Central Michigan University

Central Michigan University, with a main campus in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and more than 60 locations across the U.S., is nationally recognized for academic excellence in more than 200 programs. Cutting edge research, new facilities, graduate programs and top faculty ensure an education that is one of the best in the state.

But what really sets Central apart from other schools is difficult to describe. We call it “the CMU experience.” It’s the fact that nearly half of all CMU freshmen participate in leadership training their first week on campus. Or that CMU recently won a national award for assisting victims of Hurricane Katrina. Or it’s that special professor who still remembers your name after 20 years. It’s a spirit that defies definition. That’s CMU.

About CMU

Central Michigan University is one of the nation’s top 100 largest public higher education institutions and Michigan’s fourth largest public university.

Founded in 1892 and becoming a university in 1959, CMU is committed to providing students with a superior learning environment and global perspective to compete in an increasingly complex world.

With more than 20,000 students on its Mount Pleasant campus and another 7,000 enrolled online and at 60 locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, CMU offers an impressive breadth of 200 academic programs, including nationally ranked programs in entrepreneurship, journalism, music, audiology, teacher education, psychology and physician assistant. CMU also is moving forward with establishing a college of medicine.

Our accomplished professors share a strong commitment to teaching and a focus on engaging students in applied research, scholarship and creative activity. Our undergraduate and graduate classes are led by faculty experts who blend theory with hands-on experience to help students get the most out of their courses.

Academic Programs

Central Michigan University, with a main campus in Mount Pleasant and more than 60 locations across the U.S., is nationally recognized for academic excellence in more than 200 programs.

Cutting edge research, new facilities, graduate programs and top faculty ensure a quality education. And with accelerated classes and online course options you will get a quality education on your terms.

You will learn from CMU’s professors – many are top experts or practitioners in their fields – who are committed to student success. As a professional, you will connect what your professors teach you to real-world experience.

Because of the personalized attention and exceptional resources many CMU students find immediate employment after graduation. Music education, geology and environmental studies majors have 100-percent job placement. And ninety percent of CMU students who major in any College of Business Administration program land a job in their field.

Campus Life

You know there is more to college life than classes and studying, and that’s why there always is something for you to do on CMU’s campus.

From joining a fraternity or sorority to volunteering at a fundraising event with program-specific organizations such as the Physical Therapy Student Organization, you’ll have many opportunities to explore your interests through CMU’s more than 250 student organizations.

If athletics is your game, you can cheer on the CMU Chippewas in a Mid-American Conference football game or join a team with your friends and enter an intramural basketball tournament.

You also can choose from a wide variety of concerts, plays, comedians, exhibits and lectures throughout the year. Recent speakers and events have included T-Pain, Amy Roloff from “Little People, Big World,” Julian Bond, Demetri Martin, Drew Lachey and Nikki Giovanni.

University Housing

With so many housing options on campus and throughout Mount Pleasant, you’ll find the right place to call home at CMU.

Residence Hall

Explore the possibilities and find your new home away from home.

On-campus choices include residence halls and apartment complexes with great amenities. In addition to being less than a 10-minute walk from your classes, each hall and complex offers distinct features, various living environments and your choice of delicious meal plans.

Off-campus choices include all the options of a bustling college town – apartments, rental houses, condos, rooms for rent, etc.

All first-year students must live on campus. According to the 2010-2011 residency policy, the sophomore (second) year residency requirement will be waived except for students who:

Have CMU merit- and talent-based scholarships of $2,000 or greater
Have not completed 24 credit hours by the end of spring 2010

Research

You can be a part of research and creative endeavors at Central Michigan University that are changing, improving and enriching the lives of people throughout Michigan and around the world.

Student Research

Discover how you can engage in research across multiple disciplines, which has led to the Academic Analytics FSP Index ranking CMU among the top 20 most productive research universities of its size in 2008.

Work alongside faculty who are top researchers or experts in their field, whether you’re working with stem cells to unlock the mysteries of Alzheimer’s disease or traveling to Paris to dive into the world of fashion.

CMU students are involved in research and creative endeavors that are making a difference.

GIVING NEW DIRECTION TO THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

A group of CMU engineering students has designed another tool to improve mobility for the visually impaired. The Smart Cane is a device that detects obstacles and provides navigation cues by using Radio Frequency Identification technology – similar to what some major retailers use to tag merchandise to prevent theft. Read full story

DESIGN AND THE FUTURE OF BEIJING ARCHITECTURE

CMU interior design students paired up with architecture students from Northern China University of Technology in Beijing to create concepts for intergenerational facilities, which include quadrants for both children and seniors that are open enough for daily interaction. Read full story

CHEMIST TURNS COOKING OIL INTO FUEL

CMU chemist Dale LeCaptain and his team of student researchers are working on a way for cooking oils from restaurants and food processing facilities to efficiently be turned into biodiesel. Read full story

STUDENT DESIGNS INNOVATIVE MEDICAL TOOL

The Chromosome Dropper Tool eases challenges of today’s chromosomal analysis, which involves research using genes, embryo, clone and stem cells to help diagnose medical conditions. Read full story

RECENT GRANTS:

National Institutes of Health: $348,000
Physiological Disturbances Associated with Neonatal Intraventricular Hemorrhage, Dr. Ahmet Ugur, Associate professor of computer science
National Institutes of Health: $204,972
Investigating the Function of Copine A in Dictyostelium, Dr. Cynthia Damer, Associate professor of biology
Michigan Department of Education: $175,000
Michigan Mathematics and Science Teacher Leadership Collaborative, CMU’s Science/Mathematics/Technology Center
Michigan Department of Transportation: $84,444
Senior Transportation Education and Awareness Toolkit Year 2, Dr. Richard Backs, Professor of psychology
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth: $69,000
Institutional Services for CMU’s GEAR Up Project with Flint Schools, Dr. Denise ONeil Green, Associate vice president for institutional diversity
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality: $40,000
Testing of the Index of Susceptibility for Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands, Dr. Donald Uzarski, Professor of biology

About Mount Pleasant

Homecoming parade

Central Michigan University is rooted in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, home to 26,000 people and growing. Mount Pleasant feels like a classic college town, with a blend of natural features, exciting developments and small-town life.

Nature buffs enjoy the 80-mile-long Chippewa River, which runs right through Mount Pleasant, and the city’s seven parks are loved by people of all ages. Mission Street features many popular big box stores and chain restaurants, while downtown Mount Pleasant offers boutiques and intimate restaurants.

We are proud of our many accomplishments at Central Michigan University. The following are just a few of the highlights of this year’s achievements by students, faculty and staff.
Choose a category:

General University Information (top)

One of 9 universities nationwide to receive the Katrina Compassion Award for Excellence in Hurricane Relief Service
Performs in the top 21% of all national universities for graduation rate performance
CMU competed in RecycleMania 2008. RecycleMania, a project of the College and University Recycling Council (CURC), is a national 10-week competition among college and university recycling programs.

Academic Programs (top)

CMU is the only university in Michigan to have a comprehensive, interdisciplinary major in public relations that incorporates journalism, broadcasting, and communication.
Graduates of the CMU physician assistant program recently earned the university a perfect 100 percent first-time pass rate on the national Physician Assistant National Certification Examination.
CMU’s Off Campus Programs ranked first among Michigan public universities in the number of master’s degrees in health sciences awarded to African Americans.
First university nationwide to offer a four-year accredited athletic training program
Central Michigan University is one of two universities in Michigan with an inventors club.
Only university in Michigan with an undergraduate degree in meteorology
Two CMU alumni have been awarded national Milken awards, making them among the top 100 teachers in the nation

Research (top)

Assisted Reebok by using state-of-the-art technology to perform testing on new NHL uniforms
CMU is ranked within the nation�s top 20 research institutions among universities with 16 or fewer doctoral programs in 2008.
CMU is assisting the Pentagon in developing filtration technology to remove contaminants and other hazardous materials from water.

Athletics (top)

For the fifth consecutive year, the women’s soccer team earned the No. 1 rank for highest cumulative GPA in the nation.
CMU outfielder/catcher Tyler Stovall was named to the 2008 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District IV first team.
Wrestling team has won 10 consecutive and 13 of the last 17 MAC championships

Student Awards (top)

Association of Information Technology Professionals student chapter won the Student Chapter Outstanding Performance Award in 2007.
CMU student Matt Bombard was awarded second place in a 2007 national neuroscience poster competition from the Society for Neuroscience Conference. Bombard received the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Travel Award for his research on genetically engineered stem cells.

Student Life (top)

CMU seniors exceed the national average by almost 20% with their participation in co-curricular activities
Received the Medium School of the Year Award from the Great Lakes Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls
CMU’s recreation, parks and leisure services administration program is the largest undergraduate leisure studies program in the nation, with 458 signed majors.

Central Michigan Athletics

The Central Michigan University Athletics Department operates an athletic program that is defined as “A Championship Culture.” The “championship” experience remains the pinnacle achievement for all those involved in athletics. It represents the highest degree of performance excellence, effort, teamwork, respect, and vision.
A “culture” is a mental state and attitude that defines the values, focus, and motivation of a group of people.
Student-athletes– who are academically, athletically, and socially striving for success– are at the foundation of the “Championship Culture.” Supporting these student-athletes are coaches and administrators who value and understand the institution’s mission and strive to help student-athletes succeed at the highest levels.
Making the “Championship Culture” a permanent and lasting reality is the responsibility of the administrators, faculty, boosters, alumni and fans that faithfully support and tirelessly strive to make the vision a reality.

Central Michigan University competes at the NCAA Division 1 level as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC).