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UNO Centennial
UNO Centennial

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History

High Level Timeline through 1983
1908-1919 »
1908
  • Articles of Incorporation filed
  • First students admitted
1910
  • University of Nebraska agrees to accept all OU course work as the equivalent of its own
  • Graduate program established
  • Jenkins appointed President
  • Boomerang (student newspaper) started and ended
  • First fraternity (ATC Club – later Phi sigma Phi) formed
  • Student Athletics (basketball/tennis) started
1911
  • Law Department created (becomes College of Law in 1915)
  • The Yellow Sheet (student newspaper) started
  • First Gala Day held
1912
  • John G. Jacobs Memorial Gymnasium opened
  • The Student Cabinet (student government) formed
1913
  • State Department of Education authorized OU to grant a 'First Grade Teachers Certificate'
  • First class graduated (11 graduates)
  • Alumni Association formed
  • The Metropolitan (a student monthly) started. Was renamed The Gateway in 1914
1915
  • First sororities formed
1916
  • Women's athletics (basketball) started
1917
  • Joslyn Hall opens
  • Redick Hall dismantled and moved to Minnesota
1918
  • Extension Division (night classes) opened

1920-1929 »
1920
  • College of Music opened
  • Sarah Joslyn donated at building downtown for University use
  • First full-time athletic coach hired
  • OU readmitted as a member of the Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Association
1925
  • College of Commerce opened
1926
  • Daniel Jenkins granted a medical leave of absence
  • W. James Gilbert appointed Acting-President
1927
  • Karl Wettstone appointed President
  • University leases unused public school building at 24th & Ames to relieve crowding on campus
1928
  • Karl Wettstone resigned
  • Ernest Emery appointed President
  • First Homecoming held
1929
  • Board of Trustees voted to give the University to the city if the city would accept it
  • State Legislature passed legislation enabling the creation of a municipal university

1930-1939 »
1930
  • Voters approved the creation of the Municipal University of Omaha
  • Ernest Emery replace with W. Gilbert James as Acting President
  • College of Law and Conservatory of Music separated from the University
1931
  • Regents of the Municipal University of Omaha accepted the institution of the University of Omaha
  • Mill levy instituted at 1 mill
  • William E. Sealock appointed President
1933
  • All impediments to accreditation except the crowded campus were removed.
1934
  • 25th Anniversary Celebration replace the traditional Gala Day celebration
1935
  • William Sealock removed as President following a crisis involving allegations of communism and the existence of a 'spy' network on campus. (William Sealock then committed suicide.)
  • OU first competed in the North Central Conference
  • First 'Ma-ie Day' held in place of the Gala Day
  • Rowland Haynes appointed President
1936
  • Work-Study program implemented in partnership with local businesses
  • New campus location purchased
1938
  • Campus relocated to 60th and Dodge Streets. Administration building dedicated
1939
  • OU begins airplane pilot training
  • OU granted accreditation
  • “Indians” became the school nickname

1940-1949 »
1941
  • Liberal College was split into the College of Arts & Sciences and The College of Applied Arts & Sciences
1942
  • Student strike over lack of support for athletics
  • Faculty tenure system established
1945
  • "The Shack" (student café/gathering place) opened
1947
  • Campus master plan created
1948
  • Rowland Haynes retires
  • Milo Bail appointed President
  • First $1,000,000 budget

1950-1959 »
1951
  • Bootstrap program started
  • ROTC started
  • Radio station KWOU started
  • Mill levy raised to 2 mills
1952
  • First televised courses offered
1955
  • OU won the Tangerine Bowl
  • Gene Eppley Library completed
1956
  • First $2,000,000 budget
1959
  • Applied Science (Engineering) Building completed
  • Parking problem reaches a crisis
  • Men's baseball team ranked 2nd nationally

1960-1969 »
1960
  • Student Center Building completed
1962
  • Tele-lectures (telephone) introduced
1963
  • Mill levy increase voted down
  • First $4,000,000 budget
1964
  • College of Graduate Studies created
1965
  • Milo Bail retires
  • Leland Traywick appointed President
  • Broadcasting on KYNE began
  • Football team won CIC conference championship (Also, 1967 & 1968.)
1966
  • Mill levy increase defeated at polls
  • Traywick removed as President
  • Kirk Naylor appointed acting president
1967
  • Merger agreement drafted by OU and NU
  • Kirk Naylor appointed President
  • Merger enabling legislation enacted
  • Omaha voters approve merger
  • Afro-American Council for Action held sit-in
  • Basketball team wins conference championship. (Also, 1969, 1970 and 1979.)
1968
  • University (faculty) Senate created
  • University of Nebraska at Omaha created
  • End of student dress codes
1969
  • Black Liberators for Action (BLAC) occupied the President's Office
  • UNO joins Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

1970-1979 »
1970
  • Allwine Hall completed
  • University Ombudsman position created
  • First property acquired for 'westward' expansion
  • Wrestlers win NAIA National Championship
1971
  • Kayser Hall completed
  • Last Ma-ie Day held
  • Maverick mascot adopted
  • Kirk Naylor asked to resign
  • John Blackwell appointed Interim-Chancellor
1972
  • School of Public Affairs created
  • Goodrich Program funded
  • Ronald Roskens appointed Chancellor
  • Control of Engineering program moved to UNL
1973
  • Performing Arts Center completed
  • Office of Minority Affairs created
  • UNO joins NCAA
1977
  • Del Weber appointed Chancellor
  • UNO achieves highest accreditation level
    • possible from NCA
  • UNO joins NCC (Athletics)
1979
  • Faculty chose AAUP as its bargaining agent