On January 25, 1866, a group of 16 students gathered in a classroom in downtown Grand Rapids to take lessons from a former Union officer named Conrad Swensburg, learning the skills necessary to succeed in Michigan’s growing commercial enterprises of that era. This small business school grew over the next 150 years into one of Michigan’s largest private, non-profit institutions of higher learning – Davenport University.
Davenport is celebrating its Sesquicentennial year at events throughout 2016, culminating with an evening gala on September 29, 2016. Together we will honor Davenport's rich history while celebrating its ongoing quality transformation, resulting in innovative new programs, remarkable progress in student outcomes, and all-time highs for philanthropic support and the satisfaction of students, graduates and employers.
Join us in this year-long celebration of the 150th anniversary of Davenport University!
Follow Davenport University's journey from a small school teaching the skills required for business sector jobs in the 1860s to a major university helping students Get Where the World is Going in the fastest growing career fields of the 21st Century.









































