City College of New York facts for kids
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| Latin: Collegium Urbis Novi Eboraci | |
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Other names
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City College of New York City College |
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Former names
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Free Academy of the City of New York (1847–1866) College of the City of New York (1866–1929) City College of New York (1929—1961) |
| Motto |
Respice, Adspice, Prospice (Latin)
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Motto in English
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"Look behind, look here, look ahead" |
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | 1847 |
| Founder | Townsend Harris |
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Parent institution
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City University of New York |
| Accreditation | MSCHE |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $290 million (2019) |
| President | Vincent G. Boudreau |
| Provost | Tony Liss |
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Academic staff
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581 (full-time) 914 (part-time) |
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Administrative staff
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401 |
| Students | 16,161 |
| Undergraduates | 13,113 |
| Postgraduates | 3,048 |
| Location |
,
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United States
40°49′10″N 73°57′00″W / 40.8194°N 73.9500°W |
| Campus | Large City, 35 acres (0.14 km2) |
| Newspaper |
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| Colors | Lavender/purple, gray, and white |
| Nickname | Beavers |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division III – CUNYAC |
| Mascot | Benny the Beaver |
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The City College of New York (also known as City College or CCNY) is a public research university in New York City. It is part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system. Founded in 1847, City College was the first free public college in the United States. It is the oldest of CUNY's 25 schools.
City College is located in Hamilton Heights in Manhattan. Its campus is 35 acres (14 ha) and features Collegiate Gothic buildings. Many of these buildings are considered landmarks. City College also has a downtown campus for adults who work and take classes in the evenings or on Saturdays.
City College has been a leader in many ways. It had the first student government in the nation (1867). It also had the first national fraternity to accept members regardless of their religion or race (Delta Sigma Phi, 1899). The college also started the first evening program that granted degrees (1907). Students at City College led the first major student strike at a public college in 1949. This strike helped integrate college dorms. The college is known for its strong research programs. Many famous people have graduated from City College. This includes ten Nobel Prize winners, a Fields Medalist, and three Pulitzer Prize winners.
Contents
Discovering City College's Past
How City College Began
The City College of New York started as the Free Academy of the City of New York in 1847. It was founded by Townsend Harris, a wealthy businessman. His idea was to offer free higher education to children of immigrants and the poor. Students could attend based on their academic skills, not how much money they had. This was one of the first public high schools and colleges in America.
The Free Academy was the first of many colleges supported by New York City. Later, Hunter College was founded for women in 1870. Brooklyn College became a coeducational school in 1930.
In 1847, New York State Governor John Young allowed the Free Academy to be founded. Townsend Harris said, "Open the doors to all… Let the children of the rich and the poor take their seats together."
Horace Webster, a graduate of West Point, was the first president. He said that the college would show if "the children of the whole people can be educated."
In 1847, the school taught subjects like math, history, languages, and science. The first students graduated in 1853. The Free Academy was always open to different people. For example, in 1854, a scientist named Oliver Wolcott Gibbs was denied a job at another university because of his religious beliefs. But he was a professor at the Free Academy since 1848. Later, in the early 1900s, President John Huston Finley made it so students didn't have to go to chapel if they didn't want to.
Growing and Changing Names
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In 1866, the Free Academy changed its name to the College of the City of New York. It was only for men at that time. In 1929, it became the City College of New York. Finally, in 1961, it became part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system. But many people still call it City College or CCNY.
When the name changed in 1866, lavender was chosen as the college's color. In 1867, the academic senate was formed. This was the first student government in the country. In 1895, the college was allowed to build a new campus in Manhattanville.
The second president was General Alexander S. Webb, a hero from the Battle of Gettysburg. He led the college for almost 30 years, starting in 1869. He even received the Medal of Honor for his bravery. A statue of him stands on campus today.
The college's classes combined old subjects like Latin and Greek with new ones like chemistry and engineering. General Webb was followed by John Huston Finley in 1903. Finley made the college less strict.
In 1899, a fraternity called Delta Sigma Phi was founded at CCNY. It was special because it was the first national group of its kind to accept members regardless of their religion or race.
City College in the 1900s
Education classes began in 1897. The School of Education was officially started in 1921. The college newspaper, The Campus, first came out in 1907. Also, the first evening classes that granted degrees in the U.S. began here.
For many years, top private schools were only for certain groups of people. So, thousands of smart students, including many Jewish students, came to City College because it was their best option. Because of its excellent academics and focus on working-class students, CCNY was called the "Harvard of the Proletariat" or the "poor man's Harvard."
In 1919, separate schools for Business and Engineering were created. Until 1929, City College was only for men. In 1930, women were allowed to join graduate programs. By 1951, the entire college became coeducational, meaning both men and women could attend all programs.
City College has produced more Nobel Prize winners than any other public college in the United States. These winners graduated between 1935 and 1963. Many City College alumni also served in the U.S. Armed Forces during Second World War. About 310 alumni died in the war. Before that, many alumni volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War. Thirteen CCNY alumni died in Spain.
In the 1930s to 1950s, CCNY was known for its lively political discussions. Students would debate big ideas in the cafeteria, sometimes for hours!
In 1949, students at CCNY went on a large strike. They protested against unfair treatment and segregation in dorms. The New York Times called it "the first general strike at a municipal institution of higher learning."
In the late 1960s, students protested for more fairness and changes at the college. They wanted more minority students to be able to attend. This led to a new "open admissions" program in 1970. This program allowed any New York City high school graduate to attend a CUNY college. This opened doors for many students who couldn't go to college before.
In 1976, City College started charging tuition. By 1999, CUNY decided to stop offering basic remedial classes at its main colleges. This meant students who needed extra help had to start at community colleges first. Since then, CUNY colleges, especially CCNY, have become more highly ranked.
In 1996, CCNY's Frederick Douglass Debate Society won against Harvard and Yale in a big debate competition. In 2003, their Model UN team won a top award, which they repeated for four years.
City College in the 2000s
In 2001, CUNY started the Honors Program at CCNY. Students in this program get free tuition, a computer, and money for things like studying abroad.
In 2005, Andrew Grove, a 1960 graduate and co-founder of Intel Corporation, donated $26 million to the Engineering School. It was the largest donation ever given to City College. The school was then renamed the Grove School of Engineering.
In 2009, the School of Architecture moved into a newly renovated building. It was renamed the the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture after a $25 million gift from the Spitzers.
In 2023, CCNY announced it would open a center to help undocumented students. In April 2024, the campus was the site of student protests related to the conflict in Gaza.
College Presidents
Here are the leaders who have guided City College through its history:
- Horace Webster, 1847–1869
- Alexander S. Webb, 1869–1902
- John Huston Finley, 1903–1913
- Sidney Edward Mezes, 1914–1927
- Frederick B. Robinson, 1927–1938
- Nelson P. Mead (acting), 1938–1941
- Harry N. Wright, 1941–1952
- Buell G. Gallagher, 1953–1961, 1962–1969
- Harry N. Rivlin (acting), 1961–1962
- Joseph J. Copeland (interim), 1969–1970
- Robert Marshak, 1970–1979
- Alice Chandler (interim), 1979–1980
- Arthur Tiedemann (interim), 1980–1981
- Bernard W. Harleston, 1981–1992
- Augusta Souza Kappner (interim), 1992–1993
- Yolanda T. Moses, 1993–1999
- Stanford A. Roman Jr. (interim), 1999–2000
- Gregory H. Williams, 2001–2009
- Robert "Buzz" Paaswell (interim), 2009–2010
- Lisa S. Coico, 2010–2016
- Vincent G. Boudreau (interim), 2016–2017
- Vincent G. Boudreau, 2017–Present
Exploring the Campuses
North Campus Buildings
City College's main campus in Manhattanville was built in 1906. It replaced an older campus from 1849. This new campus was designed by George Browne Post. The buildings are in a style called Collegiate Gothic. They were some of the first buildings in the U.S. to be built in this style.
There were five original Gothic buildings: Shepard Hall, Baskerville Hall, Compton Hall, Harris Hall, and Wingate Hall. Shepard Hall is the largest building and the center of the campus. It looks like a Gothic cathedral. It has a big assembly hall called the Great Hall with beautiful murals.
Baskerville Hall used to house the Chemistry Department. Compton Hall was for Mechanical Arts. Harris Hall was home to the college's high school, Townsend Harris High School. Wingate Hall was the college's main gym.
A sixth building, Goethals Hall, was finished in 1930. It was named after George Washington Goethals, a CCNY engineering graduate who helped build the Panama Canal. This building housed the engineering school.
These six Gothic buildings are connected by a tunnel. The buildings have 600 grotesques, which are carved stone figures.
The North Campus has four large arches at its entrances: Hudson Gate, George Washington Gate, Alexander Hamilton Gate, and Peter Stuyvesant Gate. In 1981, these buildings and gates became official landmarks.
Newer Campus Buildings
Steinman Hall, home to the School of Engineering, was built in 1962. It was named after David B. Steinman, a famous civil engineer and bridge designer.
The Administration Building was built in 1963. It holds the college's main offices, like the President's office. In 2007, it was named the Howard E. Wille Administration Building.
The Marshak Science Building was finished in 1971. It was named after Robert Marshak, a famous physicist and former president of CCNY. This building has all the science labs and a gym.
In the 1970s, the huge North Academic Center (NAC) was built. It was finished in 1984. It replaced an old stadium and another hall. The NAC has a student lounge with murals showing the campus's history.
South Campus Expansion
In 1953, CCNY bought the campus of the Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart. This added a south section to the campus. The South Campus mainly housed liberal arts classes. The North Campus focused on sciences and engineering.
Many of the old South Campus buildings were torn down in the 1970s. Some buildings that remained include Eisner Hall (for the Art Department) and Mott Hall (now a primary school).
New South Campus Buildings
Several new buildings were built on the South Campus. Aaron Davis Hall was built in 1981. In 2006, a 600-bed dormitory called "The Towers" was completed.
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The building that used to be the Cohen Library became the new home for the School of Architecture.
In 2007, two new science buildings were proposed for the South Campus. One is a four-story Science Building, and the other is a six-story Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC). These buildings have many labs and offices for scientists.
Demolished Buildings
Original Downtown Campus
City College's first campus, the Free Academy Building, was used from 1849 to 1907. It was designed by James Renwick Jr. and was located at Lexington Avenue and 23rd Street. This building was torn down in 1928.
Lewisohn Stadium
In the early 1900s, CCNY wanted a stadium. Businessman Adolph Lewisohn donated money for its construction. Lewisohn Stadium was built with 6,000 seats and opened in 1915. College graduations were held there for many years. The stadium was torn down in 1973.
Other Demolished Buildings
The Hebrew Orphan Asylum building was used by City College from 1946 to 1955 as a dorm and classroom space. It was called "Army Hall" and was torn down in 1955.
Klapper Hall, named after Paul Klapper, was a red brick building that housed the School of Education until 1983.
Campus Location and Travel
The college is located between West 130th and West 141st Streets in Manhattan. You can get there by:
- New York City Subway: The 137th Street–City College station (1 train train). Also, the 145th Street station (A, B, C, and D train train) and the 135th Street station (B and C train train).
- MTA Regional Bus Operations' M3, M4, M5, M11, M100, M101, Bx33 routes and campus shuttle buses.
What You Can Study
City College has five main schools and an Honors College. The schools are:
- The Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership
- The Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture
- The School of Education
- The Grove School of Engineering
- The CUNY School of Medicine
The college also has divisions for Humanities and Arts, Science, and Interdisciplinary Studies. Students can earn many different degrees, including Bachelor's degrees (like B.A., B.S., B.E.) and Master's degrees (like M.A., M.S., M.E.). They can also earn Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.
For students starting in fall 2016, the average SAT score was 1260 out of 1600. The average high school GPA was 90 out of 100%.
College Rankings
For the 2023–2024 school year, City College of New York was ranked highly by several groups:
- ARWU: 118 - 144
- Forbes: 167
- THE/WSJ: 212
- US News & World: 105
- Washington Monthly: 185
- QS: 185
Famous Physics Program
City College has a strong history in physics. Three of its graduates won the Nobel Prize in Physics: Robert Hofstadter (1961), Arno Penzias (1978), and Leon Lederman (1988). Even Albert Einstein gave his first U.S. lectures at City College in 1921!
Research at CCNY
Advanced Science Research Center
CCNY has a research center that focuses on exciting areas like nanotechnology, structural biology, and neuroscience.
CUNY Dominican Studies Institute
This institute is part of CCNY's Colin Powell School. It is the only research center in the U.S. dedicated to the history of the Dominican Republic and people of Dominican descent.
CUNY Energy Institute
This institute does important research on renewable energy.
College Seal and Logo
The college's seal has three faces, like Janus, the Roman god of beginnings. This design shows a connection between the past and the future. The seal was updated in 1947.
In 2003, the college created a new logo that is different from its seal. It uses the words "the City College of New York."
Sports and Athletics
Henry Wittenberg, an Olympic gold medalist in wrestling, was a co-captain of the CCNY wrestling team in 1939. He later taught wrestling at CCNY.
CCNY is the only men's college basketball team to win both the National Invitation Tournament and the NCAA Tournament in the same year (1950).
From 1934 to 1941, future NFL Hall of Famer Benny Friedman was the football coach at City College.
CCNY has also had many successful fencers who became Olympians, including Daniel Bukantz, James Strauch, Abram Cohen, Albert Axelrod, and Harold Goldsmith.
Art at City College
City College has an art collection with about 1,800 works. These range from historical pieces to modern art. The collection includes works by famous artists like Charles Alston and Keith Haring.
There isn't a special art museum at City College, so most of the art is not always on display. However, students can see art created by other students or curated by them in three places on campus: Compton-Goethals Gallery, the Cohen Library Archives Gallery, and Windows on Amsterdam.
Notable People
See also
In Spanish: City College (Nueva York) para niños
- Rosenberg/Humphrey Program in Public Policy fellowship
- Timeline of New York City
- 1949–50 CCNY Beavers men's basketball team
- State University of New York
- Manhattanville College
