Diversity at OU: firsts
1959: First OU "For Credit" Classes
First "for credit" classes begin on September 21 with 570 students (1). Race and gender statistics are unavailable for this group.
Image: Oakland University Archives
1. In July 1958, OU offers non-credit continuous education class in a converted chicken coop. See OU Firsts
1959: Lynn Anderson Ruth: First OU Student
Chosen from a pool of students who finished in the top half of their class, Lynn Anderson Ruth registers for classes at Michigan State University - Oakland and receives student number 000001, making history as the first MSUO student.
Image: Oakland University Archives
1959: OU's First International Students
OU enrolls its first international student, Aydin Ilgaz, a 19-year old male from Istanbul, Turkey (1). Dang Xich Lan (above right), a 29 year old from Vietnam, enrolls in January 1960 (2).
1. "MSU-O Has First Foreign Student," The Oakland Observer, 11 December 1959, p. 5.
2. "Vietnam Student Enrolls at MSUO," The Oakland Observer, 29 January 1960, p. 1.
Images: Oakland University Archives
1960: Association of Women Students
Image: Oakland University Archives
The University forms an on-campus organization for women students: the Association of Women Students (1). This association is briefly mentioned in the October 14, 1960 Academic Senate meeting minutes.
1. Oakland Observer, Oct. 21, 1960, p.3, v.2: no.2.
1962: First OU Enrollment Statistics by Gender
OU starts reporting student enrollment by gender. According to the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, a total of 1, 259 students enrolled in the Fall 1962 semester: 615 women and 644 men.
Image: "Enrollment by Gender", Office of Institutional Research and Assessment
1965: First OU African American graduate
Isaac Jones is the first African American graduate at OU. He received a BA in Sociology.
In 1968, Jones is fatally shot. OU creates a scholarship in his name (see Chancellor Varner's speech for dignity and justice for all and 1968 Isaac Jones Memorial Scholarship entry below).
Image: Photo of Isaac Jones portrait in Oakland Center. Photographer: Johnnie R. Blunt
1965: Pontiac-Oakland Education Assistant Team
Students create POEAT - the Pontiac-Oakland Education Assistant Team - , a project to pair volunteer students with Pontiac school children. 4th, 5th and 6th grade students from Pontiac schools are brought to campus for days of cultural and recreational activities.1966: Project Upward Bound
Project Upward Bound is founded. A federally funded program, it serves underachieving high school students who have the potential for post high school training. Its mission is to provide academic, social, cultural, and career enrichment that prepares students to succeed in higher education.
1967: Project 20
In an effort to create a more ethnically diverse student population, OU admits 20 African American high school graduates under the Project 20 initiative. Funded by local businesses, Project 20 "aim[s] at disadvantaged teenagers whose high school grades [are] too low to admit them to college. Instead of past achievement they [are] selected on the basis of their potential and motivation". In June 1971, twelve Project 20 students graduate from OU (1).
1. The Sunday News-Detroit, June 13, 1971 p. 22A
Image: Oakland University Archives
1968: First OU Woman Engineer
Ann Auten, a native of Athens, Michigan, is the first female graduate from the OU School of Engineering (1).1.Lakeland Tribune, August 8, 1968
1969: First OU African-American Celebration Month
In February 1926, Carter G. Woodson initiates Negro History Week--a recognition of African-Americans' historical contributions (1). By February 1969, Oakland University extends this event to a month-long celebration, seven years before the United States Federal government officially recognizes Black History/ African American Celebration Month (2).
1. Source: Library of Congress, African American History Month: About
2. "OU Sets Events on Black History," news clip from The Eccentric, 13 February 1969
Image: Oakland University Archives
1970: International Students and Scholars
In July, the International Students and Scholars Office is established. As noted on its website, ISSO " is committed to building an international campus through service, support and advocacy to nurture global citizenship and multicultural appreciation."
Image: OU International Students and Scholars Office
1971: OU La Raza Day
Oakland University Latin-American staff and students, in conjunction with the Admissions Office, sponsors the university's first "La Raza Day". La Raza Day is a campus visitation program, culturally oriented to Latino high school students. The goal of the program is to "promote cultural awareness and to explore the opportunities and facilities available in higher education for...Latino student[s]". The second annual La Raza Day is briefly mentioned in the April 18, 1972 Oakland University Newsletter.
Image: The Hispanic Outreach Program
1974: Black Alumni Association
The OU Black Alumni Association is established in June.2006: Asian-American Celebration
From January 30 to February 3, OU holds its first Asian-American Celebration to recognize the uniqueness of cultures that "fall within the boundaries of Asia," including Russia, Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan.
Image: Oakland University Archives
Photos courtesy of the Oakland University Archives.