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Eastern Mennonite University had its beginnings in the Shenandoah Valley in 1917 when Eastern Mennonite School, as it was then known, began as a Bible academy. The school grew, gaining accreditation by the Virginia Board of Education as a junior college in 1930. Seventeen years later in 1947 a four-year degree program was approved by the state. Regional accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools[1] was achieved in 1959. By 1965 a seminary had evolved to prepare persons for Christian ministry. The seminary received accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in 1986. The first graduate program (other than seminary)--counseling--began in 1993. Two others followed in the next two years--conflict transformation and education. An adult degree completion program was established in 1994. The school’s name was changed from “college and seminary” to “university” in August 1994. An MBA program was approved to begin fall of 1999. Today the university is located not only in Harrisonburg but also maintains instructional sites in Lancaster, Pa. (EMU at Lancaster) where the adult degree completion program, MA in Education, certificate in conflict transformation, AA in pastoral ministry and seminary courses are offeredand Washington, DC (Washington Community Scholars' Center).
With simultaneous commitments to academic excellence, professional expertise and Christian discipleship, EMU has a distinctive educational role to play. To inspire excellence demands competence and sacrificial devotion on the part of faculty, staff and administrators. This is the challenge and the goal.
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