Central Michigan University: Address, Contact Information, and Overview
Central Michigan University (CMU) stands as a public research university located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States. Established in 1892, CMU has evolved from a private normal school to a prominent state institution in 1895. Recognized as one of the eight research universities in Michigan, CMU holds the classification of "R2: Doctoral Universities - High research activity". The university's main campus in Mount Pleasant accommodates over 14,000 students and offers a wide array of 200 academic programs spanning undergraduate, master's, specialist, and doctoral levels.
Historical Development
The institution's journey began in 1892 as the Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute. During its inaugural year, 31 students attended classes in the Carpenter Building located in downtown Mount Pleasant, under the guidance of Prof. Charles F. R. Bellows, who played a significant role in surveying the future campus location and overseeing the construction of the original Main Building, which opened in September 1893.
Bellows established a separate Conservatory for Music using his own funds, which was later integrated into the Normal in 1900. He remained a professor and actively engaged with teacher groups throughout the state. In 1895, the Michigan State Board of Education assumed control, renaming it Central Michigan Normal School. Bellows resigned the following year.
By 1918, the campus had expanded to 25 acres with five buildings. On June 1, 1959, with a campus of 235 acres and 40 buildings, and an enrollment of 4,500 students, the institution was renamed Central Michigan University. This change reflected the growth and complexity of its academic offerings and physical expansion in the post-war period.
Governance and Leadership
Central Michigan University is governed by a board of trustees, consisting of eight members appointed by the Governor of Michigan with the advice and consent of the Michigan Senate for eight-year terms. The board is responsible for appointing and reviewing the President of Central Michigan University, currently Neil J. MacKinnon. Nancy E. Mathews was appointed as Provost and Executive Vice President of Central Michigan University on August 1, 2022, by President Robert O. Davies.
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Admissions and Enrollment
Central Michigan University has experienced a notable decline in enrollment in recent years. For the Class of 2025 (enrolled fall 2021), CMU received 18,517 applications and accepted 14,273 (77.1%). Of those accepted, 1,909 enrolled, a yield rate of 13.4%.
Academic Resources and Initiatives
Academic work and research at CMU are supported by the Central Michigan University Libraries. The Harold Abel Endowed Lecture Series in the Study of Dictatorship, Democracy and Genocide examines the effects of historical events, including the Holocaust and mass murders in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central America. The Fleming Lecture Series brings mathematicians to campus, including Fields Medal winners Terence Tao, Sir Timothy Gowers, and Cédric Villani, and Abel Prize winners S. R. Srinivasa Varadhan and Louis Nirenberg.
The Philip A. Hart and William G. Milliken Endowed Speaker Series for Integrity in Politics emphasizes political integrity and encourages students to approach politics with diverse ideas and perspectives, replacing negativity and partisanship with creativity and innovation in shaping public policy. The William B. Nolde Lecture Series focuses on intellectual discussions for future leaders in the military and across the campus and community.
Campus Life: Residence Halls
Central Michigan University offers 21 on-campus residence halls, arranged in four areas throughout the campus. In 2006, the 21st and 22nd residence halls opened in the East complex. In 2019, Barnes Hall, the oldest serving residence hall and the only one not physically connected to any other, was decommissioned and demolished.
The majority of CMU residence hall rooms are two-bedroom suites designed for 4 or 5 people. Three of the Original Towers (Cobb, Troutman and Wheeler), nine-story high-rise residence halls designed primarily for freshmen, feature one-bedroom suites for three or four people. The fourth of the Original Towers, Carey, was renovated to double-occupancy rooms in 2020 as a means of managing decreased enrollment. The New Towers, as well as Fabiano and Celani, are designed primarily for upperclassmen, and are four-bedroom suites. Each district is connected to one of four Residential Restaurants. The Towers features the RFoC, or Real Food on Campus, and the East Complex features the Fresh Food Company.
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Construction began on two more buildings, Celani and Fabiano, near the East Quad in the spring of 2005. The buildings are somewhat similar in design to the New Towers which opened in 2003. On December 1, 2005, one of the buildings was named The Ben and Marion Celani Residence hall to recognize the generosity of Detroit area businessman Thomas Celani and his wife Vicki. On April 20, 2006, the remaining building was named the Fabiano Family Residence Hall, recognizing their contribution to the school. John S. Fabiano served on the board of trustees 1999-2004, and also owns the Fabiano Brothers Inc, an alcohol distribution company.
Greek Life
CMU recognizes academic, social, and professional Greek organizations that comply with university rules and regulations, including anti-hazing policies. Currently, there are 9 fraternities and 11 sororities in the social realm. Other Greek life organizations pertaining to honor, degrees, and multicultural backgrounds have formed throughout the years.
Campus Safety
On March 2, 2018, a tragic incident occurred when 19-year-old student James Eric Davis Jr. shot and killed his mother and father when they came to campus to take him home for spring break. After the shooting, Davis fled, and the campus was placed on lockdown. Around 15 hours later, police arrested him and took him to a local hospital. The incident disrupted the travel plans of students and campus activities for several days.
Student Media
The campus' student-run newspaper is Central Michigan Life. The paper is published every Thursday during the academic year and www.cm-life.com, which receives 1 million page views per year, is updated daily. CM Life was named one of the top three non-daily newspapers in the nation for 2007, 2018, 2019 by the Society of Professional Journalists. It also was named the best college newspaper in Division I in Michigan eight of the past 10 years.
There are also two student-run college radio stations, FM 91.5 WMHW-FM and FM 101.1, a student produced newscast, News Central 34, and a student-run college television station MHTV. In addition, the university owns and operates WCMU-TV, the region's PBS station, and WCMU-FM, the NPR affiliate. On February 2, 2008, Central Michigan University's online magazine, Grand Central Magazine, was launched. In September 2022, Central Michigan University's Department of Fashion Merchandising and Design launched Verge Magazine, a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is entirely run by Central Michigan students.
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Athletics
The school's athletics programs are affiliated with NCAA Division I. CMU was a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from 1950 to 1970. Almost all Central Michigan teams compete in the Mid-American Conference; the one exception until recently was the women's lacrosse team, newly elevated from club to full varsity status for the 2015-2016 school year. The football program is known for producing players such as Antonio Brown and Joe Staley. Before moving up to Division I, the football team won its second NCAA Division II national championship in 1974 by defeating the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens 54 to 14. Notable Division I years include 1994, 2006, 2007, and 2009 when they won the MAC Football Championship Game. In 2009, they finished the season ranked #23 in the final AP Poll and #24 in the final Coaches Poll marking the first time that a CMU football team had ever ended the season ranked in the Top 25 at the NCAA Division I-FBS level.
Frequently defeating both the Michigan Wolverines and the Michigan State Spartans in dual meets, CMU's wrestling team won its 10th straight MAC championship and seventh straight conference tournament title in 2008. The Chippewas tied for seventh at the NCAA Championships, scoring a school-record 69 points. The women's basketball program has excelled to new levels. In 2018, the team made its way to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament.
CMU Locations and Contact Information
Welcome to Central Michigan University, where learning meets accessibility. Our main campus is nestled in the heart of Mount Pleasant, Michigan, with CMU Online offices just north of campus. Beyond our flagship location, we have additional centers spread across Michigan and even extend our reach to Kansas. Whether you prefer the bustling campus environment or the flexibility of online learning, CMU offers a diverse range of programs designed to meet the needs of every student.
Main Campus Address:
Central Michigan UniversityMount Pleasant, MI 48859United States
Additional CMU Locations:
- Grand Rapids Address: 1633
- Lansing Address: 411 N. Saginaw
- Innovation and Outreach Hub Address: 203 S. Troy
- Address: 900 Tower Dr. Ste.
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