State University of New York at New Paltz
Encyclopedia
The State University of New York at New Paltz, known as SUNY New Paltz for short, is a public university
in New Paltz, New York. It was founded in 1828 as the School for teaching of classics. In 1885, the New Paltz Normal and Training School was established as a school to prepare teachers for the public schools of New York State. In the 1980s, it was called State University of New York College of Arts and Science New Paltz. It has been called the State University of New York at New Paltz since 1994.
In 1885, the academy offered their building if the State of New York would start a normal school
. It was granted the ability to award baccalaureate
degrees in 1942, when it was renamed the State Teachers College at New Paltz. A few years later, in 1947, a graduate program
was established. When the State University of New York
was established by legislative act in 1948, the Teachers College at New Paltz was one of 30 colleges associated under SUNY's umbrella. The school is well-known for many programs, including The Legislative Gazette
, a journalism and political science internship in which students live/work in the state capitol and produce a weekly newspaper about state politics. The program launched in 1978—and was almost kicked out of Albany—but somehow survived and grew into an influential newspaper read by nearly everyone involved in New York state government.
There were several student-led protests in the late 1960s and early 1970s, primarily against the Vietnam War
. In the spring of 1967, a sit in protesting against army recruiting on campus blocked the entrance to the Student Union for two days. While there were scores of demonstrators the first day, all but 13 dispersed before State Troopers arrived and bodily carried the demonstrators to a waiting school bus for a trip to court.
In the Fall of 1968, students rallied in support of Craig Pastor (now Craig DeYong) who had been arrested by New Paltz Village Police for desecration of the American flag which he was wearing as a super-hero cape in a student film directed by Edward Falco
. College President John J. Neumaier posted bail. Pastor was released and charges were dropped. In the spring of 1970 there was a protest leading to the takeover of the Administration Building.
On December 29, 1991, the campus was the scene of a widely reported PCB
incident that contaminated four dormitories (Bliss, Gage, Capen and Scudder residence halls), as well as the Coykendall Science Building and the Parker Theatre. Under the direction of the county and state health departments, the university began a massive, thorough clean-up effort in the five buildings: Bliss, Gage and Scudder residence halls, Parker Theatre and Coykendall Science Building. As an additional precaution, 29 other buildings were thoroughly tested and, if necessary, cleaned. The clean-up process lasted until May 1995. Since 1994, PCBs are no longer used on the SUNY New Paltz campus. Concerns about this incident have been covered in New York Times articles by Michael Winerip, as well as investigative reporting in Woodstock Times
and Sierra magazine by Eric Francis
.
In November 1997, two events on campus attracted nationwide media attention. The first, a feminist
conference on sex and sexuality sponsored by the women's studies
department entitled "Revolting Behavior: The Challenges of Women's Sexual Freedom", featured instructional workshops on sex toys and sadomasochism. The second, "Subject to Desire: Refiguring the Body", was sponsored by the Fine and Performing Arts Department. One presenter, performance art
ist Carolee Schneemann
, had been known for a piece where she slowly unrolled a scroll from her vagina
and read it to the audience.
Political conservatives were outraged that a public university had hosted such events, and Governor
George Pataki
and SUNY chancellor
Robert King expressed their displeasure. The controversy escalated when the Theatre Arts Department staged The Vagina Monologues
shortly afterwards. The college's then-president, Roger Bowen, defended freedom of expression on campus and refused to apologize, doing little to allay conservative ire. "The real issue," he said, "is whether some ideologues, however well-intentioned, have the right to dictate what we say and what we do on this campus." SUNY trustee Candace de Russy called for him to be dismissed. Bowen later resigned.
In 2006, New Paltz became embroiled in a controversy involving three Student Government officers, who were suspended from the University for a year after an altercation with the Residence Life Director, although a video showed some claims may have been erroneous.
Federal Judge Lawrence Kahn ordered Poskanzer and Rooney to reinstate Holmes and Partington on January 4, 2007, but in February, 2008, Judge Kahn concluded dismissed their due process and retaliation claims.
For 20 consecutive years (as of Fall 2010), New Paltz has received the most student applications among all of SUNY comprehensive colleges.
In 2006 New Paltz received 11,941 applications for the fall and accepted 4,141 (39%).The middle 50% of incoming freshman had a high school GPA of 90.6 with an SAT of 1160.
In 2008 New Paltz received 13,868 applications for the fall and accepted 35%. However, the yield rating was 24% unlike past years of 21% causing an unexpected 1,300 new students to join the New Paltz class body. The incoming freshman had a mean SAT score of 1160, and the mean of their high school GPAs was more than 90.
In 2009, SUNY New Paltz received over 19,000 freshmen and transfer applications for the fall semester. 15,400 applications were freshmen alone. The school accepted 34% of freshmen and 36% of transfer students. The incoming freshmen class had a mean SAT score of 1172 and a high school GPA of 91. Also, 100% of New Paltz's accepted freshmen class continues to come from the top 2 of 5 SUNY Quality Groups.
In 2010, New Paltz accepted 37% of freshmen students and 36% of transfers. The incoming freshmen class has a mean SAT score of 1190 and a high school GPA of 92. Accepted transfer students had a mean GPA of 3.4.
. There are thirteen residence halls, centered mostly in two quads
. The main campus has two dozen academic buildings, including the Haggerty Administration Building, a lecture hall, Old Main, Sojourner Truth
Library, one main dining hall, a Student Union
Building, and extensive gym
nasium and sports areas.
There once was a satellite campus
at Ashokan, New York, consisting of another 400 acres (1.6 km²), located near Woodstock, New York
. In 2008 it was sold by Campus Auxiliary Services to the Open Space Conservancy
.
SUNY New Paltz is undergoing extensive construction projects over the next 5 years, totaling nearly $300 million, including:
Parker theatre was Built in 1962, the Raymond T. Kurdt Theatrical Design Collection, one of the most significant
collections of original costume and set designs in the nation is in Parker Theater
The facility contains 125-seats and is named in honor of patrons to the performing arts programs at SUNY New Paltz. The hall offers a delicate setting student recitals and chamber music performances.
The rear of the hall contains a small studio equipped with Pro-tools HD and a Control 24 sound board used for recording professional venues.
Max and Nadia Shepard Recital Hall is an important facility for the community. The Location hosts many recitals and is an integral part of the Piano Summer
program.
magazine rated SUNY New Paltz as America's "Hottest Small State School".
In 2010, Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine ranked SUNY New Paltz 53rd in the country (out of a list of 100 top schools) in academic quality and affordability.
The college was also recently ranked 8th among the best public universities and 40th among public and private universities in the North that offer bachelor's and master's degree programs, according to the U.S. News & World Report's rankings for America's Best Colleges 2009.
In the 2011 edition of US News & World Report's America's Best Colleges, SUNY New Paltz ranked 7th among top public colleges with Master's Degrees in the North. The school also was named 33rd in the nation for schools with Master's programs.
New Paltz was named one of the best 222 colleges in the northeast by the Princeton Review in 2006.
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance
magazine ranked New Paltz as one of the 100 best values among public colleges and universities in the nation.
The school was also ranked 7th Counterculture
college by High Times Magazine because of its active NORML/SSDP
chapter, a designation which received mixed reviews from administrators and student leaders.
SUNY at New Paltz currently offers bachelor's and master's degrees, with over 100 undergraduate and 50 graduate degree programs. Currently, almost 8,000 students attend SUNY at New Paltz—over 6,200 undergraduates and over 1,600 graduate students. The College President is Donald P. Christian, formerly the college's provost. The Student Body President is Terrell Coakley. The head of Faculty Governance on campus is Simin Mozayeni.
The student governance is operated by the Student Association, which funds most student activities through a mandatory fee. There are many clubs and fraternities and sororities. In addition, there is also an on-campus government, the Residence Hall Student Association (R.H.S.A.), whose president is currently Ranysha Ware.
The college has an auxiliary services corporation common to many state campuses in New York, called College Auxiliary Services, Inc. (CAS). This on-campus company operates the dining halls and bookstore, as well as being the source of discretionary funds for spending by the college president and the R.H.S.A.
The college has a Foundation and an active Alumni Association.
The college's official student newspaper is called The Oracle.
The college's radio station, WFNP, is known as "The Edge". It broadcasts part time at FM 88.7, and also streams online Its public service announcement
program is called the "voicebox of the Valley".
Guarded well by mount and hill
Beats a heart whose pulse is rich and full
Of life, and pow'r, and thrill.
We love thee, Alma Mater dear.
To thee our hearts are true.
And we'll sing with voices strong and clear
To the Orange and Blue.
New Paltz, forever our Alma Mater,
We raise our song to thee.
The hills re-echo with glad crescendo
Our praises full and free.
SUNY New Paltz boasts numerous alumni including:
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in New Paltz, New York. It was founded in 1828 as the School for teaching of classics. In 1885, the New Paltz Normal and Training School was established as a school to prepare teachers for the public schools of New York State. In the 1980s, it was called State University of New York College of Arts and Science New Paltz. It has been called the State University of New York at New Paltz since 1994.
History
Normal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
. It was granted the ability to award baccalaureate
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
degrees in 1942, when it was renamed the State Teachers College at New Paltz. A few years later, in 1947, a graduate program
Graduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
was established. When the State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
was established by legislative act in 1948, the Teachers College at New Paltz was one of 30 colleges associated under SUNY's umbrella. The school is well-known for many programs, including The Legislative Gazette
Legislative Gazette
The Legislative Gazette is a weekly newspaper covering New York state government and politics located in Albany, New York. Published on Mondays from September through June, the publication bills itself as "The weekly newspaper of the New York state government".The Gazette prints original articles...
, a journalism and political science internship in which students live/work in the state capitol and produce a weekly newspaper about state politics. The program launched in 1978—and was almost kicked out of Albany—but somehow survived and grew into an influential newspaper read by nearly everyone involved in New York state government.
There were several student-led protests in the late 1960s and early 1970s, primarily against the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. In the spring of 1967, a sit in protesting against army recruiting on campus blocked the entrance to the Student Union for two days. While there were scores of demonstrators the first day, all but 13 dispersed before State Troopers arrived and bodily carried the demonstrators to a waiting school bus for a trip to court.
In the Fall of 1968, students rallied in support of Craig Pastor (now Craig DeYong) who had been arrested by New Paltz Village Police for desecration of the American flag which he was wearing as a super-hero cape in a student film directed by Edward Falco
Edward Falco
Edward Falco is an American author. His novel Saint John of the Five Boroughs was published by Unbridled Books in 2009. His novel Wolf Point and short story collection Sabbath Night in the Church of the Piranha were both published by Unbridled Books in 2005...
. College President John J. Neumaier posted bail. Pastor was released and charges were dropped. In the spring of 1970 there was a protest leading to the takeover of the Administration Building.
On December 29, 1991, the campus was the scene of a widely reported PCB
Polychlorinated biphenyl
Polychlorinated biphenyls are a class of organic compounds with 2 to 10 chlorine atoms attached to biphenyl, which is a molecule composed of two benzene rings. The chemical formula for PCBs is C12H10-xClx...
incident that contaminated four dormitories (Bliss, Gage, Capen and Scudder residence halls), as well as the Coykendall Science Building and the Parker Theatre. Under the direction of the county and state health departments, the university began a massive, thorough clean-up effort in the five buildings: Bliss, Gage and Scudder residence halls, Parker Theatre and Coykendall Science Building. As an additional precaution, 29 other buildings were thoroughly tested and, if necessary, cleaned. The clean-up process lasted until May 1995. Since 1994, PCBs are no longer used on the SUNY New Paltz campus. Concerns about this incident have been covered in New York Times articles by Michael Winerip, as well as investigative reporting in Woodstock Times
Woodstock Times
Woodstock Times is a small weekly newspaper in Woodstock, New York that is circulated every Thursday. It was established in 1972 by its current owner Geddy Sveikauskas of Ulster Publishing.The editor is Brian Hollander.-External links:*...
and Sierra magazine by Eric Francis
Eric Francis
Eric Francis is an American investigative reporter, essayist, author, editor and photojournalist...
.
In November 1997, two events on campus attracted nationwide media attention. The first, a feminist
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
conference on sex and sexuality sponsored by the women's studies
Women's studies
Women's studies, also known as feminist studies, is an interdisciplinary academic field which explores politics, society and history from an intersectional, multicultural women's perspective...
department entitled "Revolting Behavior: The Challenges of Women's Sexual Freedom", featured instructional workshops on sex toys and sadomasochism. The second, "Subject to Desire: Refiguring the Body", was sponsored by the Fine and Performing Arts Department. One presenter, performance art
Performance art
In art, performance art is a performance presented to an audience, traditionally interdisciplinary. Performance may be either scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned with or without audience participation. The performance can be live or...
ist Carolee Schneemann
Carolee Schneemann
Carolee Schneemann is an American visual artist, known for her discourses on the body, sexuality and gender. She received a B.A. from Bard College and an M.F.A. from the University of Illinois. Her work is primarily characterized by research into visual traditions, taboos, and the body of the...
, had been known for a piece where she slowly unrolled a scroll from her vagina
Vagina
The vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
and read it to the audience.
Political conservatives were outraged that a public university had hosted such events, and Governor
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
and SUNY chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
Robert King expressed their displeasure. The controversy escalated when the Theatre Arts Department staged The Vagina Monologues
The Vagina Monologues
The Vagina Monologues is an episodic play written by Eve Ensler which ran at the Off Broadway Westside Theatre after a limited run at AFRICA in 1996. Ensler originally starred in the production which was produced by David Stone, Nina Essman, Dan Markley, The Araca Group, Willa Shalit, Mike Skipper...
shortly afterwards. The college's then-president, Roger Bowen, defended freedom of expression on campus and refused to apologize, doing little to allay conservative ire. "The real issue," he said, "is whether some ideologues, however well-intentioned, have the right to dictate what we say and what we do on this campus." SUNY trustee Candace de Russy called for him to be dismissed. Bowen later resigned.
In 2006, New Paltz became embroiled in a controversy involving three Student Government officers, who were suspended from the University for a year after an altercation with the Residence Life Director, although a video showed some claims may have been erroneous.
Federal Judge Lawrence Kahn ordered Poskanzer and Rooney to reinstate Holmes and Partington on January 4, 2007, but in February, 2008, Judge Kahn concluded dismissed their due process and retaliation claims.
Statistics
Out of all the schools in the State University of New York system, New Paltz is one of the most selective, recently accepting 34% of all applicants.For 20 consecutive years (as of Fall 2010), New Paltz has received the most student applications among all of SUNY comprehensive colleges.
In 2006 New Paltz received 11,941 applications for the fall and accepted 4,141 (39%).The middle 50% of incoming freshman had a high school GPA of 90.6 with an SAT of 1160.
In 2008 New Paltz received 13,868 applications for the fall and accepted 35%. However, the yield rating was 24% unlike past years of 21% causing an unexpected 1,300 new students to join the New Paltz class body. The incoming freshman had a mean SAT score of 1160, and the mean of their high school GPAs was more than 90.
In 2009, SUNY New Paltz received over 19,000 freshmen and transfer applications for the fall semester. 15,400 applications were freshmen alone. The school accepted 34% of freshmen and 36% of transfer students. The incoming freshmen class had a mean SAT score of 1172 and a high school GPA of 91. Also, 100% of New Paltz's accepted freshmen class continues to come from the top 2 of 5 SUNY Quality Groups.
In 2010, New Paltz accepted 37% of freshmen students and 36% of transfers. The incoming freshmen class has a mean SAT score of 1190 and a high school GPA of 92. Accepted transfer students had a mean GPA of 3.4.
Campus
The SUNY New Paltz campus consists of about 350 acres (1.4 km²) in the small town of New Paltz, New YorkNew Paltz (village), New York
New Paltz is a village in Ulster County in the U.S. state of New York. It is about north of New York City and south of Albany. The population was 6,818 at the 2010 census.The Village of New Paltz is located within the Town of New Paltz...
. There are thirteen residence halls, centered mostly in two quads
Quadrangle (architecture)
In architecture, a quadrangle is a space or courtyard, usually rectangular in plan, the sides of which are entirely or mainly occupied by parts of a large building. The word is probably most closely associated with college or university campus architecture, but quadrangles may be found in other...
. The main campus has two dozen academic buildings, including the Haggerty Administration Building, a lecture hall, Old Main, Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth was the self-given name, from 1843 onward, of Isabella Baumfree, an African-American abolitionist and women's rights activist. Truth was born into slavery in Swartekill, New York, but escaped with her infant daughter to freedom in 1826. After going to court to recover her son, she...
Library, one main dining hall, a Student Union
Student union
Student union may refer to:* Students' union, or student government in the U.S., a student organization at many colleges and universities dedicated to student governance...
Building, and extensive gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
nasium and sports areas.
There once was a satellite campus
Satellite campus
A satellite campus or branch campus is a campus of a college or university that is physically detached from the main university or college area, and is often smaller than the main campus of an institution....
at Ashokan, New York, consisting of another 400 acres (1.6 km²), located near Woodstock, New York
Woodstock, New York
Woodstock is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 5,884 at the 2010 census, down from 6,241 at the 2000 census.The Town of Woodstock is in the northern part of the county...
. In 2008 it was sold by Campus Auxiliary Services to the Open Space Conservancy
Open Space Institute
Open Space Institute is a conservation organization and think tank with an extensive mission statement. It seeks to preserve scenic, natural and historic landscapes for public enjoyment, conserve habitats while sustaining community character, and help protect the environment...
.
SUNY New Paltz is undergoing extensive construction projects over the next 5 years, totaling nearly $300 million, including:
- Student Union Building addition (completed for the Fall 2010 semester)
- Old Main renovation (complete by Spring 2011)
- Sojourner Truth Library renovation (begins 2011)
- Construction of a new science building (start-date unknown)
- Wooster Science Building renovation (start-date unknown)
- Construction of Mohonk Walk (begins 2011)
- Hasbrouck Quad Landscaping/Renovation (begins Spring/Summer 2010)
- The Concourse Landscaping/Renovation (begins Spring/Summer 2010)
Campus theaters
SUNY at New Paltz contains three on-campus theaters.McKenna Theater
McKenna Theatre, is a fully equipped proscenium theatre seating 366. The theater is named in honor of Dr. Rebecca McKenna, professor of English and Drama and the founder of the theatre arts program at New Paltz. At the rear portion of the theater is a sound booth for digital audio equipment it has the capabilities to playback, mix, and amplify audio. There is also a lighting booth with a computerized light board (controlling over 200 dimmers) and lcd video projection equipment behind the audience (and upstairs). There are 32 line sets in the fly space above the stage. There is also a scene shop behind the stage, storage area for scenery, a paint shop, and some other technical facilities.Parker Theater
The building was originally built as a dining hall. Parker was then converted to a theatre venue and teaching space. In 1972 it was made into a theatre production facility. The building was renovated in 1994, it features modified thrust stage surrounded by a three-quarter audience configuration it seats up to 200 people. In the rear are lighting and sound booths with computerized light board (controlling over 90 dimmers) and digital audio equipment. To the right and the left side of stage are performance studio spaces, classes are offered in acting, voice, movement, and musical theatre. On the same floor of the theater, there is a costume studio, dressing rooms, costume maintenance, storage facilities, and faculty offices.Parker theatre was Built in 1962, the Raymond T. Kurdt Theatrical Design Collection, one of the most significant
collections of original costume and set designs in the nation is in Parker Theater
Max and Nadia Shepard Recital Hall
Max and Nadia Shepard Recital Hall resides in College Hall a building on the campus of the State University of New York at New Paltz. College Hall is the oldest residence hall on the campus of the State University of New York at New Paltz built in 1951, it is a landmark, and is the closest hall to the village of New Paltz.The facility contains 125-seats and is named in honor of patrons to the performing arts programs at SUNY New Paltz. The hall offers a delicate setting student recitals and chamber music performances.
The rear of the hall contains a small studio equipped with Pro-tools HD and a Control 24 sound board used for recording professional venues.
Max and Nadia Shepard Recital Hall is an important facility for the community. The Location hosts many recitals and is an integral part of the Piano Summer
Piano Summer
Piano Summer is an international summer institute and festival dedicated solely to piano music it was founded in 1995. It features an integrated approach to learning and performance under the artistic direction of master pianist and teacher Vladimir Feltsman. Gifted students from around the world...
program.
Demographics
New Paltz boasts a diverse student body composed of African Americans (7.5%), Latinos 10.1% and Asian/Pacific Islanders 4.3%. The majority of the student body feeds from Long Island (28.6%), New York City (23.5%) and the Hudson Valley Area (15.9%). Out of state students make up 6% of the total student body, while international students make up 1%. There is a 3:1 female to male ratio.Rankings
In 2007, NewsweekNewsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
magazine rated SUNY New Paltz as America's "Hottest Small State School".
In 2010, Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine ranked SUNY New Paltz 53rd in the country (out of a list of 100 top schools) in academic quality and affordability.
The college was also recently ranked 8th among the best public universities and 40th among public and private universities in the North that offer bachelor's and master's degree programs, according to the U.S. News & World Report's rankings for America's Best Colleges 2009.
In the 2011 edition of US News & World Report's America's Best Colleges, SUNY New Paltz ranked 7th among top public colleges with Master's Degrees in the North. The school also was named 33rd in the nation for schools with Master's programs.
New Paltz was named one of the best 222 colleges in the northeast by the Princeton Review in 2006.
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance
Kiplinger
Kiplinger is a Washington, D.C.-based publisher of business forecasts and personal finance advice, available in print, online, audio, video and software products ....
magazine ranked New Paltz as one of the 100 best values among public colleges and universities in the nation.
The school was also ranked 7th Counterculture
Counterculture
Counterculture is a sociological term used to describe the values and norms of behavior of a cultural group, or subculture, that run counter to those of the social mainstream of the day, the cultural equivalent of political opposition. Counterculture can also be described as a group whose behavior...
college by High Times Magazine because of its active NORML/SSDP
Students for Sensible Drug Policy
Students for Sensible Drug Policy is an international non-profit advocacy and education organization based in Washington D.C., with offices in both Washington D.C. and San Francisco, CA...
chapter, a designation which received mixed reviews from administrators and student leaders.
Current Information
Sports, clubs, and traditions
SUNY New Paltz has men's and women's intercollegiate sports. The mascot for the college's sports teams is the hawk.The student governance is operated by the Student Association, which funds most student activities through a mandatory fee. There are many clubs and fraternities and sororities. In addition, there is also an on-campus government, the Residence Hall Student Association (R.H.S.A.), whose president is currently Ranysha Ware.
The college has an auxiliary services corporation common to many state campuses in New York, called College Auxiliary Services, Inc. (CAS). This on-campus company operates the dining halls and bookstore, as well as being the source of discretionary funds for spending by the college president and the R.H.S.A.
The college has a Foundation and an active Alumni Association.
The college's official student newspaper is called The Oracle.
The college's radio station, WFNP, is known as "The Edge". It broadcasts part time at FM 88.7, and also streams online Its public service announcement
Public service announcement
A public service announcement or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media...
program is called the "voicebox of the Valley".
Alma mater
In a valley fair and beautifulGuarded well by mount and hill
Beats a heart whose pulse is rich and full
Of life, and pow'r, and thrill.
We love thee, Alma Mater dear.
To thee our hearts are true.
And we'll sing with voices strong and clear
To the Orange and Blue.
New Paltz, forever our Alma Mater,
We raise our song to thee.
The hills re-echo with glad crescendo
Our praises full and free.
Notable alumni
- Salvador AgronSalvador AgronSalvador Agron The correct spelling of his surname in Spanish is Agrón. But the biography by Jacoby, his personal friend, uses the americanized spelling Agron exclusively throughout...
- The Capeman, responsible for the Capeman Murders - Michael BadaluccoMichael BadaluccoMichael Badalucco is an American actor most famous for his role as lawyer Jimmy Berluti on the ABC legal drama The Practice...
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- Reporter - Kevin CahillKevin CahillKevin Cahill is an American politician who has represented District 101 in the New York State Assembly since 1999. District 101 comprises large portions of Ulster County and both the town and village of Rhinebeck in Dutchess County. The towns of Woodstock, Ulster, and New Paltz are all part of his...
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- Joan ChenJoan ChenJoan Chong Chen is a Chinese American actress, film director, screenwriter and film producer. She became famous in China for her performance in the 1979 film Little Flower and came to international attention for her performance in the 1987 Academy Award-winning film The Last Emperor...
- Actress - Scott Cohen - Actor
- Murali CoryellMurali CoryellMurali Coryell is an American blues guitarist and singer. Best known for performing live in small venues in New York State, Coryell has also opened for George Thorogood, Gregg Allman, B.B. King and Wilson Pickett...
- Guitarist - Anthony DenisonAnthony DenisonAnthony John Sarrero , also known by his stage name Anthony Denison, is an American actor. The eldest of three, he was born and raised in New York City's Harlem. Before acting he worked for John Hancock Insurance as a life insurance agent in Poughkeepsie, New York...
- Actor - James Dolan, Owner of the New York KnicksNew York KnicksThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, New York RangersNew York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
and Madison Square GardenMadison Square GardenMadison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
and CEO of Cablevision - Edward FalcoEdward FalcoEdward Falco is an American author. His novel Saint John of the Five Boroughs was published by Unbridled Books in 2009. His novel Wolf Point and short story collection Sabbath Night in the Church of the Piranha were both published by Unbridled Books in 2005...
- AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
novelist and Professor of English at Virginia Tech (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) - James M. Follo - CFO of New York Times Company
- Matt "Trance" FuryTrance Fury-Biography:Matthew Fury better known as Trance Fury is an American music producer, and songwriter maybe best recognized for his tracks on The Weather Channel - Local on the 8's....
- Musician/Producer - Helen K. GarberHelen K. GarberHelen K. Garber is an American photographer known mostly for her black and white urban landscapes of cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Paris, Amsterdam and Venice...
- photographer - Michael GladisMichael GladisMichael Gladis is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Paul Kinsey on the television series Mad Men, where he appeared in the series' first three seasons. Prior to Mad Men, he played Eugene Rossi in four episodes of Third Watch...
- Actor - Daniel Gonzalez - lobbyist and former Federal Communications CommissionFederal Communications CommissionThe Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
Chief of Staff - Vinny GuadagninoVinny GuadagninoVincent "Vinny" Guadagnino, one of the stars of MTV's hit show Jersey Shore, was born and raised in Staten Island, New York and comes from a traditional Italian-American family...
- Jersey ShoreJersey ShoreThe Jersey Shore is a term used to refer to both the Atlantic coast of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the adjacent resort and residential communities. . The New Jersey State Department of Tourism considers the Shore Region, Greater Atlantic City, and the Southern Shore to be distinct, each having...
reality show actor - Maurice HincheyMaurice HincheyMaurice Dunlea Hinchey , is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
'68, M.A. '70 - United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution... - Gary KingGary King (political scientist)Gary King is a political scientist and quantitative methodologist. He is currently the Albert J. Weatherhead III University Professor and Director for the Institute for Quantitative Social Science at Harvard University.-Biography:...
- Professor of Government at Harvard UniversityHarvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country... - Christopher MansonChristopher MansonChristopher Manson is a children's book author and illustrator noted for his use of traditional hand tools to painstakingly make the pine woodcuts that fill his several highly acclaimed works.-Background:...
- Children's book author/illustrator - William ParmentWilliam ParmentWilliam L. Parment was born in Jamestown, New York, and raised in Ellington. He is a "sixth generation Chautauqua County native."Within the New York State Assembly, he represents District 150, which includes most of Chautauqua County , including the cities of...
- New York State AssemblyNew York State AssemblyThe New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652... - Andrea PeyserAndrea PeyserAndrea Peyser is a columnist for the New York Post, well-recognized for her coverage of many "scandals" involving public figures.-Career:...
- New York Post columnist - Rebecca RotzlerRebecca RotzlerRebecca Rotzler is one of seven co-chairs of the Green Party of the United States, elected to that position on July 24, 2005. She was elected deputy mayor and a trustee of New Paltz, New York, on May 6, 2003; one of the first Green Party candidates elected in New York...
- Co-chair of the Green Party of the United States - Roseann RunteRoseann RunteRoseann O'Reilly Runte, is a college professor and the President and Vice-Chancellor of Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. She was also the seventh president of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, only the third woman to head a four-year college or university in Virginia...
, President of Old Dominion UniversityOld Dominion UniversityOld Dominion University is a state university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools... - Ilyasah ShabazzIlyasah ShabazzIlyasah Shabazz is the third daughter of Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz. She is the author of a memoir, Growing Up X, and a motivational speaker.-Early life:Shabazz was born in Queens, New York, on July 22, 1962...
- Daughter of Malcolm X, writer - Andy ShernoffAndy ShernoffAndy Shernoff is a musician, songwriter, record producer and oenophile.He is a founding member of The Dictators, one of the original New York punk bands, in which he wrote nearly all of the songs, played bass guitar and keyboards, and sang backing vocals and occasional leads...
- Rock Musician - Denis Simon - political analyst, provost at Levin Graduate Institute of International Relations and Commerce
- Alex Storozynski - Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist
- Aida TurturroAida TurturroAida Turturro is an American actress probably best known for playing Janice Soprano, sister of New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano, on the HBO TV series The Sopranos .-Personal life:...
- Actress - John TurturroJohn TurturroJohn Michael Turturro is an American actor, writer and director known for his roles in the films Do the Right Thing , Miller's Crossing , Barton Fink , Quiz Show , The Big Lebowski , O Brother, Where Art Thou? and the Transformers film series...
- Actor - Jason WestJason WestJason West is the mayor of the village of New Paltz, New York, having resumed the duties of office on June 1, 2011. He served previously as the village's mayor from January 1, 2003 to May 31, 2007....
- Mayor of the Village of New Paltz, NY - Yashar Zadeh - better known as the underground rapper Yak BallzYak BallzYak Ballz, born Yashar Zadeh is an American independent hip hop artist, who was brought up in Flushing, Queens, New York. He is one of the original members of The Weathermen. He is also a member of Cardboard City.-Early life:...
- Zach ZarbaZach ZarbaZachary "Zach" Zarba is a professional basketball referee in the National Basketball Association. His first season was in 2004. He wears the uniform number 58.-Background:...
- NBA Official
Notable faculty
- Clinton BennettClinton BennettClinton Bennett is a British scholar of religions and participant in interfaith dialogue specializing in the study of Islam and Muslim-non-Muslim encounter. An ordained Baptist minister, he was a missionary in Bangladesh before serving as the second director of interfaith relations at the British...
- adjunct lecturer, Religious Studies Program; authority on IslamIslamIslam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~... - Arthur H. CashArthur H. CashArthur Hill Cash is an American scholar of 18th-century English literature.Cash is best known as the author of the definitive two-volume biography of Laurence Sterne, published between 1975 and 1986...
- SUNY Distinguished Professor and professor emeritus of English; authority on Laurence SterneLaurence SterneLaurence Sterne was an Irish novelist and an Anglican clergyman. He is best known for his novels The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy; but he also published many sermons, wrote memoirs, and was involved in local politics... - Vladimir FeltsmanVladimir FeltsmanVladimir Feltsman is a Russian American classical pianist.Feltsman debuted with the Moscow Philharmonic at age 11. He studied at the Moscow Tchaikovsky, Moscow, and Leningrad Vladimir Feltsman is a Russian American classical pianist.Feltsman debuted with the Moscow Philharmonic at age 11. He...
- University Professor, Music Department - Heinz Insu FenklHeinz Insu Fenkl- Academic work :Fenkl is an associate professor of English and Asian Studies at SUNY New Paltz. He previously served as coordinator of the school's Creative Writing Program and was director of the now-defunct ISIS: The Interstitial Studies Institute .Before his appointment to his current position...
- associate professor of English; novelist, translator and folklorist - Ray HuangRay HuangRay Huang was a Chinese historian and philosopher. He was an officer in the Nationalist army and fought in the Burma campaigns. He earned a Ph.D in history from the University of Michigan, worked with Joseph Needham and is a contributor of Needham's Science and Civilisation in China...
- late professor emeritus of history; authority on the Ming dynastyMing DynastyThe Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
; author of 1587: A Year of No Significance - Anthony RobinsonAnthony Robinson (novelist)Anthony Robinson is an American novelist and short story writer, and for many years a professor of creative writing at SUNY New Paltz.-Personal life:...
- professor emeritus of English and former director of Creative Writing Program - H.R. StonebackH.R. StonebackHarry Robert Stoneback is an American academic, poet, and folk singer. A Hemingway, Durrell, and Faulkner scholar of international distinction, Stoneback—who, as an itinerant musician in the early 1960s, collaborated with Jerry Jeff Walker and played with Bob Dylan at Gerde's Folk City shortly...
- SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor and professor of English; authority on Ernest HemingwayErnest HemingwayErnest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
, William FaulknerWilliam FaulknerWilliam Cuthbert Faulkner was an American writer from Oxford, Mississippi. Faulkner worked in a variety of media; he wrote novels, short stories, a play, poetry, essays and screenplays during his career...
, and Lawrence DurrellLawrence DurrellLawrence George Durrell was an expatriate British novelist, poet, dramatist, and travel writer, though he resisted affiliation with Britain and preferred to be considered cosmopolitan...