Graduate School

The move for a graduate program at Northern was slow in developing, primarily due to the state appropriations necessary to finance a program.  In 1939 President Adams appointed a graduate faculty committee to work with similar groups in other Illinois public institutions on plans for graduate programs.  In Northern's case this first effort was unsuccessful, but the idea was still alive among administrators and faculty and in November 1949 President Holmes appointed a steering committee to set up the mechanics for a graduate program.  At the same time the Teachers College Board established guidelines for Northern in the areas of faculty qualifications, library holdings, location of classes, and degree offered (M.S.Ed.).  In 1951 the Board granted Northern permission to offer graduate courses and during that summer, under the direction of J. Robert Hainds, courses were offered by the departments of Biological Sciences, Education, English, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, and Speech. By 1960 twenty-three departments at Northern were offering graduate courses leading to the Masters degree.  In the Fall of 1962, after considerable effort, doctoral programs were introduced for the departments of Business Education, English, Education, and History. The first doctoral degree was conferred in 1964.  A Performer's Certificate was authorized in 1982 and in 1983 an Educational Specialist degree was approved.  As of 2003 Northern offers the Masters in over 100 major programs, the Doctor of Education in six academic majors, and the Doctor of Philosophy in ten departments. The first Director/Dean of the Graduate School in 1951 was Dr. J. Robert Hainds.  After Hainds became Executive Vice-President and Provost in 1961 Dr. C. Norton Coe was appointed Dean of Graduate School, followed by Dr. Wayne J. McIlrath from 1963 to 1973.  James A. Rutledge became Dean in January 1974.  Dean Jaros served as Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and Research from fall 1980 to spring 1984. Graduate School Associate Dean David Greenfield served as interim Dean until he resigned in August 1984.  Jerrold H. Zar, former Chair of Biological Sciences Department, followed as interim Dean and in 1985 was named Dean of the Graduate School bringing stability until his retirement in December 2002.  T. Daniel Griffiths served as Acting Dean and Vice Provost for Research, until Rathindra N. Bose was hired as Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School in July 2003.

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