Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is a public historically black university located in Cheyney, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1837 as the Institute for Colored Youth, it is recognized as the oldest historically black institution of higher education in the United States. The university is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs.

History

The institution traces its origins to the 1837 founding of the Institute for Colored Youth in Philadelphia, established through a bequest from Quaker philanthropist Richard Humphreys. Under the leadership of early principals like Ebenezer Bassett and Fanny Jackson Coppin, the school provided classical education and teacher training. In 1902, the school relocated to George Cheyney's farm in Chester County, becoming the Cheyney Training School for Teachers. It was later renamed the Cheyney State Teachers College after being purchased by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1920. Achieving four-year college status in 1931, it was known as Cheyney State College from 1959 until 1983, when it joined the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and adopted its current name, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania.

Academics

The university is organized into several schools, including the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education and Professional Studies. It offers bachelor's degrees in fields such as Liberal Arts, Hospitality Management, and Computer Science, alongside master's programs including the Master of Education. Specialized academic centers include the Aquaculture Research and Teaching Facility and the Keystone Honors Academy. The curriculum emphasizes a liberal arts foundation and professional preparation, with notable partnerships for research and internships with entities like the U.S. Department of Agriculture and various Pennsylvania school districts.

Campus

The main campus encompasses approximately 275 acres in a rural setting within Thornbury Township. Historic buildings include Dudley Hall, named for early benefactor O. B. Dudley, and Carnegie Hall, constructed with support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Modern facilities feature the Marian Anderson Music Center, the Aquaculture Research and Teaching Facility, and the C. P. C. L. Library. The campus also contains student residences like New Hall and athletic complexes including the Alfred Cope Ward Field and the Frederick Douglass Gymnasium.

Student life

Student life is centered around various organizations, including the Student Government Association, the NAACP chapter, and fraternities and sororities of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. The university's athletic teams, known as the Cheyney Wolves, compete in the NCAA Division II as part of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Traditional events include Homecoming festivities and the Founders Day celebration. Campus media includes the student newspaper, The Cheyney Record, and the campus radio station, WCCU.

Notable alumni and faculty

Prominent alumni include Robert Bogle, publisher of the Philadelphia Tribune; Ed Bradley, award-winning correspondent for CBS News; and Michele Roberts, former executive director of the National Basketball Players Association. Notable educators and administrators who have served on the faculty include Leslie Pinckney Hill, a former president, and John Chaney, the Hall of Fame Temple University basketball coach who began his career at the institution. Other distinguished graduates are A. Philip Randolph Institute co-founder Norman Hill and Pennsylvania State Representative James Roebuck.

Category:Universities and colleges in Pennsylvania Category:Historically black universities and colleges in the United States Category:Educational institutions established in 1837 Category:Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education