Medgar Evers College

Medgar Evers College
source
Name	Medgar Evers College
Established	1970
Type	Public
City	Brooklyn
State	New York
Country	United States
Campus	Urban
Parent	City University of New York

Medgar Evers College is a public senior college in Brooklyn, New York, founded in 1970 as part of the City University of New York. The college was named for Medgar Evers and is linked historically to civil rights activism and urban community development, drawing students from diverse neighborhoods like Bedford–Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, and Flatbush. It participates in consortia and partnerships with institutions such as Brooklyn College, Kingsborough Community College, and municipal agencies including the New York City Department of Education.

History

The college opened during a period marked by events like the Civil Rights Movement, the influence of leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and organizations including the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Congress of Racial Equality. Initial planning involved community activists, educators associated with Hunter College, and elected officials such as representatives from New York City Council and mayors including John Lindsay and Abraham Beame. The campus developed amid national shifts after the War on Poverty and initiatives linked to the Higher Education Act of 1965. Throughout its history the college engaged with professional networks including the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and accreditation bodies like the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and it weathered fiscal crises similar to those affecting the City University of New York system during the 1970s fiscal crisis overseen by figures such as Abraham Beame and influenced by policies from the New York State Legislature.

Campus and Facilities

The urban campus occupies sites in central Brooklyn near transit hubs like Nostrand Avenue and rail lines serving Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center. Facilities expanded through renovations involving firms tied to municipal capital projects and community development corporations comparable to Local Initiatives Support Corporation and partnerships with organizations such as Brooklyn Public Library and cultural institutions like the Brooklyn Museum. The college includes lecture halls, laboratories, media centers, and community-serving venues, and engages in collaborative initiatives with healthcare providers like NYC Health + Hospitals and research partners affiliated with institutions such as Columbia University and New York University.

Academics

Academic offerings span associate-to-baccalaureate pathways and graduate collaborations that mirror articulation arrangements with institutions like Baruch College, Hunter College, and City College of New York. Disciplines are housed in departments that align with professional societies such as the American Library Association, the American Chemical Society, and accreditation frameworks from organizations like the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. Programs incorporate internships with employers and agencies like Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, legal clinics in partnership with entities resembling the American Bar Association, and teacher preparation linked to certification overseen by the New York State Education Department. The college also administers workforce development linked to initiatives similar to Workforce1 and research centers collaborating with grant funders including the National Science Foundation and the US Department of Education.

Student Life and Organizations

Student life features clubs and societies including chapters of national groups such as Phi Beta Sigma, Alpha Kappa Alpha, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, American Association of University Professors student affiliates, and cultural organizations inspired by movements like the Black Arts Movement. Student media and publication efforts draw on models like The New York Times collegiate partnerships and community journalism tied to outlets such as Brooklyn Eagle. The college’s student government interacts with systemwide bodies including the University Student Senate and external student networks linked to the United Negro College Fund and civic organizations such as The Urban League and NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Campus events commemorate figures like Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, and W. E. B. Du Bois while hosting speaker series featuring authors, activists, and public officials resembling Cornel West, Angela Davis, and former mayors like David Dinkins.

Athletics

Intercollegiate athletics compete in conferences similar to the City University of New York Athletic Conference with teams engaging in sports governed by national bodies like the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Programs emphasize community outreach through clinics connected to organizations such as USA Basketball and Athletic Trainers Association partnerships, and athletes have transferred to programs at institutions including St. John’s University and Syracuse University. Facilities support intramural contests and partnerships with municipal recreation centers administered by entities like the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

Administration and Governance

Administration operates within the City University of New York governance framework, aligning with policies set by the CUNY Board of Trustees and overseen by college presidents who engage with state officials, legislative delegations from the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate, and municipal leaders including the Mayor of New York City. Budgeting and capital planning interact with the New York State Division of the Budget and collective bargaining units such as the Professional Staff Congress and other unions representing employees across public higher education systems.

Notable Alumni and Faculty

Alumni and faculty include figures active in politics, law, arts, and sciences who have connections to institutions and events like the United States Congress, the New York Court of Appeals, the Tony Awards, the Pulitzer Prize, and cultural movements associated with venues such as the Apollo Theater. Notable public servants and civic leaders have worked alongside organizations like the Brooklyn Borough President’s office, the New York City Council, and advocacy groups including ACLU affiliates. Scholars among faculty have published with academic presses tied to Oxford University Press and Routledge and participated in conferences organized by associations such as the American Historical Association and the Modern Language Association.

Category:Universities and colleges in Brooklyn