1970s

1970

• Afro-American Center opened on Leon Street. The University, which now provides scholarships annually to 200 minority students, recently announced the establishment of a new Afro-American Studies program at the Boston campus.
• Ethel G. and Reuben B. Gryzmish Hall dedicated in honor of a distinguished law alumnus of the Class of 1912 and his wife.

1972

• First issue of The Onyx, a student newspaper designed for people of color, published.
• John A. Volpe Hall, named in honor of former Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, dedicated. Contains College of Criminal Justice, classrooms for Criminal Justice and for general University use.
• The Board of Trustees votes to designate Gryzmish Hall and Volpe Hall as the Asa S. Knowles Center for Law and Criminal Justice.
• Byron K. Elliott Hall dedicated in honor of the second Chairman of the Northeastern University Corporation and Board of Trustees.
• Office of the National Commission for Cooperative Education established on the Boston campus.

1973

• Institute for Chemical Analysis, Applications, and Forensic Science (later the Barnett Institute) is established.
• Property at 96 The Fenway acquired for use as a faculty center. Formerly known as the Student House, the building also provides dormitory accommodations on the upper three floors.
• Headquarters established on the Boston campus for the Institute of Off-Campus Experience and Cooperative Education. The Institute will operate as an entity entirely separate from the University.
• Seventy-fifth Anniversary Convocation, October 3.

1974

• NUPrime, Project Ujima, and Alternative Freshman Year programs implimented to help students prepare for college.
• Norman and Helen Cahners Hall dedicated.
• Diamond Anniversary Development Program concluded, raising of $67.8 million.
• American Assembly of College Schools of Business accredits graduate programs in Business Administration and Professional Accounting.
• Ford Hall Forum, oldest continuously operating public lecture series in the United States, located on campus.

1975

• Asa S. Knowles retires, is replaced by Kenneth Gilmore Ryder.
• Asa Knowles becomes Chancellor of the University.
• Master of Science Program in Forensic Chemistry approved.
• Endowed Chair on Cooperative Education designated the Asa Smallidge Knowles Professorship of Cooperative Education.
• Designation of Health Service Center as Dr. George Martin Lane Health Service Center.
• First election held to determine whether a majority of the faculty favor establishing a faculty union, November 6. The voted was inconclusive.

1976

• Office of Community Development established to foster and strengthen Northeastern's relationship with the community.
• John A. Curry appointed Vice President of Administration.
• Second election held to determine faculty support for a union. The union movement is defeated, March 16.
• Harry Allen appointed Provost.
• Master Plan for Campus Development approved by Trustees, June 1.
• Alternative Freshman Year Program initiated by University College.

1977

• African-American Master Artists in Residence Program initiated.
• Northeastern University Press established.
• Paul Lepley appointed Dean of Bouvé College.
• Geoffrey Clarkson appointed Dean of College of Business Administration.
• Roland Goddu appointed Dean of College of Education.
• Russell E. Call children's center opened, providing day care.

1978

• University-wide honors program initiated.
• First International Week sponsored by International Student Forum and Office of International Students.
• Richard Astro appointed Dean of Liberal Arts.
• Arthur Brodeur becomes first Vice President of Public Affairs.
• Government Relations Office is established under leadership of Charles Coffin.
• West Hall dormitory construction begins, the dormitory is later dedicated as Willis Hall in honor of Robert and Betty Willis.
• The Executive MBA Program is initiated by the College of Business Administration.
• Northeastern purchases the Boston Arena.

1979

• College of Liberal Arts becomes College of Arts & Sciences.
• Vice President Daniel Roberts appointed Treasurer of the University.
• Dean Melvin Mark becomes Provost.
• Professor Karl Weiss appointed as the First Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Programs.
• John O'Bryant appointed Vice President of Student Affairs.
• Gerald Schumacher becomes Dean of Pharmacy.
• Michael Meltsner appointed Dean of the School of Law.
• John Jordan becomes Dean of University College.
• George Harris appointed Director of Administrative Computer Services.
• The renovated United Realty Buildings are dedicated and named to honor Dean Wilfred Lake, Professor George H. Meserve, Jr., Professor Frederick Holmes, and Professor Winthrop Nightingale.
• The Excellence in Teaching Awards program initiated.
• A Research and Scholarship Development fund established.
• The Distinguished Professor Awards program established.
• The First World Conference on Cooperative Education held at Brunel University in England.
• Publication of Northeastern Edition begins.