Eastern Oregon University (EOU) is a public university in La Grande, Oregon. It is one of seven state-funded, four-year universities of higher education in the state. The university offers bachelor's and master's degrees. Most students obtain a B.S. degree, which requires one quarter of science, whereas a B.A. degree requires two years of a foreign language. In 2016, the University also began work to introduce a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) degree with a vocational bent.
History
Game of the Week Football Eastern Oregon @ Rocky Mountain College 110417 - Game of the Week Football Eastern Oregon @ Rocky Mountain College 110417.
EOU opened its doors in 1929 as Eastern Oregon Normal School, a teacher training school. In 1939, the Oregon Legislature changed the name to Eastern Oregon College of Education. The words "of Education" were dropped from the college's name in 1956. The 1973 Legislature changed EOC's name to Eastern Oregon State College. In 1997, Eastern Oregon State College became Eastern Oregon University. In 2013 the Oregon University System began the process of creating independent boards for certain schools, including Oregon State and the University of Oregon. On June 30, 2015, the Oregon University System was dissolved and on July 1, 2015, the Eastern Oregon University Board of Trustees took on governance of the institution.
Campus setting
EOU's location in La Grande is in the heart of the Blue Mountain range between Portland, Oregon and Boise, Idaho just off Interstate 84. Driving to La Grande takes approximately four hours from Portland, two and half from Boise, five from Seattle, and four from Spokane. As of October 2017, the school has over 3,000 total students, including those attending on campus and through their online education programs.
The campus contains 26 buildings, including three living facilities â€" Alikut Hall, North Hall, and Daugherty Hall â€" all of which are co-ed. Inlow Hall, Eastern's administration building, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Academics
Academic organization
EOU offers bachelor's degrees and the degrees of MFA, MBA, Master of Education and Master of Arts in Teaching. Most degrees conferred, however, are undergraduate B.S. degrees (Bachelor of Science). The university offers business and elementary education programs at a satellite campus in Gresham, Oregon.
The school is composed of the following colleges in order of size:
- College of Business
- College of Arts & Sciences
- College of Education
EOU is known for its mountainous location and its academic programs related to the outdoors. An innovative outdoor leadership program begins in Fall 2016.
In addition, EOU has dental hygiene, military science, agricultural science, and nursing. Many degrees are available fully online.
Eastern Oregon's Psychology department is one of the last university programs that still has its students use live animals in behavioral studies.
Faculty
EOU employs just over one hundred full-time faculty. They are organized under the Associated Academic Professionals (AAP) Local 6200, and are currently in negotiations for a new contract.
Accreditation
EOU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, The International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education IACBE and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Athletics
Eastern Oregon's mascot is the Mountaineer. The Mountaineers are a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Cascade Collegiate Conference in the following sports:
- Men's football
- Men's and women's soccer
- Men's and women's cross country
- Women's volleyball
- Men's and women's basketball
- Women's softball
- Men's and women's track & field
- Men's and women's wrestling
In 2005, Eastern Oregon's football program joined the NAIA's Division I Frontier Conference, previously having competed as an Independent of the NCAA's Division III level.
Eastern Oregon's football team plays at Community Stadium located on campus. The La Grande High School football team also plays their home games there.
Athletic Director: Anji Weissenfluh
Sports Information Director: Seth Dahle
Defunct Sports: Women's Golf, Skiing, and Baseball. Some sports have been relegated to club sports such as rodeo and polo.
Notable faculty members
- Sandra K. Ellston, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Shakespeareaan scholar
Notable alumni
- Fouad Ajami, Middle East expert and political advisor
- Jace Billingsley, NFL football player, Detroit Lions
- Rod Chandler, U.S. Representative from the state of Washington
- Tyronne Gross, former NFL football player, San Diego Chargers
- Mike Kyle, wrestler; current mixed martial artist, once fighting for the UFC
- William De Los Santos, Author, Poet, Screenwriter and Motion-Picture Director (enrolled as William Hilbert)
- David Panuelo, diplomat and Congressman from Micronesia
The oldest graduate
99-year-old Leo Plass received his diploma in June 2011, setting a world record. He dropped out less than one semester away from graduation in 1932 when the Great Depression occurred and started a career as a logger. He died in August 2015, shortly after his 104th birthday.
References
External links
Media related to Eastern Oregon University at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
- Official athletics website
