Binghamton University
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Established | 1946 |
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| Type | Public |
| President | Lois B. DeFleur |
| Faculty | 504 |
| Undergraduates | 11,174 |
| Postgraduates | 2,844 |
| Location | Vestal, NY, USA |
| Campus | Suburban, 887 acres (3.6 km²) |
| Colors | Green and White |
| Nickname | The Public Ivy |
| Mascot | Bearcat |
| Affiliations | State University of New York |
| Website | Binghamton.edu |
Binghamton University, also known as the State University of New York at Binghamton, is a public university located in Vestal, New York. The school is one of the four university centers of the State University of New York system. Binghamton University offers a wide variety of programs to its approximately 11,000 undergraduate and nearly 3,000 graduate students, and it is currently the highest-ranked public university in New York State, according to U.S. News & World Report .[1] Binghamton places among the top 10 "best buys" in public institutions in the nation, a number two for out-of-state students. [2]. Binghamton University is cited by The Fiske Guide to Colleges as "the premier public university in the Northeast." [3] and is considered a Public Ivy by Greenes' Guides to Educational Planning.
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[edit] History
Binghamton University (BU) was established in 1946 as the Triple Cities College to serve the needs of local veterans returning from World War II. Established in Endicott, New York, the college was a branch of Syracuse University. When the college was incorporated into the State University of New York (SUNY) in 1950, it was renamed Harpur College, in honor of Robert Harpur, a Colonial teacher and pioneer who settled in the Binghamton area. Of the four University Centers (Stony Brook, Albany, Buffalo and Binghamton), BU was the first to join SUNY. In 1951, the college began an ambitious move to its current location in Vestal, New York. The 800+ acre site was purchased from a local farmer, anticipating future growth for the school. Colonial Hall, the original building of the former campus, stands today as the Village of Endicott Visitor's Center. After Harpur was selected as one of the four university centers of SUNY in 1965, it was renamed as Harpur College, State University of New York at Binghamton. As other schools were added, Harpur College retained its name as the liberal arts college core, and largest component, of the State University of New York at Binghamton. In 1992, the university adopted Binghamton University as its popular name; hence BU began replacing the commonly used nicknames of SUNY Binghamton and SUNY-B. Harpur College is still the largest of Binghamton University's constituent schools, with more than 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
[edit] Today
Binghamton University has grown to include roughly 100 buildings, some of which were recent additions from a $2.2 billion SUNY capital plan. New facilities include a housing complex, academic facilities, an indoor multipurpose Events Center to accommodate Bearcat athletic events and other activities, an addition to the student union and the partially completed Innovative Technologies Complex. In the works are the Binghamton University Education and Community Development Center in downtown Binghamton scheduled to open for the fall 2007 semester, new outdoor athletic facilities, a great deal of landscaping and renovations and upgrades to two residential communities.
The landmark Glenn G. Bartle Library Tower is still home to offices as well as the Library (holding over 3.3 million volumes). The antenna atop the building transmits WHRW, the campus' FM radio station, to an approximate 30-mile radius. A Cingular cellular phone tower sits atop the building as well. Simulated bells ring at select hours from atop the building.
Lois B. DeFleur is the fifth and current president of Binghamton University and has held the position since 1990.
The campus is spread over 887 acres (3.6 km²) just south of the Susquehanna River. It features a 190-acre (0.8 km²) Nature Preserve, a forest and wetland area that includes a six-acre (24,000 m²) pond that adjoins the campus.
There is also a $29 million Education and Community Development Center currently being constructed in downtown Binghamton. Once complete, the center will house a new school, the College of Community and Public Affairs.
The school's sports teams are called the Bearcats (formerly the Colonials). They participate in NCAA Division I athletics through the America East Conference.
[edit] Colleges and schools
Binghamton University is comprised of the following colleges and schools:
- Harpur College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest and largest of Binghamton University’s divisions. It is home to 7,433 undergraduates and 1,231 graduate students in 29 departments and 12 interdisciplinary degree programs in the humanities, natural and social sciences, and mathematics. Notable departments include the political science department, which was ranked 19th in the world by the journal Political Studies Review. [4]
- The College of Community and Public Affairs offers an undergraduate major in human development as well as graduate programs in social work and public administration. It was formed in July 2006 after a reorganization of its predecessor, the Schoolf of Education and Human Development. With 475 undergraduates and 301 graduate students, it is among Binghamton University’s smallest schools. [5]
- The Decker School of Nursing was established in 1969. With 411 undergraduates and 74 graduate students, it is Binghamton University’s smallest school. Approximately 11 percent of Decker School students are male, compared to the national average of 8 percent. [6] The school offers undegraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees in nursing.
- The School of Education was formed in July 2006 as part of the same reorganization that created the College of Community and Public Affairs. It offers master’s of science and doctoral degrees and is accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council. [7]
- The School of Management is the most difficult undergraduate program to gain admission to at Binghamton University, and is touted as the most prestigious program on campus. Approximately two-thirds of SOM students come from the top 5 percent of their high school graduating class.[citation needed] The School of Management places graduates into top firms including all of the Big Four accounting firms (SOM is the #3 feeder to the Big Four [citation needed]). The SOM is also among the top ten business schools for pass rates on the CPA exam.[citation needed] Studying in the SOM is an interactive experience, with many internship opportunities off campus as well as the Zurack Trading Center (a New York Stock Exchange floor) on campus where students manage their own portfolios, and an entreprenuership program that fosters ingenuity and creativity in students; it even funds the creation of real entrepreneurial endeavors.
- Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science is one of the fastest growing schools on campus. Recent advancements include a move to the Innovative Technologies Complex by the Department of Bioengineering and Division of Research, newly renovated facilities and award-winning research programs such as for nano-packaging research. The new state budget includes funding for a $60 million science and engineering facility.[citation needed] New spaces in the library allow for engineering students to utilize their own high-tech lab space beginning in their Freshman year.
[edit] Statistics (as of 2005-2006)
- Middle 50 percent SAT Score (Math + Verbal): 1190-1360, 1270 average
- Middle 50 percent of students' high school GPA: 92-95, 94 average.
- Four-Year Graduation rate: 70 percent, the third highest among all public schools. Only the University of Virginia and The College of William and Mary rank higher in this regard.[8].
- Freshman Acceptance rate: 32-35%.
- Acceptance rate including transfers: 42%
- Binghamton is the 7th most selective public university in the country.
- Binghamton boasts one of the top 15 schools in the country for the lowest debt load of its graduates.
- Retention Rate: 92 percent, the highest in the SUNY system.
- Students who study abroad: 20 percent
[edit] Placement
- After graduation: 40-50 percent of students will continue on to graduate school, while the remaining 50-60 percent go into the workforce.
- Medical School Placement: 65-70 percent (national average: 48 percent)
- Law School Placement: 75-82 percent (national average: 52 percent)
- Vet-School Placement: 100 percent
- Optometry School Placement: 100 percent
- Binghamton University is the number three feeder to the Big Four accounting firms, and number two to the largest of the four, PricewaterhouseCoopers.
[edit] Noteworthy research, programs and centers
Binghamton University is specifially designated an advanced research institution and has recently been declared a New York State Center of Excellence, which will help provide considerable funding for many of the University's research projects. The following are highlights of some of the research conducted at the University:
- The Evolutionary Studies Program (EvoS) is one of the first programs in the country that explicitly seeks to apply evolutionary insights to all areas of inquiry, including the humanities.[citation needed] The program promotes traditional evolutionary studies in biology, but also has members who study such disciplines and topics as the arts, literature, laughter and education from evolutionary perspectives. The program is headed by biology and anthropology professor David Sloan Wilson.
- Stirrings Still: The International Journal of Existential Literature was founded in 2003 by members of Binghamton University's English Department.
In addition, Binghamton faculty often develop cross-disciplinary connections that become permanent working relationships. As a result, many of these connections have been formalized through Binghamton University’s Center for Excellence, through organized research centers and institutes for advanced studies. These organizations offer equipment and expertise that may be accessed by faculty across the disciplines and by members of the community who need specialized services, and one of the University's most important links to the larger local, regional and global communities of which it is a vital part. The University's organized research centers include:
- Center for Advanced Microelectronics Manufacturing (CAMM)
- Center for Advanced Sensor Research and Environmental Systems (CASE)
- Center for Cognitive and Psycholinguistic Sciences (CaPS)
- Center for Developmental Psychobiology (CDP)
- Center for the Historical Study of Women and Gender (CHSWG)
- Center for Integrated Watershed Studies (CIWS)
- Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Philosophy, Interpretation and Culture (CPIC)
- The Center for Leadership Studies, founded in the landmark research of Professor Emeritus Bernard Bass on his full-range model of leadership, is considered one of the leading research centers in leadership.[citation needed]
- Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT)
- Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies (CEMERS)
- Center for Research in Translation (CRIT)
- Center for Science, Mathematics and Technology Education (CSMTE)
- Center for the Teaching of American History (CTAH)
- Center on Democratic Performance (CoDP)
- Institute for Materials Research (IMR)
- Institute for Primary and Preventative Health Care (IPPH)
- Institute of Biomedical Technology (IBT)
- Integrated Electronics Engineering Center (IEEC)
- Public Archaeology Facility (PAF)
- Roger L. and Mary F. Kresge Center for Nursing Research (KNCR)
The University's institutes for advanced studies include:
- Fernand Braudel Center for the Study of Economies, Historical Systems, and Civilizations (FBC)
- Institute for Child Development, one of the leading research institutes for youth autism.
- Institute of Global Cultural Studies (IGCS)
Although not considered a research center, the Geographic Information System (GIS) Core Facility , located within the Department of Geography, is at the forefront of spatial analysis and social research.
More information about Binghamton University research can be found here.
[edit] Libraries
Binghamton University houses roughly 3.3 million volumes between multiple libraries. The main library on campus is the Glenn G. Bartle Library, named after the University's first president. The Bartle Library, completed in several phases, was one of the first buildings erected on the new campus in the early 1950s. Soon after a 15-story faculty tower was added on, now called the Library Tower. Today, these two sections host the Harpur College dean's office, Harpur College departmental and faculty offices, the Watson School dean's office and lab space, a cafe, classrooms, study rooms and the Fine Arts and Special Collections. In the 1970s, a five-story addition completed the third and largest section which is where, today, you can find the large majority of Binghamton's library collection. Large sections of the addition have been renovated to be very bright and contemporary, with areas such as the Information Commons hosting various technology support and resources. In addition to the main library, there are also satellite libraries, the largest of which is the Science Library, conveniently located in the science complex. The Hinman, Newing and CIW libraries in their respective residential communities offer convenient study spaces for students close to their rooms.
[edit] Attractions
- Anderson Center for the Performing Arts
This theater complex has three main stages: Watters Theater, seating 550; the Chamber Hall, seating 450; and the impressive Osterhout Concert Theater, seating 1,200. The concert theater has the unique ability to become an open-air venue, with its movable, floor-to-ceiling glass windows that open up to a grassy hill. The Anderson Center has hosted world-class performers such as the Russian Symphony and Ballet, the Prague National Symphony and the Shakespearian Theater Company. In March 2006, an overflow house, filling all of the Anderson Center's theaters, was present to hear guest speaker Noam Chomsky.
- University Art Museums
The University's art collection is housed more than one location, but all within the Fine Arts Building. The building's main-level gallery hosts various artifacts which belong to the Permanent Collection, though typically showcases student work on a rotating basis. The Permanent Collection in the basement level of the building showcases ancient art from Egypt, China and other locales. Lastly, the Elsie B. Rosefsky Gallery, just off the Grand Corridor, displays special exhibits and portfolios.
This new addition to campus is the area's largest venue for athletics, concerts fairs and more. Home court to the Binghamton Bearcat basketball teams, the facility seats about 7,000 people for games. For concerts, Commencement and other larger events, the Events Center can hold up to 10,000 people. Home site for the America East Conference Men's Basketball Championships in 2005 and 2006, the court is slated to host the women's championships for 2007. Major concerts already hosted at the Events Center have included Green Day, Bob Dylan, Incubus, Ludacris and Harry Connick Jr..
- Binghamton University Nature Preserve
The university's Nature Preserve is a 190-acre plot of land on the southern end of campus. Students have actively worked to make sure the space remains untouched. The preserve features miles of maintained paths, a large lake, marsh areas, vernal pools, tall hills and even a hill-top meadow. A popular hang-out spot is the long wooden boardwalk constructed across one of the marshes, overlooking the lake.
[edit] Residential communities
Dormitories at Binghamton University are grouped into five communities patterned after the residential colleges of Oxford University which house undergraduates, as well as two apartment communities housing upperclassmen undergraduates and graduate students. Of the residential colleges, Dickinson Community and Newing College feature corridor-style double-occupancy rooms, while College-in-the-Woods mixes suites and double- and triple-occupancy rooms, Hinman College and Mountainview College (the newest of the colleges) are comprised exclusively of suites. Susquehanna Community and Hillside Community contain only apartments.
Each of Binghamton University’s dormitories are named for people or places of local or statewide significance. Dickinson Community, is named for Daniel Dickinson, an early settler of New York’s Southern Tier, and Hinman College is named for New York State Senator Harvey D. Hinman. Newing College’s halls are named for Southern Tier towns and counties, College-in-the-Woods’ halls are named after tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy, Dickinson dormitories are named in honor of prominent area residents at the time of their construction, Hinman halls are named for prominent governors of New York, and Moutainview dormitories are named for New York State mountains. Regarding the apartment communities, halls in Susquehanna are named for tributaries of the Susquehanna River, which flows through the city of Binghamton, while Hillside halls are named for New York State parks.
[edit] Student groups
The Student Association, which bills itself as "an all encompassing organization that every single student is a member of as soon as they pay their tuition," [citation needed] functions as Binghamton University's independent student government. Like the United States federal government, the Student Association is comprised of independent executive, legislative, and judicial branches, with members of the executive and legislative branches elected by popular vote of the student body. Members of the judiciary, known as the Judicial Board, are nominated by the Student Association president and confirmed by the Student Assembly, the legislative branch. Members of the Student Assembly, the legislative branch, are elected by the different communities, with off campus students falling into one off campus community. The association is funded by a mandatory activity fee which must be approved by regular student referendums.
The Student Association retains the sole right to charter and recognize groups on campus, other than social fraternities and sororities. Currently, the SA recognizes approximately 160 student organizations.[citation needed]
Student groups provide a wide range of services, many are entirely student-run with no facualty supervision or university funding. WHRW, an FM radio station staffed by students and community members, is one of the few remaining free-format college and community FM radio stations left in the United States.[citation needed] Students also operate BTV, a cable television station available on campus and one of the few student-run Speech and Debate teams on the east coast. Binghamton University students also publish several journals, newspapers, and other periodicals, including Pipe Dream, the Binghamton Review, the Binghamton Prospect, The Spark, Asian Outlook, Han Perspective, and the BU Free Press.
Bus transportation on campus and in local neighborhoods with a high density of students is provided by OCC Transport, one of the few student-run bus services in the country.[citation needed] Binghamton University students also run the all-volunteer Harpur's Ferry Student Volunteer Ambulance Service, which was named New York State EMS Agency of the Year in 2005.[9] It was also named agency of the year at the 2005-2006 National Collegiate EMS Conference.[10]
Binghamton University is also home to several student a cappella musical groups, including The Binghamton Crosbys, who won the national championships in 2003[11]. Other student a capella groups include The Harpur Harpeggios ("The Pegs"--all female), The Binghamtonics ("The Tonics"--the first co-ed group), The Vibrations ("The Vibes"--oldies co-ed), Rhythm Method (1980s co-ed), Kaskeset (Jewish co-ed), Koinonia (Christian co-ed) and the newest addition, The TrebleMakers (alt-rock co-ed.) The University is also the home of the non-chartered sketch and improvisational comedy group, The Pappy Parker Players, which consists of current and past students of the university.
Social fraternities and sororities are recognized by the University's Office of Campus Life and make up approximately 8 percent of the student population. Popular fraternities and sororities include Delta Chi, Nu Alpha Phi, Alpha Sigma Phi, Pi Lambda Phi, Phi Iota Alpha, Phi Kappa Psi, Zeta Beta Tau, Chi Phi, Alpha Phi Delta, Tau Alpha Upsilon, Tau Epsilon Phi, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Alpha Chi Rho, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Alpha Xi Delta, Alpha Phi, Delta Phi Epsilon, Sigma Delta Tau and Phi Sigma Sigma.
[edit] Economic Impact
According to a 2006 report from the University’s Office of Institutional Research and Planning, Binghamton University faculty, staff, students and visitors spent more than $400 million in the 2004-05 fiscal year, creating an economic impact of about $700 million in Broome County and $894.5 million in New York State alone.
The University’s Office of Institutional Research and Planning, also found that:
- For every dollar the state invests in the University, about $8 is returned to Greater Binghamton and New York State.
- The presence of the University supports 11,900 full-time jobs in New York State, nearly 10,000 of which are in Broome County. The University employs about 1 in 10 residents in the Greater Binghamton area.
- The University spent $44.3 million on construction projects in 2004-05, resulting in an economic impact of nearly $100 million for the state. Major construction projects are expected to continue.
- Volunteer services provided by students are appraised at millions of dollars annually.
From the year 2000, the University's economic impact has increased by about 12 percent and is expected to continue growing substantially. It is also estimated that Binghamton alumni pay over $80 million in New York state income tax and over $40 million in sales tax.
[edit] Alma Mater
The university's alma mater, "In the Rolling Hills of Binghamton," was composed by David Engel '86, and is performed at the University's Commencement each May. The lyrics are:
"In the Rolling Hills of Binghamton 'Neath ever changing skies Where two gently flowing rivers meet We form our cherished ties
Oh Binghamton! We carry thee With us for all our time And through us individually Forever may you shine!
Together we spend these years United in our aim Through our bold pursuit of excellence We proudly bear your name
Oh Binghamton! We carry thee With us for all our time And through us individually Forever may you shine!"
[edit] Prominent alumni
- William Baldwin, actor
- Bruce Benderson, novelist and essayist
- Andrew Bergman, screenwriter and film director; Screenplay for 'Blazing Saddles'
- Joseph H. Boardman, Administrator, Federal Railway Administration
- Ronald Brownstein, journalist Los Angeles Times
- Tracy Caliendo-Schneck, Vice President of Goldman Sachs.
- Kathleen Cardone, U.S. Federal Judge
- Harold Cohen, Florida Judge, Presided over the famous multi-billion-dollar case against the tobacco industry of 1997.
- Michael Convertino, composer
- Jesse Rubinstein, Scholar
- Norman G. Finkelstein, political science professor
- Lawrence A. Heilbronner, CFO of Canandaigua National Bank and Trust Company
- Mitchell J. Katz, Vice President of Habitat for Humanity's Board of Directors.
- Steve Koren, screenwriter for Bruce Almighty, Saturday Night Live, and Seinfeld.
- Tony Kornheiser, Washington Post sportswriter, host of 'Pardon the Interruption' on ESPN, and co-host of Monday Night Football
- Gary Kunis, VP of Cisco Systems, CTO of Nortel, Internet Pioneer
- David Langolf, inventor of the Lango-matic colonic flushing system.
- Richard Levandov Director of Liquid Machines, Director of Nexaweb.
- Arnold Levine, Microbiologist, Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, Former President of the Rockefeller University.
- John Liu, first and currently the only Asian Pacific American serving on the New York City Council
- Johnny Logan, Milwaukee Braves shortstop and Endicott native.
- Geraldine MacDonald, Vice President of AOL/Time Warner.
- Matt Ouimet, president of the Hotel Group at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, former president of the Disneyland Resort
- Camille Paglia, prominent feminist and social critic; featured on Time's top 100 intellectuals list.
- Mario Paniccia, Intel Inventor of world's fastest Silicon Photonic Chip
- Dan Rafael, ESPN Boxing Analyst and Writer
- Lee Ranaldo, musician
- Karl Ravech, Host of Baseball Tonight,on ESPN
- Paul Reiser, actor and writer
- Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Tony Award winner
- Dava Sobel, author of "Longitude" and "Galileo's Daughter"
- Art Spiegelman, graphic novelist and Pulitzer Prize winner
- Bob Swan, CFO of eBay
- Deborah Tannen, Bestselling author and Professor of Linguistics, Georgetown University
- Mark A. Zurack, Managing Director of Goldman Sachs, Board of Directors at the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Professor of Management at Cornell University and Columbia University
- Edwin John Wintle, author of Breakfast With Tiffany: An Uncle's Memoir
[edit] Trivia
- Recognized as a 'Public Ivy' in Greene's Guides (2001)
- Referred to as "The Ivy of the SUNYs"
[edit] References
- ^ "America's Best Colleges 2006: National Universities: Top Schools", U.S. News & World Report, accessed August 8, 2006
- ^ [1]
- ^ "The Fiske Guides: One Hour College Finder", FiskeGuide.com, accessed August 8, 2006
- ^ "A Global Ranking of Political Science Departments", Political Studies Review, 2004 Vol 2 pp. 293-313
- ^ "College of Community and Public Affairs: Facts and Figures", ccpa.binghamton.edu, accessed October 30, 2006
- ^ "Decker’s male enrollment tops national average", Inside BU, February 10, 2005
- ^ "Teacher Education Accreditation Council: Members by Carnegie Classification", www.teac.org’’, accessed October 30, 2006
- ^ "Binghamton ranked third nationally for graduation rates", Inside BU, February 24, 2005
- ^ "Harpur's Ferry wins statewide honor", Inside BU, October 20, 2005.
- ^ "Harpur’s Ferry receives national recognition", Inside BU, March 2, 2006.
- ^ "International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella: 2003 Results", VarsityVocals.com, accessed August 9, 2006
[edit] External links
- Student Association at Binghamton University
- Division of Research
- Catalysts for Intellectual Capital 2020
- Hinman Production Company (founded by Paul Reiser)
- LateNite Binghamton
- Binghamton University Residential Life
- Student Association
- Pipe Dream
- Harpur's Ferry
- BTV
- WHRW
- The Spark
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Categories: Articles with unsourced statements | Articles lacking sources | America East Conference | Educational institutions established in 1946 | Binghamton University | Binghamton, New York | SUNY university centers | Broome County, New York | Universities and colleges in New York | Public Ivies | Nursing schools in New York
