ability to award degrees. The school's first bachelor's degree was subsequently awarded on August 23, 1946.[2]
During the 1950s, the co-op program required applicants to find a GM division to sponsor them. School and work were mixed in four- or eight-week rotations, dividing the student body into four groups.
=== Split from GM ===
After GM reduced operations in Flint, the company and the university separated on July 1, 1982. The institution became "GMI Engineering & Management Institute," keeping the initials "GMI" to maintain its connection with the old General Motors Institute. The university began charging full tuition as an independent private university. The university kept the cooperative education model, expanding the number of co-op employers for students. The university also began offering graduate programs for both on- and off-campus students.[2]
=== Name change and expansion of programs ===
The university's name was formally changed to Kettering University on January 1, 1998, in honor of Charles …
