# Eastern Kentucky University

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

## History
### Founding

On March 21, 1906, Governor J. C. W. Beckham 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)

### Presidents

Presidents of the institution have included:
| 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
### 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:
* #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. 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.

### 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. 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.

## Media
### 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 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.

## Notable alumni

* J. C. W. Beckham, governor of Kentucky and U.S. senator
* Eula Bingham, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Administration
* Leila Feltner Begley, former Secretary of State of Kentucky
* Elmer Begley, former Secretary of State of Kentucky
* Mike Harmon, former Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts
* Mallory Ervin, Miss Kentucky 2009
* Sam Champion, weather anchor
* Earle Combs, MLB Hall of Fame, New York Yankees
* Lee Majors, Actor, The Six Million Dollar Man
* Roy Kidd, College Football Coach, College Football Hall of Fame
* Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand
* Danny C. Reeves, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
* Gregory N. Stivers, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
* Silas House, Novelist
* Ken Keen, Military Deputy Commander of United States Southern Command