Wayne State University

AIM HIGHER

Notable events

1868

  • The Detroit Medical College, forerunner of the School of Medicine, is established.

1881

  • The Detroit Normal Training School, forerunner of the College of Education, is established.

1917

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

1923

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

1924

  • The College of Pharmacy was organized.

1930    

  • The first regular graduate courses are offered in liberal arts and education. The first master’s degrees were conferred in 1932.

1933

  • Frank Cody becomes the first president.
  • The colleges of liberal arts, education, engineering, medicine and the graduate school are united into a university organization temporarily called the Colleges of the City of Detroit.

1934

  • The name Wayne University is adopted, taken from Wayne County and ultimately from General Anthony Wayne.

1935    

  • The School of Public Affairs and Social Work is organized. In 1950 it becomes the School of Social Work.

1937    

  • The Law School, established in 1927 as Detroit City Law School, becomes part of the university.

1942

  • Warren E. Bow becomes the second president.

1945

  • David D. Henry becomes the third president.
  • The first doctoral programs are authorized in chemistry, physiological chemistry and education.
  • The College of Nursing, which began as a program in the College of the City of Detroit, becomes a separate college.

1946

  • The School of Business Administration becomes the 10th academic unit in the university.

1952

  • Clarence B. Hilberry becomes the fourth president.

1956   

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

1959

  • Wayne State University Board of Governors is established.

1963

  • Wayne State was designated one of Michigan’s three constitutionally established universities.

1964

  • The Division of Urban Extension is established.

1965

  • William R. Keast becomes the fifth president.

1971

  • George E. Gullen, Jr. becomes the sixth president.

1973

  • The College of Lifelong Learning is established as a successor to the Division of Urban Extension.

1974

  • The College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions is formed.

1978

  • Thomas Bonner becomes the seventh president.

1982

  • David Adamany becomes the eighth president.

1986

  • The College of Fine and Performing Arts (later changed to Fine, Performing and Communication Arts) and the College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs are established.

1993    

  • The College of Science was established.

1997

  • Irvin D. Reid becomes the ninth president.

2000    

  • The name of the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions changes to the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

2004    

  • The College of Science and the College of Liberal Arts merge to form The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

2005

  • The College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs joins the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

2008

  • Jay Noren becomes the 10th president.
  • The Irvin D. Reid Honors College is created.

2009    

  • The School of Library and Information Science is created.

2011

  • Allan Gilmour becomes the 11th president.
  • Warrior football team makes its first appearance in NCAA Division II championship game.