Delete me when you have a photo added

This article is in need of a Photo.To add an image to this page, click "Edit" then click the "Files" button.

BuffaloStateCollege

History and Highlights of Buffalo State College

1800’s –

Buffalo State College, better known as “Buff State” opened its doors in 1871; it had 86 total students, 75 women and 11 men and was named Buffalo Normal School. http:www.buffaloah.com/a/fourteenth/110/index.html When it first opened, the schools main purpose was to train teachers to keep up with the fast-growing student community. In 1888 the school was re-named the “State Normal and Training School”, and with a new name and expanding enrollment, a science building was constructed. http://www.buffalostate.edu/buffalostatehistory.xml

Early 1900’s

By 1901, students attending had multiplied, bringing enrollment to nearly 1000 students. In 1928 the name changed again to the “State Teachers College at Buffalo, and became endorsed by the American Association of Teachers Colleges, with enrollment perpetually rising and the current accommodations getting smaller, new ground was broken on Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo, NY, and by 1931 the students and faculty move to what is presently the current site of Buffalo State College. In 1946, more renovations took place due to a $1 million state allotment. The funds allocated construction for a library, science, and industrial arts building, expansion of the gym, converting the old industrial arts building into a Home Economics Department and yet another name change, “New York State College for Teachers at Buffalo.” 1948 brought about the first dormitory, Pioneer Hall, which was built on the site of the existing Moot Hall.

Middle 1900’s

In 1951, full-time student enrollment is 2,033 making it the largest teachers college in the state. Buffalo State, in 1960, was know as the State University College of Education at Buffalo, and became the first SUNY School to have a study-abroad program, “Semester in Siena”. (http://wikitravel.org/en/Siena) In the turbulent times of the 1970’s, students take over Rockwell Hall in May to protest the United States invasion of Cambodia and the deaths of students at Kent State(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings) Due to the significant amount of damage to the college grounds, President Fretwell, the then current college president closes the campus for the semester. On a lighter note for the 70’s era, in 1972, a record 2792 students graduated from Buffalo State College, in commencement exercise held at Memorial Auditorium.

Late 1900’s

In1991 the $19 million Sports Arena was completed and opened. It contains a basketball arena, indoor track and a Collegiate Ice Arena. Commencement ceremonies can now be held on campus with the Sports Arena holding the year’s graduation ceremonies. The Frank C. Moore Student Apartment Complex opens in 1998. It was a former dormitory fully refurbished to include family units for students with children.

Early 2000’s to present

The $5.6 million expansion of Moot Hall is finished in 2001 and now houses the state of the art enrollment system consisting of student admissions, registration, financial aid and student account services. The Campbell Student Union’s new wing opened as well. It houses the $3.7million, 16,000sq. ft., Barnes & Noble at Buffalo State Bookstore. 2007 brings about a 15 year high of freshmen application at the college. Buffalo State also enrolls in the emergency text messaging service, “NY-Alert, to inform students, faculty and staff quickly of a crisis. In 2008 the new $33 million Burchfield Penney Art Center on campus opened to the public. 2009 brings more than $350 million renovations to Buffalo State College: A Science and Mathematics Complex, student apartment style housing, Student Union Quad, Electrical updates, Technology Center, Rockwell Hall updates and an Athletic Stadium with a parking ramp. These improvements should be completed by 2014. http://www.buffalostate.edu/pdf/impact.pdf

Today Buffalo State has grown into the largest comprehensive four-year college in the SUNY (State University of New York) System. It has 140 academic programs and educates over 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students each year. The college is known for its strong community connections and a continuing commitment to providing high-quality lifelong learning opportunities http://www.buffalostate.edu/buffalostatehistory.xml

Comments