History of New York University in Timeline
New York University (NYU) is a private research university located in New York City, founded in 1831 by Albert Gallatin. Initially a non-denominational, all-male institution near City Hall, it was established to offer a secular education. By 1833, NYU relocated its main campus to Greenwich Village, centering around Washington Square Park. Over time, the university has expanded, incorporating an engineering school in Brooklyn's MetroTech Center and various graduate schools throughout Manhattan.
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1907: Philomathean Society gives way
In 1907, the Philomathean Society formally gave way and reconstituted into the Andiron Club.
1913: Alpha Epsilon Pi Founded
Alpha Epsilon Pi was founded at NYU in 1913.
1913: Publication of The Medley humor magazine begins
From 1913, The Medley, a humor magazine, was published by the Eucleian Society.
1914: Knights of the Lamp founded
In 1914, The Knights of the Lamp, a social organization, was founded at the School of Commerce at NYU.
1914: Washington Square College Founding
In 1914, Washington Square College was founded as the downtown undergraduate college of New York University.
1917: Delta Phi Epsilon Founded
Delta Phi Epsilon was founded at NYU in 1917.
1917: NYU Enrollment Size
In 1917, New York University reached an enrollment of 9,300 students and became one of the nation's largest universities.
1935: Establishment of Nassau College-Hofstra Memorial
In 1935, NYU established the "Nassau College-Hofstra Memorial of New York University at Hempstead, Long Island," which eventually became the independent Hofstra University.
1950: Election to AAU
In 1950, New York University was elected to the Association of American Universities (AAU), a nonprofit organization of leading research universities.
1950: Publication of The Medley humor magazine ends
In 1950, publication of The Medley, a humor magazine published by the Eucleian Society since 1913, ended.
1965: NYU Logo Design
In 1965, the more abstract NYU logo was designed by Tom Geismar of Chermayeff & Geismar. The university logo, the upheld torch, is derived from the Statue of Liberty, signifying NYU's service to New York City.
1967: Construction of Bobst Library Begins
Construction of the Elmer Holmes Bobst Library began in 1967.
1972: Completion of Bobst Library
The Elmer Holmes Bobst Library was completed in 1972. The building was designed by Philip Johnson and Richard Foster.
1973: Sale of University Heights Campus
In 1973, facing financial difficulties, NYU sold its University Heights campus to the City University of New York (CUNY). Also in 1973, the New York University School of Engineering and Science merged into Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn.
1975: Opening of The Grey Art Gallery
In 1975, New York University opened The Grey Art Gallery at 100 Washington Square East, which houses the NYU art collection and features museum-quality exhibitions.
1978: Founding of The Plague Comedy Magazine
In 1978, Howard Ostrowsky along with Amy Burns, John Rawlins, Joe Pinto and Dan Fiorella founded The Plague, a campus comedy magazine that pokes fun at popular culture and campus life.
1981: Bobcat becomes mascot
In 1981, the bobcat became NYU's school mascot, originating from the abbreviation used by the Bobst Library computerized catalog.
1991: Inauguration of L. Jay Oliva
In 1991, L. Jay Oliva was inaugurated as the 14th president of New York University. Following his inauguration, he formed the League of World Universities.
1994: Donation of Villa La Pietra
In 1994, Sir Harold Acton bequeathed the Villa La Pietra estate to New York University. At the time, this was the largest donation to a university in history.
2001: Launch of $2.5 Billion Campaign
In 2001, New York University started a seven-year, $2.5 billion campaign, the university's largest in its history. It surpassed expectations by raising more than $3 billion over the seven-year period.
2001: Graduate Student Organizing Committee Unionization
In 2001, the Graduate Student Organizing Committee unionized, leading to controversial debates on campus. This impacted the Student Government Assembly (SGA).
2002: Presidency of John Sexton
John Sexton was president of NYU from 2002-2015. During his tenure, NYU Abu Dhabi opened as the university's first overseas "Portal Campus".
2003: Launch of $2.5 Billion Campaign
In 2003, President John Sexton launched a $2.5 billion campaign to enhance faculty and financial aid resources at New York University.
2003: NYU Cross Examination Debate Team Wins National Championship
In 2003, the NYU Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) debate team won the national championship during the 2003–2004 season.
2004: NYU Cross Examination Debate Team Wins National Championship
In 2004, the NYU Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) debate team won the national championship during the 2003–2004 season.
2005: Campus-Wide Ban on Coca-Cola Products
In 2005, the Student Government Assembly (SGA) implemented a campus-wide ban on the sale of The Coca-Cola Company's products to protest its refusal to investigate human rights violations. This was a controversial debate on campus.
2006: NYU purchases large amount of wind power
During the 2006 academic year, NYU purchased 118 million kilowatt-hours of wind power, making it the largest purchase by any university in the country and any institution in New York City.
2006: Wind Power Purchase
During the 2006–2007 academic year, New York University purchased 118 million kilowatt-hours of wind power, the largest purchase of wind power by any university in the country and any institution in New York City.
October 15, 2007: Silver Family Donation to the School of Social Work
On October 15, 2007, the Silver family donated $50 million to the School of Social Work, which was renamed as a result. This was the largest donation ever to a school of social work in the United States.
2007: NYU has the seventh-largest university housing system in the U.S.
As of 2007, NYU housed approximately 12,000 undergraduate and graduate residents, making it the seventh-largest university housing system in the U.S.
2007: NYU expands its purchase of wind power
For 2007, NYU expanded its purchase of wind power to 132 million kilowatt-hours.
2007: Increase in Applications
From 2007 to 2018, NYU experienced a 114% increase in applications to its university system.
2007: NYU creates strategic expansion plan
In 2007, NYU created a strategic plan for a six billion-dollar, 25-year, 6,000,000-square-foot expansion scheduled to conclude by the university's bicentennial in 2031.
2007: Wind Power Purchase Expansion
In 2007, New York University expanded its purchase of wind power to 132 million kilowatt-hours.
2007: Opening of Tisch School of the Arts, Asia
In 2007, Tisch School of the Arts, Asia, NYU's first branch campus abroad, opened in Singapore. It was a partnership between Tisch School of the Arts and the Singapore Government, offering Master of Fine Arts degrees.
2007: NYU Debate Team achieves Top 20 National Finish
In 2007, the NYU debate team marked the start of 14 years of Top 20 National finishes.
2007: NYU named National School of the Year by NACURH
In 2007, the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH) named NYU the National School of the Year for IRHC and NRHH's strong efforts. NYU also won National Program of the Year for UltraViolet Live, which raises funds for Relay For Life.
2007: Successful Fundraising Year
The 2007–2008 academic year was the most successful fundraising year to date for NYU. The university announced plans for NYU's Call to Action, a new initiative to ask alumni and donors to support financial aid for students at NYU.
2007: Final Commencement in Washington Square Park
Until 2007, NYU had held its commencement ceremonies in Washington Square Park.
May 2008: NYU Sustainability Task Force awards grants to green projects
In May 2008, the NYU Sustainability Task Force awarded $150,000 in grants to 23 projects focused on energy, food, landscape, outreach, procurement, transportation, and waste reduction.
2008: Commencement Moved to Yankee Stadium
Due to renovations to Washington Square, NYU moved the 2008 commencement ceremonies to the original Yankee Stadium and subsequent ceremonies to the current Yankee Stadium.
2008: Successful Fundraising Year
The 2007–2008 academic year was the most successful fundraising year to date for NYU, with the school raising $698 million in only the first 11 months of the year.
February 5, 2009: University Senate Lifts Coca-Cola Ban
On February 5, 2009, the University Senate lifted the ban on The Coca-Cola Company's products, which had been implemented by the Student Government Assembly (SGA) in 2005.
2009: NYU responds to labor abuse allegations in Abu Dhabi
In 2009, NYU responded to allegations of labor abuses at its Abu Dhabi campus by creating a statement of labor values for Abu Dhabi campus workers after interviews in The New York Times revealed a pattern of labor abuses.
2009: NYU becomes largest university purchaser of wind energy in the U.S.
Since 2009, NYU has been the largest university purchaser of wind energy in the U.S., achieving benefits equivalent to removing 12,000 cars or planting 72,000 trees.
2010: NYU receives grade of "B" on College Sustainability Report Card
In 2010, NYU received a grade of "B" on the College Sustainability Report Card from the Sustainable Endowments Institute.
2010: NYU wins National Championship Tournament
In 2010, NYU's Mock Trial team won the 26th National Championship Tournament in Memphis, defeating Harvard. They qualified for the final round the following season but were runners-up to UCLA.
2010: Opening of NYU Abu Dhabi
In 2010, under President John Sexton's leadership, New York University opened a campus in Abu Dhabi, marking the beginning of its transformation into a global university.
January 2011: NYU Shanghai Approved by Chinese Ministry of Education
In January 2011, NYU's plan to open NYU Shanghai was approved by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. East China Normal University would be NYU's local partner.
November 2011: Dismissal of Tisch Asia President and Allegations of Irregularities
In November 2011, NYU dismissed Pari Sara Shirazi, the President of Tisch School of the Arts, Asia, due to alleged financial irregularities. Shirazi announced her intention to commence legal proceedings against NYU alleging wrongful termination and defamation.
November 8, 2012: Closure Announcement of Tisch School of the Arts, Asia
On November 8, 2012, Dean Mary Schmidt Campbell announced that the Tisch School of the Arts, Asia campus would close after 2014, with recruitment and admission of new students suspended immediately.
2012: NYU Global Academic Centers
As of 2012, New York University operates 12 academic sites referred to as Global Academic Centers in various locations around the world.
March 2013: Vote of No Confidence in President Sexton
In March 2013, President Sexton faced a vote of no confidence, followed by controversy over a vacation home loan received from NYU.
August 2013: Criticism over Mortgage Loans
In August 2013, New York University faced criticism over mortgage loans issued to administrators and faculty, some with near-zero interest rates and partial forgiveness, including loans for luxury vacation homes.
2013: Planned opening of NYU Shanghai
In 2013, NYU announced plans to open NYU Shanghai for the fall semester, with a target enrollment of about 3,000 undergraduate students, the majority of whom would be Chinese.
2014: Greek Life at NYU
As of 2014, approximately 13% of NYU undergraduate students are members of fraternities or sororities.
2014: Acquisition of Brooklyn Healthcare Facility
In 2014, New York University Langone Medical Center acquired a 125,000 square feet healthcare facility in Brooklyn.
2014: Merger of Polytechnic Institute into NYU
In 2014, Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, which had previously merged with the New York University School of Engineering and Science in 1973, merged back into New York University, forming the Tandon School of Engineering.
2014: Closure of Tisch School of the Arts, Asia
In 2014, Tisch School of the Arts, Asia closed after operating since 2007 in Singapore. This followed announcements in 2012 regarding the closure.
2014: Follow-up article reveals continued labor issues in Abu Dhabi
In 2014, a follow-up article revealed that NYU Abu Dhabi campus workers were still subjected to poor labor conditions, including passport confiscation and forced overtime, despite some improvements. Workers who protested were arrested, abused, and deported.
2014: NYU Grossman School of Medicine Receives External Research Funding and Patents Granted
In 2014, the NYU Grossman School of Medicine received $305 million in external research funding from the National Institutes of Health. NYU was also granted 90 patents, the 19th most of any institution in the world.
2014: NYU Abu Dhabi main campus opens on Saadiyat Island
In 2014, the main campus for NYU Abu Dhabi, a separate liberal arts college within the university, opened on Saadiyat Island. Prior to this, the school had been operating from a campus located in downtown Abu Dhabi.
2014: NYU Paris Moves to New Campus
In Spring 2014, New York University Paris moved to a new campus in the Quartier Latin. NYU Law also set up an EU Regulatory Policy Clinic in partnership with HEC Paris.
2014: NYU Shanghai Established in Pudong
Since the late summer of 2014, NYU Shanghai has been based in Pudong, Shanghai, at 1555 Century Ave, in the 15-story Academic Center building.
2015: NYU Living Alumni
As of 2015, NYU has more than 500,000 living alumni.
2015: NYU compensates migrant workers in Abu Dhabi
In 2015, NYU compensated thousands of migrant workers on its Abu Dhabi complex, even though the campus construction and operational costs were funded by the Abu Dhabi government, following reports of labor abuses.
2015: Fundraising Totals
In 2015, New York University raised $506.4 million.
2015: NYU Mock Trial Team Ranked Third
In 2015, the American Mock Trial Association's power rankings placed NYU's Mock Trial team third, following Harvard and Yale.
2015: Presidency of John Sexton
John Sexton was president of NYU from 2002-2015. During his tenure, NYU Abu Dhabi opened as the university's first overseas "Portal Campus".
2016: NYU Receives Largest Funding for Hardware Security Research
As of 2016, NYU hardware researchers and their collaborators enjoyed the largest outside funding level for hardware security of any institution in the United States.
2016: NYU's Graduate School Acceptance Rates
As of 2016, NYU's graduate schools have acceptance rates ranging from 1.8% for the School of Medicine to 34% for the School of Law.
2016: Fundraising Totals
In 2016, New York University raised $648 million.
2016: President Sexton Steps Down
In 2016, President Sexton stepped down from his position at New York University at the end of his term, following controversy and a vote of no confidence in March 2013.
2016: Former Students Sue NYU Over Tisch Asia Closure
In 2016, three former students of the now defunct Tisch Asia sued NYU.
December 2017: Opening of 370 Jay Street
In December 2017, 370 Jay Street opened as part of NYU's expansion of its Brooklyn campus.
2017: Groundbreaking of 181 Mercer Street
In 2017, NYU's expansion started with the groundbreaking of 181 Mercer Street, a new multi-purpose building that will house athletic facilities, a residence hall, classrooms, and a theater.
2017: NYU Research Expenditures Totaled
In 2017, NYU's research expenditures totaled $917.7 million.
August 2018: Full-Tuition Scholarships at Grossman School of Medicine
In August 2018, the New York University Grossman School of Medicine announced it would offer full-tuition scholarships to all current and future students in its MD program, regardless of need or merit.
2018: Enrollment Size
As of 2018, New York University became the largest private university in the United States, with a combined undergraduate and graduate enrollment of over 59,000 students. From 2007 to 2018, NYU experienced a 114% increase in applications.
2018: Student Government Structure Questioned
In 2018, students called for sweeping changes to the structure of the university's student government, claiming it failed to represent all students, wasted funds, and operated undemocratically.
May 30, 2019: Groundbreaking Ceremony for New NYU Shanghai Campus
On May 30, 2019, the groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new NYU Shanghai campus building in the Qiantan International Business Zone. The campus is designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox.
2019: The NYU N'Harmonics win ICCA title
In 2019, The NYU N'Harmonics, an a cappella group from NYU, won the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) title.
2019: NYU Arts & Science Departments Ranked in Top 10 by Shanghai Academic Ranking
In 2019, four NYU Arts & Science departments ranked in the Top 10 of the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities by academic subjects, including economics, politics, psychology, and sociology.
2019: Planned Completion of 370 Jay Street Addition to Brooklyn Campus
In 2019, the 500,000-square-foot addition to the Brooklyn campus at 370 Jay Street is scheduled to conclude, housing 'the digital arts and sciences'.
October 2020: Nobel Prize winners
As of October 2020, 38 Nobel Prize winners are affiliated with NYU.
2020: NYU Affiliates
As of 2020, numerous heads of state, royalty, one U.S. Supreme Court justice, billionaires, Turing Award winners, Fields Medalists, MacArthur Fellows, Guggenheim Fellows, astronauts, Abel Prize winners, Lasker Award winners, a Crafoord Prize winner, Pulitzer Prize winners, Academy Award winners, Emmy Award winners, Tony Award winners, Grammy Award winners, Forbes 30 under 30 and Time 100 notables, and members of prestigious academies and governmental bodies are affiliated with NYU as faculty or alumni.
2020: NYU Debate Team Places at CEDA Open Nationals and JV Nationals
For the 2020 season, the NYU Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) debate team placed 5th in the nation at CEDA Open Nationals and 2nd in the nation at JV Nationals.
2020: The NYU N'Harmonics ranked No. 6
In 2020, The A Cappella Archive ranked The NYU N'Harmonics at No. 6 among all ICCA-competing groups.
2021: NYU Tops 100,000 Applications
In 2021, NYU became the first private university in the US to top 100,000 applications.
2021: NYU Enrollment
In 2021, New York University's total enrollment reached 51,848 students, making it one of the largest private universities in the United States by enrollment. Admissions are highly selective.
2021: NYU Debate Team Ranks 10th in Nation
In 2021, the NYU Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) debate team ranked 10th in the nation, finishing ahead of Harvard and Cornell.
2022: Planned move to new NYU Shanghai campus
By 2022, NYU hopes to move up to 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students into the new campus building in the Qiantan International Business Zone.
2022: President Hamilton's Announcement
In Spring 2022, President Andrew D. Hamilton announced that the 2023 academic year would be his last at NYU, as he will be returning to research.
July 1, 2023: Linda G. Mills Becomes 17th President of NYU
On July 1, 2023, Linda G. Mills became the 17th and current President of NYU.
2023: Linda G. Mills Succeeds Andrew D. Hamilton
In 2023, Linda G. Mills succeeded Andrew D. Hamilton as president of New York University, becoming the university's first female president.
2023: Record-Low Acceptance Rate
In 2023, NYU had a record-low acceptance rate of 8%.
2024: Low Acceptance Rate
In 2024, NYU had more than 120,000 applicants with a record-low acceptance rate of 8%.
2025: Acceptance Rate Decrease
In 2025, the acceptance rate dropped even further to 7.7% for the upcoming Class of 2029.
2028: NYU's Undergraduate Acceptance Rate
For the undergraduate first-year class of 2028, the acceptance rate was 8% from an applicant pool of more than 118,000.
2029: Class of 2029
In 2025, the acceptance rate dropped even further to 7.7% for the upcoming Class of 2029.
2031: NYU Bicentennial and Completion Target for NYU 2031 Plan
By 2031, NYU's bicentennial, the university aims to complete its NYU 2031 plan, which has confirmed construction details for 1,300,000 sq ft at a cost of $1.6 billion.
2031: NYU's bicentennial and planned conclusion of expansion plan
NYU's bicentennial in 2031 is the scheduled completion date for the university's six billion-dollar, 25-year, 6,000,000-square-foot expansion plan, initiated in 2007.
2031: NYU Bicentennial Strategic Plan
New York University has announced a 25-year strategic development plan, scheduled to coincide with its bicentennial in 2031.
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