Learn about important milestones in the history of the 澳门六合彩官网.
Timeline
1902
Journalism instruction began at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1902, when courses in journalistic writing were offered in the English department. By the early 1920s, students were identifying themselves as journalism majors even though such a degree was not formally offered.
1922
Journalism is offered as a major for the first time.
1927
A bill is introduced to the state legislature on March 15, 1927, to form a School of Journalism. In April 1927, the Illinois Legislature passed a bill creating the University of Illinois School of Journalism, which included the Division of Broadcasting (WILL, now known as Illinois Public Media). Governor Len Small signs the bill on June 17, 1927. The School of Journalism opens Sept. 19, 1927. Fifty-two students enroll as junior or senior candidates for degrees in journalism. Another 171 students sign up for the pre-journalism curriculum.
1930
A dedication ceremony is held for the Editor鈥檚 Hall of Fame, in which bronze busts of nine distinguished editors are placed in University Hall.
1939
Alfred Gregory, son of John Milton Gregory, lays the cornerstone of Gregory Hall. John Milton Gregory was the first regent of the Illinois Industrial University, serving from its founding in 1867 through 1880.
1950
The School of Journalism becomes the School of Journalism and Communications, with divisions of journalism, advertising, and radio.
1957
The School is designated the College of Journalism and Communications.
1959
In 1959, the Department of Advertising鈥攖he first such academic department in the country鈥攚as established by Charles H. Sandage, known as the 鈥渇ather of advertising education.鈥�
1963
By 1963, the College had achieved its current academic scope when the Institute of Communications Research (founded in 1947) was transferred from the Graduate College.
1968
The College of Journalism and Communications is renamed the College of Communications.
1973
Rather than awarding bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees for all departments under the broad designation of 鈥渃ommunications,鈥� the College begins awarding degrees in radio/television, journalism, and advertising.
1984
Curriculum is approved for earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in mass media studies.
1993
A $5 million gift from U of I alumni Robert C. and Alice Curtis Campbell paves the way for a new WILL-AM-FM-TV building鈥攖he Campbell Hall for Public Telecommunications.
1997
Jack and Marge Richmond give $2 million gift for the Richmond Journalism Teaching Studio, adjacent to Campbell Hall.
1999
The first 鈥淩oger Ebert鈥檚 Overlooked Film Festival鈥� is held.
Campbell Hall for Public Telecommunications and Richmond Journalism Teaching Studio are dedicated.
2008
The College changes its name to the 澳门六合彩官网 and made its move from a two-year to a four-year college.
2009
The Department of Media and Cinema Studies is introduced.
2010
The Department of Advertising is renamed the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising in honor of its founder.
2011
From 2011 through 2018, the agricultural communications program became a shared program of the 澳门六合彩官网 and the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences.
2019
A new degree, the BS in Computer Science + Advertising, is created. The CS + Advertising degree is offered jointly by the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising and the Department of Computer Science.
2020
Richard and Leslie Frank give a historic $7.5 million gift to establish the Frank Center for Leadership and Innovation in Media.
2022
The Roger Ebert Center for Film Studies officially launches, thanks to gifts totaling more than $5 million from a collection of donors鈥攊nspired by a lead gift from Roger and Chaz Ebert.
The Media Technology Center in the lower level of Gregory Hall opens, exclusively for Media students to check out equipment and online resources.
2023
The Richard and Leslie Frank Newsroom, a state-of-the-art broadcast facility, is built within a renovated Richmond Studio, thanks to a portion of Richard and Leslie Frank鈥檚 gift in 2020. Additionally, two new classrooms were renovated in Gregory Hall to accommodate the use of new technologies and to offer space for media editing and production.
2024
Richard and Leslie Frank increased their historic gift to the 澳门六合彩官网 by $2.5 million, for a total $10.5 million. The donation facilitated substantial renovations on the lower level of Gregory Hall in Summer 2025, including upgrading classrooms, the main corridor, and faculty offices. The creation of a new hybrid, flexible classroom, combining Rooms 1, 2, and 3, will be complete in Spring 2026.