Eastern Kentucky University

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:

Academics

Rankings

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

Main article: Eastern Kentucky Colonels

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

Main article: 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

Main article: List of Eastern Kentucky University alumni

File:BECKHAM, J.C.W. SENATOR LCCN2016858952 (cropped).jpg|J. C. W. Beckham, governor of Kentucky and U.S. senator File:Eula Bingham.jpg|Eula Bingham, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Administration File:Leila Feltner Begley.jpg|Leila Feltner Begley, former Secretary of State of Kentucky File:Elmer Begley.jpg|Elmer Begley, former Secretary of State of Kentucky File:Mike Harmon (cropped).jpg|Mike Harmon, former Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts File:Mallory Ervin (cropped).jpg|Mallory Ervin, Miss Kentucky 2009 File:Sam Champion 121121-G-OD937-141 (cropped).jpg|Sam Champion, weather anchor File:EarleCombsGoudeycard.jpg|Earle Combs, MLB Hall of Fame, New York Yankees File:Lee Majors 1973.JPG|Lee Majors, Actor, The Six Million Dollar Man File:Roy kidd.jpg|Roy Kidd, College Football Coach, College Football Hall of Fame File:Thaksin DOD 20050915 (crop).jpg|Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand File:Danny C. Reeves official photo.jpg|Danny C. Reeves, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky File:Gregory Stivers (cropped).jpg|Gregory N. Stivers, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky File:Silas House 2022 Texas Book Festival.jpg|Silas House, Novelist File:Maj Gen Ken Keen.jpg|Ken Keen, Military Deputy Commander of United States Southern Command

Notes

References

References

1. Great Journeys Begin Here. "About EKU | Eastern Kentucky University | Eastern Kentucky University". Eku.edu.
2. (February 12, 2025). "U.S. and Canadian 2024 NCSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2024 Endowment Market Value, Change in Market Value from FY23 to FY24, and FY24 Endowment Market Values Per Full-time Equivalent Student". National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO).
3. "CPE Interactive Data Center".
4. "EKU Visual Identity". EKU.
5. "College Navigator - Eastern Kentucky University".
6. (2015). "EKU Fact Book". Eastern Kentucky University Institutional Research.
7. "EKU Regional Campuses {{!}} Regional Campuses {{!}} Eastern Kentucky University".
8. "Accredited Online Degree Programs from EKU – Earn Your Degree Online – Online Degree Programs – – Eastern Kentucky University". eku.edu.
9. [https://www.eku.edu/about/ "About" Eastern Kentucky University]
10. Barker, Ricki. (August 18, 2017). "Eastern continues to expand its 'campus beautiful'". Richmond Register.
11. (July 25, 2017 ). "New Residence Halls, Science Bldg. Phase 2 Open".
12. (June 24, 2016). "Renovations Begin For EKU Baseball & Softball Stadiums".
13. "Construction Begins On Scholar House | EKU Stories | Eastern Kentucky University".
14. "Gate Dream Come True For Turners {{!}} EKU Stories {{!}} Eastern Kentucky University".
15. "Noel Reading Porch {{!}} EKU Libraries {{!}} Eastern Kentucky University".
16. Eads, Morgan. (January 17, 2017). "EKU pedway reopens months after being damaged in crash". Lexington Herald Leader.
17. Benson, Michael. (May 2014). "The President's Report: May 2014".
18. "A History of Leadership".
19. "College Scorecard: Eastern Kentucky University". [[United States Department of Education]].
20. "Accreditation & Recognition". Eastern Kentucky University.
21. Eastern Kentucky University, EKU Undergraduate Catalog. 2007–2008. pg 6
22. "Finish Your Degree – Eastern Kentucky University". eku.edu.
23. "U.S. News Best Grad School Rankings".
24. "Eastern Kentucky University".
25. "College Scorecard: Eastern Kentucky University".
26. "Data Home {{!}} College Scorecard".
27. (November 5, 1987). "Faculty senate approves proposal for honors program". The Eastern Progress.
28. Marsee, Mike. (January 21, 1988). "Honors program endorsed by board". The Eastern Progress.
29. Risner, Brent. (September 1, 1988). "Honors program completes first week of curriculum". The Eastern Progress.
30. "EKU Athletics Site".
31. "About".
32. "About WEKU". WEKU-FM.
33. "Coverage Map".
34. (March 28, 2022). "EKU Magazine Spring 2022".