1970
- Afro-American Center opened on Leon Street. The University, which now provides scholarships annually to 200 minority students, recently announced the establishment of a new Afro-American Studies program at the Boston campus.
- Ethel G. and Reuben B. Gryzmish Hall dedicated in honor of a distinguished law alumnus of the Class of 1912 and his wife.
1972
- First issue of The Onyx, a student newspaper designed for people of color, published.
- John A. Volpe Hall, named in honor of former Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, dedicated. Contains College of Criminal Justice [1], classrooms for Criminal Justice [1] and for general University use.
- The Board of Trustees [2] votes to designate Gryzmish Hall and Volpe Hall as the Asa S. Knowles Center for Law and Criminal Justice.
- Byron K. Elliott Hall dedicated in honor of the second Chairman of the Northeastern University Corporation and Board of Trustees [2].
- Office of the National Commission for Cooperative Education established on the Boston campus.
1973
- Institute for Chemical Analysis, Applications, and Forensic Science (later the Barnett Institute) is established.
- Property at 96 The Fenway acquired for use as a faculty center. Formerly known as the Student House, the building also provides dormitory accommodations on the upper three floors.
- Headquarters established on the Boston campus for the Institute of Off-Campus Experience and Cooperative Education. The Institute will operate as an entity entirely separate from the University.
- Seventy-fifth Anniversary Convocation, October 3.
1974
- NUPrime [3], Project Ujima, and Alternative Freshman Year programs implimented to help students prepare for college.
- Norman and Helen Cahners Hall dedicated.
- Diamond Anniversary Development Program concluded, raising of $67.8 million.
- American Assembly of College Schools of Business accredits graduate programs in Business Administration and Professional Accounting [4].
- Ford Hall Forum, oldest continuously operating public lecture series in the United States, located on campus.
1975
- Asa S. Knowles [5] retires, is replaced by Kenneth Gilmore Ryder [6].
- Asa Knowles [5] becomes Chancellor of the University.
- Master of Science Program in Forensic Chemistry approved.
- Endowed Chair on Cooperative Education designated the Asa Smallidge Knowles Professorship of Cooperative Education.
- Designation of Health Service Center as Dr. George Martin Lane Health Service Center.
- First election held to determine whether a majority of the faculty favor establishing a faculty union, November 6. The voted was inconclusive.
1976
- Office of Community Development established to foster and strengthen Northeastern's relationship with the community.
- John A. Curry [7] appointed Vice President of Administration.
- Second election held to determine faculty support for a union. The union movement is defeated, March 16.
- Harry Allen appointed Provost.
- Master Plan for Campus Development approved by Trustees [2], June 1.
- Alternative Freshman Year Program initiated by University College [8].

1977
- African-American Master Artists in Residence Program [9] initiated.
- Northeastern University Press established.
- Paul Lepley appointed Dean of Bouvé College [10].
- Geoffrey Clarkson appointed Dean of College of Business Administration. [4]
- Roland Goddu appointed Dean of College of Education [11].
- Russell E. Call children's center opened, providing day care.
1978
- University-wide honors program initiated.
- First International Week sponsored by International Student Forum and Office of International Students.
- Richard Astro appointed Dean of Liberal Arts [12].
- Arthur Brodeur becomes first Vice President of Public Affairs.
- Government Relations Office is established under leadership of Charles Coffin.
- Willis Hall dormitory dedicated in honor of Robert and Betty Willis.
- The Executive MBA Program is initiated by the College of Business Administration [4].
- Northeastern purchases the Boston Arena.
1979
- College of Liberal Arts [12] becomes College of Arts & Sciences [12].
- Vice President Daniel Roberts appointed Treasurer of the University.
- Dean Melvin Mark becomes Provost.
- Professor Karl Weiss appointed as the First Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Programs.
- John O'Bryant appointed Vice President of Student Affairs [13].
- Gerald Schumacher becomes Dean of Pharmacy.
- Michael Meltsner appointed Dean of the School of Law [14].
- John Jordan becomes Dean of University College. [8]
- George Harris appointed Director of Administrative Computer Services.
- The renovated United Realty Buildings are dedicated and named to honor Dean Wilfred Lake, Professor Harold Meserve, Professor Frederick Holmes, and Professor Winthrop Nightingale.
- The Excellence in Teaching Awards program initiated.
- A Research and Scholarship Development fund established.
- The Distinguished Professor Awards program established.
- The First World Conference on Cooperative Education held at Brunel University in England.
- Publication of Northeastern Edition begins.