History

Wayne State has been an innovative urban center of higher learning since 1868, when a group of Civil War doctors envisioned a better world through better medicine. Since our founding as the Detroit Medical College, we've grown to become one of the 50 largest public universities in the United States, offering nearly 350 degree and certificate programs through 13 schools and colleges. 

Timeline

1868  The Detroit Medical College, forerunner of the School of Medicine, was established.

1881  The Detroit Normal Training School, forerunner of the College of Education, was established.

1917  The Detroit Junior College, offering a two-year program in general education, was established in 'Old Main' and later developed into the College of Liberal Arts.

1923  The Detroit Normal Training School became a four-year degree-granting institution under the name of the Detroit Teachers College. The first degrees were granted in 1924. The Detroit Junior College became the College of the City of Detroit with four-year degree programs. The first degrees were conferred in 1925.

1924  The College of Pharmacy was organized.

1933  The College of Engineering and the Graduate School were established.

1933  The Colleges of Liberal Arts, Education, Engineering, Medicine and Pharmacy, and the Graduate School were united by action of the Detroit Board of Education into a university organization, temporarily called the Colleges of the City of Detroit.

1934  The name Wayne University was adopted, taken from Wayne County and, ultimately, from General Anthony Wayne.

1935  The School of Public Affairs and Social Work was organized. In 1950, it became the present School of Social Work.

1937  The Law School, established in 1927 as Detroit City Law School, became part of the university.

1945  The first doctoral programs were authorized in the fields of chemistry, physiological chemistry and education.

1945  The College of Nursing, which began as a program in the College of the City of Detroit, became a separate college.

1946  The School of Business Administration, originating in the College of Liberal Arts, became the 10th academic unit in the university.

1956  Wayne University became Wayne State University by Act 183 of Michigan Public Acts of 1956.

1959 - Wayne State University became a constitutionally established university by popularly adopted amendment to the Michigan Constitution.

1974  The College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions was formed from merger of the College of Pharmacy and the Division of Allied Health Professions, School of Medicine.

1985  The School of Fine and Performing Arts and the College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs were established.

1989  The name of the School of Fine and Performing Arts was changed to the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts.

1993  The College of Science was established.

2004  The College of Science and The College of Liberal Arts merged to form The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

2008  The Irvin D. Reid Honors college was created.

2009  The School of Library and Information Science was created. 

2011  The Warrior football team made its first appearance in the NCAA Division II championship game. 

2014  The Advanced Technology Education Center opens in Warren, Michigan. 

2015  The Integrative Biosciences Center, a $90 million facility dedicated to eliminating health disparities in Detroit, opens. 

2018  The Mike Ilitch School of Business opens its new facility, located in The District Detroit. 

2019  Wayne State opens the Anthony Wayne Drive Apartments, which add 841 beds for Wayne State students. 

Traditions

Hymn to Wayne

To thee, our Alma Mater,
Homage we bring.
Brave hearts raise grateful voices
Thy praise to sing.
Young art thou, young and strong;
Renowned shalt thou live, and long;
Honors to thee will throng-
And Fame to thee cling.
We laud thee, Alma Mater,
Guardian of Right.
Thou art our guide, our mentor-
Thy name shines bright.
Keep Learning's light aflame,
And hold Truth a sacred name,
Honor, thy steadfast aim.
All hail to thy might.

- Nicholas Stanley Oates '29

WSU Victory Song

The Green and Gold of old Wayne U.
flies over the field today.
Our hearts are light for with our might
A vict'ry is on its way.
The team is strong, for them we'll cheer,
Wayne U. will march along.
And at the end our voices blend
in Wayne U.'s vict'ry song.

- Don Gragg

The WSU mace

WSU Mace

The Academic Mace of Wayne State University is a ceremonial scepter whose features relate to the ancient maces used by universities worldwide. Though a symbol of the highest ideals of humankind, many maces exhibit the main characteristics of their most ancient relative: The medieval battle-mace or war club.

The university's 51-inch mace consists of layers of carved ebony held in place by a tubular shaft. By tradition, it is carried by the sergeant-at-arms and occupies a prominent place before those who attend and conduct the commencement ceremony.

As the battle-mace lost its usefulness as a weapon, it began to appear as a ceremonial staff in processions of royalty, magistrates, and church or university officials. During the commencement ceremony, it serves as a symbolic weapon to protect and proclaim the ideals of harmony, truth, justice and learning.

The Academic Mace of Wayne State University is a gift of Sara and Melvin Maxwell Smith. A 1939 graduate of the university, Mr. Smith was for many years a generous contributor to the artistic enrichment of campus life. The Academic Mace was designed and created in 1984 by the late Phillip Fike, professor of art at Wayne State until his death in 1997.