Central Michigan University (CMU) is a public research university in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It was established in 1892 as the Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute as a private normal school. After the Michigan State Board of Education took over governance of the school it became a state institution and was renamed Central State Normal School in 1895. The institution became a full university and gained its current name Central Michigan University in 1959 under the university's 6th president Judson W. Foust.
CMU is one of the eight research universities in Michigan and is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity". It has more than 15,000 students on its Mount Pleasant campus. CMU offers 200 academic programs at the undergraduate, masters, specialist, and doctoral levels, including programs in entrepreneurship, journalism, music, audiology, teacher education, psychology, and physician assistant. The School of Engineering and Technology has ABET accredited programs in mechanical, electrical, computer, and environmental engineering. CMU's College of Medicine opened in fall 2013.
The Central Michigan Chippewas compete in the NCAA Division I Mid-American Conference in six men's and ten women's sports.
History
CMU opened its doors in 1892 as the Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute. Prof. Charles F. R. Bellows, a University of Michigan graduate, became the founding principal of the normal school in June 1892.
For the first year, 31 students attended classes in the Carpenter Building in downtown Mount Pleasant. Bellows surveyed the future location of the campus and was involved in the construction of the original Main Building, which opened in September 1893. Within the first two years, land was acquired, and a $10,000 school building was constructed.
During Bellows' tenure, he organized a separate Conservatory for Music through his own funds, which became incorporated into the Normal in 1900. He continued to teach as a professor and spoke to teacher groups throughout the State. Bellows also led an advertising effort for the school in order to gain more students.
In 1895, the Michigan State Board of Education assumed control of the school, renaming it Central Michigan Normal School. Bellows resigned from Central in the following year. He returned to Ypsilanti in 1902 to join the faculty of the Michigan State Normal School (now Eastern Michigan University).
By 1918, the campus consisted of 25 acres with five buildings. On June 1, 1959, with 40 buildings now standing on the 235-acre campus and an enrollment of 4,500 students, Central was renamed Central Michigan University. The designation reflected growth in the complexity of the school's academic offerings as well as its physical growth in the post-war period. Enrollment tripled over the next 10 years.
In response to the need for doctors to practice in rural areas, CMU opened its medical school in 2010.
Presidents
Charles F. R. Bellows (1892–1896) Charles McKenny (1896–1899) Charles Grawn (1900–1918) E. C. Warriner (1918–1939) Charles L. Anspach (1939–1959) Judson Foust (1959–1968) William B. Boyd (1968–1975) Harold Abel (1975–1985) Arthur Emmett Ellis (1985–1988) Edward B. Jakubauskas (1988–1992) Leonard E. Plachta (1992–2000) Michael Rao (2000–2009) Kathy Wilbur (2009–2010) George Ross (2010–2018) Robert Davies (2018–present)
Governance
Central Michigan University is governed by a Board of Trustees, whose eight members are appointed by the Governor of Michigan and confirmed by the Michigan Senate for terms of eight years.
The Board of Trustees appoints and reviews the President of Central Michigan University, currently Robert O. Davies. Nancy E. Mathews was appointed as Provost and Executive Vice President of Central Michigan University on August 1, 2022, by President Robert O. Davies.
Academics
Admissions
Undergraduate
CMU is considered "selective" by U.S. News & World Report. For the Class of 2025 (enrolled fall 2021), CMU received 18,517 applications and accepted 14,273 (77.1%). Of those accepted, 1,909 enrolled, a yield rate (the percentage of accepted students who choose to attend the university) of 13.4%. CMU's freshman retention rate is 77%, with 61.7% going on to graduate within six years.
Of the 57% of the incoming freshman class who submitted SAT scores; the middle 50 percent Composite scores were 1010-1223. Of the 10% of enrolled freshmen in 2021 who submitted ACT scores; the middle 50 percent Composite score was between 19.25 and 26.