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Brooklyn College

Motto	Latin: Nil sine magno labore
Motto in English	Nothing without great effort
Type	Public university
Established	1930; 95 years ago (1930)
Parent institution	City University of New York
Endowment	$98.0 million (2019)
Budget	$123.96 million (2021)
President	Michelle Anderson
Provost	April Bedford, Interim
Academic staff	534 full-time, 878 part-time (2018)
Students	17,811 (2019)
Undergraduates	14,970 (2019)
Postgraduates	2,841 (2019)
Location	Brooklyn, New York City , New York , United States 40°37′52″N 73°57′9″W / 40.63111°N 73.95250°W / 40.63111; -73.95250
Campus	Urban, 35 acres (14 ha)
Colors	Maroon, gold, & grey
Nickname	Bulldogs
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division III – CUNYAC (South)
Mascot	Buster the Bulldog

Brooklyn College is a public university located in Brooklyn, New York City. It is part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system. As of 2019, more than 17,000 students attend the college. Its campus covers 35 acres in the Flatbush and Midwood areas of Brooklyn.

Brooklyn College was the first public college in New York City to accept both male and female students. It was created in 1930. This happened when the Brooklyn branches of Hunter College (for women) and the City College of New York (for men) joined together. At first, there was no tuition fee. However, in 1976, the college started charging tuition for the first time. This was due to New York City's financial problems.

Many famous people have studied at Brooklyn College. These include US senators, judges, business leaders, and people who have won Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, Pulitzer Prizes, and even Nobel Prizes.

What is the History of Brooklyn College?

How Did Brooklyn College Begin?

Brooklyn College started in 1930. The New York City Board of Higher Education decided to combine two college branches. These were the Brooklyn parts of Hunter College and the City College of New York. Both had opened in 1926. Brooklyn College became the first public college in New York City for both men and women. Classes were separate for men and women until their third year. Students had to pass a difficult entrance exam to get in.

Brooklyn College Library, designed by Randolph Evans

In 1932, an architect named Randolph Evans drew plans for the campus. He designed a Georgian-style campus around a main quadrangle. A library building with a tower was at the center. The college president, Dr. William Boylan, approved the design.

The land for the campus cost $1.6 million. Building the college cost $5 million. Construction started in 1935. Important people like Mayor Fiorello La Guardia attended the groundbreaking. In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited and laid a cornerstone for the gymnasium. The new campus opened in the fall of 1937. Later, buildings were named after Boylan, Ingersoll, Roosevelt, and La Guardia.

Who Were the Early Presidents?

Harry Gideonse was the second president, from 1939 to 1966. During his time, Brooklyn College was known for many alumni earning doctorate degrees. Many female historians who were refugees from Nazi Germany worked at the college. In 1944, Marion Vera Cuthbert became the first permanent Black faculty member. In 1956, John Hope Franklin joined, making Brooklyn College the first "white" college to hire a Black historian permanently.

In 1959, about 8,000 students were enrolled, and tuition was still free. In 1962, Brooklyn College joined six other colleges. This formed the City University of New York (CUNY). In 1983, the library was named the Harry D. Gideonse Library.

Gideonse was a complex figure. Some saw him as a great educator. Others felt he limited academic freedom. He was known for trying to find Communists in the college community. But he also defended free speech for faculty against outside critics.

Francis Kilcoyne was the third president (1966-1967). Harold Syrett was the fourth, followed by John Kneller, the fifth president (1969-1979). These years were very busy for the college.

What Happened During the Vietnam War Era?

During the Vietnam War, students at Brooklyn College protested. President Gideonse believed Communists were behind some protests. Students also protested new, strict dress codes. These rules banned jeans for men and required skirts for women. The rules were later removed.

In 1967, a student strike closed the college. Students were upset about police action against anti-war protesters. They returned to classes after talks with college leaders.

Students also protested about racial issues. In 1968, police ended a sit-in at the registrar's office. Students wanted more Black and Puerto Rican students admitted. In 1970, students took over the president's office. This happened during a student strike after the Kent State shootings.

In 1974, Hispanic students protested a department chair appointment. They occupied the registrar's office. The faculty union later voted "no confidence" in President Kneller.

In 1976, CUNY colleges, including Brooklyn College, closed for two weeks. This was because the university could not pay its bills. New York City was facing financial problems. Brooklyn College's downtown campus closed. The Midwood campus became the only one. In the fall of 1976, the college started charging tuition.

How Did the College Grow and Change?

Robert Hess was the sixth president (1979-1992). He made big changes to the curriculum. All students had to take a set of core classes. In 1984, Brooklyn College was praised for its focus on humanities.

In 1988, a survey ranked Brooklyn College fifth for general education. It was the only public school in the top five. In 1989, it ranked 11th in the US for graduates earning doctoral degrees. President Hess joked that Harvard was "the rich man's Brooklyn College."

However, the college faced budget cuts in 1988-1989. This led to fewer courses and larger classes.

Vernon Lattin was the seventh president (1992-2000). During his time, campus buildings were improved. Computer and Internet access got much better. The college also restarted intercollegiate sports. Its chess team won national and international titles.

What is Brooklyn College Like Today?

The campus's East Quad still looks much like it did when it was built. The campus also has the BCBC/Brooklyn College Presents complex. This includes four theaters, like the George Gershwin.

A new building, The Leonard & Claire Tow Center for the Performing Arts, was built. It was named after alumni Leonard and Claire Tow, who gave $10 million. The Plaza Building was removed and replaced by the West Quad Center. This new building has classrooms, offices, gyms, and a swimming pool. It was designed by architect Rafael Viñoly.

A major library renovation finished in 2003. The library is now in its original spot, but completely updated.

Christoph M. Kimmich was the eighth president (2000-2009). In 2003, Princeton Review called Brooklyn College the most beautiful campus. It also ranked it fifth for "Best Academic Bang for the Buck."

Karen L. Gould was the ninth president (2009-2015). She created a new graduate film school and new academic schools. She also increased science enrollment.

Michelle Anderson became the 10th president in 2016. That year, a new building, Koppelman Hall, was planned for the Koppelman School of Business. This added to the campus size, making it 35 acres.

Since 2018, U.S. News & World Report has named Brooklyn College the most ethnically diverse college in the North Region for four years in a row.

View from the West Quad looking onto the East Quad (from left to right, James Hall, Boylan Hall, the library, Ingersoll Hall, and Roosevelt Hall)

What Schools Make Up Brooklyn College?

Entry gate

West Quad Center

James Hall

Roosevelt Hall

Boylan Hall

Lily Pond

Brooklyn College has five main schools:

Murray Koppelman School of Business
School of Education
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences
School of Visual, Media, and Performing Arts

What Can You Study at Brooklyn College?

Undergraduate Programs

In 1981, the college started "Core Studies." These were required classes for all undergraduate students. They covered topics like Western culture, art, music, politics, math, literature, and science.

In 2006, the Core Curriculum was updated. In 2013, Brooklyn College adopted CUNY's new "Pathways" curriculum. This includes Required Core, Flexible Core, and College Option courses. In total, students need 42 credits. Brooklyn College offers over a hundred different majors. These range from visual arts to Women's Studies.

Graduate Programs

The Division of Graduate Studies started in 1935. It offers more than seventy programs. These are in areas like arts, education, humanities, and sciences. The Graduate Theatre program is highly ranked.

B.A.–M.D. Program

The B.A.–M.D. program is an eight-year program. It is connected with SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Only up to 15 students are chosen each year. Students in this program receive a scholarship. They must also do community service for three years. During one summer, they volunteer in a hospital setting. Students are encouraged to major in humanities or social sciences.

The Scholars Program

The Scholars Program is for students with strong academic records. It is the oldest honors program in the CUNY system. It started in 1960. This program offers special honors classes and small, personalized groups. Many Scholars go on to top universities like Princeton and Yale. New students and transfer students can apply. Admitted students receive a scholarship and a laptop computer.

Coordinated Engineering Program

The Coordinated Honors Engineering Program covers the first two years of engineering school. Students who do well are guaranteed transfer to partner engineering schools. These include New York University Tandon School of Engineering. Students also transfer to other top engineering schools. First-year students receive a scholarship that covers full tuition for two years. They also get special advising and study facilities.

Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema

The Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema is New York City's first public graduate film school. It is unique because it has classrooms on a film lot. This is at Steiner Studios, the largest soundstage on the East Coast. The school offers master's degrees in Cinema Studies and Cinema Arts. Students can specialize in producing, directing, screenwriting, and more. The school opened in 2015.

College Rankings

U.S. university rankings

Forbes	362

U.S. News & World Report ranked Brooklyn College tied for 62nd among Regional colleges (North region) in 2021. It was also ranked 6th for "Top Performers on Social Mobility." This means it helps students from all backgrounds succeed. It was 15th in "Top Public Schools."

What About Sports at Brooklyn College?

Brooklyn College sports teams are called the Bulldogs. They compete in Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). They are part of the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC).

Men's sports include basketball, soccer, swimming, and tennis. Women's sports include basketball, soccer, softball, and volleyball. The college's basketball program had some early challenges. In 1945, five players were arrested in connection with a game-fixing attempt.

What is the Mascot?

In 2010, Brooklyn College chose the Bulldog as its new mascot. Before that, the teams were known as the Kingsmen. Then, in 1994, the mascot changed to the Bridges. The Bulldog was chosen to represent the new athletic programs and facilities.

Who Are Some Famous People from Brooklyn College?

Notable Alumni

Bob Dole, former US Senator
Bernie Sanders, US Senator
Barbara Boxer, former US Senator
Shirley Chisholm, first Black woman in US Congress
Stanley Cohen, Nobel Prize winner
Alan Dershowitz, attorney and professor
Mel Brooks, award-winning director and actor
James Franco, actor
Philip Zimbardo, social psychologist
Don Lemon, CNN News anchor

Many well-known people have attended Brooklyn College. In government, they include former US Senator Bob Dole and current US Senator Bernie Sanders. Also, former Senator Barbara Boxer and Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the US Congress.

In business, notable alumni include CEOs like Barry Salzberg of Deloitte and Bruce Chizen of Adobe Inc. Also, Robert A. Daly, former CEO of Warner Bros.

In science and academics, there's Stanley Cohen, a Nobel Prize-winning biochemist. Paul Cohen, a mathematician who won the Fields Medal, also attended. Alan M. Dershowitz, a Harvard Law School professor, is another famous alumnus.

In the arts, famous alumni include Mel Brooks, an award-winning director and actor. Actor James Franco and Emmy Award-winning actor Jimmy Smits also studied here. Many Pulitzer Prize winners, like author Frank McCourt, are also alumni.

Other notable alumni include Olympic fencers and chess grandmaster Gata Kamsky.