Wayne State University: A Pillar of Education and Research in Detroit

Wayne State University (WSU), a public research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan, stands as a testament to the transformative power of education and its impact on local and global communities. Founded in 1868, WSU has evolved into a comprehensive institution comprising 13 schools and colleges, offering a diverse range of approximately 375 programs.

Historical Overview: From Civil War Origins to a Leading Research University

The university's roots trace back to 1868 when it was established as the Detroit Medical College by five returning Civil War veterans. These veterans, witnessing the inadequacies of medical treatment during the war, dedicated themselves to advancing health education and care in Detroit. The college charter from 1868 was signed by founder Theodore Andrews McGraw, M.D., a University of Michigan graduate (B.A. 1859).

In 1885, the Detroit College of Medicine merged with its competitor, the Michigan College of Medicine, consolidating their resources and buildings. Following the reorganization, McGraw assumed the role of the first president and dean. The Detroit Normal Training School for Teachers was established by the Detroit Board of Education in 1881. By 1920, after several relocations to accommodate its growth, the school became the Detroit Teachers College.

The Detroit Board of Education further expanded the city's educational landscape by founding the Detroit Junior College in 1917, utilizing the Old Main Hall of Detroit Central High School as its campus. In 1924, the Detroit College of Pharmacy and the Detroit Teachers College were integrated into the campus, forming the College of the City of Detroit. The original junior college transitioned into the College of Liberal Arts, and the first bachelor's degrees were conferred in 1925.

Recognizing the need for legal education, a group of lawyers, including Allan Campbell, established Detroit City Law School in 1927 as part of the College of the City of Detroit. The school's first class graduated with the bachelor of laws degree (LL.B.) in 1928 and achieved full American Bar Association accreditation in 1939.

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In 1933, the Detroit Board of Education unified its colleges into a single university, officially named Wayne University in January 1934. The university adopted its name from Wayne County, which itself was named after Revolutionary War Major-General Anthony Wayne. Wayne University continued to expand its academic offerings, adding a School of Social Work in 1935 and the School of Business Administration in 1946.

The institution underwent a significant transformation in 1956 when it was renamed Wayne State University. In 1959, an amendment to the Michigan Constitution further solidified the university's status. Responding to a State of Michigan mandate, the Wayne State University Board of Governors established the Institute of Gerontology in 1965, focusing on research, education, and service in the field of aging. The College of Lifelong Learning was added to Wayne State University in 1973.

In the early 21st century, WSU constructed the Integrative Biosciences Center (IBio), a 207,000-square-foot (19,200 m2) facility for interdisciplinary work in the biosciences. More than 500 researchers, staff and principal investigators work out of the building, which opened in 2016. In 2013, M. Roy Wilson became Wayne State's 12th president.

Campus and Location: An Urban Hub in Midtown Detroit

Wayne State's main campus in Detroit encompasses 203 acres (0.82 km2) of landscaped walkways and gathering spots linking over 100 education and research buildings. The campus is urban and features many architecturally significant buildings, including the University Auditorium (formerly the Helen L. DeRoy Auditorium[14] the Education Building, the Maccabees Building, Old Main, McGregor Memorial Conference Center, Chatsworth Suites, IBio, STEM Innovation Learning Center, M. Roy Wilson State Hall, Hilberry Gateway and the Gretchen Valade Jazz Center. Wayne State University is located in Midtown Detroit near many notable institutions and attractions. The Cass Corridor is one of the university's notable surroundings.

Athletic Facilities

Tom Adams Field is a 6,000-seat football stadium located on the campus. The field was named after Thomas B. Adams, a 1944 graduate and football and track athlete who later served on as a board member at WSU. Due to his athletic, military and business achievements, the Wayne State football field was named in honor of him in 2003. A new 35-foot video board was installed in August 2015. The eight-lane Lowell Blanchard Track, located in the stadium, was first installed in 2006. The Wayne State Fieldhouse, a 70,000-square-foot arena with seating for 3,000 fans, opened in October 2021.

Satellite Campuses

In addition to its main campus, Wayne State University operates three satellite campuses in Macomb and Wayne counties, extending its reach and providing educational opportunities to a wider community.

Governance and Administration

The university is governed by a Board of Governors consisting of eight members elected by Michigan voters for eight-year terms. Board of Governor members serve without compensation. The board elects the university president. The student body government is headed by a Student Senate. Some colleges of the university have their own Student Senate, which reports back to the main Student Senate.

Academic Divisions and Programs

Wayne State's academic offerings are divided among 13 schools and colleges:

the Mike Ilitch School of Business
the College of Education
the College of Engineering
the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts
the Graduate School
the Law School
the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
the School of Information Sciences
the School of Medicine
the College of Nursing
the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
the Irvin D. Reid Honors College
School of Social Work

Mike Ilitch School of Business

The Mike Ilitch School of Business offers undergraduate degrees and graduate degrees, including the M.B.A. and M.S. as well as a Ph.D. The college also offers undergraduate and graduate certificates. The programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts

Established in 1986, the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts (CFPCA) serves over 1,500 students majoring in 14 undergraduate programs and 12 graduate programs.

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School of Information Sciences

The American Library Association first accredited the master of library and information science (MLIS) in 1967. The MLIS is available online with select classes also offered on campus.

School of Medicine

Founded in 1868, the Wayne State University School of Medicine enrolls more than 1,500 students in its medical, doctoral, M.D./Ph.D., and master’s programs. The school's research emphasizes neurosciences, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity, and psychiatry and addiction research. One of the school's major assets is the Richard J. Mazurek Medical Education Commons.

Admissions and Rankings

For the Class of 2027 (enrolled fall 2023), Wayne State received 15,229 applications and accepted 12,401 (82%). Together with Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, Kalamazoo College, Hillsdale College, Calvin University and Hope College, Wayne State is one of the seven college-sponsors of the National Merit Scholarship Program in the state. For fall 2024, Wayne State University Law School received 1,179 applications and accepted 344 (29.1%). Of those accepted, 125 enrolled, a yield rate of 36.33%.

Libraries

Wayne State University boasts an extensive library system to support the academic and research needs of its students and faculty:

The Arthur Neef Law Library, located on the north section of the main campus adjacent to the Wayne State University Law School, houses the university's law collections and is the Law School's primary library. Its collection of over 620,000 volumes makes it the second largest law library in Michigan.
The Purdy/Kresge Library, located near the center of main campus, serves as the primary research library for the School of Information Sciences. It contains print and electronic resources to meet the research and instructional needs of faculty, graduate students, and upper-level undergraduates.
The David Adamany Undergraduate Library (UGL), located at the center of Gullen Mall, has numerous computer workstations providing students with access to electronic resources. Its book and magazine collection is intended to support the learning needs of 1000 and 2000-level undergraduate courses. The UGL houses the university libraries' collection of approximately videos, DVDs, and laser discs and audiotapes. The UGL provides students with information on careers, computers and study skills.
The Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, located on the easternmost portion of main campus at 5401 Cass Avenue, is the largest labor archives in North America and serves as the official archival repository for twelve major unions. It was established as the Labor History Archives for Wayne States University in 1960. In addition to labor records, the archives contain primary source material related to civil and political rights, especially those related to Detroit.

Research and Innovation

Wayne State received $352.6 million in research awards in 2023. Wayne State University, Michigan State University and the University of Michigan are the three institutional members of the State of Michigan's University Research Corridor.

Student Life

The university provides optional housing for all students in the form of apartments and residence halls. Current university-owned apartment buildings consist of University Towers and Anthony Wayne Drive Apartments. In the hopes of bringing more residents to campus, Wayne State opened two dormitory-style residence halls in 2002: Yousif B. Ghafari Hall (formerly North Hall) and Leon H. Atchison Hall (formerly South Hall). That was the first time since the closing of the Newberry Joy Dorms in 1987 that the university had dorm living available. In 2005, the university opened The Towers Residential Suites, a residence hall open to undergraduate and graduate students. The Towers Café, located in Towers Residential Suites, is the campus' largest dining facility, serving a variety of food. In 2016, the university refurbished the historic Thompson Home and opened The Thompson as a residence hall primarily for students in fine, performing and communication arts.

Greek Life and Student Media

Wayne State University hosts chapters of over two dozen fraternities and sororities. Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity was suspended in 2010 after an incident that seriously injured 22-year-old student Eric Walker. The official student newspaper is The South End. The university hosts the public radio station WDET and runs the student online radio station WAYN.

Athletics

The school's intercollegiate athletic program was established in 1917 by director of athletics David L. Holmes, who initially coached all sports. His track teams were nationally known into the 1950s; in his first 10 years, he produced two Olympians from the school's Victorian-era gym. A student poll selected the name of "Tartars" for the school's teams in 1927. WSU participates in NCAA Division II in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) for all sports except for fencing, which competes in the single division Midwest Fencing Conference. The school previously competed in men's and women's NCAA Division I ice hockey as a member of College Hockey America (CHA).

A Commitment to the Future

Wayne State University is guided by a commitment to improve lives, foster discovery and strengthen community. Since 1868, Wayne State has thrived in the heart of Detroit. Our Midtown campus places students near a vibrant cultural center, within walking distance of life-changing internships and career opportunities.

Celebrating two decades of innovation, TechTown Detroit is instrumental in revitalizing the region's economy. The nonprofit incubator provides essential resources, coworking spaces and programs that support entrepreneurs, drive innovation and boost prosperity across the region.

WSU OPEN is our gateway to connect businesses with the knowledge, talent and resources of a top-tier research institution. This one-stop shop provides partners with streamlined access to Wayne State schools, students and research centers to drive business success. Through WSU OPEN, companies can hire Wayne State students, co-develop research and establish a campus presence.

Wayne State’s history reaches back to 1868, when five physicians who witnessed the crude medical treatment on Civil War battlefields committed themselves to advancing health education and care in Detroit. Today, Wayne State University is one of the nation’s preeminent research universities, with 13 schools and colleges spanning a variety of disciplines. Over 24,000 undergraduate and graduate students from across the United States and 70 countries come here to prepare for their future careers.

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