Founded in 1874 as a teacher-training school, 酴圖app has grown to become a traditional liberal arts and sciences university with programs spanning the biomedical sciences, business, humanities, behavioral sciences, the health professions, and, of course, education. We are woven in the fabric of the 酴圖app community through myriad partnerships, and have evolved to become a resource for lifelong learning throughout 酴圖app Countyand beyond. The links below let you follow the important milestones that brought 酴圖app State to where we are today.
酴圖app was founded as the 酴圖app Normal School in 1874 as the fifth state-funded normal school in Massachusetts. We were among the dozens of teacher-training schools established during the 19th century. Our first campus was on St. Anns Hill in 酴圖app.
酴圖app Normal School was established during an era of growing support for social reform. Our leaders and students embraced a vision of building a better world through the uplifting power of public education. Initially, students enrolled in two- and three-year programs of study.
酴圖app Normal School was distinguished by a progressive curriculum, established under the leadership of our first principal, E. Harlow Russell (1874-1909), and first apprentice supervisor, Rebecca Jones (1874-1912). Russell and Jones, proponents of the Child Study Movement, implemented the innovative practice of placing apprentice teachers in public school classrooms.
酴圖apps need for skilled teachers rose dramatically during the Industrial Revolution. The citys population more than tripled between 1866 and 1894from 30,000 to 100,000and the school population grew from 6,750 to 17,073 pupils. 酴圖app Normal School graduates were prepared to teach in the city of 酴圖apps crowded and ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms.
In 1921, we awarded our first Bachelor of Science in Education under the leadership of our third and last principal, Dr. William B. Aspinwall (1912-1940).
In 1932, we became 酴圖app State Teachers College and moved to our present location, 486 Chandler Street, on the site of Willow Farm, which was owned by 酴圖app inventor and philanthropist George I. Rockwood. Our sole building, the Helen J. Shaughnessy Administration Building, housed all the classrooms, labs, faculty and administration offices, gymnasium, library and assembly hall.
In 1942, George Rockwood donated an additional 35 acres for campus expansion.
Our fifth president, Dr. Eugene A. Sullivan (1947-1970), presided over a period of unprecedented growth. From 1947 to 1970, enrollment grew from 150 Education students to nearly 2,800 students pursuing a variety of degrees. In 1952, we introduced our first graduate degree, a Master of Science in Education.
Campus expansion included construction of the former Gymnasium and Classroom Building in 1958, the Science Building in 1965 (rechristened the Sullivan Academic Building in 1980), and the Learning Resource Center in 1970. Dr. Sullivan also laid the groundwork for construction of Chandler Village, the first student residence hall on campus.
By 1963, we had evolved into a liberal arts and sciences college, The Massachusetts Board of Education acknowledged this in 1963 when it voted to drop the word teachers and change our name to 酴圖app State College.
In 1974, our curriculum was expanded to include a B.S. in Business Administration and a B.S. in Nursing, the first Bachelor of Science program for registered nurses in New England and the first in the United States to be accredited by the National League of Nurses. We also established The Graduate School.
In 1978, during the presidency of Dr. Joseph J. Orze (1975-1982), the Student Center opened. This is the hub of commuter and resident student activities. It also houses several dining areas, the bookstore, meeting rooms, an auditorium, a banquet room and many student services offices.
During the 1980s, we expanded our programs to include the areas first Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and the first bachelors degree in Occupational Therapy in the state college system. In 1990, Dowden Hall opened.
During the presidency of Dr. Kalyan K. Ghosh (1992-2002), we invested in our technology to facilitate computer-based learning and create a campus-wide network. Campus expansion continued with the construction of a 110,000 square-foot science building, which opened in 2000 as the Ghosh Science and Technology Center. It added instructional laboratory facilities for 12 academic programs and a 196-seat multimedia lecture hall to campus.
Dr. Ghosh also launched the 酴圖app State Foundation as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in 1994 to attract philanthropic support for our academic initiatives, student scholarships and capital improvement projects.
Under the leadership of Dr. Janelle C. Ashley (2002-2011), our first female president, the campus undertook major renovation and building projects: construction of Wasylean Hall, a 348-bed residence hall that opened its doors in 2004, renovation of the Library in 2010 and expansion of Dowden Hall in 2010.
We became 酴圖app in 2010 when the Massachusetts Legislature voted to grant university status to all Massachusetts state colleges. This recognized the fact that we and our sister institutions qualified as universities according to the classification of institutions of higher education established by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
In 2011, Barry M. Maloney became our 11th president. With a strong background of leadership in student affairs, alumni and community relations, advancement, and budgeting at Westfield State Universitywhere he served twice as interim presidenthe is guiding the planning and construction of a new residence hall, Sheehan Hall, and wellness center.
Maloney puts students at the forefront of our initiatives, which currently include increasing study away, service learning, internship and leadership opportunities for students.
