Yale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut, is a private Ivy League research university. Established in 1701, it stands as the third-oldest higher education institution in the United States. As one of the nine colonial colleges predating the American Revolution, Yale has a long and distinguished history of academic excellence and research contributions.
In 1900, Western painter Frederic Remington, a Yale alumnus, was an artist whose heroes gloried in the combat and tests of strength in the Wild West.
In 1900, Yale University established the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, expanding its academic offerings.
In 1903, the second wing of the Skull and Bones secret society building was completed, enhancing its Egypto-Doric architectural style.
In 1905, reforms were implemented to solve the problem of serious injuries in football, but they ultimately failed.
Around 1908 or 1910, the Berzelius secret society building, designed by Donn Barber, was erected in an austere cube with classical detailing, contributing to Yale's distinctive architectural landscape.
In 1909, The Whiffenpoofs a cappella group was founded.
In 1909, William Graham Sumner's tenure as a professor at Yale ended. He taught economics and sociology, and faced opposition from President Noah Porter due to Sumner's use of a textbook by Herbert Spencer.
In 1909, a crisis in football led the presidents of Harvard, Yale, and Princeton to develop reforms to reduce injuries, though their attempts were undermined by rebellion and the formation of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
In 1909, the first Triangular Debate of Harvard/Yale/Princeton occurred, using rhetoric, symbolism, and metaphors from athletics. Debates were covered on front pages of college newspapers and emphasized in yearbooks, and team members received the equivalent of athletic letters for their jackets.
Around 1908 or 1910, the Berzelius secret society building, designed by Donn Barber, was erected in an austere cube with classical detailing, contributing to Yale's distinctive architectural landscape.
In 1910, the Aurelian Honor Society was established.
In 1911, Neo-Gothic towers in the rear garden of the Skull and Bones secret society building were completed, adding to the building's architectural complexity.
In 1912, Kenneth M. Murchison designed the St. Elmo secret society building with designs inspired by Elizabethan manor style.
In 1912, the novel 'Stover at Yale' questioned the business mentality prevalent at the school, featuring Dink Stover.
In 1915, Yale University established the Yale School of Public Health, further expanding its academic programs.
In 1916, Yale University established the Yale School of Architecture, adding to its professional schools.
In 1916, the Torch Honor Society was established.
From 1917 to 1931, many of Yale's buildings were constructed in the Collegiate Gothic architecture style, financed largely by Edward S. Harkness, including the Yale Drama School.
In 1920, Milton Winternitz became the dean of the Yale School of Medicine, implementing the "Yale System" and strengthening the faculty.
From 1923 to 1924, the Wolf's Head secret society building, designed by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, was erected in Collegiate Gothic style, complementing Yale's architectural heritage.
In 1923, Yale University established the Yale School of Nursing, expanding its offerings in the health sciences.
From 1923 to 1924, the Wolf's Head secret society building, designed by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, was erected in Collegiate Gothic style, complementing Yale's architectural heritage.
In 1924, Yale's crew team won an Olympic Games Gold Medal for men's eights.
From 1929 to 1933, Georgian-style buildings including Timothy Dwight College and Pierson College were erected at Yale, contributing to the campus's architectural diversity.
Around 1930, during the construction of Collegiate Gothic buildings at Yale, steel framing was commonly used, simulating solid stone blocks.
From 1917 to 1931, many of Yale's buildings were constructed in the Collegiate Gothic architecture style, financed largely by Edward S. Harkness, including the Yale Drama School.
From 1929 to 1933, Georgian-style buildings including Timothy Dwight College and Pierson College were erected at Yale, contributing to the campus's architectural diversity.
In 1933, Yale's residential college system was established by Edward S. Harkness, modeled after Oxford and Cambridge.
In 1934, the Yale Political Union (YPU) was founded as a debate society.
In 1935, Milton Winternitz resigned as dean of the Yale School of Medicine due to antisemitism from colleagues.
In 1954, the Yale Class of 1954, led by Richard Gilder, donated $70 million in commemoration of their 50th reunion.
In 1955, Yale University established the Yale School of Drama, adding to its arts programs.
In 1956, Yale's crew team won an Olympic Games Gold Medal for men's eights.
In 1956, the Sheffield Scientific School, which was the engineering and sciences school at Yale, was discontinued.
In 1957, the Journal of Music Theory was founded at Yale.
In 1959, Ingalls Rink, designed by Eero Saarinen, was dedicated at Yale University, marking a new architectural landmark on campus.
In 1964, Harkness Tower was reinforced to allow the installation of the Yale Memorial Carillon, enhancing its structural integrity.
In 1966, Yale began discussions with Vassar College about a merger to foster coeducation, but Vassar ultimately declined.
There have been at least eight strikes since 1968, and The New York Times wrote that Yale has a reputation as having the worst record of labor tension of any university in the U.S.
In 1969, Yale independently introduced coeducation, with Amy Solomon being the first woman to register as an undergraduate.
In 1969, Yale's Jewish center Jack Langer played for Team United States at the Maccabiah Games in Israel, with the approval of Yale President Kingman Brewster, later leading to controversy with the NCAA.
Beginning with the class of 1970, Yale eliminated admission preferences designed to maintain the proportion of white Protestants from notable families in the student body.
In 1970, the NCAA banned Yale from participating in all NCAA sports for two years after Yale played its Jewish center Jack Langer, who had previously played for Team United States at the 1969 Maccabiah Games in Israel.
Starting in 1972, Yale alumni were represented on either the Democratic or Republican ticket in every U.S. presidential election between 1972 and 2004.
In 1973, Yale's undergraduate class was the first to have women starting from freshman year, and all undergraduate women were housed in Vanderbilt Hall.
In 1976, Jerry Brown, a Yale-educated individual, ran for President of the United States.
In 1976, Yale University established the Yale School of Management, expanding its professional schools.
In 1977, Ann Olivarius authored "A report to the Yale Corporation from the Yale Undergraduate Women's Caucus", which was used as the basis for the lawsuit Alexander v. Yale, concerning sexual harassment.
In 1977, Hanna Holborn Gray, then Yale Provost, was appointed interim president of Yale. She later became president of the University of Chicago, being the first woman to hold either position at each school.
By 1980, Yale's faculty had significantly increased in diversity, with more members from underrepresented groups holding positions.
In 1980, Jerry Brown, a Yale-educated individual, ran for President of the United States.
In 1984, Gary Hart, a Yale-educated individual, ran for President of the United States.
In 1986, the weekly Yale Herald newspaper was first published.
During the 1988 presidential election, George H. W. Bush (Yale '48) distinguished Yale from Harvard, saying Yale's reputation was "so diffuse" and lacked the "liberalism and elitism" associated with Harvard.
In 1988, Gary Hart and Pat Robertson, both Yale-educated individuals, ran for President of the United States.
In 1990, poverty and violent crime rose in New Haven, which negatively impacted Yale's student and faculty recruiting efforts.
In 1992, Paul Tsongas and Jerry Brown, both Yale-educated individuals, ran for President of the United States.
In 1994, Provost Judith Rodin became the first permanent female president of an Ivy League institution, at the University of Pennsylvania.
According to College Fight Songs: An Annotated Anthology published in 1998, the Yale song "Down the Field" ranks as the fourth-greatest fight song of all time.
On October 21, 2000, Yale dedicated its fourth new boathouse in 157 years of collegiate rowing. The Gilder Boathouse is named to honor former Olympic rower Virginia Gilder '79 and her father Richard Gilder '54.
In 2000, Joseph Lieberman, a Yale-educated individual, ran for Vice President of the United States.
In 2001, the Princeton Tigers won the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship. This is relevant to the Yale context, as Yale's 2018 win marked the first Ivy League school to win the title since Princeton's victory in 2001.
In 2002, Provost Alison Richard became the vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge.
In 2002, The Boston Globe wrote that Yale is the school that can lay claim to educating the nation's top national leaders over the past three decades.
In 2003, Rebecca Chopp, dean of the Divinity School, was appointed president of Colgate University.
In 2004, Dean of Yale College Richard H. Brodhead was appointed as the president of Duke University, marking a significant career milestone.
In 2004, Howard Dean commented on the transformation of Yale, noting significant changes between the class of '68 and the class of '71, highlighting the introduction of women and efforts to recruit African Americans.
In 2004, Provost Dr. Susan Hockfield became the president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In 2004, the non-profit watchdog group Security on Campus filed a complaint accusing Yale of under-reporting rape and sexual assaults.
Through 2004, Yale alumni were represented on either the Democratic or Republican ticket in every U.S. presidential election since 1972.
In 2005, the Yale Police Benevolent Association, representing officers of the Yale University Police Department, affiliated with the Connecticut Organization for Public Safety Employees.
In December 2006, the renovated Kahn building of the Yale University Art Gallery, Louis Kahn's first large-scale American work, reopened.
By 2006, New Haven's crime rate fell by half since 1990, aided by community policing and making Yale's campus the safest among peer schools.
In 2006, Yale and Peking University established a Joint Undergraduate Program in Beijing, facilitating student exchange.
Since 2006, Yale's ice hockey clubs have played a commemorative game, recalling the first known ice hockey game in the United States between Yale and Johns Hopkins in 1896.
In 2007, Deputy Provost H. Kim Bottomly was named president of Wellesley College.
In 2007, outgoing Yale President Rick Levin highlighted Yale's commitment to excellence in undergraduate education and the education of leaders.
In 2008, Provost Andrew Hamilton was confirmed to be the vice chancellor of the University of Oxford, a notable achievement.
In 2008, Yale purchased the 17-building, 136-acre former Bayer HealthCare complex in West Haven, Connecticut, to be used as laboratory and research space, expanding the university's facilities.
In 2008, Yale's former president Richard C. Levin's salary was $1.5 million, making him one of the highest paid university presidents in the United States at the time.
In 2009, Rebecca Chopp became the president of Swarthmore College, following her presidency at Colgate University.
In 2009, Yale was selected for the Tony Blair Faith Foundation's United States Faith and Globalization Initiative. Also, former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo became the director of the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization, and former presidential candidate Howard Dean taught a seminar. Additionally, an alliance was formed among Yale, University College London, and their affiliated hospitals to conduct translational medicine research.
In 2009, students revived the Bladderball game at Yale, despite opposition from the administration due to safety concerns. Bladderball is a campus-wide game played with a large inflatable ball.
In 2010, 10% of the incoming freshman class were non-U.S. citizens, and 54% attended public high schools.
In late 2010, Yale security officers joined the International Union of Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America, although the Yale administration contested the election.
In 2011, Travel + Leisure listed the Yale campus as one of the most beautiful in the United States, highlighting its architectural appeal and aesthetic environment.
In 2011, a Title IX complaint was filed against Yale alleging a hostile sexual climate, leading to the formation of a Title IX steering committee.
In 2011, students revived the Bladderball game at Yale, despite opposition from the administration due to safety concerns. Bladderball is a campus-wide game played with a large inflatable ball.
In July 2012, the Yale University-PKU Program in Beijing ended due to weak participation.
In 2012, the artifacts brought from Peru by Yale history professor Hiram Bingham in 1912 were restored to Peru.
In August 2013, a partnership with the National University of Singapore led to the opening of Yale-NUS College in Singapore, a new liberal arts college in Asia.
In 2013, Charles B. Johnson, a 1954 graduate of Yale College, pledged a $250 million gift to support the construction of two new residential colleges named in honor of Pauli Murray and Benjamin Franklin.
In October 2014, after deliberation, Yale security officers decided to form a new union, the Yale University Security Officers Association, to represent campus security officers.
In 2014, Rebecca Chopp became the first female chancellor of the University of Denver.
In 2014, students revived the Bladderball game at Yale, despite opposition from the administration due to safety concerns. Bladderball is a campus-wide game played with a large inflatable ball.
In July 2015, students signed a petition calling for Calhoun College to be renamed due to Calhoun's pro-slavery views.
In August 2015, Yale President Peter Salovey addressed the Freshman Class, explaining why Calhoun College would not be renamed despite Calhoun's controversial beliefs.
In 2015, Luchang Wang died by suicide after expressing concerns about being forced to medically withdraw from Yale for mental health issues, highlighting the challenges students face in seeking help.
In April 2016, Yale President Salovey announced that Calhoun's name would remain on the residential college, but the title of "master" would be renamed to "head of college".
In 2016, Hillary Clinton, a Yale-educated individual, ran for President of the United States.
In 2016, Yale was ranked 11th in the Academic Ranking of World Universities, tenth in the Nature Index, tenth in the CWUR World University Rankings, sixth in the Times Higher Education Global University Employability Rankings, and eighth in the Academic World Reputation Rankings.
In 2016, the U.S. News & World Report ranked Yale third among U.S. national universities.
In 2016, the Yale men's basketball team won the Ivy League Championship title for the first time in 54 years, securing a spot in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament and then beat the Baylor Bears 79-75 in the first round.
In February 2017, Yale announced that Calhoun College would be renamed in honor of computer scientist Grace Hopper.
In 2017, Yale University renamed Calhoun College, named for John C. Calhoun, to Hopper College, after Grace Hopper.
In 2017, Yale opened two new colleges near Science Hill.
In 2017, the average need-based aid grant for the Yale Class was $46,395.
In May 2018, the Yale men's lacrosse team won their first-ever NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship, defeating the Duke Blue Devils.
In 2018, the Ruderman Family Foundation ranked Yale as having the worst mental health policies in the Ivy League, highlighting significant criticism for its handling of student mental health on campus.
In 2019, Yale ranked 27th among universities worldwide by the SCImago Institutions Rankings.
In 2019, former Dean of Yale Law School Anthony T. Kronman criticized the Calhoun College name change and the lack of support for targeted faculty in his book.
According to 2020 data, around 71% of Yale undergraduates join the workforce, while 17% attend graduate or professional schools.
By 2020, Yale committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 10% below 1990 levels, allocating renewable energy credits to offset energy use.
In 2020, Amy Klobuchar and Tom Steyer, both Yale-educated individuals, ran for President of the United States.
In 2020, Yale's president Peter Salovey's salary was $1.16 million, ranking him 40th among university presidents.
In 2020, the #CancelYale tag was used on social media platforms, driven by right-wing figures, to demand the removal of Elihu Yale's name from Yale University due to his involvement with the East India Company and the Indian Ocean slave trade. Critics argued that Yale University's early funding relied on money derived from slavery.
In 2020, the U.S. Justice Department initiated a lawsuit against Yale University, alleging discrimination against Asian and white candidates in its undergraduate admissions process through affirmative action policies.
In April 2021, Yale announced that it would require students to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of being on campus during the fall 2021 term.
In 2021, The National Science Foundation ranked Yale 15th among American universities for research and development expenditures.
In 2021, under the new Biden administration, the U.S. Justice Department withdrew the lawsuit filed in 2020 against Yale University, which had alleged discrimination against Asian and white candidates in admissions.
The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs ranked Yale fifth among research institutions producing the most 2020–2021 Fulbright Scholars.
In 2022, Yale University established the Jackson School of Global Affairs, further expanding its academic offerings.
In 2022, Yale accepted 2,234 students to the Class of 2026 out of 50,015 applicants, resulting in an acceptance rate of 4.46%.
In 2022, Yale increased the number of mental health clinicians on campus from 51 to 60 and promised further changes, following a Washington Post article about their medical withdrawal policies.
In 2023, Yale University's endowment was valued at $40.7 billion, making it the third largest of any educational institution.
In 2023, Yale changed the name of "medical withdrawal" to "medical leave of absence" and allowed students on leave to participate in extracurricular activities, following a lawsuit alleging discrimination.
As of October 2024, Yale University has been affiliated with 68 Nobel laureates, 5 Fields medalists, 4 Abel Prize laureates, and 3 Turing Award winners, along with numerous other notable alumni.
In 2024, Yale had 526 registered undergraduate student organizations.