'Central Connecticut State University' is a state university in
New Britain,
Connecticut. It is the oldest public university and ranks third oldest of all universities in Connecticut, having been founded in
1849.
History
Founded in
1849, Central Connecticut State University is the oldest public institution of the higher education in
Connecticut.
New Britain Normal School
At the beginning, the School was founded as a
Normal School to train teachers. The Normal School at New Britain, Connecticut was the sixth normal school to be founded in the United States. Normal Schools had been previously established in West Newton, Bridgewater and Westfield Massachusetts. The states of New York and Pennsylvania had also established Normal Schools in Albany and Philadelphia. The School was briefly closed between
1867 and
1869 due to opposition in the Connecticut 1867 General Assembly. 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
1920's 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 sufficienctly exacting character to merit the regular college degree." 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 bachelors degrees were granted to sixty-one students in
1934.
Central Connecticut State College
In
1959, because the curriculum had grown to include degrees in the
liberal arts, the school became
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."
Fight Song
''C.C.S.U. Victory''
We're starting out for victory today
We're going to win because there's no other way
We're starting out for victory today
We're going to win for CCS, for CCS.
The boys of CCS are we
The boys of CCS are we
Starting out on a stormy sea,
We're starting out for victory today
We're going to win because there's no other way
We're starting out for victory today
We're going to win for CCS, for CCS.
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.
★ 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.
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 LGBT student organization) and Women Involved Now (WIN).
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.
Noteworthy alumni
★
Henry Barnard - American Educationalist
★
Andrew Baylock - Former Varsity Baseball Coach at
University of Connecticut
★
Keith Closs - Former NBA player with the
Los Angeles Clippers
★
Dave Campo - Former Head Coach of the
Dallas Cowboys, Defensive Coordinator of the
Cleveland Browns
★
Corsley Edwards - NBA player with the
New Orleans Hornets
★
Kevin Giancola - Former PGA member.
★
Richard Grieco - Actor.
★
Justise Hairston- NFL Football player with the
New England Patriots
★
Alfred "Skip" Jutze - Played with
St. Louis Cardinals,
Houston Astros and
Seattle Mariners
★
Fran P. Mainella - Director of the
National Park Service, 2001-2006
★
Herbert Pennoyer - Played with the
Los Angeles Dodgers
★
Scott Pioli - Executive with the New England Patriots
★
Maria L. Sanford - American Educator
★
Mike Sherman - Assistant Head Coach of the
Houston Texans
★
John Larson -
U.S. Representative (D-CT) and former state Senate President
Noteworthy current and former faculty
★
Dr. Stanislaus A. Blejwas - Author
★
David Blitz - Philosopher
★
Dr. Isaac N. Carleton - Principal,
1869 to
1881
★
Dr. Robert Dunne - Author
★
Dr. Kristine Larsen - Author
★
Ravi Shankar - Poet
★
Dr. Henry Lee - Forensic Scientist
★
Dr. Moises Salinas - Author and Psychologist
★
Hasan Paksoy - Historian, Author
Clubs and activities
★
The Recorder
★
Helix Magazine
★
WFCS 107.7
★
Alpha Upsilon Alpha, Beta Kappa chapter
★
★
Marketing Club
★
CCSU PSA
★
CCSU PRIDE
Classroom and office halls
★
Elihu Burritt Library
★
Lawrence J. Davidson Hall
★
Marcus White Hall
★
Henry Barnard Hall
★
Herbert D. Welte Hall
★
Harrison J. Kaiser Hall
★
Emma Hart Willard Hall
★
Maria Sanford Hall
★
Frank J. DiLoreto Hall
★
Nicolaus Copernicus Hall
★
James J. Maloney Hall
★
Robert C. Vance Academic Center
★ Memorial Hall
★
Student Center
Residence halls
★
Thomas A. 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
See also
Connecticut's other three state universities are:
★
Eastern Connecticut State University
★
Southern Connecticut State University
★
Western Connecticut State University
References
★ Herbert E. Fowler, ''A Century of Teacher Education in Connecticut'', New Britain CT: Teachers College of Connecticut,
1949.
External links
★
Central Connecticut State University
★
CCSU Library
★
CCSU Athletics / Scholastic discussion forum- Not affiliated with the University
★
New England Knowledge Corridor