Ferris State University

Ferris was founded in 1884 by Woodbridge and Helen Ferris as the privately-owned Big Rapids Industrial School. It became a state institution in 1950 and a state university in 1987. Since its beginning, Ferris has been dedicated to providing students of diverse backgrounds with educational opportunities for rewarding professional and civic lives. 

Some Ferris majors are offered at no other university in Michigan or the United States. More than 180 undergraduate and graduate majors include 2-year degrees that "ladder" into 4-year, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees, eight master's degrees and Doctorates of Education, Optometry and Pharmacy.

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) will create an outstanding climate of support for Ferris State University faculty, staff and students, with emphasis on promoting the teacher-scholar model.

It is the mission of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs to enhance and facilitate the ability of faculty, staff, and students to develop and achieve their goals as teacher-scholars in research, education, and service delivery through successful competition for internal and external funding.

As a University we are all about helping our students create a career. One way we do this is by the Career and Internship Fair that we host. This is an opportunity for employers to meet with our students and alumni and vice versa. This past Fall we hosted the largest recorded Fair to date. We had over 300 employers and over 1000 students attend.

At this event we have an emphasis on networking. Encouraging students to talk to employers and reach out to our alumni that attend. We work to strengthen and grow our relationships with the employers that attend. Hoping to have them come back to recruit our students and alumni at every fair.