Oakland University

Matilda Dodge Wilson , co-founded Michigan State University–Oakland, now Oakland University, with her husband Alfred Wilson, and John A. Hannah . In 1908, John Francis Dodge and his wife Matilda purchased a farmhouse and 320 acres (130 ha) of land known as Meadow Brook Farms, located in central Oakland County. [ 11 ] In 1920, Matilda inherited John's fortune upon his death, soon remarrying to a lumber baron, Alfred G. Wilson. Between 1926 and 1929, the couple built Meadow Brook Hall on the land. [ 12 ] Oakland University was created in 1957 when Matilda Dodge Wilson and her second husband, Alfred Wilson, donated their 1,443-acre (5.84 km 2 ) estate to Michigan State University , including Meadow Brook Hall , Sunset Terrace and all the estate's other buildings and collections, along with $2 million. Main campus buildings were completed on Squirrel Road in Pontiac Township (now the city of Auburn Hills). Originally known as Michigan State University–Oakland , the university enrolled its first students in 1959, was renamed Oakland University in 1963, [ 13 ] [ 14 ] and has been officially independent of Michigan State University since 1970. [ 15 ] Wilson demanded that U.S. Postmaster General Arthur Summerfield let the university use a Rochester, Michigan , mailing address (201 Meadow Brook Rd., Rochester , Michigan 48309 [ 16 ] ), even though the main campus was in Pontiac Township (now the city of Auburn Hills). After Wilson reminded him that she had contributed to his administration, Summerfield granted her request. [ 17 ] In September 2009, tenured faculty members represented by the Oakland University chapter of the American Association of University Professors went on strike. [ 18 ] Issues of contention included the university claiming ownership of professors' copyrights and patents, [ 19 ] refusing to allow faculty input into matters of class size and curricula, [ 20 ] reduction of health benefits and a three-year salary freeze.

The salary freeze was in contrast to university president Gary Russi, who had just received a $100,000 raise. [ 18 ] The university's board of trustees maintained that the strike was illegal and filed a lawsuit against the Oakland AAUP. [ 20 ] After a week's strike, the faculty and administration came to an agreement on a three-year contract, which was implemented. [ 21 ] During the 2012 Republican presidential primaries , Oakland University hosted a debate between Republican presidential candidates on 9 November 2011. CNBC televised the debate nationally, and the Michigan Republican Party co-sponsored the debate with CNBC. [ 22 ] [ 23 ] Eight candidates participated: Michele Bachmann , Herman Cain , Newt Gingrich , Jon Huntsman , Ron Paul , Rick Perry , Mitt Romney , and Rick Santorum . [ citation needed ] In 2013, the Oakland University Board of Trustees approved a $65 million investment in campus expansion and improvement projects. Completed in the fall of 2014, projects included: construction of a nearly $30 million student housing complex; dramatic enhancement of outdoor recreation and athletic fields; construction of a 1,240-space parking structure, and; construction of new headquarters for facility and grounds maintenance operations. [ 24 ] Longtime supporters of the university, Hugh and Nancy Elliott, made a donation to construct the Elliott Tower on the campus. 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. [ citation needed ] On 4 May 2017, the board announced Ora Hirsch Pescovitz as Oakland University's seventh president. Her tenure began on 1 July 2017, under a 5-year contract. In September 2023, her contract was extended to June 2031. [ 25 ] For the fall 2022 semester, Oakland University had an enrollment of 16,108 students. [ 26 ] Oakland University is the 6th largest of the 4-year universities in Michigan. [ 27 ]

Undergraduate admissions Quick facts Undergraduate admissions statistics, Admit rate ... Undergraduate admissions statistics 2021 entering class [ 28 ] Change vs. 2016 Admit rate 92.2 ( +5.9) Yield rate 21.0 ( −7.1) Test scores middle 50% SAT Total 990-1220 (among 60% of FTFs ) ACT Composite 21-29 (among 10% of FTFs ) Close Undergraduate admissions to Oakland University is considered "selective" by U.S. News & World Report . [ 29 ] For the Class of 2025 (enrolled fall 2021), Oakland University received 10,475 applications and accepted 9,661 (92.2%). Of those accepted, 2,025 enrolled, a yield rate (the percentage of accepted students who choose to attend the university) of 21.0%. Oakland University's freshman retention rate is 73.1%, with 56% going on to graduate within six years. [ 28 ] The enrolled first-year class of 2025 had the following standardized test scores: the middle 50% range (25th percentile-75th percentile) of SAT scores was 990-1220, while the middle 50% range of ACT scores was 21-29. [ 28 ] More information Applicants, Admits ... Fall First-Time Freshman Statistics [ 28 ] [ 30 ] [ 31 ] [ 32 ] [ 33 ] [ 34 ] 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 Applicants 10,475 12,054 12,443 12,309 10,296 10,688 Admits 9,661 9,776 10,334 10,328 8,691 9,229 Admit rate 92.2 81.1 83.1 83.9 84.4 86.3 Enrolled 2,025 2,258 2,667 2,700 2,456 2,595 Yield rate 21.0 23.1 25.8 26.1 28.3 28.1 ACT composite* (out of 36) 21-29 (10% † ) 20-27 (23% † ) 20-27 (26% † ) 21-28 (30% † ) 21-27 (43% † ) 20-27 (99% † ) SAT composite* (out of 1600) 990-1220 (60% † ) 990-1210 (89% † ) 1020-1220 (89% † ) 1010-1240 (90% † ) 1010-1230 (80% † ) — * middle 50% range † percentage of first-time freshmen who chose to submit Close

Quick facts Academic rankings, National ... Academic rankings National Forbes [ 35 ] 423 U.S. News & World Report [ 36 ] 231-300 Washington Monthly [ 37 ] 218 Close Oakland University offers 132 bachelor's degree programs and 138 graduate programs (professional certificates, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees). The main academic units of the university are the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business Administration, the School of Education and Human Services, the School of Engineering and Computer Science, the School of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, and the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. Additionally, Oakland University supports an Honors College and various study abroad programs. [ 38 ] Its three most popular undergraduate majors, by 2021 graduates, were Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (458), Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences (285), and Psychology (161). [ 39 ] In 2007, plans were established to start a medical school on the Oakland University campus in partnership with William Beaumont Hospital , called the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB or OUWBSM) came to fruition. The medical school was founded in 2008 with classes starting in fall of 2011. OUWB is the fourth medical school in the state of Michigan to offer the M.D. degree, received over 3,200 applications for the inaugural class of 50 students. OUWBSM has 225 students as of Fall 2013 and 500 were planned for 2017. [ 40 ] The founding dean of the medical school is Robert Folberg, M.D. [ 41 ] The Oakland University – Beaumont Nurse Anesthesia Graduate Program started in 1991. [ 42 ] [ 43 ] In 2011, U.S. News & World Report ranked the program tied for 17th in the United States. [ 44 ] Oakland University's School of Business Administration (SBA) is accredited by the AACSB -International accreditation in both business and accounting.