I feel like sharing a list of some of the things at EMU that make me happy to be working here….Feel free to add your own!
1. the EMU Theater program and its many wonderful productions over the last year!
2. EMU’s location — I like this part of the state a lot, and Ypsilanti is a very cool town.
3. EMU’s nearly unlimited potential for great achievements, and the dedication of the many faculty, students, staff and administrators who work to realize this potential.
4. Our students – especially the ones who, in my history classes, so frequently show their thirst for learning and their curiosity. At EMU, students appreciate the value of their educations rather than taking it for granted (as is sometimes true at more elite schools). EMU students work hard for their education, and EMU by and large works for them….
5. My many wonderful colleagues on the faculty — both in my dept, History and Philosophy, and in Arts and Sciences, and across the whole campus. EMU’s faculty members are, by and large, very hard working, dedicated people, experts in their fields, hired by national searches and found to be the best available….and none of them are here to get rich or famous, but rather to teach and do scholarship and serve.
6. I have often over the years heard wonderous things from students about our biology faculty’s teaching, and as I’ve gotten to know many of the biology faculty myself, I have to agree with the views of my students who praised the bio faculty. Same can be said no doubt for the sciences in general.
6. For many of us on the faculty, much of our teaching is directed at future K-12 teachers, and that to me is exciting and important: EMU trains lots of teachers, and thus we have a power and responsbility to “get it right” as what we teach becomes the intellectual capital of K-12 teachers, and is imparted to younger students. This is a very serious responsibility, and an honor to be part of. EMU’s College of Education is superb.
7. The EMU staff and administrators, nearly all of them, are engaged in providing services that our students need, and they do a good job of it, and, I am grateful to them for their important labors.
8. EMU has a broad array of academic programs — around 200, if I recall correctly – so our faculty, curriculum, and our students’ interests are rich and diverse. This makes EMU a far more interesting place than many smaller sized schools, and yet EMU is still small enough that we should be able to function as a university community. (This goes back to #3 above, EMU’s tremendous potential…)
9. We have an excellent library, and a superb library faculty. Likewise, a terrific social work faculty and program, and many others I could name, but won’t for want of space.
10. EMUTalk.org – the blog where the meanings of EMU are probed and explored! (Thanks, Sitedad and fellow commentors)
What is most essential to each of the 10 items above, of course, are the students. They’re the tops!
And what, dear readers, are some of your favorite Terrific Things about EMU?
I love this list!
I’ll try to add my own things when I get home from work, as I’m leaving for the day soon.
As someone who is very shortly about to join EMU, and who has followed the trials that the university has gone through lately, I am grateful to Mark, my new colleague in the history department, for posting this message.
During my brief and hectic campus visit in the depth (I think) of winter, I was struck by the warmth, humor and dedication of the history department, and impressed by the diversity and vivacity of the campus.
Following the recent changes at EMU, I hope the university will now be able to move forward for the benefit of students and faculty alike.
Looking forward to seeing you all real soon.
Best wishes,
John
Now Prof. Higbee we are talkin!!
Here is my couple of favorites, but I could go on forever (& I mean no offense by omission!! EMU in General, ROCKS!) Prof. Higbee cheated by listing TWO #6′s !!! Ha!! But, I agree ten doesn’t do our school justice!!
*****The faculty here at EMU is on par with any University, anywhere- I would argue better than most, because they TRULY care about their students and they are SO adorable!! Ever notice how a Professor’s eyes light up when we, the students, actually ‘Get’ what they are teaching—Priceless!! (Special shout out to my History profs.- AMAZING scholars)
*****The staff support really is such an unsung hero at EMU, they keep things running smoothly, even when all seems in turmoil. They go the extra mile to find the answer. So, thank you all –we really do notice and appreciate each and every one of you!!
Ok, at home and settled in for the night (somewhat!). Time for commenting properly.
Outside the classroom, I love the programs we have for students. FUSION/orientation, FYMP, a lot of stuff based in Campus Life and VISION. I also love that we have a great Woman’s Center, and LGBT Resource Center, and both are incredibly involved (hmm, it helps that I have friends in both, lol).
EMU’s done so much for me already, inside and outside the classroom.
Oh, and can I send a shoutout to the Honors College? Because the HC rocks. Just sayin’. The staff and faculty also really care for the students, and do whatever they can to help out.
I can’t say enough.
Two #6s? Guess that’s why Mark is in History, not math!
I’ll add a few of my own:
* people who REALLY care about the place
* crisp late fall mornings walking across campus with all the colors
* scarves that mysteriously appear mid-winter on campus sculptures
* international students, who not only pay 3 times the in-state tuition, but bring the rest of the world to our little corner of Michigan
* faculty development programs where faculty can learn from other faculty who have so much to share
* women athletes, who struggle in the shadow of their male counterparts, Title IX notwithstanding, and also happen to be some of the best scholars
* and many, many more…..
Athletics at EMU (yes even, and especially football). Despite having a big fat bulls-eye on their back, the coaches and athletes work hard every day, in and out of the classroom to represent this university with dignity and honor (theirs was one of the positive stories this year). Coaches who work with few resources, never retaliating against their critics, rarely complain and give back to the university in many ways. One of the great secrets of this university.
I’ve mentioned it before.. but..
* the faculty here are awesome
* the students are awesome
* Sherzer is amazing. Not many colleges have their own Observatory.
My favorite color is green, which is a little scarce in Tucson, AZ where I am from, and when I was on my campus visit and first saw EMU, everywhere I looked, I kept seeing my favorite color here, there, and everywhere until I realized that it was the official school color and I would be surrounded by it, as well as by the green of the green trees, for a lifetime if I worked here. And happily I do. The squirrels scampering about are pretty terrific too.
And Donna right back at you: nothing could be better than espying the sure signs of epiphany on a student’s face, esp. a student like so many of ours, who soon will be a teacher too.
Many terrific things about EMU. I’ll give only one right now.
It’s terrific that my aunt graduated from EMU (aka Michigan State Normal College) with a bachelor’s degree in 1948 at age 19. With her teaching certificate she was then able to help support her family, put her husband through college, raise and support her children, and open the eyes and minds of thousands of Michigan school children.
Sorry about the double comment. I need to add that my aunt is the first in her family to go to and graduate from college, she grew up in a house with no running water (nor electricity), her father had died while she was 15 (and she stayed home to nurse him). EMU and the Dean of Women made it happen for her by finding her work (she boarded where she worked in a faculty member’s home — 27 hours a week), enough cash to almost completely cover tuition. Access to education and a better life for those willing to work hard and who have the intellectual chops. What a great place.
Susan:
That’s a great story/little history lesson about EMU!
I’m glad your family’s gotten so much from the school.
Terrific Things about EMU:
1. Our Greek community is outstanding. We were the third university in the country to start a Greek Standards and Assessment Program, making us a leading university in the Fraternal Values Movement, which seeks to bring Greek organizations back to their values-based roots.
2. Our Student Government, especially the current administration, is working around the clock for Eastern students. I’ve been so proud watching our Student Gov represent the students of Eastern so articulately in the news these past few weeks.
3. Opportunities for involvement at EMU, through things like Fusion, Leadershape, FYMP, VISION and dozens of other Campus Life programs are practically endless. There’s really something for everything.
4. The Holman Learning Center bends over backwards to keep students enrolled and off probation. They work hard to help traditional and non-traditional students alike manage their academic and professional and personal obligations. They even offer free tutoring!
5. The Residence Hall Association works very hard to make campus living a fun, enjoyable experience (something that has been quite a challenge this past semester, with so much focus on res hall safety).
6. We have fantastic resource centers in the Multi Cultural Resource, LGBT and Women’s centers. (I had to toot my own horn for just a second
)
7. The Eastern Echo produces three quality newspapers a week and has stepped up tremendously this past semester, tackling big stories like the Taylor trial, the Dickinson investigation and the Clery Act violations. Their two-part piece on residence hall safety was phenomenal and enlightening.
8. SEEUS is available six nights a week to help students get around campus safely.
9. Our fight song has little dance moves! (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, watch OTEAM and the NSOAs sing it).
And I haven’t even started to touch on all the fantastic academic programs we have. Eastern Michigan University is an excellent place to learn and live.
I’m not usually a booster, but I have to say that EMU is an amazing school. The professors there prepared me to go on to graduate school and the faculty of the History and Philosophy Department helped to make my time at EMU one of growth, achievement and genuine scholarship.
I will also plug the Holman Learning Center. I had the good fortune to work there for two summers and it convinced me to become a teacher.
Bring back the Civil Rights History trip and the university will be near perfection.
Thanks to the instructors of EMU. I owe them more than I could help to repay
The art department runs TWO quality galleries with great exhibitions, speakers and artists coming in all the time. Besides quality exhibitions, the galleries never charges admission and provides FREE FOOD , so why aren’t you going more!
http://www.emich.edu/fordgallery/
Campus life continues to surprise me with the quality of speakers they bring in. Additionally, Campus Life often employs students giving them real world experience.
Wow, Andrew, why haven’t i been going to these events more?
I agree with all the favorite Terrific Things about EMU that people have posted. Keep ‘em coming! Susan’s story is very touching, one of many like it, and I deeply value the student life Terrific Things too.
– The Chemistry Department really gives students a great opportunity to experience undergraduate research from the day you walk in the door. I chose to attend EMU in March of 2005 and began research in June, 3 months before I had ever started classes. I don’t know of many other universities that would allow an undergraduate student such an opportunity.
– The Honors College really has allowed for students that want an extra spark added to their education a chance to enter a truly cultivated system of learning. The discussions I’ve had in Honors courses with fellow students and professors are some of the most engaging moments in my educational career. Not only does it help bring new gifted students to EMU, it provides them a helping hand into the next step of their life that they might not receive otherwise.
– As mentioned before, the Greek system here has definitely shaped up as one of the premier communities on campus. Although it will probably never be perfect, some of the contributions Greeks are making to the campus highlight the best EMU has to offer. Campus Life and New Student Programs, the HLC, Residence Staff, Student Goverment, Academic Departments and Offices, and the list goes on… there can be no denial that the leaders of this campus tend to be connected to Greek Life.
I’ve always been more or less a mere lurker on this blog, but now seems as good a time as any to ring in with my thoughts.
I’ve taken a number of courses at EMU, both at the graduate and undergrad levels, and I gotta say that even if EMU didn’t have a single other thing to recommend it, its faculty and student body alone make it a very special place.
When I started taking classes to update my teaching certificate, it had been more than twenty-five years since I’d been a student. But in any class that I took, never once did any of my professors make me feel discounted, or obsolete, or hopelessly out of the loop, so to speak. Also, never once did I experience a professor who gave the impression that s/he was only marking time in the classroom till a more prestigious administrative position offered itself. Every teacher that I had appeared to be there because they wanted to be, and were committed to seeing students succeed.
As far as the student body goes, I am humbled by the level of perseverance and belief in the worth of education that I’ve observed. In order to meeting rising tuition rates,many of my classmates have worked multiple jobs and gone without the simplest of luxuries, sometimes while supporting families in the bargain. Without any apparent self pity, they routinely make sacrifices that I’m not sure I would have had the character to make when I was their age.
Which makes the recent events at EMU even more regrettable, since this faculty and student body so obviously deserve institutional leadership who is as committed and inspiring as they are.
Hopefully, better days ahead.
I think our Greek system would be even better if it acknowledge all the Greek orgs, such as my sorority OPA and the fraternity APO. Both service oriented orgs that strive to make the EMU community a better place.
Jessyca,
Traditionally, a Greek community encompasses the College Panhellenic Council sororities, Interfraternity Council fraternities, National Pan Hellenic Council fraternities and sororities (the Divine Nine) and at some schools, the Latino fraternities and sororities. Since OPA and APO are not affilitated with any of these national organizations, they would not be recognized as a “Greek” organization.
However, that is not to say that the Greek community at Eastern does not acknowledge the other Greek orgs; on the contrary, I think it’s more than safe to say that all the CPH, IFC and NPHC organizations acknowledge, recognize and value all of the fantastic contributions that service organizations like OPA and APO give to the Eastern Michigan community.