Colgate University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Colgate University

Former names	Baptist Education Society of the State of New York (1819–1823) Hamilton Literary & Theological Institution (1823–1846) Madison University (1846–1890)
Motto	Deo ac Veritati (Latin)
Motto in English	For God and for Truth
Type	Private liberal arts college
Established	1819; 206 years ago (1819)
Academic affiliations	Space-grant
Endowment	$1.202 billion (FY23)
President	Brian W. Casey
Provost	Lesleigh Cushing
Academic staff	355 (2018)
Undergraduates	3,219 (2022)
Postgraduates	11 (2018)
Location	Hamilton Village, Hamilton , New York , United States 42°49′10″N 75°32′11″W / 42.81944°N 75.53639°W / 42.81944; -75.53639
Campus	Rural, 575 acres (233 ha)
Colors	Maroon & white
Nickname	Raiders
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FCS – Patriot League, ECAC Hockey MAISA
Mascot	Raider

Colgate University is a private college in Hamilton, New York. It focuses on a wide range of subjects, known as a liberal arts college. The school started in 1819 as the Baptist Education Society of the State of New York. Over the years, its name changed several times. It was called Hamilton Theological and Literary Institution, then Madison College, before becoming Colgate University in 1890.

Colgate is known as one of the most selective colleges in the United States. This means it's quite competitive to get in. It's also considered a "Hidden Ivy" or "Little Ivy," which are terms for excellent colleges that offer a similar experience to the famous Ivy League schools. About 3,200 students attend Colgate. They can choose from 56 different majors to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Most students are undergraduates, but there is a small program for a Master of Arts in Teaching. Colgate also has many sports teams that compete in NCAA Division I, which is the highest level of college sports.

Discovering Colgate's Past

Colgate University began in 1817. Thirteen men, including six religious leaders, started the Baptist Education Society of the State of New York. In 1819, the state officially recognized the school. Classes started in 1820 in Hamilton. In 1823, it changed its name to the Hamilton Literary & Theological Institution. William Colgate, who founded the Colgate Company, was one of the school's leaders.

In 1826, the school bought land that became the main campus, known as "The Hill." Students and teachers built West Hall in 1827 using local stone. This is the oldest building on campus. In 1846, the school became Madison University. Later, in 1890, it changed its name to Colgate University. This was to honor the Colgate family for their generous gifts. James Boorman Colgate, William Colgate's son, gave a large amount of money to the school.

During World War II, Colgate helped train Navy students. This program was called the V-12 Navy College Training Program.

Colgate wants to make college affordable for more students. Starting in 2022, students from families earning $80,000 or less can attend tuition-free. For families earning between $80,000 and $150,000, the cost is a small percentage of their income. The university also helps all students with financial needs.

Welcoming Female Students

The Colgate University campus in Hamilton, New York

When it first started, Colgate was only for male students. However, female students began to attend classes in a limited way as early as the mid-1800s. Emily Taylor, whose father was the president, took a class in the 1850s.

The first full-time female student was Mabel Dart, who studied from 1878 to 1882. At that time, Colgate was still an all-male college. So, Mabel received her official degree from Vassar College, a college for women. More female students attended over the years. In 1970, Colgate officially became a coeducational university, meaning both male and female students could attend full-time.

Changes to Campus Names

Colgate's eighth president, George Barton Cutten, made important contributions to the university. However, some of his past views were seen as unfair and outdated. In 2017, Colgate decided to remove his name from a residential building. This change showed the university's commitment to being a welcoming place for everyone. The building is now known by the names of its four houses and its street address.

Exploring the Campus

Memorial Chapel is a central building on the Colgate University Academic Quad.

Colgate University is in a rural area called Hamilton Village, New York. The campus covers about 575 acres. The university also owns another 1100 acres of undeveloped forest land.

Many buildings on campus are made of stone. West Hall, the first building, was built by students and teachers using stone from a local quarry. Newer buildings are designed to match this stone style. Old Biology Hall, built in 1884, is a historic building. The campus layout was planned by Ernest W. Bowditch in the 1890s.

The Colgate Memorial Chapel, built in 1918, is a very special building. It is used for talks, performances, concerts, and religious services.

Colgate is also focused on being environmentally friendly. Most of the campus's heat comes from burning wood chips, which is a renewable resource. Almost all of Colgate's electricity comes from a hydroelectric dam at Niagara Falls. The campus also has a "Green Bikes" program. Students can borrow bikes to reduce their need for cars. The dining services offer organic and local food options. Their take-out containers are made from natural, compostable materials. Colgate has received high scores for its sustainability efforts.

Community Connections

Colgate works to connect with the local community. In 2003, it started the Upstate Institute. This group helps the Colgate community work with the surrounding area. They do research and support volunteer groups.

Colgate also helped start the Partnership for Community Development. This local group helps improve buildings and supports small businesses in the area.

Campus Museums

The Longyear Museum of Anthropology is part of Colgate's Sociology and Anthropology Department. It has exhibitions in Alumni Hall on campus.

Case Library and Geyer Center for Information Technology

The Picker Art Gallery is a fine arts museum at Colgate. It is located in the Dana Arts Center. The museum has over 11,000 art objects. These include old European paintings, woodblock prints from China and Japan, and photographs by a famous Soviet photographer named Yevgeny Khaldei. The Picker collection is planning to move to a new building called the Center for Art and Culture.

Online Exhibitions

In 2013, the Picker Art Museum started showing its art online. Their first online exhibition was "Selected Old Masters From the Picker Art Gallery." While they prepare for the move to the new center, other exhibitions are temporarily paused.

Academic Journal

Colgate University publishes an international academic journal. It is called Medieval & Renaissance Drama in England. This journal started in 1984. It publishes articles about plays and theater from before 1642. It is part of the English Department and can be found online.

What Students Study

A classroom in Colgate University's Lathrop Hall

Colgate offers 56 different majors for students to study. When students complete their studies, they earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. The university also has a small program for students to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree.

Some of the most popular majors for students graduating in 2021 were:

• Economics (studying how money and resources work)
• Political Science and Government (studying how governments work)
• English Language and Literature (studying books and writing)
• Research and Experimental Psychology (studying the human mind)
• Biology/Biological Sciences (studying living things)
• Computer Science (studying computers and programming)

Besides classes on campus, Colgate offers 22 study abroad programs each year. Students can study in places like Australia, China, Japan, India, and many European countries. They can also study in Washington, D.C. or at the National Institutes of Health.

Getting into Colgate

Colgate is a selective school. For the class entering in fall 2022, over 21,000 students applied. Only about 12% were accepted. The students who enrolled had very good grades in high school. Most were in the top 10% of their class. The middle 50% of accepted students scored between 1460 and 1540 on the SAT test. For the ACT test, the scores were between 32 and 35.

Colgate helps students with financial needs. If a family earns less than $125,000, Colgate offers financial aid that does not include loans.

How Colgate Ranks

In 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked Colgate as one of the top liberal arts colleges. It was ranked 21st out of 186 colleges.

University Leadership

Brian Casey became Colgate's 17th president on July 1, 2016.

Board of Trustees

Colgate is guided by a group called the board of trustees. This group has 35 members. Most are alumni (former students), and some are parents of current students. The university president is also on the board. As of June 2023, Colgate's endowment (money saved for the future) was $1.20 billion.

Life as a Student

Where Students Live and Gather

East and West Halls, two of the oldest residential halls at Colgate University

Colgate has ten residence halls on its main campus, often called "up the hill." First-year students live in six of these halls. Sophomores live in other halls, townhouses, or a house on Broad Street. Juniors and seniors live "down the hill" in different places. These include special "theme houses" on Broad Street or apartment complexes. Theme houses let students live with others who share similar interests. For example, there's a Creative Arts house and an Asia House.

Colgate provides housing for all four years. However, some students can apply to live off-campus. About 250 students are chosen each year through a lottery. Students in Greek life (fraternities and sororities) can live in their organization's house after their junior year.

Colgate has three dining halls run by Colgate Dining Services. There is also a cafe in Case Library that serves coffee.

The O'Connor Campus Center, or "the Coop," is the main place for student life. It has offices for student groups, a cafeteria, a post office, and a computer area. It also has the Blackmore Media Center, home to WRCU, Colgate's radio station.

Fraternities and Sororities

Fraternities and sororities have been a part of Colgate University since 1856. About 45% of sophomores, juniors, and seniors join these groups. Students can join in the fall of their sophomore year. As of 2014, there are five fraternities and three sororities active on campus.

In 2005, the university bought most of the Greek houses. This was after some incidents related to these groups. One fraternity did not agree to sell and was no longer recognized by the university.

Student Clubs

Colgate has nearly 200 student clubs and organizations. This means there are many ways for students to get involved and explore their interests.

Student Media

WRCU is Colgate University's student-run radio station. It broadcasts on 90.1 FM throughout central New York. CUTV is Colgate's student TV station. It shows student-made content and movies on the university's cable system. The Colgate Maroon-News is the oldest college weekly newspaper in America. It started in 1846.

Special Traditions

The "Willow Path"

The number 13 is considered lucky at Colgate. People say Colgate was founded by thirteen men with thirteen dollars, thirteen prayers, and thirteen articles. This tradition is seen in many ways. Colgate's address is 13 Oak Drive. Its zip code, 13346, starts with 13 and ends with numbers that add up to 13. The Tredecim Senior Honor Society has 13 men and 13 women. Alumni wear Colgate clothing on every Friday the 13th, which is called Colgate Day.

In 1936, the Colgate swim team traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for spring break training. This became a tradition for Colgate and other schools. It helped start the idea of college spring break trips.

Sports at Colgate

Official athletics logo

About 25% of students play a varsity sport. Overall, 80% of students are involved in varsity, club, or intramural sports. Colgate has 25 varsity teams, over 30 club sports teams, and 18 different intramural sports. All varsity sports compete in NCAA Division I.

The football team plays in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Colgate's athletic teams are called the "Raiders." Their main colors are maroon and white. Maroon became the main color in 1900. Colgate is part of the Patriot League for most sports. However, both the men's and women's hockey teams are part of ECAC Hockey.

Starting in 1932, Colgate teams were called the "Red Raiders." This was because of the new maroon uniforms of the 1932 football team. This team was "undefeated, untied, unscored upon, and uninvited" to a major bowl game. In the 1970s, the school discussed changing the name and mascot. This was out of respect for Native Americans. The nickname stayed, but the mascot changed to a hand holding a torch. In 2001, the school shortened the nickname to "Raiders." A new mascot was introduced in 2006.

Colgate's football team was recognized as a national champion in 1932. The 1932 team had nine shutouts, meaning their opponents scored no points. Colgate started playing in Division I FCS in 1982. They have made it to the playoffs many times since then.

In the 2003 season, the Raiders reached the NCAA I-AA championship game for the first time. They had a great record of 15 wins and 1 loss. At that time, they had the longest winning streak in all of Division I football.

Cornell University is a common rival in all sports. Hockey games against Cornell are very popular on campus. Students often line up for hours to get tickets. Colgate's teams also play against Syracuse University every year in most sports. Both Cornell and Syracuse are close to Colgate's campus.

Outdoor Adventures

Colgate uses its rural location for a strong outdoor education program. There's a base camp on campus where students can rent equipment for skiing, camping, and other outdoor activities. Each year, students can train to become Outdoor Education staff. This training includes learning wilderness first aid. New students can also go on a week-long "Wilderness Adventure" trip. They can go backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, tree climbing, caving, or rock climbing in the Adirondacks.

Famous Alumni

Colgate has over 34,000 living alumni (former students). As of 2016, Colgate alumni had good starting salaries. They also had high salaries later in their careers. Forbes magazine ranked Colgate 16th for colleges that produce high-earning graduates. In 2009, Colgate was the tenth-largest producer of alumni who joined the Peace Corps among small schools.

Some well-known alumni from Colgate University include:

Images for kids

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  Colgate University Seal

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  Colgate University Wordmark