The College
Hunter College, the country’s first free teacher’s college, was established in 1870. The institution was first known as the Female Normal and High School, and then as the Normal College of the City of New York. In 1914, it adopted its current name in honor of Thomas Hunter, the College’s founder and first president. Though initially instruction focused on preparing young women for careers in teaching, Hunter quickly adopted a broader liberal arts curriculum. A summer session began in 1916. Evening and extension classes were first taught in 1917. Graduate-level study commenced 4 years later. In 1961, Hunter was incorporated into the City University of New York (CUNY). Three years later, it began admitting men. Currently enrolling more than 20,000 students, who reflect the unparalleled diversity of New York City, Hunter has grown into a comprehensive teaching and research institution.