HOSTOS 50 • ORAL HISTORY COLLECTIVE

Eugenio María de Hostos Community College of The City University of New York is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year! Arising from a community's needs, Hostos is like no other educational institution on the East Coast. No one thought this college would make it, but it did. It's weathered bad times, celebrated good times, and remains firmly committed to its roots in the South Bronx.

Many things have changed since 1968---but not the power of a good story. The men and women who helped make Hostos a reality and those who keep the dream alive today have a wealth of stories to tell. The Hostos Oral Collective currently features the testimony of more than 100 people, reflecting the experiences of alumni, community members, faculty, former College presidents, friends, staff and students from the past half-century. Hear history in the making!


 
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January 1968

Board of Higher Education approves the establishment of Community College Number Eight.

Proposal for the Establishment of Community College Number Eight

July 1969

Nasry Michelen appointed the first president of the College.

Nasry Michelen

September 1970

Hostos opens its doors to charter class of 623.

Fall 1972

"Libra" Program established.

Spring 1974

The campaign for the "500 Building" begins. Rallies held at Board and in Albany.

Rallies held at Board and in Albany

February 1976

University announces plan to merge Hostos with Bronx Community College.

April 1976

Board approves proposal to merge.

June 1976

The State Legislature passes “Landes Act,” which guarantees the existence of Hostos.

State Legislature passes “Landes Act”

April 1968

Board of Higher Education formally founds college.

November 1968

Cándido de León appointed first dean of administration and proposes organization of the College.

Candido de Leon

September 1969

College is named after Eugenio María de Hostos, making it the first college in the continental United States so honoring a Puerto Rican.

De León’s proposal adopted by Board.

College is named after Eugenio María de Hostos

September 1971

Cándido de León appointed president, thus becoming the first Puerto Rican to head an institution of higher learning in the U.S.

Spring 1973

Bilingual approach to instruction is in place.

May 1974

"500 Building" acquired through special legislation passed in Albany.

Summer 1974

College granted full and unconditional accreditation by Commission on Higher Education.

Summer-Fall 1975

City's fiscal crisis worsens. Rumors of the merger of Hostos with Bronx Community College begin to circulate. College begins to mobilize.

College begins to mobilize

Fall 1977

Enrollment at record level, College Community resumes campaign for “500 Building.” Hostos United is founded.

College Community resumes campaign for “500 Building”

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March-June 1978

Peaceful 3-month take-over of B-building; leads to 1986 Master Plan.

Peaceful 3-month take-over of B-building

Spring 1980

Reorganization plan approved by the Board of Trustees.

Summer 1980

Hostos accreditation is fully and unconditionally reaffirmed.

Fall 1980

Planning council formed. Reorganization of student services begins.

December 1980

College begins to move into "500 Building."

January 1981

Community Advisory Council formed.

Fall 1984

Hostos Day Care Center officially opens.

August 1985

Announcement that $150,000,000 campus will be built, including and arts center, gymnasium, science building and bridge across the Grand Concourse.

Announcement that $150,000,000 campus will be built

August 1987

Dr. Isaura Santiago appointed President of Hostos Community College.

Dr. Isaura Santiago

Summer 1978

Mayor approves bond sale for renovation of building.

Mayor approves bond sale for renovation of building

March 1979

Dr. Flora Mancuso Edwards appointed president. Reorganzation of Academic Division begins.

Dr. Flora Mancuso Edwards

Fall 1982

Hostos Culture and Arts Program begins its first season.

Spring 1985

Hostos Solidarity Coalition formed to coordinate progressive political activity.

1986-1987

Committee to defend Hostos successfully fights to prevent major cuts in budget.

Committee to defend Hostos successfully fights to prevent major cuts in budget

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Summer 1988

Construction begins on new campus.

Construction begins on new campus

December 1990

Dedication of the Shirley J. Hinds Allied Health and Science Building.

September 1993

Students begin attending classes in a section of the East Academic Complex.

Fall 1988

First student graduation committee created.

1990

Borough President Fernando Ferrer provides support for the theaters in the East Academic Complex and the Allied Health and Science Building.

East Academic Complex and the Allied Health and Science Building

October 1994

Opening of the East Academic Complex and the Center for the Arts & Culture.

Center for the Arts & Culture

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March 1998

Dr. Dolores Fernández appointed President of Hostos Community College.

Dr. Dolores Fernandez

July 2004

Hostos Center for Arts & Culture receives award from Municipal Art Society of NY for excellence in programming and science.

2005

Men's basketball team wins NJCAA National Division III Championship.

January 2007

Hostos College library is recognized nationally when it is awarded the “Excellence in Academic Libraries Award” by the Association of College and Research Libraries.

National Endowment for the Humanities grants award for summer seminar for scholars at Hostos Community College: Visions of Freedom for the Americas: Eugenio María de Hostos and José Martí in 19th-Century New York.

1998-2000

The “Hostos Renaissance,” a renewed commitment to rigorous careers and liberal arts programs.

2001-2005

The “Hostos Age of Discovery,” new focus on making Hostos the pride of CUNY through a commitment to excellence.

April 2002

Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture receives a special recognition from the international Music Hall of Fame.

2003

Hostos Community College commemorates the 100th anniversary of Eugenio María de Hostos’s death and the 150th anniversary of José Mart´’s birthdate with a series of events titled Hostos and Martí in New York City.

Hostos and Martí in New York City

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Spring 2007

Since its founding in the Spring of 2007, The Circle of 100 Scholarship & Emergency Fund has awarded twenty-two $1,000 scholarships and forty five $500 or less emergency grants. The Circle of 100 makes these emergency grants and scholarships available to students with excellent academic records who are close to graduating and graduates who need some help in making the transition to a four-year college. The circle of 100 was founded by the late and beloved Virginia Paris, Professor emeritus Gerald Meyer and Nydia Edgecombe.

Tree of Life

February 2011

Hostos Repertory Company wins two awards at Kennedy Center's American College Theater Festival.

May 2012

Wallace Edgecombe, also known as “Wally” retired after 38-years as Executive Director of the Hostos Center for Arts and Culture and being a leader of arts and culture in the Bronx.

Wallace Edgecombe

December 2012

Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development opens two new $1.4 million facility at the Bronx Terminal Market. CUNY in the Heights also moves into its new space in Manhattan.

Continuing Education & Workforce Development opens two new $1.4 million facility

April 2013

Hostos celebrates official 45th anniversary. College marks its birthday with large community service project, THE BIG EVENT.

College marks its birthday with large community service project

August 2013

Hostos Repertory Company is the only community college from North America to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland.

Hostos Repertory Company at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland

September 2013

CUNY CareerPATH Community Health Worker Certificate Program sees first graduate to enter Hostos Community College.

Hostos’ partnership with Montefiore Medical Center, the Department of Education and CUNY conceived the Health, Education, and Research Occupations (H.E.R.O) High School where a first cohort of 100 ninth graders began preparing for careers in nursing and community health workers.

February 2014

Caimans wins CUNYAC Regular Season title.

Caimans wins CUNYAC Regular Season title

July 2014

Hostos Community College receives $300,000 grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) to launch a veterans support program called “Hostos Community Heroes.”

Hostos Community College, Phipps Neighborhoods, and Montefiore Health System Announce $1M Grant from JPMorgan Chase to support their Career Network: Healthcare partnership in the South Bronx.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that Hostos Community College would receive two grants—$2.2 million for an “Allied Health Training for Employment” initiative and part of $4.6 million for a new multi-campus media program— as part of Governor Cuomo’s CUNY 2020 initiative.

September 2014

Hostos named one of the Top 10 Finalists for the 2015 ASPEN Prize for Community College Excellence.

Hostos receives $2.6 million Title V Grant Award from the United States Department of Education.

November 2014

English Department Lecturer Cynthia Jones was selected as the 2014 New York State Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

English Department Lecturer Cynthia Jones was selected as the 2014 New York State Professor of the Year

July 2015

Hostos opens College's first large farmer's market with GrowNYC.

Hostos opens College's first large farmer's market with GrowNYC

October 2015

Hostos Community College’s Division for Continuing Education and Workforce Development (CEWD) awarded a five-year, $10.7 million Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF).

January 2016

Basketball coach Marquee Poole earned Community College Coach of the Year honors; Jefferson Francois, a forward on the men's basketball team won Player of the Year; and Corina Coles, a guard, earned Rookie of the year for her stellar play on the women's basketball team at CUNYAC Awards banquet.

CUNY Athletics Conference logo

March 2016

40th Anniversary of Campaign to Save Hostos Community College celebrated with the documentary, "Hostos, The Struggle, The Victory."

Hostos, The Struggle, The Victory.

April 2016

Hostos finishes 1st place in National Technology Survey.

Hostos finishes 1st place in National Technology Survey

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Abby Dobson performs and speaks about her female influences at grand Women's History Month finale.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Abby Dobson

October 2016

Hostos and "Healthy Beverage Zone" gives the Borough better choices.

Hostos and "Healthy Beverage Zone" gives the Borough better choices

Decemeber 2016

Piece of Hostos Archive on Exhibit at The Museum of the City Of New York - A 1976 flyer from Hostos Professor Emeritus Dr. Gerald Meyer’s “Save Hostos” collection is on display as part of the Museum of the City of New York’s exhibit titled, “New York at Its Core.” It is also featured in a new book about the 1970s fiscal crisis in New York City.

Piece of Hostos Archive on Exhibit at The Museum of the City Of New York

March 2012

Ribbon cutting ceremony inaugurates a $9.1 million renovated and redesigned 5th Floor in the 500 Grand Concourse Building.

October 2012

National Science Foundation Awards Hostos more than $900,000 for STEM Projects.

November 2012

Hostos Professor Rees Shad named 2012 New York State Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

Professor Rees Shad

January 2013

The Caiman's men's baskeball team enters Top 10 in NJCAA Division III rankings.

February 2013

U.S. Associate Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor becomes the first guest of the Hostos Heritage Lecture Series. Other speakers included journalist Cheryl Willis, and Pulitzer Prize winner Junot Díaz.

Hostos President Felix Matos Rodriguez and U.S. Associate Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor

June 2013

United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan gives keynote address at the College’s largest commencement ceremony to date as Hostos confers a record number of 907 degrees in the New York City Center.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan

January 2014

Hostos 175, a year-long commemoration of Eugenio María de Hostos 175th anniversary is held at the College, with numerous academic and artistic events.

Hostos 175, a year-long commemoration of Eugenio Maria de Hostos

Hostos receives $100,000 grant award from Citi Community Development for a pilot program, “Summer Success 101: Student Financial Literacy and Retention Program.

Hostos launches new Food Studies Program.

April 2014

Proyecto Access STEP third-place prize from the 16th Annual STEP Statewide Student Conference.

June 2014

Public Safety Director, Chief Arnaldo Bernabe received the 2014 Sloan Public Service Award by the Fund for The City of New York. Chief Bernabe was also the first Hostos Community College employee to win this award and the first CUNY-wide Public Safety Officer (in the civil service rank) to receive the honor.

Public Safety Director, Chief Arnaldo Bernabe received the 2014 Sloan Public Service Award

October 2014

Internationally renowned artist Antonio Martorell, visits Hostos for its 175th celebration to give lecture, “Hostos By Us,” displaying a series of paintings, drawings, sculptures and other artwork represented who Eugenio María de Hostos was.

December 2014

Hostos Unveils Portrait Painted By Famed Artist Pablo Marcano García.

February 2015

Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture Presents New York City premiere of the groundbreaking project, "Identities Are Changeable," by MacArthur Fellow and internally renowned saxophonist/composer Miguel Zenón.

April 2015

Shawn "Jay Z" Carter Visits Hostos to Talk About the State of Music Industry.

Shawn "Jay Z" Carter Visits Hostos

September 2015

Hostos celebrates diamond anniversary of its Annual Golf Outing.

Hostos celebrates diamond anniversary of its Annual Golf Outing

November 2015

Hostos event celebrates the preservation of local history through Las Casitas Archives.

Hostos event celebrates the preservation of local history through Las Casitas Archives

June 2016

Hostos Community College graduates its largest graduating class to date.

Hostos Community College graduates its largest graduating class to date

August 2016

Rapper Fat Joe releases new video at Hostos.

Rapper Fat Joe releases new video at Hostos

November 2016

Hostos smashes #GivingTuesday fundraising goal (beginning at $7K ending $63K +).

GivingTuesday fundraising

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2018

The BEST is yet to come!

The BEST is yet to come!