Eastern Kentucky University

Central University was founded in 1874 in Richmond, Kentucky. Beset with financial difficulties and small enrollment, Central University consolidated with Centre College in 1901.

On March 21, 1906, the Governor signed legislation which established the Eastern Kentucky State Normal School No. 1. On May 7, 1906, the Normal School Commission selected the site of the former Central University campus as the location of the Eastern Kentucky State Normal School No. 1; the site continues to serve as the location of EKU.

In 1922, "Eastern Kentucky State Normal School No. 1" changed its name to "Eastern Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College"; the college awarded its first degrees under that name in 1925. In 1930, "Eastern Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College" changed its name to "Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College". In 1948, the General Assembly removed the word "Teachers" from the school's name. In 1966, the institution was officially renamed Eastern Kentucky University.

The years since 2012 have been marked by a building campaign that has altered the campus layout and improved aesthetics. Funding for the multimillion-dollar project has relied heavily on public-private partnerships (P3) under the leadership of then-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 are:

In 1922, it became a four-year institution.

In 1928, the college received its initial accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. As of 2022, the university is accredited.[16]

In 1935, Eastern added graduate studies. In 1948, the state legislature granted the college the right to award nonprofessional degrees.

In 2010, the university awarded its first doctoral degree through its Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program.[1][17]

EKU serves its service region by offering adult degree completion options and online degree programs in addition to its traditional on-campus offerings.[7][18]

Eastern Kentucky University has achieved national recognition, including mostly recently by the U.S. News & World Report 2022 Rankings:

• #52 (tie) in Regional Universities South (51st in 2021)
• #29 Best Graduate School – Occupational Therapy (29th in 2021)[19]
• #170 (tie) Best Graduate School – Public Affairs (166th in 2021)
• #189 Best Graduate School – Speech-Language Pathology (189th in 2021)
• #74 (tie) Best Online Bachelor's Programs (58th in 2021)
• #24 Best Colleges for Veterans (32nd in 2021)

EKU was also ranked by the 2019 Forbes Magazine America's Top Colleges:[20]

• #641 Top Colleges (637 in 2017 and 647 in 2018)
• #248 in Public Colleges (249 in 2017 and 250 in 2018)
• #160 in the South (172 in 2017 and 167 in 2018)

According to 2022 data from College Scorecard, Eastern Kentucky University graduates earn a median salary of $42,000 ten years after their entry into the institution.[21] The median salaries of graduates vary across disciplines, with criminal justice majors earning around $33,000, biology $40,000, psychology $35,000, nursing $65,000, and Computer and Information Science $72,000.[22] 61% of EKU graduates earn higher than a typical high school graduate of the corresponding area.[21]

In 1987, the faculty senate voted to approve an honors program to attract high-achieving students primarily from Kentucky.[23] The Board of Regents approved the proposal on January 16, 1988.[24] The first 34 students entered the program in the fall semester of 1988 under the direction of Dr. Bonnie Gray, a professor of philosophy.[25] The curriculum is interdisciplinary and capped by a senior thesis project. Students who complete all program requirements receive the "Honors Scholar" designation on their diplomas.

Each year, the honors program sends the largest delegation to the annual National Collegiate Honors Council Conference to present their research. Additionally, students in the program have received awards, including the Fulbright. Truman, Mitchell, and Phi Kappa Phi.

In 2020, the program consisted of five full-time staff and approximately 496 students.

The SGA is the formal student governing body of the university. Founded in 1954, the organization consisted of the Student Council (which became the Student Senate in 1971). Currently, the SGA consists of three independent and equal branches: the Student Court, Executive Branch, and Campus Activities Board. Additionally, an Advisory Board of university employees provides advice and oversight.

Every student enrolled in classes at the university is considered a member of the SGA.

Among EKU's most prominent traditions is the rubbing of Daniel Boone's left foot for good luck; the statue features prominently in front of the Keen Johnson Building.

More recently, former President Benson 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.[26]

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 Walt Wells, the Colonels returned to the national FCS playoffs in 2011.

The Eastern Kentucky University 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.

Launched in 1968, WEKU is a charter member of the educational radio network, National Public Radio (NPR).[28] WEKU features NPR news and talk programming in addition to locally produced news, arts and cultural programming.

WEKU broadcasts across nine FM stations in Central and Eastern Kentucky:

• 88.9 FM Richmond /Lexington
• 90.9 FM Hazard
• 88.5 FM Corbin
• 90.1 FM Pineville
• 106.7 FM Frankfort
• 96.3 FM Harlan
• 96.9 FM Barbourville
• 95.1 FM Pikeville
• 102.5 FM Middlesboro[29][30]

WEKU also has a 24-hour classical musical channel which can be accessed via its website and mobile app.

The Eastern Progress, also known as The EP, began in February 1922 and serves as the official student newspaper.[31]