Eastern Kentucky University (EKU, EKU) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Founded on March 21, 1906 as Eastern Kentucky State Normal School; the institute of higher learning underwent several name changes and was finally renamed as Eastern Kentucky University on February 26, 1966. After signing a bill for renaming the institution, Governor Edward T. Breathitt granted Eastern Kentucky University the permission to award graduate degrees in diverse fields of education. Also referred to as EKU or Eastern, Eastern Kentucky University is a regional, coeducational, public institution of higher education, located in Richmond, Madison County, Kentucky.

EKU has a commendable record of more than a century of educational service to the Commonwealth. The main campus spans an area of more than 890 acres. EKU also maintains several regional campuses in Danville, Corbin, and Manchester; and centers in Lancaster, Fort Knox, and Somerset.

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Information Summary

Ranks 10th in Kentucky and 845th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	82.3
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$23,706
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	26 / 1190
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	18 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	73% / 24%
Enrollment Total (all students)	15,815

Academics

Eastern offers general and liberal arts programs, pre-professional and professional training in education and diverse other fields at undergraduate as well as graduate levels. EKU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). EKU offers more than 165 degree programs leading to associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. The University is composed of five colleges: College of Arts and Sciences; College of Business and Technology; College of Health Science; College of Education; and College of Justice and Safety.

Eastern also encompasses several other academic areas such as African/African-American Studies; Appalachian Studies; Chautauqua Lecture Series; Continuing Education & Outreach; Credit by Examination; Distance Education; English Language Instruction; Faculty Senate Minutes; General Education Discussion Area; Graduate School; Grants & Contracts; Honors Program; Hummel Planetarium; Office of Institutional Effectiveness; Office of International Education; Online Learning; Student Success Institute; Study Abroad; and Women and Gender Studies.

EKU Online & Distance Education:

The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education uses distance learning as the key term for the different types of learning including online education. This implies any student who completes his/ her course away from campus is engaged in distance learning. The delivery methods include print material, e-mail, telephone, audio tape, video tape, television/VCR, satellite, and computer. Students can complete the entire course off campus or attend the special classes.

Each semester, EKU offers more than 60 academic courses by Interactive TV (ITV) programs. It uses a statewide network compressed video or a two-way videoconferencing to connect Kentucky’s eight state Universities with community colleges, regional campuses and centers, public schools, and the state agencies. This technology can be used for noncredit courses, workforce education, other trainings as well.

EKU offers online courses both on-campus and off-campus to students having access to the Internet. Eastern participates with the Kentucky Virtual Campus (KYVC) by offering online courses to the students who access the portal for post-secondary education courses and programs from institutions in Kentucky. EKU offers both undergraduate and graduate courses through KYVC. However, the number of courses offered may vary each semester.

Some of the online courses offered by EKU are Online Bachelor Degree in Psychology; Online Bachelor Degree in Political Science; Online Bachelor Degree in Creative Writing; Online Bachelor Degree in Homeland Security; Online Bachelor Degree in Occupational Safety; and Online Bachelor Degree in Occupational Safety. Eastern Kentucky University Libraries provide a wide collection of library resources and services for students who are enrolled in distance education or online courses.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

Eastern Kentucky University boasts an enrollment of more than 16,000 students each year. It accepts all graduates of regionally accredited Kentucky and outer state secondary schools who meet specified admission criteria. Admission by special approval is also available to outstanding high school students; those who have passed the General Educational Development (GED) test; or wish to apply for a specialized course or series of courses.

Students must take either ACT or SAT test and send the official test results to EKU. The admission deadlines are the following:

First week of August (Fall)
First week of December (Spring)
First week of April (Summer)

Getting a transfer to Eastern Kentucky University is pretty easy. International students are also welcome to the University. Students whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) test.

Financial Aid

Eastern Kentucky University offers financial aid to the needy and deserving students in the form of grants, loans and scholarships. In order to apply for financial aid, students must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form. The Federal and State grants offered at EKU are Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG); CAP Grant; Federal Pell Grant; Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG); SMART Grant; and TEACH Grant.

Scholarships are the most popular type of financial aid available. Some of the scholarships offered to EKU students are J. W. Thurman Alumni Scholarship; Presidential Scholarship; Regents Scholarship; Honors Program Scholarship; Alumni Endowed Scholarship; Commonwealth Scholar Award; Dr. Rodney Gross Scholarship; and Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship KEES.

Loans are the form of financial aid that needs to be repaid. Students can apply for the following loans available at EKU: Federal Direct Loans; Federal Perkins Loans; Non-Federal Alternative Loans; and Federal Student Aid Ombudsman. The work-study program at Eastern Kentucky University provides employment to eligible students to help them bear their educational costs.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 4778th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Kentucky.

Students

Student life at EKU provides an assortment of opportunities, activities, and events tailored to enhance your Eastern experience. The student governing body (SGA) works to be a voice for all University students. The campus houses more than 150 registered student clubs and organizations in different categories such as activity/interest, club sports, departmental, governance, honorary, religious, residence hall councils, service, social fraternities and social sororities.

The student clubs regularly hold events, programs, and fundraisers. Students can either join a club or start a new one. Some of the student organizations include American String Teachers Association (EKUASTA); African-American Club (AFA); American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE); Black Student Union (BLSTUDUN), EKU Ballroom Dance Club (BLRMD); EKU Cultural Club (DANVCCL); EKU Men’s Soccer Club (EMSOCC); Spanish Student Association (SPSA) and EKU Sport Club Council (EKU Sp).

Eastern Kentucky University has a strong Greek scene with several students being a part of the fraternities and sororities. The Greek organizations are governed by National Panhellenic Conference, National Pan-Hellenic Council, North-American Interfraternity Conference, and National Pan-Hellenic Council. Some of the fraternities and sororities are Alpha Gamma Delta, Kappa Delta, Chi Omega, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, Phi Kappa Tau, Pi Kappa Alpha, Tau Kappa Epsilon, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

Media and Publications:

The Eastern Progress is the campus newspaper, published weekly since 1922. WEKU is the radio station, which broadcasts classical music and NPR news to most part of central and southeastern Kentucky. The Milestone is the EKU yearbook containing high-quality volume chronicling campus life over the preceding year.

Campus Facilities:

Eastern campus is home to several well-stocked libraries containing educational resources for the on-campus and off-campus students. The libraries are John Grant Crabbe Library; Justice and Safety Library Branch (located within the Stratton Building); and Music Library Branch (located within the Foster Building). Online students can also have books delivered to their home through the US Postal Services.

Eastern campus life aims to give you the most memorable times of your life. There are on-campus dining selections and fun events to enhance your overall experience at EKU. Students can enjoy dining at the fun campus restaurants serving up an assortment of tantalizing cuisine every day. The on-campus restaurants are: Chick-fil-A; C3 Express stores; Einstein Bros Bagels; Energy Zone; Fresh Food Company; Grille Works; Java City; Market Place Convenience Store; Model Laboratory School; Quiznos; Starbucks; Stratton Café; and Zoca.

With 14 residence halls and one efficiency apartment complex situated in different locations across the campus, EKU offers wonderful housing facility to the student. Most residence halls encompass at least one Living Learning Community floor. The Living Learning Communities (LLCs) offer an amazing opportunity for students to meet new people having similar majors, interests, and classifications. The residence halls and apartment are: Burnam Hall; Case Hall; Clay Hall; Combs Hall; Commonwealth Hall; Greek Towers; Keene Hall; Martin Hall; McGregor Hall; Palmer Hall; Sullivan Hall; Telford Hall; Walters Hall; and Brockton Apartments.

Nightlife:

Richmond provides a superb environment for the University students to recreate and have fun. The community boasts a regional shopping mall, live entertainment, theaters, fine dining, cultural events and several activities. There are also many areas of historic and scenic interest situated nearby. Fort Boonesborough State Park, known as the birthplace of Kentucky, is situated 12 miles to the north.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

Eastern Kentucky University’s athletic department sponsors both men’s and women’s sports teams. They are nicknamed as Colonels and Lady Colonels. The athletic teams participate in several varsity sports such as basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, softball, football, golf, volleyball, track & field, and cross country. They compete in the NCAA’s Division I in the Ohio Valley Conference. Sports facilities at Eastern Kentucky University include Roy Kidd Stadium, Alumni Coliseum, Gertrude Hood Field, Turkey Hughes Field, Arlington, Greg Adams Indoor Tennis Center, and Tom Samuels Track.

Intramural Sports:

Eastern Kentucky University offers an array of recreation and intramural sports programs for students, staff and faculty members. Outdoor enthusiasts can take on the adventure trails and wall climbing activities. There are several on-campus recreation facilities such as Fitness & Wellness Center, and Burke Wellness Center. Students, staff and faculty members can join the fitness/ wellness classes or enjoy a relaxing massage therapy from an expert.

Traditions

Eastern also has several traditions associated with its student life. The Corner is the traditional common area bordered by the Keen Johnson Building, the Powell Student Center, and Case Residence Hall where students have assembled in between classes for decades. The Corner has remained a central hangout throughout the University’s history.

Mozart’s Grave is the tomb of the University’s unofficial campus mascot from the mid-1960s. It is marked with a gravestone situated behind the amphitheater stage.

Alumni

Eastern graduates have earned reputation and success in diverse fields of profession. Some of the notable alumni are Eula Bingham, eminent occupational health scientist; Jason Epperson, eminent filmmaker; Dan Mason, President of CBS Radio; Josh Anderson, (Baseball) center fielder of Cincinnati Reds; Aaron Jones, (Football) former NFL Defensive End; Maria Elizabeth Montgomery, Miss Kentucky USA 2009; and Andy Richman, coach of the Wisconsin Badgers football team.

Additional School Information

The Bratzke Center at Eastern is designed to support the student athletes in all aspects of their academic pursuits. It aims to provide student athletes at EKU with great athletic as well as academic experience. The center features a tutoring center, academic advising office suite, 27 station computer lab, a teaching classroom, and a quiet study area.

US News & World Report (2008 edition) ranked Eastern Kentucky University 60th in the Top Southern Master’s Universities. In the 2009 edition, the master’s degree program in Occupational Therapy was ranked 24th in the country in the magazine’s ‘America’s Best Graduate Schools’.

Bibliography

Eastern Kentucky University. 2011.

Usher, Chris.Eastern Kentucky University: then and now. Harmony House Publishers, 1992. Print.

Ellis, William. A history of Eastern Kentucky University: the school of opportunity. University Press of Kentucky, 2005. Print.

Eastern Kentucky University