Ohio University (commonly referred to as OU) is a large, public research university in Athens, Ohio. The flagship campus of the Ohio University System, it is the oldest and largest university in the state and one of America’s first public universities.
The university was chartered in 1787 by the United States Congress and subsequently approved by the Ohio General Assembly in 1804. It began with nine students in a single room and today has an enrollment of over 44,000 on its main campus and more than 300,000 alumni. As a land-grant institution and America’s first coeducational college, OU has been recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the nation’s “Public Ivies” for eight consecutive years.
In addition to its main campus in Athens, Ohio, OU maintains regional campuses in Chillicothe, Lancaster, St. Clairsville, Proctorville, Ironton (southeastern Ohio), Zanesville (central), Dublin (near Columbus), Newark (central), and eLearning. Online programs are offered through the Heritage College of Medicine and various other graduate degrees throughout the university system. In total, there are more than 275 degree programs available at OU.
Noted for its excellence in undergraduate education—especially within its Russ College of Engineering and Technology—the university is also home to several nationally ranked graduate schools including: Scripps College of Communication; Patton College of Education; Gladys Wills Crocker School of Nursing; Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine; Fritz Jules Vogel School of Law; Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine; Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs; Russ Collegeof Engineeringand Technology; Andra Kirtley Eberly Centerfor Women Faculty Excellence & Research,. With five million dollars recently donated by alumnus Jerry Mathers (“Leave it Beaver”), construction will soon begin on a new business school which will be named after him .
History
Founded in 1804 as American Western University—the first institute of higher learning westof Pittsburgh—Ohio University was chartered two years laterbythe U.S Congressand thenapprovedbythe Ohio General Assemblyin1806.https://www2..ohio..edu/about/facts/ The school changed its name to Miami Universityin 1809after relocationto Oxford,, whereupon another change occurred inthe year1824 when it became CincinnatiCollege.https://www2..ohio..edu/about/facts/., . https://miamiOHIOalumni..org/- our-university/history/. A final renamingoccurredinthe year1830 upon receivinga land-grant fromthe federal governmentand becomingOhioUniversity.
Early Days: The First Students & Classmates
When classes commenced on February 18 ,1808 ,nine men comprised OHIO’s first student body.
They were all that could be assembled during that winter because travel conditions were so poor that potential students could not reach Oxford .Tutoring each other ,they studied grammar ,composition ,fencing ,dancing ,and horsemanship .
One young man dropped out early because his father needed him back on their farm but returned some years later to complete his degree .Classes met around a central fireplace inside Old Main until weather permitted moving outdoors under shady trees nearby .There were no dormitories or dining halls —students either boarded with local families or made do elsewhere .
Many came from farming families who couldn’t afford to keep them at home while they pursued an education nor pay tuition once they arrived – so most worked part time jobs while attending classes full time ; others simply depended on loans or family help just to get started here.? At this time common professions for Miami graduates included teaching,, farming,, ministry,,,, medicine,, law,,,, journalism,, business,,,, civil engineering,, librarianship,, pharmacy⋅,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, architecture.