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Oakland University history
Oakland University company history timeline
Oakland University was created in 1957 when Matilda Dodge Wilson and her second husband, Alfred Wilson, donated their 1,443-acre (5.84 km) estate to Michigan State University, including Meadow Brook Hall, Sunset Terrace and all the estate's other buildings and collections, along with $2 million.
During 1958, educational, business and industrial leaders from across the United States met over many weeks at Meadow Brook Hall to create the comprehensive yet innovative educational experience that still characterizes Oakland University today.
Michigan State University–Oakland, or MSU-O as it was called, opened in September 1959 with 570 students and 3 buildings as a new and pioneering effort in higher education just as the space age was in its infancy.
The charter class graduated 125 students.First Research GrantPaul Tomboulian, distinguished professor, received the first research grant on campus and initiated the first undergraduate research program in 1960.
The pavilion was completed in time for the festival's opening on July 23, 1964.
29, 1964, ground was broken for the new festival, built to be the summer home for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, with money donated from the Kresge Foundation.
Matilda died in 1967 on a trip to Europe to buy horses for her vast stables.
4, 1967.First Performance at Meadow Brook Music FestivalFounding chairperson of Oakland's music program, Walter Collins, posed the idea of a summer music festival to bring the public to see OU's beautiful campus.
The Oakland University (OU) Department of Public Safety was established in 1967 following the recommendation of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, which stated that nine police officers and twenty firefighters were required to ensure public safety.
In 1970, the state granted Oakland autonomy from Michigan State and appointed its first board of trustees.
Oakland University took possession of Meadow Brook Hall from Matilda Wilson’s estate in 1971.
The Howard C. Baldwin Memorial Pavilion borrowed 2,000 folding chairs from Rochester Schools to seat its patrons for the first shows.First Founders' Day CelebrationIn 1997, Oakland began celebrating Founders' Day with an annual event each April.
The R&S Sharf Golf Course was ranked 18th among Michigan's 852 golf courses in 2005 by the prestigious Golf Digest.
Currently, the Hall welcomes more than 100,000 visitors each year to participate in tours, educational programs and a variety of special events.Oakland University William Beaumont School of MedicineIn 2011, Oakland established Michigan's first new medical school in 47 years.
Designed to train top-notch physicians, the medical school also places great emphasis on compassion and community well-being.First certified LEED Platinum buildingThe 172,000-square-foot Human Health Building opened in August 2012.
Designated a National Historic Landmark in 2012, Meadow Brook staff generate on average $9,500 a day in revenue to fund public museum and community educational activity and another $1,500 a day for ongoing preservation of the building and conservation of its invaluable collections.
Oakland University is the 12th largest college or university in Michigan, 8th largest of 4-year universities. (Based on 2012 enrollment of 19,740)
In 2013, the Oakland University Board of Trustees approved a $65 million investment in campus expansion and improvement projects.
The 151-foot carillon tower was completed in fall 2014 and houses the last bells to be cast by the Royal Bellfoundry Petit & Fritsen of the Netherlands.
On 4 May 2017, the board announced Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, M.D., as Oakland University's seventh president.
Her tenure began on 1 July 2017, under a 5-year contract.
The book includes many historic photographs and serves as a contribution to the celebration of Oakland University's 60th anniversary in 2017.
© 2022 Meadow Brook Hall
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| Company Name | Founded Date | Revenue | Employee Size | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Valley State University | 1960 | $370.9M | 200 | 52 |
| Central Michigan University | 1892 | $328.1M | 10 | 183 |
| Ball State University | 1918 | $24.6M | 5,690 | 133 |
| DePaul University | 1898 | $575.0M | 750 | 68 |
| Loyola University Chicago | 1870 | $594.8M | 20 | 238 |
| Cleveland State University | 1964 | $199.4M | 4,324 | 83 |
| University of Connecticut | 1881 | $50.0M | 100 | 57 |
| The University of Toledo | 1872 | $702.0M | 10 | 375 |
| University of Dayton | 1850 | $521.6M | 5,178 | 252 |
| Western Michigan University | 1903 | $381.9M | 6,094 | 130 |
Oakland University history FAQs
Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Oakland University, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Oakland University. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Oakland University. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by Oakland University. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Oakland University and its employees or that of Zippia.
Oakland University may also be known as or be related to Michigan State University-Oakland (1957-1963), Oakland University and Oakland University - Michigan.