Beginnings
SUNY Cobleskill was chartered in 1911 and opened in 1916 as the Schoharie State School of Agriculture with one building, five faculty members and eight students, all young men desiring post-secondary education in agriculture.
By 1928 the College consisted of four main buildings, now known as the Old Quad, with Frisbie Hall being the headquarters for the teacher training classes, an outcropping of the home economics program which had been started for young women. Directly opposite Frisbie, in the building now called the Old Gym, the upstairs served as a basketball court and as a facility for physical education. The original basketball court lines on the floor of what is now Grosvenor Art Gallery are still clearly visible.
The basement of the Home Economics building housed the home economics program, as well as the college cafeteria. The building now called Alumni Hall served as the headquarters for the agricultural programs.
Expansion
From 1947 to 1960 enrollment grew rapidly. The advent of degree programs resulted in a doubling of enrollment in a 10-year period prior to the fall of 1961. In the 1960s, facilities were expanded to meet the needs of the growing campus community, and in the period between 1960 to 1973, most of the buildings which are presently on campus were built. The arches sculpture and Bouck Hall Mall, a focal point for the campus, were constructed between 1975 and 1976.
In 1987, the College began offering its first Bachelor of Technology in agriculture, and now also offers bachelor and associate degrees in more than 50 programs across two schools — Agriculture and Natural Resources and Business and Liberal Arts & Sciences — as well as a wide array of extended learning and professional development opportunities. SUNY Cobleskill is now officially recognized as a comprehensive college.
Today
SUNY Cobleskill has grown to include 902 acres and more than 40 buildings, 100 faculty members and 2,600 students. It has grown and changed but stayed true to its original charter. The college charts its future with a clear sense of purpose that, for the most part, has not changed since its founding. SUNY Cobleskill prides itself on giving individual attention to students, on programs that marry theory with practice, and on commitment to preparing students for a lifetime of learning and accomplishment.
Naming Dedication
At SUNY Cobleskill, we welcome the opportunity to honor college community members whose contributions in education, research, the arts, and civic life have had a significant effect on the College, community, region and state. Learn more about the individuals that have made significant contributions to our history.