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[alohafromhere]

Any information on Eastern Michigan University would be most welcome -- College of Arts and Sciences in particular.  Thanks!

[saguaro]

Any information? Okay, here is some useful trivia. Ypsilanti is not pronounced Yip... bit rather Ip...

[carebearstare]

I can only speak very generally, but EMU is a regional state school that draws its student population largely from the surrounding area and state. Ypsi is pretty much a suburb of Ann Arbor and about 15 minutes from downtown; Ann Arbor might be where you'd want to live and spend your time. Ypsi is also about 30 minutes from the Detroit airport and maybe another 30 to interesting things in Detroit and its 'burbs. I can't really say how the recession might be hitting that area--I've been in the state a few times since '08 and have been surprised at how similar things seem--but I think more and more businesses are shutting their doors and foreclosures are rampant. That said, it will be a relatively cheap place to live and close to the more interesting cities in MI, but not far from natural beauty either if that's your thing.
 
The kids I knew who went to EMU weren't the best students, but like anywhere I'm sure there will be some gems and some duds.

[punchnpie]

I went to UM, know several people who wound up working at EMU (staff, not professors), and have a BIL in Ypsi.

1) EMU will have regional students and local folks who could go to UM but don't want to spend UM money. As someone else suggested, you'll probably have a range of abilities with your students, as you would at most places.
2) Staff at EMU seem to like it; I haven't heard any major complaints over the years. YMMV
3) Even though A2 is hipper, etc., it is also more expensive. Save your money and live in Ypsi, party in A2.

[lohai0]

I'm more familiar with the some departments of the college of arts and sciences than others.  There is a wide range of abilities at EMU.  Because some of the programs like the Upward Bound there is a higher proportion of students who have gaps in their high school education and will be lower achieving. (This was true in the dept I worked in at least.) My former department did send students to very good graduate schools on a pretty regular basis, so there are some good students at EMU as well.

[airball]

I have a friend in the college of liberal arts, and is not overwhelmed by the institution. The teaching load is kind of tough (4-4). Moreover, he can't afford to go on the market because he now owes more on his house than it's worth.

[gonehiking]

This may be too out of date to be helpful, but I interviewed for a TT position in the sciences several years ago, well before the current financial meltdown.  The people I talked to seemed to like it there.  The teaching load was fairly high, 12 credit hours, which for my field would include labs.  The relatively new dean of A&S at the time seemed to be a little too gung-ho about raising the research profile of the school, but it's a different person now.  High percentage of female students, a lingering aspect of its Normal School history (or so I was told; I'm not sure if 60% is that unusual for a large state school).  It was telling that the SC chair took me to Ann Arbor and the UM campus during the interview, but EMU faculty have reciprocal library privileges there so that aspect made sense.  I strode the Earth like a Colossus in the interview (well...it was certainly my best campus interview) but I went another way.  The salary offer was pretty decent, especially relative to the housing market at the time.  Not sure how that will work now or in other fields.

[carebearstare]

I would think the financial crisis would be making EMU's enrollment go through the roof.

[johnr]

I should point out also that there is no real physical separation between Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor.  The two towns run into each other. There are some nice, livable neighborhoods in Ypsilanti that are within walking distance of EMU's campus.

The Biology department is good, with many students there earning their reasonably priced B.S. and M.S degrees in an attempt to get into UM med school.   

[santuzza]

The economy in MI is AWFUL. I live on the other side, but the whole state is in a financial crisis. Incompetent governor. I'm looking to get out and would advise everyone to stay away.

[conjugate]

I applied to several schools in MI over the years, and never got a nibble.  I can only conclude that folks up there don't have the required to appreciate my excellence.

Or something.

[notaprof]

I applied to several schools in MI over the years, and never got a nibble.  I can only conclude that folks up there don't have the required to appreciate my excellence.

Or something.

Or maybe, given the economy mentioned earlier, they know they can't afford your excellence.

[bigsky]

The economy in MI is AWFUL. I live on the other side, but the whole state is in a financial crisis. Incompetent governor. I'm looking to get out and would advise everyone to stay away.

I'm also in MI, it's not all doom and gloom. Certain parts of the state are doing no better or worse than other states in the country. As for EMU, I think the toughest thing is that you are in the shadow of UofM. That can be both good and bad. I don't think you would be living in AA on your EMU salary, it would be tough enough on a UofM salary.

FWIW, current gov is MUCH better than the previous one. She has just been saddled with a horrendous state economy. My opinion of course.

[alohafromhere]

The economy where I live stinks too, actually probably worse (the industry here used to be suppliers to the auto industry so you can imagine how that is going); I probably wouldn't notice the difference! 

It does sound, however, as though EMU would be overshadowed by MU -- I recall that years ago at an EMU conference; most of the conversations from the EMU faculty were kind of a defensive "we're just as good" tone.

Thanks for all the replies.