Eastern Kentucky University

Eastern Kentucky University (Eastern or EKU) is a public university in Richmond, Kentucky. It also maintains branch campuses in Corbin, Hazard, Lancaster, and Manchester and offers over 40 online undergraduate and graduate options.

Founding
EKU's earliest predecessor institution, Central University, was founded in 1874 in Richmond, Kentucky. Beset with financial difficulties and small enrollment, Central 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 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.

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:


 * Powell Student Center (2019–20)
 * New Rec Center (2019–20)
 * Case Dining Hall (2018)
 * New Gertrude Hood Stadium (Softball Field) (2017)
 * Scholar House (2017)
 * Turner Gate (2016)
 * John Grant Crabbe Main Library's Noel Reading Porch (2015)
 * Lancaster Avenue Pedway (2015/2017)
 * 1971 Verdin Carillon bells (Keen Johnson Building) (2014)
 * New Science Building (Phase I) (2012)

Accreditation and academic charge
The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 2010, the university awarded its first doctoral degree through its Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program.

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

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)
 * #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:

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. 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. 61% of EKU graduates earn higher than a typical high school graduate of the corresponding area.
 * #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)

Honors program
In 1987, the faculty senate voted to approve an honors program to attract high-achieving students primarily from Kentucky. The Board of Regents approved the proposal on January 16, 1988. The first 34 students entered the program in 1988.

Athletics


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.

WEKU
Launched in 1968, WEKU is a charter member of the educational radio network, National Public Radio (NPR). 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

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