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This Month in
University History

December

December

When
What

December 10, 1873

UIUC Logo

University Hall dedicated
University Hall was built in 1873 to replace the Urbana and Champaign institute which had been the first, and to that point the only, campus building. University Hall was replaced in 1938 with the Illini Union.   Learn more about the founding of the University...   Learn more about Champaign county...

Image from http://www.physics.uiuc.edu/images/history/UniversityHall.jpg

December 1, 1895 

College of Pharmacy affiliates with U of I
Founded as a private college in 1859, the Chicago College of Pharmacy lobbied the state for, and gained, permission to join the University of Illinois in 1895. They gained degree-granting status in 1932 and changed their name to "The University of Illinois College of Pharmacy." Learn more about the college...

December 4, 1924

First traffic signals on campus
Four traffic signals were installed to halt traffic during the periods between classes. These signals, along with new parking restrictions, were designed to improve pedestrian safety on campus. Read the original newspaper article (Browse collection, December 4, 1924)...  

Learn more about current efforts to improve pedestrian safety...

December 23, 1947  

 

John Bardeen creates transistors
Future faculty member John Bardeen was on the team that created the first transistors.  This discovery led to his 1956 Nobel Prize. Learn more…
    
Image from http://www.physics.uiuc.edu/history/TimeCapsules.htm

December 1971

Sangamon State graduates first class
Though formal commencement exercises were not held until June of 1971, the first degree holding graduates of Sangamon State University, later University of Illinois at Springfield, celebrated commencement in December of 1971. Learn more...


Note: Image is from June commencement exercises

December 1993

Great Cities Institute announced
The Great Cities Institute at UIC is an urban research and outreach partnership between the University, the city of Chicago, foundations, and numerous community organizations. Learn more about Great Cities Commitment...

 

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