Eastern’s history department has done something no other department on campus has done.

The history department is the first department at Eastern to receive the title of First Choice Graduate Program.

Two parts make up the history department: history and historical administration.

It received the title Sept. 18 near the time when the newspaper USA Today ran a story titled “College students struggle on history test.”

The article cites a study from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, where a civic literacy test was given and the college students failed.

Despite what might be happening in other college’s history departments, Eastern’s is thriving.

Bob Augustine, dean of the graduate school, said it was the history department’s faculty that set it apart.

Chuck Costa, professor in the biological sciences department, said the history department impressed him.

“They have a very solid department and have wonderful connections with their alumni,” Costa said. “Their alumni give them feedback on the department, which made them stand out.”

The process for becoming a First Choice Graduate Program is entirely voluntarily. Departments have a full say in whether or not they chose to continue with the process after being reviewed.

“After the department goes through this review, they are given a list of their strengths from the review board,” Augustine said. “It is then up to the department if they want to continue on with the process of being reviewed.”

Augustine said the history department group, headed by Chair Anita Shelton, could use any method to present, including PowerPoint or lectures.

Because the history department is now a First Choice Graduate Program, it will receive some extra resources, Augustine said.

The Presidential Graduate Assistantship will assign a faculty member to work with a graduate student for nine months.

The history department also receives two summer assistantships. These are similar to the presidential assistantship, but take place during the summer semester.

The department was also awarded two Williams Travels Awards. These awards are used to fund students’ travel and work at conferences.

Shelton said research is important for graduate students.

“We focus on research and teaching so that in the department, the students are actively involved in research,” she said.

Patrick Harris, a history graduate student, said the faculty encourages students to get involved with and present their own research.

“Dr. Newton Key helped organize an EIU panel on history about early modern England at Loyola in Chicago that I presented a paper at,” Harris said.

Harris said the faculty is what makes the history department.

“The faculty are excellent mentors,” he said.