A. History

erbert H. Lehman College was established as an independent senior college by The City University of New York on July 1, 1968, after having served from 1931 as the Bronx branch of Hunter College. The campus played a role in world history when it became interim headquarters of the United Nations and the site of the first meetings in the United States of the UN Security Council (March-August, 1946). The College was named after the distinguished statesman and public servant, Herbert H. Lehman, the former Governor of New York State and United States Senator who presided over the largest relief operation in history as Director-General of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (Europe, 1943-46). In 1971, the College was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa (Chi of New York), the national honor society for excellence in the liberal arts.

B. Current Statistics

• Faculty. Currently there are 308 full-time members plus approximately 400 adjuncts. Approximately 19% of the full-time faculty also hold appointments in various programs of the CUNY Graduate Center through which the University's Ph.D. and other doctoral programs are organized.
• Administration. The administrative staff includes approximately 445 administrative, support, and maintenance personnel.
• Academic Programs. The College offers bachelors and master's degrees through more than 80 degree programs in the liberal arts and professions.
• Students. As of Fall 2003, the total enrollment was 9,712 (7,594 undergraduate and 2,118 masters' students). 72% of undergraduates are female; 87% are members of minority groups; 60% attend full-time; 79% reside in the Bronx or Manhattan; 10% are from Westchester, Putnam and Rockland Counties; and 32% are over 30 years of age.
• Undergraduate Trends. The number of students entering as full-time freshmen has increased by 31% since 1999 (604 in Fall 1999 vs. 790 in Fall 2003). This increase took place despite the elimination of remediation at the senior colleges, which was expected to negatively impact enrollment. Approximately 56% of enrolled students were admitted through the regular admissions process, and 44% were admitted through the SEEK Program (see p.12). Over the last five years there has been a 33% increase in the number of students who transferred to Lehman from other institutions (788 in Fall 1999 vs. 1,051 in Fall 2003). Approximately 64% of the students who graduated in Spring 2003 were transfer students.
• Graduate Trends. The graduate population is 69% women, and 70% minority group members; 95% attend part-time, and 54% are Bronx or Manhattan residents. Approximately 67% are studying education. About 42% are over 35 years of age. Lehman, in conjunction with the New York Botanical Garden, is also the home campus for the CUNY Ph.D. Program in Plant Sciences, with approximately 50 doctoral students studying in laboratories on campus and at the New York Botanical Garden. About 26% of all graduate students are public school teachers taking one or two professional training courses. The number of non-degree graduate students has fluctuated from year to year while the number of degree-seeking graduate students has risen 46% since 1994.Research and Sponsored Programs. Lehman generates approximately $15 million in extramural funding of research, educational and contract programs. These programs have grown at an annual rate of 5% to 7% over the last five years.
  

C. The Mission of the College

Lehman College is the only public senior college in the Borough of the Bronx, which has a population of approximately 1.3 million. Lehman is committed to meeting the educational needs of an urban, largely minority and immigrant population and offers residents of the Bronx, neighboring boroughs, and the region a liberal arts and sciences education and preparation for careers and advanced study. Lehman affirms the following objectives:

• provide access to a common body of knowledge and opportunities to develop a lifelong love of learning
• promote excellence in scholarship, teaching, research and artistic endeavors
• develop the ability to think analytically and creatively
• broaden educational opportunities through joint programs with other institutions locally, nationally, and internationally
• promote an understanding of and respect for such differences as gender, age, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, and physical ability
• advance the understanding and use of emerging technologies
• serve as a center for the continuing educational and cultural needs for the region through access to the College's facilities and expertise in the academic disciplines, professional fields, and the fine and performing arts.
  

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