CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

public, coeducational institution of higher learning in Mount Pleasant, Mich., U.S. The university is composed of the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Technology, Education, Health and Human Services, and Graduate Studies. The graduate school offers master's degree programs in most areas of study and some doctorate programs. Notable research facilities include a biological station on Beaver Island in Lake Michigan and Brooks Observatory. Total enrollment exceeds 16,000. The university began as the Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute in 1892. It was founded by the residents of Mount Pleasant in order to provide the local schools with properly trained teachers. In 1895 the school came under the control of the state and the name was changed to Central State Normal School. More name changes followed before the school became Central Michigan University in 1959.