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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] It has historically been known as "the poor man's Harvard.[6]"

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The City College of the City University of New York
City_College_of_New_York_seal.svg
Latin: Collegium Urbis Novi Eboraci
Other names
City College of New York
City College
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"
TypePublic research university
Established1847; 176 years ago (1847)
FounderTownsend Harris
Parent institution
City University of New York
AccreditationMSCHE
Academic affiliations
Endowment$290 million (2019)[1]
PresidentVincent G. Boudreau
ProvostTony Liss
Academic staff
581 (full-time)
914 (part-time)
Administrative staff
401
Students16,161
Undergraduates13,113
Postgraduates3,048
Location, ,
United States

40.8194°N 73.9500°W / 40.8194; -73.9500
CampusLarge City, 35 acres (0.14 km2)
Newspaper
ColorsLavender/purple, gray, and white[2]
     
NicknameBeavers
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division IIICUNYAC
MascotBenny the Beaver
Websiteccny.cuny.edu
CCNY_logo_flush_left.svg
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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.[7] It was initially designed by renowned architect George B. Post, and many of its buildings have achieved landmark status. 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.[8]

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);[9] the first national fraternity to accept members without regard to religion, race, color or creed (Delta Sigma Phi, 1899);[10] 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).[11] The college has a 48% graduation rate within six years.[12] It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".[13] The college has graduated ten Nobel Prize winners, one Fields Medalist, one Turing Award winner, three Pulitzer Prize winners, and three Rhodes Scholars.[14][15][16][17] Among these alumni, the latest is a Bronx native, John O'Keefe (2014 Nobel Prize in Medicine).[18]