[13] The first class graduated two and a half years later; it consisted of two women, Mary Jane Watson and Ellen Plumb.

[18] He was selected by a search committee consisting of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other accomplished professionals representing a broad range of interests.

[19] As with other universities, changes in student demand for majors and programs have not occurred uniformly across the various entities at ESU.

In September 2022, the Kansas Board of Regents approved a plan by the Hush administration to downsize 7% of ESU's employees, including tenured professors for “current or future market considerations.” [20][21] Following the downsizing, in 2024 the university obtained Regents’ approval for a “net decrease in tuition and fees.”.

[22] Programmatic and other changes announced in 2024 include the following: (1) groundbreaking for a new building for Nursing and Student wellness, which is expected to open in fall 2025; (2) a “Jump Start/Concurrent Enrollment” program for high school students in nearby counties; (3) articulation agreements with 19 Kansas community colleges that will provide “seamless transfer of courses in nursing, education, criminology and the sciences,”;[23] (4) an “articulation agreement in which undergraduates at ESU can shorten the time to complete their bachelor’s and law degrees by taking law classes at Washburn University's Law School during their senior year.”;[24] and (5) a partnership with Pittsburg State University providing “course sharing opportunities.”[25] One of the faculty cut oversaw ESU's debate team, competing on behalf of the university since 1874, predating the university's football team.

[29] The investigating committee found that, in carrying out the terminations, the ESU administration and the Kansas Board of Regents disregarded AAUP-recommended principles and procedural standards concerning tenure and academic freedom.

It also found that the board’s reactivation in May 2022 of a temporary COVID-19-related policy allowed system institutions to abrogate existing university regulations that did comport in most essential respects with AAUP-supported standards.

The temporary policy suspended existing university regulations and gave the ESU administration the authority to “suspend, dismiss, or terminate” any professor, tenured or untenured, without involving faculty governance bodies and without affording academic due process to the affected faculty members.

Although the board of regents offered the policy to all system institutions, only Emporia State's administration adopted it–in September 2022, just three months before it was set to expire.

ESU closed doors on its Center for Early Childhood Education in the midst of a national child care crisis.

[52] In 2011, The Teachers College was featured in a video produced by the U.S. Department of Education highlighting the use of professional development schools.

In August 1982, the office was established as part of the Teachers College for research to better education in the state of Kansas.

[54] The Hall of Fame annually honors five teachers who have demonstrated commitment and dedication to teaching children.

Inductees cover more than three-quarters of the United States and Washington D.C.[54] On June 13, 2013, the NTHF executive director, along with former university officials, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran's staff, and local government leaders broke ground by the one-room schoolhouse located on the campus to build a memorial for teachers who have fallen in the "line of duty".

[58] Should the bill pass by both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, the memorial would then need to be signed by the President of the United States.

[42] On August 29, 2014, Emporia State announced that it had received $1 million additional funding from the Governor's office for the school's first-ever Honors College.

[61][62][63] Most academic buildings at Emporia State University are dedicated to someone or are an important part of the school's history.

[76] Roosevelt Hall, previously a high school in Emporia, once served as the home of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences dean's office.

[84][85] Cora Miller Hall houses the School of Nursing, and is located next to Newman Regional Hospital.

The university is a member of the NCAA Division II ranks, primarily competing in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (The MIAA) since the 1991–92 academic year.

Emporia State competes in 16 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, disc golf, football, tennis and track & field (indoor and outdoor); while women's sports include basketball, cross country, disc golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball.

Of its varsity sports, only Emporia States' women's basketball team has claimed a national title for the school.

[103] The Lady Hornets, led by former head coach Brandon Schneider, won the 2010 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship, defeating the Fort Lewis College Skyhawks.

[113][114] The softball team appeared in three Women's College World Series, in 1971, 1972, and 1979,[111] and also won the first AIAW Division II national championship in 1980.

[117] The stadium, named after long-time Emporia State football coach and athletic director Fran Welch, opened in 1947 and has since undergone a few renovations.

In 1994, the east and west side concession areas, restroom facilities, and entrances were renovated, a new scoreboard was hoisted into place at the south end of the stadium, and a new landscaped fence was erected.

Men's basketball coach Vic Trusler[122] recommended to a reporter of the Emporia Gazette that the name should be changed to "Yellow Jackets".

Although hundreds of drawings were submitted, Edwards' Corky, a "human-like" hornet, was selected and published in The Bulletin, the student newspaper for Emporia State University.

"[125] After the announcement of a donation, big or small, the university rings a bell called Silent Joe.

[126] The bell, which is located just south of Francis G. Welch Stadium, was originally rung only after a football team won at home.