The move toward a full-fledged graduate program at Northern was slow, but once it took off, it met with great enthusiasm from faculty and prospective graduate students.

In November of 1949, President Leslie Holmes appointed a steering committee to work with colleagues at other Illinois public institutions to ensure coordination of expanded graduate offerings. At the same time, the Teachers College Board established guidelines for Northern in the areas of faculty qualifications, library holdings, location of classes and degrees that could be offered.

In 1951, the Board gave Northern permission to offer graduate courses. The following year, Dr. J. Robert Hainds was appointed as the first Dean of the Graduate School. By 1960, 23 departments were offering graduate courses leading to the master’s degree.

From 1960 to 1970, graduate student enrollment increased from 1,300 to more than 5,000.

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