About Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private university in Hempstead, New York. Long Island’s largest private university,[6] Hofstra originated in 1935 as an extension of New York University (NYU) under the name Nassau College – Hofstra Memorial of New York University at Hempstead, Long Island. It became independent Hofstra College in 1939[8] and gained university status in 1963. Comprising ten schools, including the Northwell School of Medicine and Deane School of Law, Hofstra is noted for a series of prominent Presidential conferences and hosting several United States presidential debates.
History
The college – established as an extension of New York University (NYU) – was founded on the estate of a wealthy couple, a lumber entrepreneur of Dutch ancestry, William S. Hofstra (1861-1932) and his second wife, Kate Mason (1854–1933). The extension had been proposed by a Hempstead resident, Truesdel Peck Calkins, who had been superintendent of schools for Hempstead. In her will, Kate Mason provided the bulk of their property and estate to be used for a charitable, scientific or humanitarian purpose, to be named in honor of her husband. Two friends, Howard Brower and James Barnard, were asked to decide what to do with the estate. Calkins remarked to Brower that he had been looking for a site to start an institution of higher education, and the three men agreed it would be an appropriate use of the estate. Calkins approached the administration at New York University, and they expressed interest.
The college was founded as a coeducational, commuter institution with day and evening classes. The first day of classes was September 23, 1935, and the first class of students was made up of 159 day and 621 evening students. The tuition fee for the year was $375. The college obtained provisional charter status, and its official name was changed to Hofstra College on January 16, 1937.
Hofstra College separated from New York University in 1939 and was granted an absolute charter on February 16, 1940.
Campus
The Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary at Hofstra University has a collection of diverse trees and reflecting its Dutch origin, and displays an array of rare and colorful tulips in the Spring.
There are 3,381 faculty members (including more than 2,200 in the school of medicine system), 6,913 undergraduates, with a total of 11,240 students overall, including all full and part-time undergraduates, graduates, law and medical students.
The campus has approximately 117 buildings on 244 acres (99 ha). The part of the campus located south of Hempstead Turnpike (NY Route 24) and west of California Avenue is located in the Village of Hempstead. The part of the campus north of Hempstead Turnpike and east of California Avenue is located in Uniondale and East Garden City. Hofstra also offers an MBA program as well as other classes in New York City from a center in Manhattan.The campus is roughly 7 miles from the Borough of Queens in New York City, and you can see the entire New York City skyline from the 10th floor of the library.
The Campus is located across the street from the “Nassau Hub” and Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, home of the New York Islanders, Long Island Nets, New York Riptide, and New York Open.
