President before walking along University Drive and passing through the new Turner Gate.

The Eastern Progress

The Eastern Progress began in February 1922 and serves as the official student newspaper.

WEKU

Founded on October 7, 1968, WEKU (88.9 FM) is a National Public Radio-affiliated station owned by Eastern Kentucky University. It primarily features NPR news and talk programming, along with classical music from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. at night. WEKU also operates satellite stations WEKP (90.1 FM) in Pineville, WEKH (90.9 FM) in Hazard, WEKF (88.5 FM) in Corbin and three translators in Middlesboro (102.5 FM, W273AY), Barbourville (96.9 FM, W245AS) and Pikeville (95.1 FM, W251AI).

WEKU competes with the University of Kentucky's WUKY, making Lexington one of the smallest markets with two competing full NPR member stations. EKU also programs former smooth jazz station WKYL 102.1 FM as a primarily classical music service and sister to WEKU.

Student body profile

In the fall 2015 semester, the student population represented multiple and diverse backgrounds including:

Enrollment by campus

In the fall of 2014, there were more than 16,000 students at the main, regional, and online campuses:

University Presidents

Notable alumni