Eastern Illinois University history

When the school began classes in 1899, there were 125 students and an 18-member faculty.

The School of Technology established its roots at Eastern in 1902 when courses in Manual Training were offered through handwork courses for teachers.

Domestic Sciences began in 1913 as a two-year degree program.

In 1920, the Bachelor of Education, with a four-year degree in Home Economics, was initiated and located in Blair Hall.

Domestic Sciences began in 1913 as a two-year degree program. It moved to the Student Services Building in 1929 when the program was expanded to include classes in dietetics, family meals, household management, equipment and furnishings, and home nursing and child care.

In 1957, the Illinois General Assembly changed the name of the institution to Eastern Illinois University.

The biggest change came in 1962 as the department was reorganized and renamed the School of Business when the non-teaching business majors outnumbered the Business Education majors.

In 1965, the School of Business moved to Blair Hall, and Phi Beta Lambda, Delta Sigma Pi, and Phi Gamma Nu were established.

In 1967, the school moved into the new Applied Arts and Education Building (Klehm Hall), and the former Home Management house became the Child Development Lab.

The Department of Military Science began in 1980 as an extension center of the University of Illinois with one instructor and 45 students.

In 1984, the School of Technology, the School of Home Economics, Career Occupations, and Military Science were reorganized into the College of Business and Technology, and Doctor Barbara Owens was appointed Dean of the college.

The school was renamed the Lumpkin College of Business in 1987.

The 1990's brought many changes, most notably the opening of Lumpkin Hall in January, 1990.

In 1993, the College of Business and Technology merged with the Lumpkin College of Business to become the Lumpkin College of Business and Technology.

In 1995, the School of Home Economics was renamed the School of Family and Consumer Sciences to reflect the integrative approach to the relationships between individuals, families, communities, and the environments in which they function.

Another re-organization occurred on July 1, 1997, when the School of Business began functioning as a unit of the whole, without academic/administrative departments.

Blair Hall was restored after a disastrous fire in 2004.

In fall 2008, the university opened the newly constructed Doudna Fine Arts Center, designed by international architect Antoine Predock.