Elmhurst College becomes Elmhurst University

On Wednesday, July 1, Elmhurst College officially changed its name to Elmhurst University.

This change was first set into motion on June 15, 2019 when the Board of Trustees voted in favor of the name change for the 2020-2021 academic year. 

To commemorate the change, a celebratory video including words from students, alumni, staff, faculty, and supporters was uploaded to the newly designed Elmhurst University website.

In a campus-wide email sent out at 11 a.m. when the video premiered, President Troy VanAken expressed his excitement toward the historic first day as Elmhurst University.

“Today is just the start of the next chapter in Elmhurst’s story. As Elmhurst University, we’ll continue to build on our nearly 150-year legacy of preparing students for meaningful careers and lives,” said VanAken. “At the same time, we’re embracing our new name, knowing it will unlock exciting opportunities for a future filled with promise.”

The video also revealed the remodeled Gates of Knowledge showcasing the new name.

The City of Elmhurst also declared July 1, 2020 “Elmhurst University Day” as part of the festivities.

“Elmhurst College is a valued member of the Elmhurst community. We are excited about what’s to come as the college becomes a university,” said Elmhurst mayor Steve Morely in a video posted on Elmhurst University’s Facebook page on Tuesday announcing the proclamation.

Other festivities include a special viewing of the video at a Virtual Bluejay Bash for admitted students. Elmhurst University social media pages and the Elmhurst Bluejays Athletics website have also been revamped.

According to the Elmhurst University website, in-person Elmhurst University celebrations and events will occur when guidelines in regards to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic permit them to.