Ithaca College facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ithaca College

Former name	Ithaca Conservatory of Music (1892–1931)
Motto	Commitment to Excellence
Type	Private college
Established	September 19, 1892; 132 years ago (1892-09-19)
Academic affiliations	NAICU CIC
Endowment	$356.8 million (2022)
President	La Jerne Terry Cornish
Academic staff	721
Administrative staff	987
Students	6,266 (Fall 2019)
Undergraduates	5,852 (Fall 2019)
Postgraduates	414 (Fall 2019)
Location	Ithaca, New York , U.S.
Campus	Small city, 757 acres (306 ha)
Colors	Blue, gold, gray
Nickname	Bombers
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division III – Liberty League, USCSSA

Ithaca College is a private college located in Ithaca, New York. It was started in 1892 by William Egbert as a music school. Today, Ithaca College is well-known for its programs in media and entertainment. These programs are offered through the Roy H. Park School of Communications and the Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. The college also focuses on liberal arts, which means students learn a wide range of subjects. It also has programs for careers in business, health sciences, and teaching.

History of Ithaca College

How Ithaca College Began

Boardman House, the first home of Ithaca Conservatory of Music

Ithaca College started as the Ithaca Conservatory of Music in 1892. A local violin teacher named William Grant Egbert rented four rooms. He began teaching eight students there. For almost 70 years, the school grew in Ithaca. It added studies like elocution (public speaking), dance, physical education, and radio.

In 1931, the conservatory became a private college. It was given its current name, Ithaca College. The college's first building was the Boardman House. This building later became the Ithaca College Museum of Art. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

Ithaca College in Modern Times

Job Hall

By 1960, Ithaca College had about 2,000 students. A new campus was built on South Hill in the 1960s. Students traveled between the old and new places during construction. The campus on the hillside continued to grow over the next 30 years. It grew to hold more than 6,000 students.

As the campus got bigger, the college also added more courses. By the 1990s, there were about 2,000 courses. These were part of over 100 study programs across the college's five schools. Students from almost every U.S. state and 78 other countries attend the school.

In October 2020, the college announced some changes. About 130 faculty positions were reduced. This was done to lower the school's budget by $30 million. This change happened because fewer students were enrolling. For example, 4,957 undergraduate students enrolled in Fall 2020. This was less than 5,852 in 2019 and 6,101 in 2018.

Leaders of Ithaca College

Ithaca College has had several presidents. The current president is La Jerne Terry Cornish. She became the college's 10th president in March 2022. Before that, she served as interim president starting in August 2021.

She followed Shirley M. Collado, who was the ninth president. Ms. Collado became president in July 2017. She later decided to step down in July 2021. She left to become the president and CEO of College Track.

Before Ms. Collado, Thomas Rochon was the eighth president. He started in April 2008. He retired in July 2017. During his time, there were discussions about the campus environment. Students and faculty held votes to express their opinions on his leadership.

Ithaca College Campus

Ithaca College and South Hill, viewed from Eddy Street in 2020

Dillingham Center and fountains in 2018

Ithaca College's main campus was built in the 1960s. It is located on South Hill. The last academic department moved from downtown to the South Hill campus in 1968. This completed the move to the new location.

Other Campuses and Programs

Besides its main campus, Ithaca College has other locations. The Ithaca College London Center has been open since 1972. Ithaca also runs the Ithaca College Los Angeles Program. This program is at the James B. Pendleton Center.

In the past, there were programs in Antigua and Australia. Ithaca College also has exchange programs with many universities around the world. These include schools in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Spain, and Sweden. The college also works with other study abroad programs.

Academics at Ithaca College

Muller Faculty Center and Class of 2003 clock

The college offers over 100 degree programs. These programs are spread across its five schools:

• School of Business
• Roy H. Park School of Communications
• School of Health Sciences & Human Performance
• School of Humanities & Sciences
• School of Music, Theatre, and Dance

As of 2017, the most popular majors included visual and performing arts. Health professions, business, and biological sciences were also very popular.

Student Life at Ithaca College

Student Media and Publications

Ithaca College has many student-run media groups:

• The Ithacan is the college's official weekly newspaper. Students write, edit, and publish it. It has won many awards for college journalism.
• Ithaca College Television (ICTV) is the oldest student-run college TV channel in the world. It has been broadcasting since 1958. ICTV's news program, Newswatch, has won awards.
• WICB is a student-operated FM radio station. It broadcasts at 91.7 FM. It plays modern rock and special shows. Readers of the Ithaca Times voted WICB "Best Radio Station."
• VIC Radio is another student-run radio station. It is now an online-only station. It is known for its annual 50 Hour Marathon. During this event, DJs broadcast for 50 hours to raise money for local groups.
• Buzzsaw Magazine is an independent monthly magazine. Students write and produce it. It focuses on creative journalism and commentary.
• Park Productions is a professional production unit. Students work with faculty and industry experts. They create media projects like documentaries and films.
• Distinct Magazine is Ithaca College's fashion magazine. It focuses on student style and culture. It aims to break stereotypes and create a safe space for expression.
• Embrace is a magazine that aims to represent underrepresented students. It covers topics like LGBTQ+, fashion, politics, and personal stories.

Greek Life at Ithaca College

In the past, Ithaca College had many fraternities and sororities. However, due to safety concerns and past incidents in the 1980s, the college changed its policy. Now, only professional music fraternities are officially recognized by the school.

As of 2024, the professional coed music fraternity Mu Phi Epsilon is the only recognized Greek organization. Other music and performing arts groups, like Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Sigma Alpha Iota, became inactive in 2024. Kappa Gamma Psi became inactive in 2008. It is unlikely these groups will be reactivated due to the college's policy.

Some Ithaca College students may join Greek organizations not officially linked to the school. These groups do not have the same housing or safety rules. Also, some students might join Greek groups at nearby Cornell University.

Music Programs

Ithaca College is famous for its music school. It offers many ways to perform music. Students can join official ensembles or student-organized groups.

The School of Music has many audition-based groups. These include symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra, wind ensemble, and different choir and jazz groups. The school also offers chances to perform opera. There are also non-auditioned groups open to all students. The School of Music, Theatre, and Dance also puts on several musical theater and opera productions each year.

Outside the official school, there are student-run a cappella groups:

• IC Voicestream, an all-gender group.
• Ithacappella, an all-male group.
• Premium Blend, an all-female group.
• Tone Cold, another all-gender group.
• Pitch Please, a non-auditioned all-gender group.
• NUVO (New Voices), a BIPOC inclusive group founded in 2024.

Athletics at Ithaca College

Further information: Ithaca Bombers

Ithaca College competes in sports at the NCAA Division III level. They are part of the Liberty League and the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). Ithaca has a very strong athletic program. The Bombers have won 14 national titles in team and individual sports.

Intramural Sports

Besides college-level athletics, Ithaca College has a large intramural sports program. About 25% of undergraduate students join this program each year. Fourteen team activities are offered. These include basketball, flag football, kickball, soccer, softball, ultimate, ski racing, and volleyball.

For most activities, there are divisions for men's, women's, and co-recreational teams. Students can often play on both a single-sex team and a co-recreational team for each activity.

Sustainability Efforts

The Peggy Ryan Williams Center is LEED Platinum Certified.

Ithaca's School of Business was the first college business school in the world to get LEED Platinum Certification. This means it meets very high standards for being environmentally friendly. The Peggy Ryan Williams Center at Ithaca is also LEED Platinum certified. It uses a lot of natural light. Sensors control lighting and air based on people and light. Over half of the building's energy comes from renewable sources like wind power.

The college also has a LEED Gold Certified building, the Athletics & Events Center. The college composts food waste from its dining halls. It runs a "Take It or Leave It" program for moving out. This program helps reuse items. It also has a sustainable living option for students. The college collects and reuses office supplies. It also teaches about sustainability education during new student orientation. In 2017, Ithaca College was named one of Princeton Review's top "green colleges."

Working Towards a Greener Future

In 2007, then-President Peggy R. Williams signed a commitment. This pledge means Ithaca College will work to become "carbon neutral" in the future. In 2009, the college's plan was approved. It aims for 100% carbon neutrality by 2050. This plan includes a 40-year strategy to reach this goal.

Energy Use

The college buys all of its electricity from renewable sources. With energy from a solar farm, the college's total energy use is 45 percent carbon neutral.

Notable Alumni

Ithaca College has over 70,000 former students. There are alumni clubs in many cities, including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Metro New York. Alumni events are held with these clubs.

Notable Faculty

Many well-known people have taught at Ithaca College:

• Asma Barlas, politics, director of the Center for the Study of Culture, Race, and Ethnicity.
• Rick Beato, music educator and producer.
• Jeff Cohen, journalism, and founder of the Park Center for Independent Media.
• Patrick Conway, an early 20th-century bandleader.
• Andrew Ezergailis, history; an expert on 20th-century history of Latvia.
• Robert Allen Iger, a business executive who is the CEO of The Walt Disney Company.
• A. Van Jordan, a poet.
• Marisa Kelly, political scientist, President of Suffolk University.
• Nicholas Muellner, media arts, sciences and studies; a photographer and writer.
• Alex Perialas, sound recording technology; an acclaimed audio engineer.
• Rod Serling, communications; creator, producer and host of The Twilight Zone.
• Saviana Stănescu, theater; a poet, playwright, and journalist.
• Gordon Stout, music; a percussionist and composer.
• Fred A. Wilcox, writing; a nonfiction writer and expert on the Vietnam War.
• Dana Wilson, a music professor, composer, and jazz pianist.