Lehman College Timeline: 1968 - 2018

1968

July 1, 1968: Herbert H. Lehman College formally established; Dr. Leonard Lief becomes first president.

1969

CUNY unveils master plan for $40 million renovation of Lehman College.

Black Studies Department is founded, joined by Puerto Rican Studies Department, which becomes first such department at any CUNY senior college.

First class graduates from Lehman College.

Faculty resolution calls on President Nixon to withdraw American forces from Southeast Asia.

1970

Open admissions policy begins at Lehman and CUNY.

1971

Lehman College Senate established; CUNY approves new campus governance charter, giving increased participation to students and faculty.

Martin Duberman (History) named the first Distinguished Professor at Lehman College.

1972

President Lief testifies before two NYS Legislative Committees, asking that CUNY's free tuition policy be retained.

Plans announced for auditorium concert hall, new library, and classroom building with a theatre.

Eric Wolf (Anthropology) and Richard H. Popkin (Anthropology) named Distinguished Professors.

1973

First class of SEEK students graduates.

Ulysses Kay (Music) named Distinguished Professor.

1974

Men's basketball team under Coach Ed Kramer wins Lehman's first-ever CUNYAC Championship, which becomes first of two back-to-back trophies.

First 43 students complete B.S. program in nursing; first 20 students in Lehman's bilingual program awarded degrees; first 160 students who entered Lehman through open admissions policy graduate.

Robert Lekachman (Economics) named Distinguished Professor.

1975

Financial crisis shaking New York City has repercussions throughout CUNY; new construction at Lehman is halted.

Angus Fletcher (English) named Distinguished Professor.

1976

CUNY Chancellor announces two-week payless furloughs during spring vacation and plans to impose tuition. Lehman forced to retrench 148 nontenured faculty and staff.

1977

Adult Degree Program begins, first of its kind in CUNY; the City and the Humanities program also launched.

Building projects halted in 1975 receive new financing, and construction restarts.

1978

NYC Area Writing Project becomes one of first programs to focus on methods to improve teaching of writing.

Lehman receives major funding from U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to help students enter health professions.

1979

17 NYS legislators visit campus to see, firsthand, opportunities Lehman offers its students.

Women's basketball team wins first of two back-to-back championships.

1980

On-again, off-again building projects at last completed: Lehman Center holds grand opening with concert by New York Philharmonic.

Women's softball team wins "triple crown"—CUNY, Hudson Valley, and NYS WCAA championships.

Lehman Scholars Program established.

1981

The City and the Humanities Program and New York Folklore Society sponsor conference on Folk Culture of the Bronx.

1982

Bronx Regional and Community History Program begins with support from National Endowment for the Humanities.

Distinguished Professors Robert Lekachman, Eric Wolf, Angus Fletcher, and Martin Duberman speak at "Roundtable on the Future."

1983

Lehman observes its 15th anniversary.

Center for School/College Collaboratives established.

1984

New core curriculum adopted.

Institute for Literacy Studies established.

Lehman College Art Gallery opens in Fine Arts building.

1985

Minority Biomedical Research Support program begins at Lehman.

Adam Koranyi (Mathematics & Computer Science) named a Distinguished Professor.

Monroe and Rose Lovinger establish scholarship in their names and pledge bequest to perpetuate the scholarship.

1986

John Corigliano (Music) named a Distinguished Professor.

Deaf and hard-of-hearing students begin program enabling them to complete their education in a mainstream environment.

Men's swim team wins CUNYAC title.

1987

Men's baseball and basketball teams win CUNY Championship; baseball team also becomes Knickerbocker Baseball Conference Champions and ECAC Metro NY-NJ Champions.

1988

Lehman becomes first in the Bronx to "adopt" its train station under Transit Authority's new Neighborhood Adopt-a-Station Program.

1989

Lehman plans for Japan campus near Hiroshima, beginning ambitious two-way exchange program.

1990

Dr. Ricardo R. Fernández begins his tenure as the second President of Lehman College in September 1990 and is inaugurated in 1991. He affirms Lehman's historic commitment to access and excellence, advances the use of emerging technologies, strengthens ties with the community, expands partnerships with Bronx schools, introduces new academic programs, and continues the College's building and beautification program.

Distinguished Professor of Anthropology Eric Wolf receives a "genius" award from the MacArthur Foundation.

1991

Student take over several campus buildings to protest staff cuts and tuition increase. Occupation lasts for sixteen days and ends with arrest of twelve students.

Bronx Educational Alliance at Lehman College brings together four borough colleges and public school superintendencies to work on challenges in education.

1992

Presidential candidates Bill Clinton and Jerry Brown debate at Lehman Center before the New York primary.

Lehman gives its first honorary degrees to Paule Burke Marshall, John Patterson, Jr., and Robert C. Weaver.

Lehman wins neighborhood beautification awards from the Bronx Borough President and Citizens Committee for NYC.

BronxNet, award-winning cable television station, moves to Carman Hall, giving Lehman students a leg up in the world of broadcasting.

1993

500-seat campus theatre named in honor of patrons Monroe and Rose D. Lovinger.

1994

Lehman opens The APEX, a $57 million center for sports and fitness. The New York Times calls Rafael Viñoly's design "a temple to physical education."

Chemistry student/faculty exchange program launched with colleges in England, Germany, and Spain.

The Institute for Literacy Studies celebrates its 10th anniversary with conference on urban education.

Former U.S. Sen. Albert Gore, Sr. delivers 25th Lehman Lecture.

1995

Lehman launches multilingual journalism program, only one of its kind in the country.

New partnership with Albert Einstein College of Medicine puts Lehman's science students on fast track to careers as physicians.

Former U.S. Representative Bella Abzug, biologist Barry Commoner, and environmental lawyer Robert Kennedy, Jr. speak at "Earth Week" conference.

Lehman joins CUNY initiative, funded by National Science Foundation, to improve science and math teacher preparation; Lehman receives $5 million.

Delegation from Lehman becomes first group of CUNY students to visit Hanoi and travel throughout Vietnam.

1996

College celebrates U.N.'s 50th year: Diplomat Sir Brian Urquhart delivers Lehman Lecture; students stage mock General Assembly with Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali; dogwood trees planted in "peace grove" near Old Gym.

Carnegie Foundation names Sondra Perl (English) New York Professor of the Year.

Installation of decorative gates and new metal fencing enhances beauty of the campus.

President Emeritus Lief receives honorary doctorate at Convocation.

Manhattan D.A. Robert M. Morgenthau receives first Lehman Leadership Award.

1997

Lehman launches first online course; by 2007, 166 course sections would be offered online, enrolling 2056 students.

NYC announces plans to rebuild Bedford Park Blvd. Bridge.

WAVES reunite on campus and dedicate a stained-glass window in Music Building.

Lehman uses NYNEX grant to "wire" Bronx schools, cultural groups, hospitals, and government offices for Internet; Hispanic Educational Telecommunications System installs distance-learning classroom on campus with satellite links.

Lehman sports teams get new genderless image: Lancers become the Lightning.

1998

Five-year campaign succeeds to save historic Jerome Park Reservoir from becoming filtration plant site.

Middle States accreditation team describes Lehman as a "main source of opportunity" for students, calls faculty "excellent" and "very involved in research and service."

President Fernández becomes chair of the Governing Board of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.

1999

Eugene Chudnovsky (Physics & Astronomy) named a Distinguished Professor.

TV show "Law and Order" becomes regular visitor to Lehman for college scenes.

$13.5 million Information Technology Center opens in Carman Hall, including a new work of public art called "Sonic Pass Blue"; Athletics Hall of Fame opens in APEX.

Eleanore Wurtzel (Biological Sciences) awarded $1 million from the National Institutes of Health to support vitamin A deficiency research.

Women's indoor track team wins first of four consecutive CUNYAC Championships.

2000

Distinguished Professor of Music John Corigliano wins Academy Award for Best Original Score.

Bronx Small Business Development Center opens in Old Gym, ultimately assisting over 5,500 clients by 2007, resulting in investment of $58 million and creation or retention of over 2,000 jobs.

Lehman's Child Care Center accredited by National Association for Education of Young Children.

Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education rates Lehman one of nation's top colleges for Latino students.

Victor Pan (Mathematics & Computer Science) named a Distinguished Professor.

2001

Distinguished Professor of English Billy Collins named U.S. Poet Laureate in 2001 and again in 2002; Distinguished Professor of Music John Corigliano wins 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Music.

Three social work majors named to inaugural class of Gates Millennium Scholars.

Library receives major collection on literature of Spanish Civil War from Dr. Jose Luis Ponce de Leon of California State University; gift is made possible through Gerardo Pina-Rosales (Languages and Literatures) and Arts and Humanities Dean Marlene Gottlieb.

Through the efforts of CUNY Trustee John J. Calandra, CUNY establishes Institute for Irish American Studies at Lehman.

Through Linda Keen and Katherine St. John (Mathematics and Computer Science), Lehman becomes one of only ten colleges in New York State to secure highly competitive grant from the National Science Foundation that provides stipends and other assistance to prepare math and computer science students for technology careers. Grant is renewed in 2003 and 2007.

2002

The CUNY Honors College at Lehman welcomes its first class.

Lief Endowment Campaign launched with goal of $1 million in scholarship funds, concluding successfully in 2004.

Lehman named "Institution of Excellence in the First College Year" by a national research center.

Lehman Teacher Education programs become the first in CUNY to receive NCATE accreditation.

Lehman wins approval for new business degree, becoming only the second CUNY college to offer this program.

High School of American Studies at Lehman College opens, and Lehman becomes a partner in four other new small high schools; partnerships will rise to eight by 2007.

Former Vice President Al Gore visits Lehman for nationally televised "Hardball" session.

2003

Lehman kicks off its 35th year and 125th anniversary of Gov. Lehman's birth with a symposium "Herbert H. Lehman Remembered."

New main entrance dedicated at Gate Five, including a new work of public art, called "Intersections"; new biology computer lab opens.

Lehman students win first place at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Conference for research on asthma in the Bronx.

Student-produced video magazine "Inside Lehman" wins first of what will become a series of 13 regional and national awards.

Joseph Dauben (History) becomes only the third Western scholar elected to Institute for the History of Natural Science, part of Chinese Academy of Sciences; the following year he is named a Distinguished Professor.

"Conversations" launched over Bronxnet and later CUNY-TV; series brings theatre professionals to Lehman for live discussions with William M. Hoffman (Journalism, Communication, and Theatre).

Women's indoor and outdoor track teams place second in NCAA nationals.

2004

Distinguished Professor Billy Collins named New York State Poet.

Joseph W. Dauben (History) named a Distinguished Professor.

Lehman Brothers hosts reception to celebrate 35th anniversary of the College and 125th anniversary of Gov. Lehman's birth.

Renovated Speech and Hearing clinic and new GIS lab open.

Lehman presents Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi with Lehman Leadership Award and establishes Shirin Ebadi Peace Scholarship.

New portrait bust of Gov. Lehman by John Belardo (Art) unveiled at the FDR Presidential Library in Hyde Park; bust then travels to Capitol in Albany and is dedicated in 2005 along College Walk at Lehman College.

ENLACE Latino Collegiate Society created by the Bronx Institute with a grant from the Kellogg Foundation.

2005

Lehman community honors Distinguished Professor of Music John Corigliano at Lincoln Center and establishes Corigliano Music Scholarships at Lehman College.

Professor Thomas Spear of Languages and Literatures wins prestigious "Le Trophee de la Diversité Culturelle" ("Trophy of Cultural Diversity") from the French Ministry of Culture for his website on the literature of French-speaking islands.

Smokey Robinson's appearance at the Performing Arts Center becomes highest-grossing event in the Center's history.

Distinguished Professor of Physics Eugene Chudnovsky discovers "magnetic deflagration" while studying "avalanche" reaction in magnetic crystals.

Lehman wins its first CUNYAC Women's Cross Country Championship.

**300 students from the Dominican Republic hold model U.N. at Lehman.

2006

Nobel Peace Prize winner Jody Williams delivers Lehman Lecture.

Lehman leads international peace conference in Hiroshima, Japan.

Lehman hosts symposium on "Russia and China Today," commemorating its role as site of first U.N. Security Council meetings.

College Library renamed in honor of President Emeritus Lief.

M.P.H. and M.S.W. programs are launched; CUNY Teacher Academy at Lehman welcomes first class.

Men's swim team wins its second CUNYAC Championship, to be followed by a third win in 2007; Women's Track and Field Team wins CUNY Indoor Track and Field Championships.

President Fernández elected Vice Chair/Chair-Elect, American Council on Education

Joseph Rachlin (Biological Sciences) helps lead a team releasing 201 alewife herring into the Bronx River.

Herminio Martinez (Middle and High School Education), executive director of the Bronx Institute, named Educator of the Year by Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force of the NYS Assembly and Senate.

2007

M.S. and Advanced Certificate programs in Educational Leadership launched; Lehman's first online degree program, the R.N. to B.S.N., accepts its first students.

New Mission, Vision, and Values Statements for the College adopted.

Women's basketball team wins its first CUNYAC Championship and advances to NCAA tournament.

President Fernández receives "President's Award of Excellence" from Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and is named one of the "100 Most Influential Hispanics" in the country by Hispanic Business.

"Big Mozy," world's largest flower, blooms in Lehman's greenhouse.

Distinguished Professor of English Billy Collins receives Washington Irving Medal of Literary Merit from the Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York.

President Emeritus Lief dies at age 83 and is honored at a campus memorial service.

The sale of "Movement Bermuda" by Mardsen Hartley, a painting previously given to the Lehman College Art Gallery by Professor Emerita Dorothy Brodin, coupled with her bequest, makes the late professor the largest individual donor in the history of the College.

2008

Celebration of College's 40th anniversary kicks off with a celebration at Alliance Bernstein LLP Corporate Headquarters.

2008: R.N. Completion program serves its third group of students from Korea and becomes basis for new exchange program with Sungshin Women's University in Seoul.

Zhi-Liang Zheng (Biological Sciences) leads a team of Lehman researchers who identify a gene, called "OSU1," that plays a critical role in modulating the carbon and nitrogen nutrient balance response in plants; the finding may have application in agriculture and in combating both human malnutrition and obesity.

Eleanore Wurtzel (Biological Sciences) is part of a team of researchers, working in seven laboratories in the U.S. and Mexico, that has developed tools for breeding new lines of maize rich in provitamin A—a finding that could greatly reduce malnutrition around the world.

2009

New programs are launched: M.S. degrees in finance, human resource management, and international marketing, interdisciplinary B.S. in environmental science, and multidisciplinary M.S. with C.C.N.Y. in geographic information science.

2010

Phase I of the new Science Facility is completed. First class of the Teacher Academy at Lehman College graduates.

2011

2012

Campaign for Lehman College concludes. A campus-wide utility upgrade is completed.

2013

2014

NCATE continuing accreditation visit takes place.

2015

Phase II of the new Science Facility is completed.

2016

2017

Shuster Hall returns to an academic building; administrative offices move to a renovated Davis Hall.

2018

Lehman celebrates its fiftieth anniversary.