History
Located atop one of the rolling hills in central New York's "City of Seven Valleys," the State University of New York College at Cortland was founded in 1868 as the Cortland Normal School, which included among its earliest students inventor and industrialist Elmer A. Sperry of Sperry-Rand Corp. fame.
Over the decades, the campus expanded and in 1941, by an act of legislature and the Board of Regents, the institution officially became a four-year college providing courses leading to the bachelor's degree. In 1948, Cortland was a founding member of the State University of New York.
A complete overview of SUNY Cortland's history is presented in Cortland College: An Illustrated History by Leonard F. Ralston, professor emeritus, history. The book is available in the College Store.
A timeline of the College's history is as follows:
New York State Legislature authorized appointment of Board of Trustees for Cortland Normal School; officers were elected; school organization underway. Classes began the following year.
First class graduated.
First Cortland intercollegiate athletic team, men's baseball, formed. Cortland defeats Cornell 24-12.
College Alumni Association founded.
Two-year program of instruction beyond high school level introduced.
Fire destroyed original building.
Teacher training program extended from two to three years.
Construction of Old Main building completed.
College adopted "Red Dragons" as nickname for athletic teams.
Teacher training program extended to four years.
Cortland became a state teachers college with four-year programs leading to the bachelor 's degree.
Master's degree programs authorized.
Cortland became part of State University of New York; Huntington Memorial Camp at Raquette Lake in the Adirondacks presented to the College for development as an outdoor education center.
Brockway, Cheney and DeGroat Halls opened, the first new buildings since Old Main. Brockway Hall was the first student union in State University.
College Council established.
Cortland renamed SUNY College of Education.
Cortland renamed SUNY College at Cortland; assumed a new role as a comprehensive college of arts and sciences.
Liberal Arts program introduced.
Study abroad program initiated.
Hoxie Gorge campus acquired south of Cortland.
College observes 100th Anniversary.
Center for Educational Exchange established to enhance teacher preparation programs through networking with elementary and secondary schools in Central New York.
College-wide Honors Program established.
New York State Senior Games originate on the SUNY Cortland campus.
A major fire at the Raquette Lake Outdoor Education Center destroyed the dining hall and several historic buildings; classes were suspended; a rebuilding fund was established which provided private money to help offset the cost of restoration with alumni, faculty and friends as major contributors.
Classes resumed at Outdoor Education Center as facilities were rebuilt.
Multi-disciplinary Center for Minority and Women's Studies (now the Center for Multicultural and Gender Studies) established.
Cortland is designated a Center for Environmental Education by the Alliance for Environmental Education.
College observes 125th Anniversary.
1997
Renovation of Old Main completed.
1998
College celebrates 50th anniversary of Outdoor Education Center at Raquette Lake.
2002
School of Education established.
2004
The U.S. National Park Service designates SUNY Cortland's Huntington Memorial Camp, the former Camp Pine Knot, as the first National Historic Landmark within SUNY.
College receives accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) for its teacher education programs, the largest state-supported teacher education programs in New York State.
Consumer's Digest ranks SUNY Cortland among its 50 best value public colleges and universities in the nation.
SUNY Cortland Alumni Association opens the doors to its new Alumni House on Tompkins Street.
2005
College establishes the James M. Clark Center for International Education.
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