Eastern Michigan University (EMU) was founded in 1849 as the Michigan State Normal School. It was the first teacher training institution to open outside of the original 13 colonies. In 1959 the institute became a university and changed its name to Eastern Michigan University.
In the following years EMU rapidly expanded its offer and established its seven colleges. They are: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Health and Human Services, the College of Technology, the Honours College, and the Graduate School. Around 23,000 students attend in total each year.
Over 1,000 international students come from 65 countries to study at EMU. Students, academics and professionals from abroad can study at the university English as a Second Language Program.
EMU has over 270 student organisations. Most subjects have their own student club. There are also fraternities, sororities, sports teams and interest groups.
The main campus is over 800 acres with residence halls, 18 miles of jogging trails and recreation centre. It even has its own planetarium, where over 450 students study astronomy each semester.
Notable Emu alumni include baseball All-Star Bob Welch, Ann Arbor Mayor Ingrid Sheldon and the inventor of corn flakes and founder of Kelloggs, John Harvey Kellogg.
The university is based in the city of Ypsilanti, which has the second largest historic district in the state of Michigan. Along with some impressive examples of Victorian architecture, the area has numerous bars, restaurants and a farmers market.
