Eastern Kentucky University

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Eastern Kentucky University (Eastern or EKU) is a public university in Richmond, Kentucky, United States. It also maintains branch campuses in Corbin, Hazard, and Manchester and offers over 40 online undergraduate and graduate options.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="EKU Online Degree Programs">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Founding

On March 21, 1906, Governor J. C. W. Beckham signed legislation which established the Eastern Kentucky State Normal School No. 1.<ref>"About" Eastern Kentucky University</ref> On May 7, 1906, the Normal School Commission selected the site of the former Central University campus as the location of this new college; EKU remains at this location today.

Renaming

In 1922, the Eastern Kentucky State Normal School No. 1 changed its name to Eastern Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College, and the transformed college awarded its first degrees under that name in 1925. In 1930, the college changed its name again, becoming the Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College. In 1948, the General Assembly shortened it to Eastern Kentucky State College. In 1966, it was officially renamed Eastern Kentucky University.Template:Citation needed

Campus revitalization

The years between 2012 and 2020 were marked by a building campaign that altered the campus layout and improved aesthetics. Funding for the multimillion-dollar project relied heavily on public-private partnerships (P3) under the leadership of then-President Michael T. Benson. The construction efforts 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: Template:Div col

Powell Student Center (2019–20)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
New Rec Center (2019–20)<ref name="ekubuilds.eku.edu">Template:Cite web</ref>
Case Dining Hall (2018)<ref name="ekubuilds.eku.edu"/>
New Gertrude Hood Stadium (Softball Field) (2017)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Scholar House (2017)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Turner Gate (2016)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
John Grant Crabbe Main Library's Noel Reading Porch (2015)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Lancaster Avenue Pedway (2015/2017)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1971 Verdin Carillon bells (Keen Johnson Building) (2014)<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref>
New Science Building (Phase I) (2012)<ref name="auto"/>

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Presidents

Presidents of the institution have included:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

No.	President	Term
1	Ruric Nevel Roark	1906–1909
2	Mary Creegan Roark	1909–1910
3	John G. Crabbe	1910–1916
4	Thomas J. Coates	1916–1928
-	Homer Cooper (interim)	1928
5	Herman L. Donovan	1928–1941
6	William F. O'Donnell	1941–1960
7	Robert R. Martin	1960–1976
-	Julius Cherry Powell (interim)	1975–1976
8	Julius Cherry Powell	1976–1984
9	Hanley Funderburk	1984–1998
10	Bob Kustra	1998–2001
-	Eugene Hughes (interim)	2001
11	Joanne Glasser	2001–2007
-	Charles D. Whitlock (interim)	2007–2008
12	Charles D. Whitlock	2008–2013
13	Michael T. Benson	2013–2020
-	David T. McFaddin (interim)	2020
14	David T. McFaddin	2020–present

Academics

Rankings

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Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race and ethnicity	Total
White	Template:Bartable
Black	Template:Bartable
Hispanic	Template:Bartable
Two or more races	Template:Bartable
Asian	Template:Bartable
International student	Template:Bartable
Unknown	Template:Bartable
Economic diversity
Low-income Template:Efn	Template:Bartable
Affluent Template:Efn	Template:Bartable

Accreditation and academic charge

The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2010, the university awarded its first doctoral degree through its Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program.<ref name="eku.edu" /><ref>Eastern Kentucky University, EKU Undergraduate Catalog. 2007–2008. pg 6</ref>

EKU serves its service region by offering adult degree completion options and online degree programs in addition to its traditional on-campus offerings.<ref name="EKU Online Degree Programs" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Rankings and outcomes

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)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
#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:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

#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)Template:Citation needed

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.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 61% of EKU graduates earn higher than a typical high school graduate of the corresponding area.<ref name=":4" />

Honors program

In 1987, the faculty senate voted to approve an honors program to attract high-achieving students primarily from Kentucky with approval coming from the board of regents the following year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The first 34 students entered the program in 1988.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Athletics

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The Eastern Kentucky (EKU) athletic teams are called the Colonels (formerly known as the "Maroons" until the mid-1960s). The university is a member of the NCAA Division I ranks, primarily competing in the ASUN Conference since the 2021–22 academic year; while its football team competes in the United Athletic Conference (UAC), with the conference having aspirations to go to the FBS level. The Colonels previously competed in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) from 1948–49 to 2020–21. EKU competes in 18 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Media

WEKU

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Launched in 1968, WEKU is a charter member of the educational radio network, National Public Radio (NPR).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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<ref name="WEKU">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Eastern Progress

The Eastern Progress is the student-run media network at Eastern Kentucky University founded in 1922. The Eastern Progress produces a monthly print edition, online content, videos, photos, and podcasts. The Progress is housed in the School of Communication.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>