Charter Class

Oakland University's charter class of students celebrated their 50th Reunion in September 2013. Here are some interesting facts about the charter class.

• Of the 570 students enrolled, 493 were full time.
• 84 percent of the students were in the top half of their high school graduating class and 55 percent were in the top quarter.
• The most popular major was teacher education followed by liberal arts, engineering science and business administration.
• So many students flunked the first semester that the university enacted a policy to allow students to erase grades following repeat classes.
• According to the national pattern of the time, 60 percent, or 342 of the 570 students enrolled, were expected to don a cap and gown in four years. By 1963, only 125 students received diplomas.
• Chancellor D.B. "Woody" Varner cautioned parents during a September convocation that a "work and school program was not feasible at MSUO (Michigan State University - Oakland). The student should be at school from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., five days a week."
• MSU President John Hannah reminded students during the inaugural September convocation, "You will set standards, establish precedents, originate traditions — in short, help to set the tone of MSUO."