1940s

1940

• Frank Palmer Speare retires, Carl Stephens Ell inaugurated as second president.
• University added to the list of institutional members of the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
• First Northeastern University teaching fellows (Department of Chemistry).

1941

• College of Business Administration and College of Liberal Arts accredited by the University of the State of New York.
• Department of Chemistry accredited by the American Chemical Society.
• University made an institutional member of the American Council on Education.
• Chapter of Tau Beta Pi, national honor society, established in the College of Engineering.
• Science Hall occupied.

1942

• University made an institutional member of the Association of American Colleges.
• Curriculum in Chemical Engineering accredited by the Engineers' Council for Professional Development.

1943

• Women students admitted to the Day Colleges.
• Alumni Office created.
• School of Law accredited by the University of the State of New York.

1945

• The University accepts its first sponsored research contract, a $10,000 project for the Office of Naval Research.
• School of Law made a member of the Association of American Law Schools.

1947

• Student Center occupied.

1948

• College of Engineering offers the University's first graduate courses.
• Fiftieth Anniversary convocation and banquet, October 2.