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Central Connecticut State University is a state university in New Britain, Connecticut. It is the oldest public university in Connecticut and ranks third oldest of all universities in Connecticut, having been founded in 1849.
History
Institute of Technology and Business Development
New Britain Normal School
Founded in 1849 as the New Britain Normal School, Central Connecticut State University is the oldest public institution of higher education in Connecticut. It was initially established as a normal school to train teachers, becoming the sixth normal school in the United States.[3] Normal schools had been previously established by the states of Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania, in West Newton, Bridgewater, and Westfield, Massachusetts, Albany, New York, and Philadelphia.
The school was briefly closed between 1867 and 1869 due to opposition in the 1867 Connecticut General Assembly.[4] The school was moved to the present campus in 1922.
Principals
- Henry Barnard (1849–1855)
- John D. Philbrick (1855–1857)
- David N. Camp (1857–1866)
- Col. Homer B. Sprague (1866–1867)
- Isaac N. Carleton (1869–1881)
- Clarence F. Carroll (1881–1894)
- Marcus White (1894–1929)
- Herbert D. Welte (1929–1933)
Teachers College of Connecticut
During the 1920s, a number of states had started teaching four year education programs and granting regular college degrees. Principal Marcus White was quoted to say in 1920 "I hope that Connecticut will fall into line with the increasing number of progressive states which have authorized training courses four years in length and of sufficiently exacting character to merit the regular college degree."[5] The Connecticut State Board of Education approved the extension of normal school curriculum from two to three years in 1930. In the 1933 session of the General Assembly, a law was passed creating the Teachers College of Connecticut. The last two-year diplomas were granted in 1933. The last three-year diploma was granted in 1935. The first bachelor's degrees were granted to sixty-one students in 1934.[6]
Central Connecticut State College
In 1959, because the curriculum had grown to include degrees in the liberal arts, the school was renamed Central Connecticut State College.
Central Connecticut State University
The present name and status - Central Connecticut State University - were conferred in 1983 in recognition of the institution's change in commitment, mission, strategy and aspiration. Now the University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. Its slogan is: "Start with a dream, finish with a future."
Recognitions and rankings
- The Association of American Colleges & Universities selected CCSU as one of only 16 "Leadership Institutions" in the nation—and the only one in Connecticut.
- Princeton Review selected CCSU as one of "The Best Northeastern Colleges."
- Honors Program called "Absolutely Outstanding" in the Princeton Review's "The Best Northeastern Colleges", 2006 edition
- The college guide book, Great Colleges for the Real World: Get in, Get out, Get a Job, selected CCSU as one of the "best 201 colleges" in the nation.
- The Connecticut Board of Governors for Higher Education has designated CCSU's centers of International Studies and of Public Policy and Practical Politics, and the School of Technology as "Centers of Excellence."
- In the fall of 2001, CCSU became the first institution anywhere to offer an online Master of Science program in data mining.
- CCSU has four endowed chairs: The American Savings Foundation Endowed Chair of Banking and Finance and the Institute for Banking and Finance; the Stanislaus A. Blejwas Chair in Polish and Polish American Studies; the William A. O’Neill Chair in Public Policy and Practical Politics, and the Robert C. Vance Chair in Journalism and Mass Communication.
- Central Connecticut State University was recognized by the NAACP in 2008 as an official stop on the underground railroad.
- In national competition, CCSU was awarded a prestigious $1-million federal grant to fund educational programs to prepare future teachers to use technology. In 2002-2003 CCSU's faculty were awarded a record-breaking $4.1 million in grants to support scholarly research.
- In 2004-05, CCSU created an estimated economic impact of $390 million, representing money and jobs that circulated throughout Connecticut's economy. As a state-supported institution, CCSU receives $55 million in legislative appropriations.
Commencement at CCSU
- main article: Commencement at CCSU
CCSU's graduation exercises are conducted each May at the XL Center in Hartford. Additional commencement ceremonies for graduate students are sometimes held on campus in Herbert D. Welte Hall. Since becoming a university, CCSU has awarded 52 honorary doctoral degrees.
Campus Activism
CCSU is noteworthy for its politically active student body. The Progressive Student Alliance (PSA) serves students who are left-leaning/liberal, and has been active since 2002 and has hosted dozens of forums, guest speakers, protests and other events. The CCSU College Republicans generally serve the conservative/right-leaning students, hosting events including forums and speeches. Also active are PRIDE (the campus student organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students) and Women Involved Now (WIN) organizations.
Student Government Association
The CCSU Student Government Association is comprised entirely of undergraduate students, focused on the betterment of campus life and campus issues. The CCSU SGA also funds all undergraduate clubs and organizations, and hosts events on campus for all students to attend. The President of the CCSU Student Body and Student Government Association for 2009-2010 is Andrew Froning, and the Vice President of the CCSU Student Body and Student Government Association for 2009-2010 is Matt Vekakis.
Athletics
- Men's Cross Country
- Men's Track and Field
- Women's Basketball
- Men's Basketball
- Volleyball
- Football
- Men's Soccer
- Women's Soccer
- Ultimate Frisbee
Knowledge Corridor
CCSU is one of the founding institutions of the Hartford, Connecticut, Springfield, Massachusetts regional economic and cultural partnership alliance known as New England's Knowledge Corridor.
Notable people
Alumni
Current and former faculty
Clubs and activities
Classroom and office halls
Residence halls
- Thomas H. Gallaudet Hall
- Robert C. Vance Hall
- Samuel J. May Hall
- Robert E. Sheridan Hall
- Seth North Hall
- Mildred Barrows Hall
- Catharine Beecher Hall
- F. Don James Hall
- Clarence Carroll Hall
Copernican Observatory and Planetarium
The Copernican Observatory and Planetarium is located in Copernicus Hall and offers free shows for the general public and school groups.
See also
Connecticut's other three state universities are:
References
- Herbert E. Fowler, A Century of Teacher Education in Connecticut, New Britain CT: Teachers College of Connecticut, 1949.
External links
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Graduate, professional and
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Coordinates: 41°41′35″N 72°45′54″W / 41.69318°N 72.76496°W / 41.69318; -72.76496
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