Eastern Michigan University (
EMU) is a comprehensive, co-educational
public university located in
Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of
Detroit and eight miles (13 km) east of
Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School. Today, the university is governed by an eight-member Board of Regents, who are appointed by the
Governor of Michigan for eight-year terms. The school belongs to the
Mid-American Conference and is accredited by the
Higher Learning Commission of the
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Since 1991 EMU athletics has gone by the name "
Eagles". Then in 1994, "
Swoop" was officially adopted by the university as the school's mascot. Currently, EMU comprises seven colleges and schools:
College of Arts and Sciences,
College of Business,
College of Education,
College of Health and Human Services,
College of Technology, an Honors College, and a Graduate School. The university's site is composed of an academic and athletic campus spread across , with over 120 buildings. EMU has a total enrollment of more than 23,000 students.