Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York. Founded in 1870 with Methodist Episcopal Church origins, it became nonsectarian in 1920. The university is situated in the University Hill neighborhood and features diverse architectural styles, from Romanesque Revival to modern buildings. It is organized into 13 schools and colleges and is classified as an 'R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity'.
The Daily Orange, established in 1903, has been a cornerstone of student life at Syracuse University. This independent student-run newspaper has consistently earned national recognition for its journalistic excellence.
The Alpha Gamma Delta sorority was established at Syracuse University in 1904, adding to the growing tapestry of Greek life on campus.
In 1905, Andrew Carnegie pledged $150,000 towards a new library for Syracuse University, contingent on the university raising a matching amount.
On September 11, 1907, Syracuse University inaugurated its new Carnegie library, a testament to the successful fundraising efforts led by James D. Phelps and a generous donation from Andrew Carnegie.
Syracuse University opened Archbold Stadium, a generous gift from John D. Archbold, in 1907.
John D. Archbold's philanthropic support continued with the construction of the Archbold Gymnasium in 1909.
The Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity established a chapter at Syracuse University in 1910, marking a significant moment in the university's history of inclusivity and diversity within Greek life organizations.
Expanding its academic offerings, Syracuse University established its first doctoral program in 1911.
Syracuse University's history of offering international study programs dates back to 1911. Today, SU Abroad, formerly known as the Division of International Programs Abroad (DIPA), collaborates with universities in over 40 countries, providing diverse academic opportunities for students worldwide.
The College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) was established in 1911 as the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University, with significant support from Syracuse University figures.
In 1914, Syracuse University witnessed the founding of Alpha Phi Delta, the sole historically Italian-American heritage fraternity, underscoring the university's increasing cultural diversity.
In 1916, Syracuse University marked its entry into the world of intercollegiate lacrosse by playing its first-ever game in the sport.
In 1917, John Dustin Archbold, a prominent capitalist and philanthropist, was recognized for his significant contributions to Syracuse University, including nearly $6 million in donations.
Syracuse University founded its business school in 1919, marking the beginning of its renowned MBA programs.
In 1920, Syracuse University, originally founded with ties to the Methodist Episcopal Church, transitioned to a nonsectarian institution.
Syracuse University's lacrosse team celebrated a significant victory in 1920 by capturing its first USILA championship title, marking the beginning of a successful era for the program.
The Syracuse University lacrosse team continued its winning ways in 1922 by securing its second USILA championship title, further solidifying its position as a force in collegiate lacrosse.
The year 1922 marked the establishment of Omega Psi Phi, the first NPHC (National Pan-Hellenic Council) fraternity at Syracuse University, signifying a growing presence of historically Black Greek letter organizations on campus.
The dominance of Syracuse University's lacrosse team continued in 1924 as they clinched their third USILA championship, demonstrating their consistent excellence in the sport.
In 1925, Syracuse University's lacrosse team etched their names in the record books by capturing their fourth USILA championship title, solidifying their legacy as one of the most dominant programs in the sport's early history.
Syracuse University established the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in 1934, marking a significant milestone in journalism education.
On August 2, 1943, Syracuse University Press was established by Chancellor William Pearson Tolley and philanthropist Thomas J. Watson, further solidifying the university's commitment to scholarship and knowledge dissemination.
The Goon Squad, a volunteer group dedicated to welcoming new students and their families during orientation, was formed in 1944.
Syracuse University established Utica University in 1946; despite gaining independence in 1995, Utica University still collaborates with Syracuse University to offer joint programs.
Syracuse University experienced a surge in enrollment in 1946, with the incoming freshman class quadrupling in size, fueled by the G.I. Bill's educational benefits for World War II veterans.
Triple Cities College, initially a branch of Syracuse University, was founded in 1946 in Endicott, New York, with the aim of providing educational opportunities to veterans returning from World War II.
In 1947, a fire significantly damaged the Archbold Gymnasium, highlighting the vulnerability of even sturdy structures to unforeseen disasters.
The Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity chapter at Syracuse University underwent a reorganization in 1949, reflecting the evolving dynamics of campus life and the fraternity's commitment to its principles.
In 1950, Triple Cities College, originally affiliated with Syracuse University, was integrated into the State University of New York (SUNY) system and renamed Harpur College.
In 1950, Syracuse University sold its medical school to the State University of New York (SUNY) system, though the two universities maintain a close relationship.
Arthur Phillips, recruited from MIT, spearheaded the establishment of Syracuse University's first pathogen-free animal research laboratory in 1954, enabling groundbreaking medical research.
Syracuse University expanded its academic portfolio with the establishment of the School of Social Work in 1956, reflecting a growing commitment to social justice and community development.
The Student Association (SA) was founded in 1957 to represent the undergraduate student body of both Syracuse University and ESF.
Syracuse University's football team achieved a historic milestone in 1959 by securing their first National Championship title after completing an undefeated season and clinching a victory against Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
In 1961, Ernie Davis, a standout running back for Syracuse University, etched his name in history by becoming the first African-American to receive the prestigious Heisman Trophy.
Samuel Irving Newhouse Sr.'s generous donation of $15 million in 1962 laid the foundation for the construction of Syracuse University's renowned S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
University Union (UU) was formed in 1962, serving as the official student-run programming board of Syracuse University. Over the years, UU has grown to become one of the largest student organizations on campus, known for organizing a wide range of entertainment events, including concerts, festivals, and speaker series.
John Mackey, a future NFL Hall of Famer, embarked on his professional football journey with the Baltimore Colts in 1963.
Syracuse University achieved a significant milestone in 1966 by gaining admission to the prestigious Association of American Universities, solidifying its reputation as a leading research institution.
Syracuse University became a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU) in 1966, solidifying its position as a leading research institution.
Starting in the 1968-69 academic year, the Student Association began collecting a Student Activity Fee, enabling greater financial autonomy and support for student-led initiatives.
September 1972 marked the opening of Syracuse University's main library, the E. S. Bird Library. This seven-level facility houses a vast collection of resources, including 2.3 million books, 11,500 periodicals, and a vast array of manuscripts, rare books, microforms, and even a café. It stands as one of the top 100 largest libraries in the United States.
Responding to a critical need for on-campus emergency medical services, a group of students established the Syracuse University Ambulance (SUA) in 1973. Starting with limited resources, SUA has evolved into a vital student-run organization, providing 24/7 emergency and non-emergency medical services to the university community.
1973 was a significant year for Greek life at Syracuse University. It saw the second reorganization of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity chapter and, importantly, the establishment of the first NPHC sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, further enriching the diversity and representation within the university's Greek organizations.
In 1978, Syracuse University's old football stadium, Archbold Stadium, was demolished to make way for the construction of the Carrier Dome.
Syracuse University's Archbold Stadium, once a symbol of athletic prowess, was demolished in 1978.
In April 1979, construction began on the Carrier Dome, a new stadium for Syracuse University, after the demolition of the old Archbold Stadium.
In September 1980, the Carrier Dome, Syracuse University's new domed stadium, officially opened its doors.
Syracuse University's Comstock Tract Buildings, a collection of historically significant structures, were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The venue now known as the JMA Wireless Dome first opened its doors in 1980 as the Carrier Dome.
Alumnus and former basketball player Matt Roe's time playing for the Syracuse Orange spanned from 1986 to 1989.
On December 21, 1988, the Syracuse University community experienced a profound tragedy when Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed over Lockerbie, Scotland, claiming the lives of 35 Syracuse University students returning from a study abroad program.
Matt Roe concluded his basketball career at Syracuse University in 1989.
In April 1990, Syracuse University dedicated a poignant memorial wall to honor the memory of the 35 students who tragically lost their lives in the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing.
Following student protests in 1991, Syracuse University removed veal from its dining hall menus, demonstrating a responsiveness to student concerns regarding ethical and dietary choices.
Utica University, founded by Syracuse University in 1946, became an independent institution in 1995.
In 1997, the Syracuse Women's Rowing team made history by qualifying for the first-ever NCAA Division I Rowing Championship held in Rancho Cordova, California, where they achieved a respectable 12th place finish.
The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks surpassed the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 as the deadliest terrorist attack against the United States.
Under the leadership of Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, the Syracuse men's basketball team achieved a historic victory by winning the NCAA championship in 2003.
Syracuse University renamed its School of Management to the Martin J. Whitman School of Management in 2003, paying tribute to alumnus and benefactor Martin J. Whitman.
Syracuse University announced its acquisition of twelve buildings in downtown Syracuse in December 2004, signaling an expansion into the heart of the city.
In 2004, Syracuse University officially adopted "the Orange" as the nickname for its sports teams, moving away from the previous names of Orangemen and Orangewomen.
On March 31, 2006, Syracuse University and the city of Syracuse unveiled a joint initiative to establish a physical and symbolic link between the university's main campus and the vibrant arts and cultural district downtown.
In 2007, the College of Law at Syracuse University initiated the Cold Case Justice Initiative, focusing on investigating unresolved civil rights era cases in the South. The initiative, led by professors and students, has identified 196 cases, with a significant portion in Georgia, and aims to provide information to the US Department of Justice for potential prosecution.
In July 2008, Syracuse University received a donation of over 200,000 78 rpm records, making its collection the second largest in the United States, second only to the Library of Congress. This substantial acquisition, valued at $1 million, significantly expanded the university's existing collection.
In 2008, the Connective Corridor project, an initiative to develop a cultural corridor connecting Syracuse University's campus with downtown Syracuse, commenced. An engineering firm began studying traffic patterns and lighting in preparation for the project's implementation.
The Syracuse men's lacrosse team continued their winning ways in 2008, capturing the NCAA Championship.
Ernie Davis Dining Hall, built in 2009, quickly gained recognition for its architecture and was named one of the best dining halls in the United States.
In 2009, the Syracuse men's lacrosse team achieved a remarkable feat by securing back-to-back NCAA championships, solidifying their dominance in collegiate lacrosse.
The Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems commenced its operations in 2009, spearheaded by Syracuse University in collaboration with Clarkson University and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
In 2010, Syracuse University partnered with the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency to implement a program for collecting and composting food waste from its dining halls.
Syracuse University established SURFACE in 2010. SURFACE is an open-access digital platform that houses the university's research output, demonstrating its commitment to knowledge sharing.
In 2011, Syracuse University's board of trustees decided to leave the Association of American Universities due to disagreements over the methodology used to calculate non-federal research funding.
Since 2011, the Belfer Audio Laboratory and Archive at Syracuse University, housing a vast collection of approximately 540,000 recordings in various formats, has produced "Sound Beat." This daily 90-second music program is broadcasted on nearly 375 local stations across North America.
The Syracuse men's lacrosse team continued to be a strong contender in 2011, advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament.
In 2012, the Syracuse women's lacrosse team etched their place in program history by reaching the NCAA Division I National Championship game for the first time, ultimately finishing as runners-up to Northwestern.
In 2013, Syracuse University alumnus Michael Carter-Williams received the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, marking a significant achievement in his basketball career.
In 2013, Syracuse University's athletic program made a significant move by joining the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The Syracuse men's lacrosse team showcased their prowess on the national stage in 2013 by reaching the NCAA Division I championship game.
By the end of 2014, Michael Carter-Williams, an alumnus of Syracuse University, had completed his debut season in the NBA, earning the prestigious title of Rookie of the Year.
In 2014, Syracuse University reported having 8,108 students enrolled in its daily meal plans, according to Food Management.
Researchers from Syracuse University played a significant role in the first-ever detection of gravitational waves in 2015 as part of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, marking a historic achievement in astrophysics.
Syracuse University was ranked 1st in The Princeton Review's 2015 list of top party schools.
In 2016, The Daily Orange, the independent student newspaper of Syracuse University, published a scathing editorial condemning the institution's continued support of facilitated communication (FC). The editorial board called out the practice as "potentially life-destroying" and "empirically debunked," criticizing the university for endorsing it despite its lack of scientific validity.
In 2017, Syracuse University released a comprehensive campus framework report, laying out a strategic vision for the development of its physical landscape, buildings, and infrastructure over the next two decades.
Since 2017, Syracuse University has consistently received an A+ grade from PETA and been included on the organization's Dean's List, recognizing its commitment to providing high-quality vegan options.
In May 2018, Syracuse University announced a major renovation of the Carrier Dome, including a new fixed roof, air conditioning, and a large center-hung video board.
Syracuse University took decisive action in 2018 by expelling the Theta Tau fraternity after a video surfaced showing members engaging in a mock initiation ritual that included racist, anti-Semitic, ableist, and homophobic language.
The incoming class at Syracuse University in 2018 exhibited diverse demographics. 26% of students were students of color, 18% were first-generation college students, and 21% were eligible for federal Pell grants. The university welcomed students from 48 states, Washington, D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico, along with nearly 600 international students from 59 countries.
The Syracuse men's basketball team set a new on-campus attendance record on February 23, 2019, when 35,642 fans packed the JMA Dome to watch their game against Duke.
In the fall of 2019, Syracuse University had an overall acceptance rate of 44%.
Syracuse University hosted the 2019 United States Intercollegiate Boxing Association national championship tournament, showcasing their support for collegiate boxing.
A 2019 survey by the Academic Ranking of World Universities placed Syracuse University among the top 100 global institutions for social sciences. The same year, the university secured the 22nd position in New York State based on average professor salaries and was notably ranked 1st on The Princeton Review's list of top party schools.
In 2019-2020, Syracuse University's School of Architecture's Bachelor of Architecture program earned national recognition, ranking 5th in both the "most Hired from" and "most admired" categories by Design Intelligence.
In 2019, Syracuse University faced a series of racist and anti-Semitic incidents, including over ten instances of graffiti and the suspension of the Alpha Chi Rho fraternity for racial slurs directed at a black student. The university's response, which included suspending fraternity social activities, drew criticism for being inadequate in addressing the issue.
In 2019, Syracuse University ranked 136th nationwide for its research and development expenditure of $154.3 million, as reported by the National Science Foundation.
In a 2020 interview with The Athletic, Syracuse University alumnus and former basketball player Matt Roe shared his positive memories of the food on campus during his time there.
Military Times ranked Syracuse University as the top "Private School for Vets" and 5th overall in the "Best for Vets" in 2020. The same year, the university celebrated the completion of the $63 million National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC), a first-of-its-kind facility in the United States dedicated to serving veterans and military personnel.
SU was recognized as one of the top Fulbright Award producing institutions for 2020–21.
In 2020, the student-run food pantries at Syracuse University benefitted from a campus garden that yielded 450 pounds of fresh produce, supporting efforts to combat food insecurity among students.
In 2020, Syracuse University welcomed a diverse student body with 52% female representation. Students from all 50 U.S. states and over 127 countries were represented, highlighting the university's global reach.
By 2020, Syracuse University had faced nearly three decades of criticism for its support of faculty member Douglas Biklen and his controversial practice of facilitated communication, a method widely discredited as pseudoscientific. The university's Institute on Communication and Inclusion, founded by Biklen, continued to offer workshops promoting the practice.
Civil liberties organization FIRE granted Syracuse University its 2021 "Lifetime Censorship Award," citing the institution's "unashamed assault on expressive freedoms."
During the fall 2021 semester, the student-run chapter of the Food Recovery Network at Syracuse University donated over 5,000 pounds of leftover food to local food banks, highlighting the university's commitment to combating food waste.
In 2021, Syracuse University was ranked tied for 58th among undergraduate national universities by U.S. News & World Report.
The Kimmel food court at Syracuse University closed in 2021, following the reopening of the Schine Student Center after extensive renovations.
In May 2022, Syracuse University secured a naming rights agreement with JMA Wireless, renaming the Carrier Dome to the JMA Wireless Dome, or JMA Dome for short.
In June 2022, Syracuse University launched the Center for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship in Washington D.C. This initiative, a partnership with the Newhouse School and Maxwell School, aims to combat the decline of trust in democratic institutions and journalism, foster constructive dialogue, and offer students a semester-long immersive experience in the nation's capital.
The extensive renovation of the Carrier Dome at Syracuse University, which included a new fixed roof and other upgrades, was completed in 2022.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Syracuse University's College of Law tied for 102nd nationally in 2022. The institution has emerged as a leader in the emerging field of National Security Law.
Despite efforts to reduce food waste, a 2022 report by The Daily Orange found that more than 230 pounds of food still goes to waste each day at Syracuse University.
The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University earned the top spot as the No. 1 graduate school for public affairs in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2022 rankings.
Syracuse University was ranked tied for 30th in "Best Colleges for Veterans" by U.S. News & World Report for 2022.
In 2022, U.S. News & World Report ranked Syracuse University's School of Information Studies' graduate program as the 6th best Library and Information Studies graduate school nationwide. Several specializations within the program received notable rankings, including School Library Media (3rd), Digital Librarianship (4th), and Information Systems (tied for 5th).
In 2022, The Chronicle of Higher Education recognized the Joseph I. Lubin School of Accounting, part of the Whitman School of Management, as No. 10 in the nation. U.S. News & World Report ranked the graduate business program at 84th nationwide.
In 2022, Syracuse University's dining program, which serves thousands daily, reported a per-meal cost of $19.59 for its meal plans and an enrollment of 6,844 students. This year also marked the university's continued recognition by PETA for its vegan cuisine, receiving an A+ grade and inclusion on the Dean's List.
In 2023, Syracuse University's admissions process was categorized as "more selective" by the Carnegie Classification. The university accepted 41.69 percent of applicants, with 3,672 students enrolling, resulting in a yield rate of 20.93 percent.
In Spring 2023, Syracuse University will begin the second phase of renovations to enhance the stadium experience, including replacing benches with individual seats and upgrading the wireless infrastructure.
Syracuse University plans to complete the second phase of renovations to the JMA Wireless Dome by the 2024 football season, introducing new features like individual seating and an upgraded wireless network.