| 1922 |
On July 7, Mervyn B. Walsh purchases a franchise from Pace & Pace in New York City to offer the Pace Accounting Method exclusively in Detroit. On September 18, 23 students begin the first Walsh Institute classes in two rooms on the sixth floor of the Capitol Theatre Building. Tuition was $60. |
| 1925 |
Michigan extends regulation of public accounting beyond passing the CPA exam to include meeting practical experience and education requirements. |
| 1928 |
Enrollment reaches 286 students. Seven graduates organize the Walsh Institute Alumni Association. |
| 1930 |
Alumna Grace Dimmer becomes Michigan’s first woman to earn the CPA designation. |
| 1947 |
Walsh Institute marks its 25th anniversary. Thanks to the G.I. Bill, enrollment reaches 1,508 at “120 Madison”, as students call the Institute. Today, the completely renovated building is the Detroit Opera House. |
| 1965 |
On June 30, Mervyn B. Walsh retires as president and William C. Stewart, a CPA and college administrator, succeeds him. Walsh trustees determine that Walsh Institute will change its educational charter by having its own building, offering an accounting curriculum approved by the State Board of Accountancy, and receiving State Board of Education approval. |
| 1968 |
On December 31, Walsh Institute of Accountancy becomes Walsh College of Accountancy and Business Administration, an upper-division college offering coursework for juniors and seniors who finish two years at a community college. The College purchases 20 acres of farmland from Morris Wattles for a new campus in Troy, near the community colleges from which it hopes to attract students. |
| 1969 |
Ground is broken for a new 10,000-square-foot Troy campus building. |
| 1970 |
Jeffery W. Barry succeeds William Stewart as the third president of Walsh College. The State of Michigan authorizes Walsh College to grant degrees. The Troy campus opens for classes on September 10. |
| 1972 |
The College offers a Bachelor of Accountancy degree. |
| 1973 |
The College adds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, and enrollment climbs as programs gain acceptance among community colleges. |
| 1974 |
Walsh offers its first graduate degree: a Master of Science in Taxation, with a financial and accounting, rather than legal, curriculum. An 7,400 square-foot addition to the Troy campus triples the size of the library and adds two lecture halls, a small bookstore, and a student lounge. |
| 1975 |
The NCA accredits Walsh College degree programs. |
| 1978 |
A Port Huron campus is opened near St. Clair County Community College. The Troy campus is expanded. |
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1980
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The NCA extends Walsh’s accreditation for 10 years, the maximum allowable time span. The Master of Science in Professional Accountancy (now the Master of Science in Accountancy) is offered.
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1982
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The Troy campus is expanded by 10,400 square feet to include a new library, faculty offices, a skylight lounge, and computer labs. The College adds the Computer-Based Information Systems major to the Bachelor of Business Administration program. Walsh College marks its 60th anniversary with a Founder’s Day celebration.
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1984
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On January 31, Walsh Institute founder Mervyn B. Walsh dies at the age of 93.
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1986
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Banking and financial services deregulation leads Walsh College to offer a Master of Science in Finance degree. The College offers extension courses at Macomb Community College, Royal Oak’s Shrine High School, and Detroit’s Renaissance Center.
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1988
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Marketing is offered as a new major within the Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Enrollment exceeds 2,500 students as the College offers classes at the MSU Management Center, Port Huron, Warren, Farmington Hills, Detroit, and Troy.
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| 1989 |
A Master of Science degree in Management is offered as area businesses begin to require graduate education in Management for advancement. Enrollment reaches 3,300 students. A capital campaign is launched to increase the scholarship program and the size of the facility. |
| 1990 |
A final $4.2-million addition to the Troy campus is completed, adding 33,000 square feet and renovating 9,000 square feet. A cafeteria is added, as well as a new bookstore, computer lab, library, and faculty and administrative space. |
| 1991 |
David A. Spencer becomes Walsh College’s fourth president on the retirement of Jeffery W. Barry. Walsh signs on as a partner institution to offer courses at Macomb Community College’s University Center in Clinton Township. |
| 1992 |
Four Walsh College women are among the top 100 scorers on the CPA exam in the United States. Eija Roulson, MSPA ’93, earns the highest score on the Michigan CPA exam and the second highest score in the United States. |
| 1993 |
After surveying of students, faculty, community leaders and businesses, administrators decide to build a new campus in Novi. |
| 1996 |
Walsh College offers a Master of Science degree in Information Management and Communication in response to changing workplace needs. |
| 1997 |
Walsh College observes its 75th anniversary with business discussions and speakers, a book entitled The History of Walsh College, a dinner, and a Homecoming at the Troy campus coinciding with the day of the first Walsh Institute lecture. |
| 1998 |
Walsh College launches the MBA program. The 35,000-square-foot Novi campus opens with a capacity of 2,200 students. |
| 1999 |
Keith A. Pretty is named the fifth president of Walsh College. The College offers its first online courses. |
| 2000 |
The College launches a long-range strategic action plan to see it through the next century. A Master of Arts in Economics and a Master of Science in Business Information Technology are offered. |
| 2001 |
The NCA permits Walsh to offer full online degree programs and provides a full ten-year extension on its accreditation. |
| 2002 |
The College revises the Accounting program to fulfill the 150 hours of instruction required by the State Board of Certified Public Accountants and allows Accounting students to receive both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The Michigan Association of CPAs names Accounting Department Chair Richard D. Berschback "Educator of the Year". |
| 2003 |
The National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security designate Walsh College as a Center of Academic Excellence for Information Assurance Education for mapping its curriculum to industry standards. The Bachelor of Science in Business Information Technology and the Master of Science in Managing Manufacturing Operations degrees are offered. |
| 2004 |
Walsh College names its first Adams Entrepreneurial Fellows through a publicly funded program where entrepreneurial students/alumni are paired with local business leaders who employ and mentor them for a year. The Walsh College Foundation is officially formed for the acceptance of charitable gifts. |
| 2005 |
The Master of Science in Information Assurance degree is offered entirely online. |
| 2006 |
Stephanie W. Bergeron, vice chair of the Board of Trustees, is named interim president of Walsh College.A Doctor of Management in Executive Leadership, the first doctoral degree, is offered.Ground is broken for a 36,000-square-foot, two-story addition named for Walsh President Emeritus Jeffery Barry, who died July 8. |
| 2007 |
The Board of Trustees elects Stephanie W. Bergeron as the sixth president and chief executive officer. |
| 2008 |
The Jeffery W. Barry Center addition opens for classes at the Troy campus. |
| 2009 |
Walsh becomes a partner with St. Clair County Community College to offer courses at its University Center in Port Huron and begins offering courses at the Wayne County Community College District University Square in Harper Woods. The Master of Management and dual MBA and Master of Science in Finance degrees are offered. |
| 2010 |
Blackstone Charitable Foundation announces that Walsh College and Wayne State University will share a $2 million grant to initiate Blackstone Launch Pad, a program to promote new entrepreneurs and advance the community's economic growth. |