
City College of New York
Public college in New York City, US / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The City College of the City University of New York (also known as the City College of New York, or simply City College or CCNY) is a public research university within the City University of New York (CUNY) system in New York City. Founded in 1847, City College was the first free public institution of higher education in the United States.[3] It is the oldest of CUNY's 25 institutions of higher learning[4] and is considered its flagship college.[5]
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Latin: Collegium Urbis Novi Eboraci | |
Other names | City College of New York City College |
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Former names | 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) |
Motto in English | "Look behind, look here, look ahead" |
Type | Public research university |
Established | 1847; 176 years ago (1847) |
Founder | Townsend Harris |
Parent institution | City University of New York |
Accreditation | MSCHE |
Academic affiliations | |
Endowment | $290 million (2019)[1] |
President | Vincent G. Boudreau |
Provost | Tony Liss |
Academic staff | 581 (full-time) 914 (part-time) |
Administrative staff | 401 |
Students | 16,161 |
Undergraduates | 13,113 |
Postgraduates | 3,048 |
Location | , , United States 40.8194°N 73.9500°W / 40.8194; -73.9500 |
Campus | Large City, 35 acres (0.14 km2) |
Newspaper |
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Colors | Lavender/purple, gray, and white[2]
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Nickname | Beavers |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division III – CUNYAC |
Mascot | Benny the Beaver |
Website | ccny.cuny.edu |
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Located in Hamilton Heights overlooking Harlem in Manhattan, City College's 35-acre (14 ha) Collegiate Gothic campus spans Convent Avenue from 130th to 141st Streets.[6] It was initially designed by renowned architect George B. Post, and many of its buildings have achieved landmark status. The college has graduated ten Nobel Prize winners, one Fields Medalist, one Turing Award winner, three Pulitzer Prize winners, and three Rhodes Scholars.[7][8][9][10] Among these alumni, the latest is a Bronx native, John O'Keefe (2014 Nobel Prize in Medicine).[11] City College's satellite campus, City College Downtown in the Cunard Building at 25 Broadway, has been in operation since 1981. It offers degree programs for working adults with classes in the evenings and Saturdays.[12]
Other primacies at City College that helped shape the culture of American higher education include the first student government in the nation (Academic Senate, 1867);[13] the first national fraternity to accept members without regard to religion, race, color or creed (Delta Sigma Phi, 1899);[14] the first degree-granting evening program (School of Education, 1907); and, with the objective of racially integrating the college dormitories, "the first general strike at a municipal institution of higher learning" led by students (1949).[15] The college has a 48% graduation rate within six years.[16] It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".[17]