Lehman College Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Lehman College

Other name	Herbert H. Lehman College
Former name	Bronx Branch of Hunter College (1931–1968)
Type	Public college
Established	1931
Parent institution	City University of New York
Endowment	$35 Million
President	Fernando Delgado
Undergraduates	12,639
Postgraduates	2,148
Location	New York City , New York , United States 40°52′21″N 73°53′38″W / 40.87250°N 73.89389°W / 40.87250; -73.89389
Campus	Urban, 37 acres (15 ha)
Colors	Royal blue, vegas gold, and white
Nickname	Lightning
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division III, City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC)
Mascot	Lightning Bug

Lehman College is a public college in the Bronx borough of New York City. This means it is funded by the government and is open to the public. It started in 1931 as a part of Hunter College but became its own independent college in 1967.

The college is named after Herbert H. Lehman. He was a governor of New York, a U.S. senator, and a philanthropist, which is someone who gives money to help others. Lehman is a senior college in the City University of New York (CUNY) system. It offers over 90 different subjects for students to study and earn degrees.

History of the College
- A Campus with a Unique Past
- Becoming Lehman College
The Lehman Campus
Student Life
Academics and Programs
- Special Programs for Students
Research Institutes
Athletics
Notable People
- Famous Teachers
- Famous Graduates
Images for kids
See also

History of the College

The school first opened in 1931 as the Bronx Branch of Hunter College. For its first ten years, only women attended classes on this campus for their first two years of college.

A Campus with a Unique Past

The first flag raising for the U.S. Naval Training Center at the college in 1943.

During World War II, the campus became a very important place. The U.S. Navy used the buildings to train about 95,000 women who volunteered for the military. These women were known as WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) and SPARS (the U.S. Coast Guard Women's Reserve).

After the war, the campus had another famous guest. In 1946, the newly formed United Nations (UN) used the college for six months. The UN's Security Council, which works to keep peace around the world, held its first meetings in the college's gym.

Becoming Lehman College

In 1968, the college officially became separate from Hunter College. It was renamed Herbert H. Lehman College. Since then, it has had four presidents:

Leonard Lief (Founding President)
Ricardo R. Fernández (1991)
José Luis Cruz (2016)
Fernando Delgado (2021)

Like many schools, Lehman switched to online classes in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. By May 2022, the college was able to hold its graduation ceremony in person again.

The Lehman Campus

The plaza and Music Building at Lehman College.

Lehman's campus covers 37 acres near the Jerome Park Reservoir in the Bronx. It has a mix of beautiful old buildings in the Collegiate Gothic style and newer, modern buildings.

The campus has many special facilities. Carman Hall has a multimedia center with a recording studio and video editing rooms. In 2012, a new $70 million Science Hall opened. This building is very environmentally friendly and was the first at CUNY to earn a LEED platinum rating, the highest award for "green" buildings.

Other important places on campus include:

The Lehman College Center for the Performing Arts: A large professional theater that can seat 2,310 people.
The Lehman College Art Gallery: A space that shows art from different artists.
The Apex: The college's modern-style building for sports and fitness, which opened in 1994.
Nursing Building: A new, four-story building for nursing students opened in 2024.

Students can easily get to the campus using the New York City Subway. The Bedford Park Boulevard–Lehman College station is named after the college.

Student Life

Lehman College is known for its diverse student body. Students come from many different ethnic backgrounds, speak various languages, and represent many cultures from around the world.

In the 2023-24 school year, there were:

Undergraduates: 11,227
Graduate Students: 1,884
Total: 13,111 students

Academics and Programs

Lehman College has six different schools that focus on specific areas of study, like Arts & Humanities, Education, and Business.

Special Programs for Students

Lehman offers several special programs for students who want an extra challenge or need support.

Macaulay Honors College: This is a program for top students. They receive a full scholarship for tuition, a free laptop, and a special fund of $7,500 to use for studying abroad or other learning experiences.
Lehman Scholars Program: This program is for motivated students who want to study more independently. They get to take special classes and have more freedom in choosing their courses.
College Now: This program allows some high school students to take college classes at Lehman to get a head start.
Freshman Year Initiative: This program helps new students get used to college life. They take some of their first-year classes in "blocks" with the same group of students, which helps them make friends and feel supported.

Research Institutes

Lehman College is home to several research centers that study important topics.

Mexican Studies Institute: This institute focuses on research and events related to Mexico and Mexican culture in the United States.
Institute for Irish-American Studies: This center supports the study of Irish and Irish-American history and culture.
CUNY Institute for Health Equity: This institute works on research and projects to help reduce health differences and make healthcare fairer for everyone.

Athletics

The Old Gymnasium, where the UN Security Council once met.

Lehman College's sports teams are called the Lightning Bugs. They compete in Division III of the NCAA, which is a division for student-athletes. They are part of the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC).

Men's sports include: baseball, basketball, soccer, swimming, tennis, and volleyball.
Women's sports include: basketball, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, volleyball, and cheerleading.

The teams have had great success. In 2012–13, the men's swimming and diving team and the women's outdoor track and field team both won CUNYAC championships.

Notable People

Many famous and successful people have taught at or graduated from Lehman College.

Famous Teachers

Billy Collins: A famous poet who was named the United States Poet Laureate.
Michael Bacon: An Emmy Award-winning composer who is in a band called The Bacon Brothers with his brother, actor Kevin Bacon.
John Corigliano: A famous composer who won an Academy Award for his music.
Ruth Westheimer: Better known as "Dr. Ruth," she is a famous therapist and TV personality.

Famous Graduates

Ron Perlman: An actor known for playing the superhero Hellboy in the movies and for his role in the TV show Sons of Anarchy.
Letitia James: The Attorney General of New York, which means she is the top lawyer for the state.
Christopher "Kid" Reid: A rapper and actor who was part of the popular hip hop group Kid 'n Play.
Ivan Seidenberg: The former Chairman and CEO of Verizon Communications.
Elizabeth Rodriguez: An actress known for her role as Aleida Diaz in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black.
Davi Santos: An actor who played the Gold Ranger in the TV series Power Rangers Dino Charge.