Diversity at OU: students
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: Associated Women Students of Michigan State University Oakland
Image source: 1961 Student Yearbook "Oak Leaves"
Students formed the Associated Women Students of Michigan State University Oakland. The group aimed to "provide a spirit of unity among women students to promote high standards academically and socially, to represent women students in matters of university interest, to work cooperatively with faculty, students, and other organizations toward the continued development of the university, and to help develop qualities of leadership and responsibility among women students." All women students at OU would be members of the association. There would be no membership dues and the organization would operate on the University activities budget. By April of 1962, the Associated Women Students were a part of the Intercollegiate Association of Women Students. Some members of the organization were even able to travel across the state to an IAWS conference to meet other similar organizations.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.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: Association of Black Students
According to a historical survey of Oakland University student organizations from 1959 to 1980, the Association of Black Students was founded in summer 1968 (1). From 1971 to 1973, the organization was renamed Black Liberation Caucus (See 1971 entry for Black Liberation Caucus). Above left: ABS members celebrate Black History Month. Above Right: copy of 1968 petition for recognition as a student organization, signed by initial faculty advisor--Manuel H. Pierson.
1. Waddell, H. (1980). Student Organizations at Oakland University 1959-1980. p.57.
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
1968: Isaac Jones Memorial Scholarship
Shortly after the February 3rd murder of Isaac Jones, OU's first African American graduate, the University establishes the Isaac Jones Memorial Scholarship fund. The financial aid gift is awarded to promising African American high school graduates from Pontiac, Michigan. Pontiac Central High graduate Cecilia E. Brown (picture above) is the first recipient.
Image: Oakland University Archives
1969: Gender Inequality and Women's Rights at OU
Like its peers, Oakland University has struggled with gender inequality. During the last half-century, the University has produced numerous reports that analyze pay and promotion gaps between male and female faculty and staff. These reports also describe differential achievement levels and opportunities between male and female students.
In 1969, the Women Right's Committee produced "On Encouraging Sexual Equality at Oakland University," a five page document that recommended programmatic and structural changes that would facilitate a more welcoming environment for female students, staff, and faculty. In 1971, the Oakland chapter of the American Association of University Professors produced "Report of the Status of Women at Oakland". This report was updated in 1978. In 1993, the Task Force on the Status of Women at Oakland University issued its own report. Together, these reports illustrate a history of challenges and successes for women at OU.
Image source: Oakland University Archives
1970: Coed living
In 1970, a proposal was put forward to encourage the creation of some coed living spaces in the existing student dorms. These spaces were planned to only house "hand-picked" students whose parents would know ahead of time they would be living in a co-ed space.1971: Black Liberation Caucus
In January, the Black Liberation Caucus is founded. According to the March 15, 1971 edition of OU, an official university newsletter, BLC replaces the Association of Black Students, as the "formal" organization for OU African American students. The article notes that BLC views itself as a "political organization linked with a world-wide liberation movement". In its general policy statement, BLC offers the following political stance:
The Black Liberation Caucus is dedicated to the liberation of black people and is guided by the principles of black revolutionary nationalism and pan-Africanism. We are committed to a struggle against racism, capitalism, and imperialism both in the U.S. and internationally, especially on the African continent.
According to a James D. Graham essay, "The Revolution Was Not Televised: Perspectives from the Banks of Beer Lake, 1969-1975,"(1) by 1974 BLC morphed into the "more inclusive" student organization: the Association of Black Students. However, a petition for recognition as a student organization indicates that ABS existed since early 1968. (See 1968 entry for Association of Black Students).(1) OU Journal, Issue No. 7, Fall 2004
Image: Oakland University Archives
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
1981: Black Profiles Booklet
Dean of Students Manuel H. Pierson approves the production of "Oakland University Black Profiles," a booklet of OU African American student leaders, faculty, and staff. Distributed on October 27, 1981, this publication was compiled to facilitate solidarity and academic success within the OU African American student population.
Image: Oakland University Archives
1988: Hispanic Heritage Month
On September 15th, Hispanic Heritage Week is expanded to a month long celebration (see information on the Center for Multicultural Initiatives website). A dance performance from the 2012 OU Hispanic Heritage Month is featured above.
Image: Hispanic Celebration Month
1990: Mission: Unity
Mission: Unity, consisting of students, staff, faculty, and alumni, is formed to facilitate cross-cultural discussions about race. Marc Allen Payne, a senior, is its founding president. The organization is later renamed Cross-roads. (11 July 1990 Board of Trustees minutes).
Image: Oakland University Archives
1992: Origins of the Center for Multicultural Initiatives
Approximately 150 African-American students conduct a sit-in at President Sandra Packard's office, in protest of lack of an office for minority affairs. This action results in the creation of an Office for Minority Equity a year later. Glenn McIntosh is appointed Director In January 1994 (OU Senate Minutes, January 13, 1994).
OME is later renamed the Center for Multicultural Initiatives.
Image: Oakland University Archives
1993: Keeper of the Dream Scholarship Award
In January, the OU Center for Multicultural Initiative establishes the Keeper of the Dream Scholarship Award. In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., several scholarships are awarded annually to OU students "who have contributed to interracial understanding and good will".
Image: Andrew Young, Keynote Speaker, 2006 Keeper of the Dream Scholarship Banquet
1993: Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives
Image source: Oakland University Archives
Originally housed within the Office for Minority Equity, the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives "serves as a resource and is charged with promoting and furthering the university's commitment to the principles of diversity inclusion and equal opportunity." The Office is linked to several diversity and inclusion initiatives: Presidential Diversity Award, Employee Resource Groups (ERG), and ADVANCE: WISE@OU. The above picture features several international students from an early 1960s "foreign student tea." From left to right: Angelique Sherman (Liberia), Mary Finkelstein (Cuba), Elizabeth Davis (Liberia), Wolfe Metzger (Austria). Director of Admissions Herbert Stoutenburg (standing, far right) and Mrs. Stoutenburg (seated, far right) host the group.2003: SAFE Program for OU LGBTQIA Community
S.A.F.E. (Students, Administration, and Faculty for Equality) is established. According to the October 23, 2003 campus news release, SAFE is "a new organization committed to providing an open and supportive environment for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) campus community. Program participants, or "allies," are available for assistance and also help challenge homophobia, heterosexism and other forms of discrimination".
Image: SAFE
2011: CMI C.O.R.E. Summer Bridge Program
A diversity initiative headed by the Center for Multicultural Initiatives, Collectively Oakland Retains Everyone (C.O.R.E.) Summer Bridge Program is a free, week-long residential experience on campus, designed to help new students bridge the gap between high school and college, while building relationships and honing academic skills. The Bridge Program is the first step in helping first year working-class and other minority students succeed at Oakland University. After the Summer Bridge Program, CORE students meet with mentors weekly to facilitate academic progress. They are also required to live on campus during their first year.
Image: CORE
2013: OU Minority Enrollment 2013
The OU Office of Institutional Research and Assessment reports a minority student population of 4,012 in its Fall 2013 headcount. This represents roughly 21% of the total student population. This number does not include possible minorities among the 1,013 unreported students.- African American = 1, 768
- Asian/Pacific Islander =1,010
- Hispanic = 528
- Native American = 188
- Foreign Nationality = 486
2013: Women as Majority of OU Student Population
According to the OU Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, 20,169 students enrolled in the fall 2013 semester. Approximately 66% are women. This percentage seems to reflect gender enrollment statistics compiled by the National Center for Educational Statistics.
Undergraduate students
- Male: 6,820
- Female: 9,774
Graduate students
- Male: 1,412
- Female: 2,163
Photos courtesy of the Oakland University Archives.