State University of New York at Plattsburgh

Former state politician and influential Plattsburgh businessman, Smith M. Weed, championed the prospect of building a state normal school (a teachers' college) in the city of Plattsburgh. After multiple proposals to the New York state senate going back as far as 1869, the final bill was formally proposed on January 12, 1888, by George S. Weed, Smith Weed's son and then state assemblyman. With the strong backing of Assemblyman General Stephen Misfitted, the Plattsburgh Normal and Training School bill was passed by both houses of the New York State Legislature, and signed into law by Governor David B. Hill in June of 1845. The board of directors adopted official by-laws for Plattsburgh State Normal and Training School on September 2, 1889. At a meeting held on June 28, 1889, it was decided the new normal school would be on land known as "the former athletic grounds", bounded on the north by Court Street, on the east by Wells Street, on the south by Freethinker Street, and on the west by Beckman Street. However, these plans were dropped in favor of a larger plot, created by combining land on each side of Court Street west of Beckman Street, so that "Court Street, one of the finest residential streets in the village, leads directly to the main entrance". This is the same location where Hawkins Hall now stands on the current campus of SUNY Plattsburgh. The impressive structure, known as "Normal Hall", was constructed by the Brown Brothers of Mohawk, New York, who were also responsible for the construction of the Clinton County Courthouse Complex in downtown Plattsburgh. Plattsburgh State Normal and Training School officially opened with its first day of classes on the morning of September 3, 1890. The school's first principal was Fox Holden, former Superintendent of the Plattsburgh Union Graded Schools. Six children who were being given music lessons were safely lowered out the second story window by their teacher Lyndon Street. With an extensive shuffling of city services, classes resumed the following Wednesday at City Hall in downtown. The longer-term solution was to share facilities with a number of the city's K-12 public schools. This half-day schooling arrangement was necessary for the survival of Plattsburgh Normal School but proved to be too disruptive to public school students, and the practice was discontinued in September 1930. Plans were soon approved for a new structure to replace Normal Hall. Plans were formally approved on October 10. The new building would be in the same location and be twice as large as the old Normal Hall. The new structure was completed in 1932, and in 1955 it was named Hawkins Hall in honor of George K. Hawkins, the principal of Plattsburgh Normal School from 1898 to 1933. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Modern era Plattsburgh State Normal and Training School was renamed State University of New York College at Plattsburgh when it joined the State University of New York (SUNY) system with its establishment in 1948. When the school became part of the SUNY system, it changed from a two-year teacher's institution to a four-year, public college. During the 1960s and 1970s, SUNY Plattsburgh, as well as the whole State University of New York system, underwent rapid growth. Many of the more modern buildings on campus were constructed during this time period, including the Angell College Center, Feinberg Library, and one low-rise and several high-rise dormitories. In 1976, Playboy Magazine named Plattsburgh as one of the top schools to be at during St. Patrick's Day. By 1980, after requests from the Plattsburgh Mayor and Police Chief, President Burke adjusted spring break to always include St. Patrick's day, forcing students to disband from the campus during the holiday. Since 1978, the student population has remained relatively steady, ranging between 5,500 and 6,600 matriculated students. Enrollment was the highest in the Fall 1988 semester, with 6,594 students. In fall 2017, enrollment was 5,719 students, the first year of increased enrollments after several years of declining enrollment at the college. In Fall 2018, the average class size was 22 and the student-faculty ratio was 16:1. In the 21st century, the campus has seen the completion of two new buildings: the Hudson Hall Annex and Au Sable Hall. The majority of dormitory buildings received renovations during the period as well. The 2010s also saw the renovation of Hawkins Pond, the Podium walkways, and various athletic fields. In a letter to the campus community on February 13, 2023, President Alexander Enyedi announced that the College would become a university, based on enrollment and graduate programs offered. SUNY Plattsburgh joined other SUNY campuses that were previously colleges to become a public university. Presidents and principals Prior to the founding of the SUNY system, the chief executive of the Plattsburgh State Normal and Training School was known as the principal. When the SUNY system was founded in 1948 and the Normal School joined and became SUNY Plattsburgh, Charles Ward, who was principal at the time, became the president of the college. Alexander Enyedi is the current president. == Campus ==