Baruch College: A Nexus of Business, Arts, and Public Service in NYC

🌱 Origins in Free Education

Baruch College's lineage extends back to the foundational Free Academy, established in 1847. This pioneering institution marked a significant milestone as the first provider of free public higher education in the United States, conceived to serve students who could not afford private college tuition in New York City.

The Free Academy eventually evolved into the College of the City of New York (CCNY). In 1919, the entity that would become Baruch College was formally established as the City College School of Business and Civic Administration.

📈 Growth and Renaming

By 1928, a new building was under construction to house the burgeoning school, which, upon its opening, was recognized as the largest institution for business education in the nation. While initially not admitting women, by the 1930s, female students were integrated into the School of Business.

In 1953, the institution was renamed the Baruch School of Business, honoring its distinguished alumnus, Bernard Baruch. The year 1961 saw the establishment of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, and in 1968, the Baruch School of Business achieved independent senior college status, becoming Baruch College.

🌟 Leadership and Evolution

Baruch College has been shaped by a succession of influential presidents, each contributing to its growth and academic standing. Notable leaders include:

• Robert C. Weaver (1969–1970): The college's first president.
• Joel Edwin Segall (1977–1990): Recruited prominent faculty and established the college's permanent location on Lower Lexington Avenue.
• Matthew Goldstein (1991–1998): Elevated admissions standards and founded the School of Public Affairs in 1994.
• Edward Regan (2000–2004): Presided over increases in test scores, student retention, and faculty recruitment.
• Kathleen Waldron (2004–2009): Secured substantial alumni donations, leading to the renaming of key campus facilities.
• Mitchel Wallerstein (2010–2020): Spearheaded global degree programs, achieved top rankings for social mobility, and the highest graduation rate within the CUNY system.
• S. David Wu (2020–present): The current president.

The college also experienced student protests in 2011 concerning tuition increases.

📍 Urban Location

Baruch College's urban campus is strategically situated in Manhattan, spanning East 22nd to 25th Streets along Lexington Avenue. This prime location offers unparalleled access to New York City's dynamic professional and cultural opportunities.

The campus is well-served by public transportation, facilitating easy access for students and faculty:

• New York City Subway: The 23rd Street–Baruch College and 28th Street subway stations on Park Avenue, serviced by the 6 and <6> trains.
• New York City Bus: Routes M1, M2, M3, M9, M15, M15 SBS, M23 SBS, M34A SBS, M101, M102, and M103.

🏗️ The Lawrence and Eris Field Building

The Lawrence and Eris Field Building, also known as the 23rd Street Building, represents a historical cornerstone of the college. This original structure is currently undergoing a comprehensive ten-year renovation project, aiming to modernize its facilities to twenty-first-century standards. It presently houses the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs and various administrative offices.

📖 Information and Technology Building

Located directly across East 25th Street from the Newman Vertical Campus, the Information and Technology Building holds a unique history, having once served as a substation for New York City streetcars. Today, it is the home of the William and Anita Newman Library, a vital resource for academic pursuits. The building also features the Baruch Computing and Technology Center on its sixth floor, along with offices for the Registrar, Undergraduate Admissions, Financial Aid, and the International Student Center. Students and staff commonly refer to it as the "Library Building."

⬆️ Newman Vertical Campus

Addressing the need for expanded academic space, Baruch College embarked on the construction of the Newman Vertical Campus in 1998. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, this impressive 17-story, 786,000-square-foot building was inaugurated on August 27, 2001, at a cost of $327 million. Named in honor of businessman William Newman, it serves as the primary home for the Zicklin School of Business and the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences.

The Vertical Campus integrates classrooms, faculty offices, additional computer labs, the Athletic and Recreation Complex (ARC), a cafeteria, and the Baruch Bookstore. Its architectural distinction was recognized in 2003 with the American Institute of Architects' highest award for an individual building. Reflecting its central role, East 25th Street between Lexington and Third Avenue was renamed "Bernard Baruch Way," and the Vertical Campus now serves as the college's official address.

🔗 Industry & Academic Collaborations

Baruch College actively fosters strategic partnerships with leading corporations and academic institutions, enhancing its educational offerings and providing students with real-world opportunities:

• The Zicklin School of Business has established a corporate-university partnership with JPMorgan Chase.
• Zicklin also maintains joint JD/MBA programs with both Brooklyn Law School and New York Law School, offering integrated legal and business education.
• Baruch College Campus High School, a public high school operated by the New York City Department of Education, is formally affiliated with the college.
• The American Graduate School in Paris offers Executive Master of Science in finance and Executive Master of Science in marketing programs that are affiliated with Baruch College, extending its global reach.

🐻 The Bearcats

Baruch College proudly competes in Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The college's sports teams are known as the Bearcats, a nod to the binturong, an animal native to various parts of Asia. The Bearcats are a member of the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC), engaging in spirited competition across a range of sports.

⛹️ Men's Sports

The men's athletic programs at Baruch College offer diverse opportunities for student-athletes to excel in team and individual sports:

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Soccer
• Swimming & Diving
• Tennis
• Volleyball

🤸‍♀️ Women's Sports

The women's athletic programs are equally robust, providing competitive avenues for female student-athletes:

• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Softball
• Swimming & Diving
• Tennis
• Volleyball

📈 National & Regional Acclaim

Baruch College consistently receives high rankings from various reputable sources, underscoring its academic excellence and value proposition. Here's a snapshot of its recent recognition:

🌟 Value and Mobility

• Social Mobility: In 2015, CollegeNet ranked Baruch #1 nationally among over 900 institutions for providing social mobility to its students.
• Best Value: Washington Monthly recognized Baruch as #1 in the Northeast in 2015 for offering the "Best Bang for the Buck." CNBC further affirmed this in 2020, ranking Baruch College #2 Best Public Institution Nationwide for Return on Investment.
• Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneur magazine and The Princeton Review ranked Baruch #5 in 2018 for its undergraduate entrepreneurship program and #10 for its graduate school program.
• Forbes Recognition: In 2019, Forbes placed Baruch #9 among "Best Value Schools" and #55 nationally among "Best Business Schools."
• Business Insider: In 2015, Business Insider listed Baruch as #19 in its ranking of the 25 business schools offering the best value.

📊 U.S. News & World Report Highlights

U.S. News & World Report has consistently highlighted Baruch's strengths across various categories:

• 2017 Rankings:
  • #20 among Regional Universities in the North.
  • #4 for Most Ethnically Diverse (North Region).
  • #5 among Top Public Schools (North Region).
  • #1 for Least Debt (North Region).
  • #15 in City Management and Urban Policy.
  • #29 in Health Care Management.
  • #35 in Accounting.
  • #45 among Top Public Affairs Schools.
  • #61 for Best Undergraduate Business programs.
  • #66 for Best Part-time MBA.
• 2023 Rankings: The Zicklin School of Business was ranked #49 nationally among "Best Business Schools."

💡 Academic Luminaries

The academic strength of Baruch College is further amplified by its distinguished faculty, who are leaders and innovators in their respective fields:

• Ervand Abrahamian: Professor of History, Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
• Abraham J. Briloff: Professor of Accounting, Inductee of The Accounting Hall of Fame in 2014.
• Joel Brind: Professor of Biology, known for his scientific advocacy of the abortion–breast cancer hypothesis.
• Mario Cuomo: Former 3-term governor of New York State, taught a public affairs seminar in Fall 2008.
• Matthew Goldstein: Former Chancellor of The City University of New York, taught mathematics and statistics.
• David Gruber: Marine biologist and National Geographic Explorer, Presidential Professor of Biology and Environmental Sciences at CUNY.
• Ted Joyce: Professor of Economics, Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research.
• Douglas P. Lackey: Professor of Philosophy, also a playwright.
• John Liu: Former New York City Comptroller, mayoral candidate, and former member of the New York City Council, taught municipal finance and policy in the School of Public Affairs.
• Kenneth L. Marcus: Former Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the United States Department of Education, taught courses on Diversity Management and Civil Rights Law.
• Harry Markowitz: Professor of Finance, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics (1990).
• Wendell Pritchett: Chancellor of Rutgers University–Camden, Interim Dean and Presidential Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and Provost of the University of Pennsylvania.
• Carla Robbins: Clinical Professor, former deputy editorial page editor of The New York Times.
• David Rosner: Ronald H. Lauterstein Professor of Sociomedical Sciences and Professor of History at Columbia University; Co-director of the Center for the History and Ethics of Public Health at Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health; member, National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine (class of 2010).
• Donna Shalala: Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Clinton Administration, taught politics at Baruch in the 1970s.
• Clarence Taylor: Emeritus Professor of History.
• John Trinkaus: Former Professor of Management and Dean, recipient of the Ig Nobel Prize.
• Yoshihiro Tsurumi: Professor of International Business, a scholar in multinational business strategy and national competitiveness.

📜 References