A University on the Rise: 2010-2019

January 2010
With the offering of both graduate and undergraduate classes at the South Charleston campus, it was renamed Marshall University—South Charleston Campus in 2010. The campus houses the Graduate School of Education and Professional Development and the Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing, as well as a Library shown at right.
February 2010
February 27, 2010, saw the dedication of Marshall University Foundation Hall on Fifth Avenue. The spacious building houses the MU Alumni Foundation on the upper floors and the Erickson Alumni Center on the first floor.

The 33,200 square-foot building complex features conference room, dining area, offices and common spaces, as well as numerous displays of historic memorabilia in a rotunda on the ground floor, honoring Marshall’s history, heritage and traditions.

August 2010
Inaugural Week of Welcome held for in-coming Marshall University Freshman. The week-long program assimilates freshman to the rigors of college life and prepares them for what’s to come. It is a collaborative introductory effort to welcome, educate and socialize freshmen to the Marshall University campus, academic expectations, personnel, resources and traditions during the first few weeks of the fall semester.
Summer 2010
In the summer of 2010 the Marshall University Foundation along with the Marshall University Alumni Association moved into a new facility at the corner of John Marshall Drive and 5th Avenue. The foundation was chartered in January of 1947 as an independent non-profit organization to receive, invest, administer, and disburse private resources on behalf of Marshall University.
March 2011
Marshall University celebrated 50 years as a University on March 2, 2011. From its founding in 1837, it took nearly 125 years of sustained growth before the school located in Huntington would become a university.
Spring 2012
University returns to Kelly Green as the primary color. After wearing hunter green for several years, the university officially made the move back to Kelly green. Marshall University is instantly recognizable by many of its audiences through the color Kelly green.
Spring 2012
Marshall University celebrated 175 years as an institution. Established in 1837 as Marshall College. On March 2, 1962, what started as a small teachers college became a university. Today, Marshall University is the second largest school in the state.
July 2012
On July 18, 2012, Marshall University opened the new School of Physical Therapy, as part of the College of Health Professions. Housed in the St. Mary’s Hospital Center for Education on 5th Avenue just a short drive from Marshall’s Huntington campus, the school of physical therapy’s first class started in the fall of 2012 and graduated in May of 2015.
August 2012
The Marshall University School of Pharmacy held a ribbon cutting ceremony on August 14, 2012, at its first location, the Robert W. Coon Education Building on the Veterans Administration Hospital campus. Graduating its first class in 2016, the School of Pharmacy would later relocate in 2019.
August 2013
Marshall University Men’s and Women’s soccer opened their new home, Hoops Family Field at Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex. Located on the former site of the Veterans Memorial Field house, once the home of Marshall basketball, the state-of-the-art stadium sits on 5th avenue, just a short drive from the Huntington campus.
October 2103
October 5, 2013, saw the unveiling of an updated Marco the mascot at a football game against the University of Texas San Antonio.
September 2014
The Marshall University Visual Arts Center opened in downtown Huntington on September 18, 2014. The VAC as it’s affectionately known is located on 3rd Avenue across from Pullman Square, in what was once the location of the historic Anderson-Newcomb Co. building, which was built in 1902.
December 2014
In December of 2014 Marshall University football won its first Conference USA Football Championship, at home, against Louisiana Tech. On a rainy afternoon, the Herd won 26-23.
December 2014
December 17, 2014, the Marshall University family mourned the sudden loss of President Stephen J. Kopp. Kopp was Marshall’s president from 2005 – 2014.
Arthur Weisberg Family Applied Engineering Complex Ribbon Cutting
August 2015
August 13, 2015, saw the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Arthur Weisberg Family Applied Engineering Complex. The 152,000 square-foot facility is located on Third Ave just west of the Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Center.
September 2015
In 2015 the Indoor Athletic Facility and Marshall University Athletics Hall of Fame opened just east of Joan C. Edwards Stadium. The state-of-the-art hall of fame attaches to the indoor athletic facility that houses a full football field, along with a running track.
October 2014
On October 30, 2015, the Marshall University Foundation got its new name, the Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall, in honor of Marshall alum and benefactor Brad D. Smith. The Kenova, West Virginia native is the executive chairman of Intuit’s board and formerly the CEO.
January 2016
January 14, 2016, the Marshall University Dietetics Program housed in the College of Health Professions moved into its new home at Huntington’s Kitchen in Downtown Huntington. Offices and learning spaces are located above the kitchen overlooking Pullman Square, while the kitchen serves as a collaborative learning space.
September 2017
September 22, 2016, Marshall University welcomed its 37th President, Dr. Jerome Gilbert, with an investiture ceremony on Marshall University’s campus.
April 2017
April 26, 2017, Marshall University Students take part in Design for Delight: Innovating for Impact sponsored by Intuit. The project saw groups of students from cross-sections of the Marshall University campus present ideas on improving their communities to Chairman of the Intuit Board and former CEO Brad D. Smith, along with Charleston native and actress Jennifer Garner and former Marshall University Quarterback Chad Pennington. The winning team would take their idea to Intuit’s home offices in Silicon Valley for more advising.
August 2017
Traditions Musical introduced as part of the Week of Welcome festivities. The musical outlines the traditions that make the Marshall family special.
March 2018
March 2018 Marshall University wins first NCAA Tournament basketball game in school history. The 81-75 upset of Wichita State advanced Marshall hoops to the second round of the tournament for the first time in program history.
June 2018
June 22-23, 2018, Marshall University and the city of Huntington played host to the Ellis Marsalis International Jazz Competition. Jazz musicians from around the world descended on Huntington to take part in a competitive festival of jazz music.
Februray 2019
February 21, 2019, Marshall University Athletics announces the beginning of a campaign to raise funds for a baseball stadium that would sit between 3rd and 5th Avenues in Huntington.
March 2019
March 6, 2019, Marshall University achieves research milestone and is classified as a R2 Research Institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The designation places Marshall among the top six percent of college and universities in the nation and is the second-highest classification an institution can receive from the organization.
September 2019
Marshall University’s School of Pharmacy moved into a new state-of-the-art teaching facility on Hal Greer Boulevard in Huntington on September 13, 2019. The building, Stephen J. Kopp Hall, was named for former President Stephen J. Kopp, the leading proponent of the opening of a pharmacy program at Marshall before his passing.
September 2019
Along with the opening of a brand-new School of Pharmacy facility, The Landing was opened. The facility features 200 fully furnished, studio and two-bedroom apartments in walking distance to the schools of medicine, pharmacy and forensic science center.
Fall 2019
In the fall of 2019 the Marshall Rises Campaign was announced by the Marshall University Foundation. The comprehensive campaign was aimed at raising funds academic, athletic and other campus needs.
November 2019
Marshall University Soccer advances to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Soccer tournament after a victory over in-state rival WVU. In the Sweet 16 the Herd would fall to the Washington Huskies but would finish the season ranked 11th in the country, their highest ever ranking at the time.
December 2019
In December of 2019, the Memorial Student Center hosted a grand re-opening after a 6-month $4.5 million renovation project. Upgrades were made to the lobby, basement and second floor of the student center that opened originally in 1971.