Archives and Special Collections - History

Overview

Largest of the 13 four-year arts and science colleges in the State University of New York system.
Undergraduate and graduate student enrollment is 11,006
Located on 115 acre site.
Has 34 traditional and contemporary buildings
Offers 79 undergraduate degree programs, 41 graduate degree programs and 58 minor degree programs (including four newly approved minors in Business Economics, Economic Policy Analysis, Internet Economics, and Forensic Anthropology)
Predominately a commuter college with 80 percent of the students coming from two nearby counties
Minority student enrollment has risen to approximately 17 percent; adult students (25 years and older) comprise 30 percent of the undergraduate enrollment.
Several centers have been established at the college, some of which are part of national networks of centers. The centers include: the Center for the Development of Human Services, the Center for Economic Education,the Center for Health and Social Research, the Center for Lifelong Learning, the Center for Studies in Creativity, the Center for Worksite Health, the Great Lakes Center for Environmental Research and Education, Information Exchange Center (ITEC)and Project Flight. Recently, two new centers have been created. The Center for Excellence in Urban and Rural Education is working to systematically improve public education. The Center for Interdisciplinary Studies supports and encourages innovative programs that cross the academic disciplines. On October 12, 2001, the college announced the establishment of the Monroe Fordham Regional History Center. The center's mission is to promote the study of regional history.

Points of Interest on Undergraduate Program Opportunities

79 majors and 58 minors offered.
Internship and part-time employment opportunities related to programs studied.
The 3/2 Physics-Engineering option. Program offered in cooperation with SUNY at Binghamton, SUNY at Buffalo and Clarkson University.
Advisement is offered for students interested in such professions as law, medicine, dentistry,optometry, osteopathic medicine,podiatry, veterinary medicine, and chiropractic medicine. Guidance is offered in helping students prepare for national aptitude exams and in assembling applications for professional schools.

Master Degree Programs of Interest

Criminal Justice
Clinical Dietetics
Creativity
Art Conservation, one of only three in the United States.
Bilingual Exceptional Education.
Newest master's degree program (2000) in Applied Economics.

Summary

The college's growth from 1871 to 2005 has been dramatic. Enrollment has risen from the first freshman class of 86 to 11,006 for fall 2005 (9,010 undergraduate and 1,996 graduate students. Our fte number is 9062 (8128 undergraduate and 934 graduate students). The number of faculty and staff was 6 in the college's first year, and now there are 1694 employees: 393 full-time faculty (including 17 librarians), 322 part-time faculty, 802 full-time staff, and 177 part-time staff. The number of programs has increased from 1 to over 130; the first graduating class for the college numbered 23; the total number of graduates from 1948 to 2005 is 102,512 (for 2005, there were 1,680 undergraduate degrees and 631 master's degrees and certificates of advanced study). There was no tuition in 1871; it is $5182 (fixed costs: tuition and fees) for 2005/2006. The college's budget has risen from approximately $100,000 in 1871 to $69,386,400 for 2005/2006 (the budget is dependent on changes in financial conditions and utility costs during the year).

What's in a Name?

Buffalo State College has been known by a number of different names:

1871 - 1888 ..... Buffalo Normal School
1888 - 1927 ..... State Normal and Training School
1928 - 1946 ..... State Teachers College at Buffalo
1946 - 1950 ..... New York State College for Teachers at Buffalo
1950 - 1951 ..... SUNY, New York State College for Teachers
1951 - 1959 ..... State University College for Teachers at Buffalo
1960 - 1961 ..... State University College of Education at Buffalo
1962 - 1992 ..... State University College at Buffalo (SUCB)
1993 - 1998 ..... Buffalo State College (BSC)
Summer 1998 - .... Buffalo State, State University of New York

Buffalo State College is known by alumni and the community as "Buffalo State" and "State Teachers".

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Our Logo

This is the current official college logo for print publications. There are also several Web-ready logos available for download, as well as information on School logos, athletic logos, and more. This information can be found on the College Relations Web site at: www.buffalostate.edu/collegerelations/x753.xml

Previous logos include this one, introduced in September of 1998. It was designed by Rand Schuster, retired Professor of Design. The logo used the distinctive silhouette of the Rockwell Hall Tower.

"The largest bell, which strikes the key of G was moved from the old Normal School. It was a gift of Mrs. Robert Livingstone Fryer honoring her husband who had been president of the Board of Managers (now called the College Council) of the Normal School. The bell in the key of E was a gift of the Class of 1930; the key of C bell was donated by the staff of the Elms, and the key of D bell was donated anonymously in memory of the Normal School's first three principals (Henry Buckham, James Cassety and Daniel Sherman Upton)".

-taken from State University College at Buffalo, A History, 1946-1972 by Marvin LaHood.

(click on the picture of the tower to hear the chimes)

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Buffalo State College Alma Mater

(A version of the alma mater can be heard by clicking the title below)

Our Finest Hour

A toast to State, to all the days.
All the laughter, all the tears.
You have made our friendships great,
We'll triumph through the years.
With hope anew we'll face the storm
Beyond which stands your lofty tower-
That will be our finest hour.
In years to come we'll look to thee,
Yearning for your guiding light.
You 'll not fail us, Alma Mater.

Keep us through the night.
When darkness comes and all hope dies,
You will give us strength and power -
That will be our finest hour.

-by L. Harry Ray, Class of 1951
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This page last updated 5/23/06