Hofstra University facts for kids

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Hofstra University

Former names	Nassau College – Hofstra Memorial of New York University (1935–1937) Hofstra College (1937–1963)
Motto	Je maintiendrai (French) (Motto of the House of Orange-Nassau)
Motto in English	"I will uphold"
Type	Private research university
Established	September 23, 1935; 89 years ago (September 23, 1935)
Accreditation	MSCHE
Endowment	$884.2 million (2024)
President	Susan Poser
Provost	Charles Riordan
Academic staff	2,429
Students	10,444 (2020)
Undergraduates	6,120
Postgraduates	4,324
Location	Hempstead and Uniondale , New York , United States 40°42′53″N 73°36′2″W / 40.71472°N 73.60056°W / 40.71472; -73.60056
Campus	Large Suburb, 244 acres (99 ha)
Newspaper	The Hofstra Chronicle
Colors	Blue, White, and Gold
Nickname	The Pride (formerly Flying Dutchmen)
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FCS – CAA EIWA
Mascot	Kate & Willie Pride

Hofstra University is a private university in Hempstead, New York. This means it is not run by the government. It is also a research university, where students and professors work on discovering new things.

The university started in 1935 as a part of New York University but became its own independent college in 1939. Today, Hofstra is made up of ten different schools, including a medical school and a law school. It is famous for hosting several important conferences and debates for United States presidential candidates.

History of Hofstra
Campus Life
Academics
- Hosting Presidential Debates
- Schools and Colleges
Athletics
Student Media
- Newspaper and Radio
Notable People
Gallery
See also

History of Hofstra

Presidents of Hofstra University
President	Tenure
Truesdel Peck Calkins	1937–1942
Howard S. Brower (Acting)	1942–1944
John Cranford Adams	1944–1964
Clifford Lee Lord	1964–1972
James H. Marshall	1972–1973
Robert L. Payton	1973–1976
James M. Shuart	1976–2001
Stuart Rabinowitz	2001–2021
Susan Poser	2021–present

How the University Began

Hofstra University was founded on the land of William S. Hofstra, a successful lumber businessman with Dutch family roots. When he and his wife, Kate Mason, passed away, they left their property to be used for a good cause.

A man named Truesdel Peck Calkins, who was the head of schools in Hempstead, had an idea. He wanted to start a college in the area. He and two friends decided that using the Hofstra estate would be a perfect way to honor the Hofstras' wishes. They worked with New York University (NYU) to make it happen.

The school first opened on September 23, 1935. It was called Nassau College – Hofstra Memorial of New York University. About 150 students attended classes during the day, and over 600 attended at night. In 1937, the name was shortened to Hofstra College.

Becoming an Independent University

On July 1, 1939, Hofstra officially separated from NYU to become its own college. A year later, it received its absolute charter, which is a document that gives it full authority as an educational institution.

A fun tradition started in 1950 with the first Hofstra Shakespeare Festival. It was performed on a stage that was a smaller copy of the famous Globe Theatre from Shakespeare's time. This festival still happens today on a very accurate replica of the Globe Stage.

In 1971, Hofstra Stadium was the location for the first-ever NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship game.

Dutch Heritage

Hofstra's flag is based on a historic Dutch flag.

William S. Hofstra was proud of his Dutch background, and you can see this influence all over the campus.

The university's first logo was based on the seal of the royal family of the Netherlands, the House of Orange-Nassau. With permission from the Dutch monarch, the seal included the motto Je Maintiendrai, which is French for "I will uphold."

Hofstra's school flag is blue, white, and orange, similar to a historic Dutch flag called the Prince's Flag. The school also shows its Dutch pride by planting thousands of tulips every spring. There is even a special type of tulip named the Hofstra University Tulip. A small windmill also stands near the admissions building.

Even the student housing has a Dutch theme. One area is called "the Netherlands," and its buildings are named after Dutch cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam. For many years, the school's sports teams were called the Flying Dutchmen.

Campus Life

The Hofstra University campus covers 244 acres. It includes a special Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary, which has a large collection of trees and plants. In the spring, it is famous for its thousands of colorful tulips.

The campus has about 117 buildings. It is located in Uniondale, New York, on Long Island. It's only about 7 miles from the edge of New York City. From the top floor of the university's library, you can see the entire New York City skyline.

Academics

U.S. university rankings

THES World	501–600
USNWR National University	196
Washington Monthly National University	374
Forbes	292

Hofstra offers about 185 different programs for undergraduate students (the first four years of college) and 170 programs for graduate students (who continue their studies after their first degree).

The university is known for being a good value. U.S. News & World Report ranked it as the 92nd "best value school" in 2020. Its engineering program for undergraduates was also ranked highly.

Hosting Presidential Debates

One of the most famous things about Hofstra is that it has hosted U.S. presidential debates. These are events where the main candidates for president answer questions and debate each other on live television.

In 2012, Hofstra hosted a "town hall" style debate between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. In 2016, it was the site of the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Hosting these events brought the university a lot of national attention.

Schools and Colleges

Hofstra is divided into several smaller schools that focus on different subjects:

Hofstra College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy, and International Affairs
School of Education
School of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts
School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Frank G. Zarb School of Business
Stuart and Nancy Rabinowitz Honors College
The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication
School of Health Professions and Human Services
Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science
Maurice A. Deane School of Law
Zucker School of Medicine
Hofstra Northwell School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies

Athletics

The library at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law.

Hofstra's sports teams are called "The Pride." The name comes from a pair of lion mascots that were introduced in the 1980s. Before 2001, the teams were known as the "Flying Dutchmen."

In 1977, Hofstra wrestler Nick Gallo won the NCAA National Championship in his weight class. He was also a member of the U.S. Olympic wrestling team.

For many years, the New York Jets football team held their summer training camp on the Hofstra campus. The area they used is now the home of the university's medical school.

In 2009, Hofstra decided to end its football program. The university used the money to help start the medical school and improve other academic programs, like science and engineering.

In 2011, the university gave a special honor to basketball player Charles Jenkins. His jersey number, 22, was retired before his final home game. This meant no other Hofstra basketball player could wear that number again. Jenkins was the school's all-time leading scorer, and it was a rare honor for an athlete who was still playing.

Student Media

Newspaper and Radio

The Hofstra Chronicle is the university's student-run newspaper. It has been published since 1935.

Hofstra also has a public radio station, WRHU-FM (88.7). It is the oldest public radio station on Long Island. The student-run station has won four national Marconi Awards, which are like the Oscars for radio. WRHU is also the official radio station for the New York Islanders hockey team and the Long Island Nets basketball team.