Historical Timeline of SVSU

SVSU & World History

The fifth in a series of timelines celebrating SVSU’s 50th Anniversary.

2002 � SVSU’S FORMULA SAE (SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING) RACE CAR FINISHES 6TH IN THE WORLD.

2000 � LIVING CENTER OPENS. � BOARD OF CONTROL AND FACULTY APPROVE REVISED GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM. • The world celebrates the millennium.

2001 � FOUNDATION SCHOLARS PROGRAM INITIATED. • September 11th becomes an iconic day in U.S. history.

2006 � BOWLING TEAM WINS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2005 � STUDENT RESEARCH & CREATIVITY INSTITUTE LAUNCHED.

• Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) hits Hong Kong. � MERLYN MONDOL, PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY, RETIRES AFTER 33 YEARS.

� THE HERBERT DOW DOAN SCIENCE BUILDING IS COMPLETED AND DEDICATED.

2003 � STUDENT CENTER, FITNESS CENTER, REGIONAL EDUCATION CENTER AND ZAHNOW LIBRARY ADDITION ARE DEDICATED. • The Human Genome Project is complete. � COLLEGE OF BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT RECEIVES AACSB-ACCREDITATION.

• North Korea conducts its first nuclear test.

� EINSTEIN’S FOOD COURT AND “REAL FOOD ON CAMPUS” FACILITIES OPEN. 2004 � OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MASTER’S DEGREE IMPLEMENTED.

� GERSTACKER FELLOWS CREATED AND FIRST COHORT SELECTED.

• Angela Merkel is named first female chancellor of Germany.

� SVSU’S FOUNDATION MEETS THE $1 MILLION SAGINAW COMMUNITY FOUNDATION KRESGE CHALLENGE. • Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami claim 250,000 lives.

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2008 � THE YIEN INTERNATIONAL GARDEN DEDICATED. 2007 � RENOVATED PIONEER HALL OPENS. � BEST-SELLING AUTHOR KEN FOLLETT RECEIVES AN HONORARY DOCTOR OF LETTERS AND ADDRESSES DECEMBER COMMENCEMENT. • Northern Ireland reaches an historic peace agreement.

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� CLINICAL LAB SCIENCE PROGRAM ADDED. • Beijing hosts the Olympics.

2009 � HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES BUILDING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT INITIATED. � FALL ENROLLMENT CRACKS THE 10,000 MARK. • Barack Obama is sworn in as 44th president of the U.S.

2010 � MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ENERGY AND MATERIALS MANAGEMENT DEGREE INITIATED.

2011 � FIRST NIGHT FOOTBALL GAMES PLAYED IN RENOVATED WICKES MEMORIAL STADIUM.

� $1 MILLION GIFT RECEIVED FROM GERSTACKER FOUNDATION FOR FELLOWS II.

� PLANNING BEGINS FOR DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE.

• Apple debuts the iPad.

• Global population reaches 7 billion.

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2012 � HERBERT H. AND GRACE A. DOW FOUNDATION ENDOWS THE STUDENT RESEARCH & CREATIVITY INSTITUTE.

2013 � PRESIDENT ERIC R. GILBERTSON ANNOUNCES HIS INTENTION TO RETIRE.

� UNIVERSITY NAMED A “MILITARY FRIENDLY SCHOOL” BY VICTORY MEDIA.

� ARNOLD & GERTRUDE BOUTELL GREENHOUSE/ SUSTAINABILITY CENTER DEDICATED.

• Diamond Jubilee for Queen Elizabeth II is celebrated.

• Pope Benedict XVI resigns, the first pope to do so in 600 years.

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The world population is 5.276 billion.

The former Yugoslavia is dissolved.

At a cost of $1.5 million, the Hubble Space Telescope is launched into orbit.

Space for a branch education location established at Cass City High School.

NASA's LASER program bus makes a stop at SVSU. SVSU's first president, Samuel Davey Marble, passes away.

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The master’s of business administration program begins.

The newly renovated Cardinal football stadium is dedicated.

The Americans with Disabilities Act goes into effect.

"Jurassic Park" opens, sets box office weekend record of $502 million.

Bill Clinton defeats incumbent George H. W. Bush in the U.S. presidential election.

Oslo Accord promises peace in the Middle East.

20-year-old underground electrical cables are replaced to prevent SVSU blackouts.

Construction of a new Business & Professional Development Building moves forward following approval of funding by the Michigan Legislature.

More than 500 people gather in the SVSU O'Neill Arena to celebrate SVSU's 30th anniversary.

The SVSU computer network is installed.

The network provides access to email and the Internet.

U.S. Navy issues first permanent order assigning women on combat ships.

Forbes Magazine announces Bill Gates is the richest man in the world ($12.9 billion).

Chunnel linking England and France officially opens.

“Toy Story” is released as the first feature-length film created completely using computergenerated imagery.

The new Food Court in the Doan Center opens, featuring a serving area, kitchen, and dining area.

Construction of Founder’s Hall begins.

Nearly 2,000 people contribute $315,674 to SVSU during the year.

The Nintendo 64 is released. Gamers rejoice.

Dolly, a ewe, is born in July, becoming the first successfully cloned mammal.

The Detroit Lions hold the first of five training camps at SVSU. SVSU introduces "The Card," used as a combination ID and library card that can also serve as a debit, ATM and phone card.

Comet Hale-Bopp is first spotted: considered the greatest comet in the 20th century. About 80 percent of Americans could see it without a telescope.

Princess Diana’s funeral captivates the world.

Curtiss Hall dedicated and named for Charles B. Curtiss, one of the original Board members of SVSU. Groening Commons is dedicated, named after William A. Groening Jr., the first chairman of the Board of Control.

Bob Barker's game show “The Price is Right,” airs its 5,000th episode on CBS. First component of the International Space Station is launched.

The Julia Edwards Bell Tower is dedicated and honors Julia Edwards, wife of William Edwards, who chaired the committee that raised the funds to purchase the initial land for the development of Saginaw Valley College.

Brian Jones and Bertan Piccard become the first to pilot a balloon nonstop around the world.

An SVSU living center for upperclass resident students opens in the fall, with more than 300 residents.

Construction of the $25 million expansion of the Science Building and Zahnow Library starts in September.

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1980s

SVSU/WORLD HISTORY THE THIRD OF FIVE WORLD AND SVSU COMPARATIVE TIMELINES LEADING UP TO THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY 1987

The Michigan Legislature approves renaming Saginaw Valley State College as Saginaw Valley State University.

1985 1982

The Council of Academic Vice Presidents of State Universities of Michigan approves the master of arts in criminal justice and political science program.

July 27th, AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is identified.

In the early morning hours on April 24, fire destroys Wickes Annex, causing $380,000 in damage.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is dedicated on November 13th.

Mikhail Gorbachev is elected president, the last leader of the Soviet Union.

Michael Jackson releases Thriller on November 30th.

On September 1st, the Titanic is discovered.

SVSC’s men’s track & field team captures a GLIAC and an NAIA national championship.

1980

Head football coach and athletic director Muddy Waters resigns from SVSC to coach at Michigan State University.

1983

Saginaw Valley State College celebrates its 20th anniversary.

The first international students enroll during the spring semester, marking the beginning of a commitment to increase the school’s global enrollment.

SVSC receives funding for the Instructional Building Facility No. 2 project, which includes three facilities: Maurice E. Brown Hall, the Science Building and the Melvin J. Zahnow Library.

The nation elects Ronald Reagan its president.

On May 18th, Mt. St. Helens, a volcano in Washington, erupts resulting in one of the most disastrous geological events in American history.

Solidarity, an independent labor union, forms and eventually becomes the catalyst for the Soviet Union’s demise.

SVSC breaks ground on the Arbury Fine Arts Center, which will include the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum.

SVSC hires assistant professor Ghulam H. Raz as the first faculty member for its engineering program.

Eugene Hamilton is promoted to dean of continuing education and international programs.

August 12th, the IBM computer is released.

The Detroit Tigers defeat the San Diego Padres to win the World Series on October 14th.

The world’s population reaches 5 billion.

On January 28th, 73 seconds into its flight, Space Shuttle Challenger explodes.

On April 26th, The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant malfunctions, resulting in the world’s worst nuclear disaster.

1989

Jack Ryder resigns as president of SVSU, ending a 15-year career. In November, Eric Gilbertson becomes SVSU’s third president.

The softball team wins an NAIA national championship.

1988 1984

On October 19th, the Stock Market crashes; it is the largest single-day point drop since 1914.

The Earl L. Warrick Excellence in Research Award, an annual award given to a deserving faculty member, is announced.

On June 18th, the Challenger space shuttle launches into space with Sally K. Ride, the first American woman to travel in Space.

Lady Diana Spencer (Princess Diana) and Prince Charles wed on July 29th.

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1986

The final episode of M*A*S*H airs on February 28th.

1981

The Council of State College Presidents votes in favor of establishing SVSC’s engineering program.

An 8.1 magnitude Earthquake rattles Mexico City on September 19th.

The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Gallery officially opens June 13.

The Arbury Fine Arts Center is dedicated.

Well-known English professor Raymond Tyner passes away; SVSU eventually creates the Tyner Writing Awards in his honor.

With the aid of West Germans, East German citizens climb over the Berlin Wall as it begins to fall, symbolizing the ending of the Cold War. Nintendo introduces the first portable gaming system, the Game Boy, in Japan.

The Soviet Union begins to withdraw from Afghanistan.

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