State University of New York at Fredonia

The State University of New York at Fredonia (also known as SUNY Fredonia, Fredonia State University and formerly SUNY College at Fredonia) is a four-year liberal arts college located in Fredonia, New York, United States; it is a constituent college of the State University of New York. The college's motto is "Where Success is a Tradition."

SUNY Fredonia was one of the state teachers' colleges traditionally specializing in music education, but now offers a large number of programs in many areas, including a growing graduate division. The most popular areas include Communication, Music, Education, and programs of the Social Sciences. There are 82 majors and 41 minors.

The SUNY Fredonia campus, located in Chautauqua County (southwest of Buffalo) was designed by prominent architects I.M. Pei and Henry N. Cobb in 1968.

Fredonia Academy (1826–1867)
Originally opened in 1826 as Fredonia Academy under its first principal Austin Smith, the academy enrolled eight students. The first classes began on October 4, 1826. Within one year the Academy had 136 students, 81 boys and 55 girls.

The Academy reached peak enrollment in 1856 with 217 students. The school was plagued by financial shortages, and was forced to close its doors in 1867.

Normal School (1867–1948)
In 1867, the college emerged in its second phase of existence as a New York State Normal School. On December 2, 1867, the Normal (as it became commonly known) began classes with 147 students, 62 boys and 85 girls. For students preparing to be teachers, no tuition was charged, books were supplied, and travel costs were reimbursed; in return, students had to promise to teach after graduation. Those students not studying for the teaching profession paid tuition and provided their own textbooks.

During its 82 years of existence, Fredonia Normal had a tumultuous existence. With a fluctuating student enrollment and threats of state funding reductions, the school seemed to be in constant jeopardy of closing.

Nonetheless, gradually the school was upgraded. In 1930, 58 acre of land west of Central Avenue in the Village of Fredonia were bought to house a future campus. In 1938 a music building was constructed on the Central Avenue site. New York State Governor Herbert Lehman signed the Feinberg Law in 1942 that changed the Normal Schools into Teacher Colleges.

State University System (1948–present)
With the formation of the State University of New York on March 13, 1948, the college created a Division of the Humanities in 1958 and in 1960 Fredonia was selected by State University to grant the A.B. degree. Previously, Fredonia's curriculum was restricted for teacher training only.

In 1968, the master plan for the central avenue campus was drafted by the highly respected architectural firm of I.M. Pei & Partners of New York at the request of then-president Oscar E. Lanford. A complex came into being that consisted of Jewett Hall (science), Dods Hall (health and physical education), Rockefeller Arts Center (building for fine arts), administration, library and an infirmary. In 1970, Pei and Cobb returned to the SUNY Fredonia campus to complete the Erie Dining Hall and the suite-style residence halls.

Architecture
Architects I.M. Pei and Henry Cobb, who designed the master plan for the modernized campus in 1968.

Many of the buildings are listed in architectural guides as examples of exceptional modern architecture. Some are described in architectural history books. The National Building Museum listed the SUNY Fredonia campus as one of I.M. Pei's ideal places to visit in its 1991 journal "Blueprints."

Pei is credited with designing Maytum Hall, Williams Center, Reed Library, Rockefeller Arts Center, McEwen Hall, and Houghton Hall as well as its characteristic circular perimeter, aptly named Ring Road. The design of Daniel Reed Library earned Henry Cobb and I.M. Pei the 1969 Prestressed Concrete Institute Award.

Academic and administrative buildings on and off campus

 * Reed Library was constructed in 1969. It is approximately the size of a regulation football field, provides seating for over 850 readers, and houses over 250,000 books.  It is named for the late Daniel A. Reed (1875–1959), U.S. Representative from the Fredonia area for over 40 years. The four story addition to Reed Library was constructed in 1992, and consists of several study areas, a scholarship center, atrium, elevators, tower study lounge which leads to a fifth story, and the Tutoring Center.


 * Michael C. Rockefeller Arts Center, constructed in 1968, is named after the youngest son of former Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller, who disappeared in 1961 during an anthropological expedition in New Guinea. Designed by I.M. Pei and Partners, Rockefeller Arts Center includes King Concert Hall (a 1,200-seat concert hall), Marvel Theatre (a 400 seat proscenium theatre), Alice E. Bartlett Theatre (a 200-seat maximum black box theatre), an art gallery, and 24 classrooms. This building houses the Department of Theatre and Dance, and the Department of Visual Arts and New Media.  The arts center was opened in 1968 by Clint Norton as its first Managing Director.  He was followed by Robert B. D'Angelo who served from 1970 to 1974 while he also served as a speech writer and adviser to then Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller. Following D'Angelo in the directorship were Ted Dede, Nancy Palmer, Katherine Rushworth and Radford Thomas.  Jefferson Westwood has served as director since 1982.


 * Fenton Hall was named for the late Reuben Fenton, U.S. Senator, and Governor, who was born in Carroll, Chautauqua County. Fenton Hall houses the office of the University President, the Graduate Studies office, as well as classrooms, academic departments and the Gazebo Cafe (part of Signature Cafe). Computer Science, Modern Languages, English, and Philosophy are some of the departments located in Fenton.


 * Mason Hall is home to the School of Music and was named after American music education pioneer Lowell Mason. This hall is actually three buildings, "Old Mason," "New Mason," and the recent addition of two rehearsal rooms, which are all connected together.  Mason Hall includes over 100 personal practice rooms, several small ensemble practice rooms, and large ensemble rooms.  Both Juliet J. Rosch Recital Hall and Diers Recital Hall are located here, as well as two state-of-the-art MIDI technology labs, and an extensive Studio Recording Department.


 * Maytum Hall is an eight-story semi-circular office building and computer center, and was named after Arthur Maytum (1866–1953). He served as Chairman of the Board of Visitors of the Fredonia Normal School and Teachers college from 1928 to 1953.  He also served as supervisor of the Town of Pomfret from 1931 to 1938. There is much speculation as to how many stories Maytum hall contains. Many contend that the central offices, along with the elevator stop at floor eight, and so should the floor count. However, the original president office was to be on the constructed ninth floor, but was moved due to lack of handicap access, along with a fear of riots shutting the president in. When walking from Thompson or Fenton, you can see the very large patio window of the ninth floor. The building is currently closed for major renovations and upgrades, and is expected to reopen sometime during the Fall 2011  semester. Offices usually in Maytum are temporarily distributed between Gregory Hall and the Williams Center.


 * Steele Hall is mainly used as a sports center with a basketball court and an ice rink which are used for both campus and community events. It also contains classrooms, a newly constructed natatorium, raquetball courts, dancing practice rooms, and many other facilities.


 * Thompson Hall is the largest academic building at SUNY Fredonia. It houses the departments of Multicultural Affairs, Psychology, Political Science, Speech Pathology, Sociology, and History, among others, plus the College of Education. The building is designed as riot proof. It has narrow stairwells, dimly lighted hallways, and no operable windows.


 * Houghton Hall and Jewett Hall are the two science buildings at SUNY Fredonia. They house the departments of Geology, Physics, Chemistry, and Biochemistry, and the 3-2 Cooperative Engineering Program.


 * LoGrasso Hall On campus medical services, along with counseling, and the office of international education.


 * McEwen Hall Four level building, Contains lecture halls, Sheldon Media Labs, and Fredonia Radio Systems.


 * College Lodge operated by the Faculty Student Association at SUNY Fredonia – is a certified experiential training facility and conference and events center offering a variety of workforce development, employee training, meetings and other services for businesses and organizations. Located in Brocton, NY, surrounded by 198 acres of mostly wooded, natural surroundings in Chautauqua County, The College Lodge can also accommodate banquets and other social functions, with complete catering services.


 * Technology Incubator SUNY Fredonia Technology Incubator promotes economic growth in the Western Southern Tier of New York by supporting entrepreneurship and the development of new, innovative, technology-based companies into successful business ventures. The incubator, located in the commercial waterfront district of Dunkirk, New York, provides new technology-based firms with a connection to the resources they need to grow and sustain long-term success. This takes place in an environment that fosters technology development, commercialization and successful business management practices. To accomplish this, the incubator makes available a variety of business and education services, mentoring, professional consulting, access to capital and work-ready space. The incubator combines these resources and those of SUNY Fredonia, state and local government, area businesses, and the community in order to graduate businesses that are financially viable and freestanding.

Science Center
Not since the I.M. Pei-designed centerpiece of the “modern” campus (Maytum Hall, Daniel Reed Library, McEwen Hall and Michael C. Rockefeller Arts Center) took shape in the late 1960s has there been such a wide range of construction and design activity going on at once. Campus officials broke ground last summer on the new, $60 million Science Center, the largest capital project in Fredonia’s history. When combined with the renovation of Houghton Hall, the complex will house all of the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and math) and herald a new era in science education at Fredonia.

The new, three-story structure, the initial planning for which began in 2006, will house chemistry, biology and science education classes, labs and offices, and also provide support for environmental science. At over 92,000 square feet, the building will be longer than a football field, though not quite as wide. Among its impressive features are a 120-seat auditorium that will accommodate traditional and group learning activities; two “smart” classrooms suitable for all learning styles; an atrium featuring a café, displays and open seating; a roof-top observatory; an attached greenhouse; and several student reading and conference rooms.

Faculty offices, situated in pairs, will be placed between teaching and research laboratories and also include informal teaching spaces composed of write-on glass walls and seating. Its many architectural highlights include a science balcony with a vaulted roof and views into a courtyard that will contain native plants and local geologic features. Visitors will be able to view first-floor laboratories from corridors and windows from the courtyard.

The center was designed by Mitchell/Giurgola Architects, a New York City-based firm with a global reputation for excellence in the design of academic and scientific research facilities. Its portfolio includes projects at Cornell University, New York University and the University of Buffalo. Rochester, N.Y.-based Pike Company, the lead contractor, has built facilities at Cornell and the University of Rochester, and also directed the recent renovation of Fredonia’s Nixon Hall.

Williams Center
The first and second floor interiors of this circular campus icon have been closed since last May so they can be updated and reconfigured to make the facility more appealing and inviting. New glass walls around the Multipurpose Room, combined with reviving the building’s signature skylights, will create an open atmosphere. Major entrances are being modified to improve accessibility and traffic flow inside the building; the loading dock is being reworked to create better sight lines that enhance pedestrian and vehicle safety.

The two dated, wooden-barrel-styled wall protrusions inside the Multipurpose Room are being replaced with balconies positioned to accommodate small musical ensembles. New windows will also be installed throughout the facility and recessed display cases placed in high-traffic areas.

Below-the-surface upgrades include new wiring, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, new audio/visual equipment in classrooms and conference areas, and an updated sprinkler system. The building will also have enhanced acoustics throughout.

The basement, which houses the Centre Point Food Court, Trendz Café and Horizon Room, was upgraded two years ago and has remained open during the renovation. In addition to the Multipurpose Room, the Williams Center also housed Financial Aid, Student Accounts, Lifelong Learning and Special Programs, the Student Association, Campus Life, the ticket office, The Leader, and the SUNY Fredonia Federal Credit Union, which have all been relocated.

Manning Squires Hennig Co., of Batavia, N.Y., is the general contractor for this project that’s included in the five-year capital plan launched in 2008. The first and second floors, which contain over 60,000 square feet, are expected to re-open this fall.

Dods Hall Fitness Center
Students can look forward to benefits of a state-of-the-art fitness center in the former pool area in Dods Hall. Its 7,000 square feet – more than double the size of the current fitness center – will offer new cardio and circuit machines, free weights, a modern sound system, lots of televisions and a designated stretching area. A 20-foot climbing wall will also be part of the air conditioned facility. JCJ Architecture of Hartford, Conn., has designed the facility. Construction will start in May, with a January 2013 opening anticipated.

Rockefeller Arts Center addition
Projected at 40,000 square feet, this long-sought, two-story addition will be the fine arts center’s first expansion. The project, targeted to go out to bid in December, will accommodate relatively new programs that were not offered when the center opened 42 years ago, and also consolidate other curriculum offerings under one roof. For example, Dance and the Media Arts programs – now tucked away in Dods Hall and McEwen Hall, respectively – will be relocated to Rockefeller. Ceramics and sculpture studios will vacate their second floor space in favor of more practical first floor spaces.

Key features of the addition will include a multipurpose room to host an assortment of events, such as pre-concert lectures, post-performance discussions, film and video showings, and small receptions. It will also result in three new dance studios, including one with flexible, tiered seating that can double as a performance space; a new, attractive public entrance; and a café.

Townhouses
Apartment-style living, a growing trend in collegiate housing, will make its SUNY Fredonia debut in August 2013 with the opening of the new townhouse village adjacent to Ring Road.

Nestled between the softball and baseball fields, this townhouse cluster will convey a neighborhood atmosphere with front porches, balconies, a separate community building, common green space, walkways and parking. There will be five different apartment layouts, each consisting of four single bedrooms, two baths, a fully equipped kitchen and living/dining area. Buildings will range from one to three stories and contain a total of 196 beds.

College of Arts and Sciences
Undergraduate degree programs include: Anthropology, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Communication, Communication Disorders and Sciences, Computer and Information Sciences, Criminal Justice, English, Geosciences, History, Mathematical Sciences, Modern Languages and Literature, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Sport Management and Exercise Science, Theatre and Dance, Visual Arts and New Media

The College of Arts and Sciences is at the heart of SUNY Fredonia’s educational mission. The College of Arts and Sciences is responsible for almost all general education courses that are taken by all students, regardless of their major, offering 60 undergraduate majors and 9 graduate programs. The College of Arts and Sciences offers programs that lead to teacher certification in Science Education, Math, English, Spanish, French, Social Studies, Music, and History.

College of Education
Undergraduate degree programs include: Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2), Childhood Education (Grades 1-6), Childhood Inclusive Education (Grades 1-6) Adolescence Education programs include: Biology, Chemistry Earth Science, English, French, Mathematics, Physics, Social Studies, Spanish, Music Education

The College of Education offers a variety of rigorous undergraduate and graduate programs in Education. The College of Education is committed to the initial and ongoing professional preparation of educators and related professionals. The “Reflective Practitioner” is the heart of our conceptual framework. Our faculty consists of nationally reputed teacher-scholars who are dedicated to providing cutting edge teacher preparation. Our students are engaged in actively learning about what it means to be an educator in the 21st Century through frequent early field experiences connected to educational methods courses as well as meaningful student teaching experiences. Candidates have various opportunities to explore teaching and learning in various settings (i.e., rural, suburban, and urban), across grade levels, and with diverse student populations. We also have additional, optional cultural enrichment field experiences within the United States and abroad including the SUTEC project in New York City and our annual exchange program with universities in Exmouth, England and Swansea, Wales. During J term (i.e., the winter intersession that occurs during January) we sponsor two week, international expeditions to explore educational practices in various countries. Students also have the opportunity to do one of their student teaching experiences in Australia where the COE partners with the University of Sunshine Coast.

School of Music
Undergraduate degree programs include: Music in Performance, Music Education, Composition, Musical Theatre, Music Therapy, Sound Recording Technology, Music, Music Business, Jazz Studies Concentration.

Fredonia's School of Music has a strong history for excellence and distinction. The long-standing reputation of the music education program is a genuine point of pride, and the strengths in performance, composition, music therapy, sound recording, academics and musical theatre provide depth to our students' experiences. A student at Fredonia is able to learn and choose from a broad range of musical interests, making Fredonia one of the best places to enter professional training in music. Mason Hall is home to the School of Music. It has evolved with the needs of students, and it is now a multifaceted building with a variety of rehearsal rooms, classrooms, office/studios, practice rooms, labs and gathering spaces. The computer and keyboard labs are frequently upgraded, new technology is added to the classrooms, and the facilities are modified or expanded. Just in the past few years, new performance spaces, offices, and rehearsal rooms were added to Mason Hall. One of our newer additions, a state-of-the-art recording studio, offers the flexibility to work on projects within the studio, to record musicians in the adjacent live rooms, and to make high quality recordings of events occurring in the performance halls in Mason and elsewhere on campus. Diers Recital Hall, part of the original building, is used for concerts, lectures, master classes and rehearsals. The newer, larger Rosch Recital Hall is a magnificent space in which students, faculty and guest artists perform concerts for the campus and the public. Next door is the Rockefeller Arts Center, which houses the Department of Theatre and Dance, the Department of Visual Art and New Media, an art gallery, multiple theatres and the grand, 1,200-seat King Concert Hall. With these facilities and collaborative partners, we have a suitable performance space for nearly any type of concert or production. Other venues also exist in the community, most notably the 1891 Opera House on the Square.

School of Business
Undergraduate majors include: Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management, and Marketing.

The Department of Business Administration provides its majors with a contemporary quality education in Business Administration, Accounting, and Music Business. These majors gain an awareness of their individual strengths and vocational interests in order to make appropriate career decisions. The department offers a rigorous, up-to-date curriculum that prepares students for imaginative and responsible citizenship and domestic and international leadership roles in business management. While the programs offered are career-oriented, the department realizes that successful contemporary business professionals must bring a broad and varied perspective to their crafts. Accordingly, the department requires that its majors take at least 66 of the total credit hours needed for a degree outside the department, with particular emphasis given to the development of written and oral communication skills and the acquisition of the ability to think creatively and critically.

Dining Options

 * The Williams Center The Williams Center is the centerpiece of the Fredonia campus and a hub for campus activities. The Williams Center provides students, faculty, staff, and the local community a location to participate in various social, academic, and culturally diverse activities. Events held in the Williams Center include but are not limited to: lectures, banquets, and music performances. The building provides meeting space for campus organizations. The Williams Center is currently being renovated, and is scheduled to be finished in Fall 2012. Center Pointe and Trendz (organic, vegan style food) are located on the bottom floor of The Williams Center, which is open during the renovations.


 * Erie Hall Dining facility located in the center of the four-dormitory Kirkland Complex.


 * Cranston Marche Dining facility located inside of the University Commons. Cranston features a Fruit and Salad bar, Sandwich, Pizza and Pasta stations, a Grill, Ice Cream station.


 * Starbucks This is the only Starbucks Coffee within 35 miles, located inside of the University Commons. It opened August 7, 2006.


 * FREDExpress FREDExpress is an express convenience store offering on-the-go foods, drinks, snacks, and simple supplies. This unit is located in the student lounge on the first floor of Thompson Hall. Also in the furnished lounge is a small vending area with a microwave and cable TV.

Residence Halls
SUNY Fredonia has 14 Residence Halls conveniently located for students to choose from. These halls consist of five single sex and nine coeducational buildings. Students also have a choice of building style: corridor, suite, kitchen-suite, or independent living. Corridor style residence halls are long, staggered hallways with no sections, whereas suites are short corridors with either staggered hallways extending from the main corridor, or doors leading into the individual suites. All rooms are double rooms though University Commons does have single rooms

Corridor halls

 * University Commons University Commons opened in 2006. It is primarily an upperclass co-ed, corridor-style building, housing about one hundred twenty students and was designed for upper level/independent living. University Commons features lounges on each floor with double and single rooms with adjoining shared bathrooms. General room amenities include self-controlled heating and air conditioning, a 27” flat panel television and a microfridge unit. This multiuse building is aptly named since it is shared by Faculty Student Association offices, University Bookstore, Convenience Store, Cranston Marché and Starbucks.


 * Gregory Hall Named for twenty-year, SUNY Fredonia President Dr. Leslie R. Gregory, Gregory Hall is the oldest residence hall on campus, opened in 1950. It is primarily an upperclass co-ed, corridor style residence hall featuring parquet floors. Each of this hall’s five “houses” contains a laundry room, penthouse and kitchen. One of the houses has historically been a substance-free living unit. An independent-living oriented hall, guests are not required to sign-in.  Also, located directly across from the University Bookstore, Convenience Store, Cranston Marché and Starbucks,


 * Alumni Hall Named in appreciation of the contributions of Fredonia's alumni, Alumni Hall opened in 1957. It is a first-year female, corridor-style residence hall. It features four recreation rooms, a kitchenette and recreation room on the first floor, two laundry rooms, and a recently renovated lobby and bathrooms. Alumni Hall houses the Custodial Offices. Alumni Hall is next to the University Bookstore, Convenience Store, Cranston Marché and Starbucks.


 * Nixon Hall Named for Samuel Frederick Nixon, member of the Fredonia Council from 1932 to 1952, formerly President of the Chautauqua and Erie and Dunkirk and Fredonia Telephone Companies, member of the American Association of Museums, Vice President of the Genesee Historical Society, and Trustee and President of the Chautauqua County Historical Society; Nixon Hall opened in 1963. It is a first-year female, corridor-style residence hall. It features four recreation rooms, a kitchenette and recreation room on the first floor, two laundry rooms, and a recently renovated lobby and bathrooms. Nixon Hall houses ResNet, the resident student PC trouble-shooting help desk, and is located across the street from the Reed Library.


 * McGinnies Hall Named for Joseph A. McGinnies, member and speaker of the New York State Assembly from 1916 to 1935 and member of the Fredonia Normal Board for Visitors for twenty years, McGinnies Hall opened in 1959. It is primarily an upperclass co-ed, corridor-style residence hall featuring four recreation rooms, a kitchenette and recreation room on the first floor, two laundry rooms, and a recently renovated lobby and bathrooms. McGinnies Hall is next to the University Bookstore, Convenience Store, Cranston Marché and Starbucks.


 * Chautauqua Hall Named for Chautauqua County, Chautauqua Hall opened in 1962. It is a first-year male, corridor-style residence hall featuring four recreation rooms, a recently renovated lobby area with two laundry rooms and a sand volleyball court. Chautauqua Hall is located next to the University Bookstore, Convenience Store, Cranston Marché and Starbucks.

Suite style halls
Suite style residence halls are placed into 'Quads': Andrews and Kirkland. They are groups of four residence halls either in an L pattern (Andrews) or a square pattern (Kirkland). The buildings are connected by floor, but residents can not go through the doors, except for emergencies. Suites are numbered in a 'Suite:room' fashion. For Example: 212-A is Suite 212, room A.

Kirkland complex
Kirkland has private common rooms contained within the suite though common rooms may be used as double rooms when necessary. Eisenhower and Disney Hall house the 'Kitchen Suites' meant for upperclassmen. There is a fee associated with moving into a kitchen suite, however a student does not need a meal plan. Kitchen suites take up the 'D' room of a suite, and the common room is connected to the kitchen. Therefore only six people live in a kitchen suite.


 * Disney Hall It is primarily an upperclass co-ed, suite-style residence hall. This building also features three-bedroom kitchen suites which share a dining and living area. Residents living in the kitchen suites may choose not to have a meal plan. There is also a Craft Room on the first floor and a laundry facility in the basement. Disney Hall is located in the Kirkland Complex next to Erie Dining Hall.


 * Eisenhower Hall It is primarily an upperclass co-ed, suite-style residence hall with a laundry facility in the basement. This building also features three-bedroom kitchen suites which share a dining and living area. Residents living in the kitchen suites may choose not to have a meal plan. Eisenhower Hall is located in the Kirkland Complex next to Erie Dining Hall.


 * Grissom Hall 200-bed dorm for freshman men. Suite style. ("the near quad") new windows, scheduled to have lobby renovated in the summer of 2011. Named for one of the United States’ original seven astronauts and the first person in space twice, Virgil T. “Gus” Grissom, Grissom Hall opened in 1967. It is a first-year male, suite-style residence hall. It features a smart classroom, a basement laundry facility, game lounge, and a kitchen area in the main lobby. Grissom Hall is located in the Kirkland complex across from Erie Dining Hall.


 * Kasling Hall 200-bed dorm for freshman women. Suite style. Newly renovated lobby, new windows.("the near quad"). Named for Dr. Robert Kasling, professor of Geography for twenty-one years who last taught the class of 1967, Kasling Hall opened in 1970. It is a first-year female, suite-style residence hall. It features a smart classroom, a basement laundry facility, and a kitchen area in the main lobby. Kasling is located in the Kirkland Complex directly across from the LoGrosso Health Center and Erie Dining Hall.

Andrews complex
Andrews buildings have shared common areas, and private suites. The shared common areas are open to all other residents, but the bathroom, bedroom and suite-hallway are separated from the open areas. Andrews has its own dedicated parking lot next to Igoe and Hendrix. Those two halls have exclusive rights to using that parking lot.


 * Igoe Hall is a 200-bed dorm for upperclassmen. Formerly known as Building “E”, this residence hall opened in 1970 and is named for former student James Robert Igoe who tragically drowned in Lake Erie. It is primarily an upperclass co-ed, four bedroom suite-style residence hall. It features an academic photo lab in the basement along with the laundry facility, as well as a kitchen area in the main lobby. Residents of this hall are not required to have meal plans. Igoe Hall is located in Andrews Complex, and is directly across from the Igoe/Hendrix parking lot.


 * Hendrix Hall is a 200-bed dormitory for upperclassmen, situated next to Igoe Hall and across from Hemmingway Hall. Hendrix is home to one of the last independently student-run television stations in America, WNYF-TV.


 * Schulz Hall 200-bed dorm for upperclassmen, Suite-style. Named for famous cartoonist and “Peanuts” comic strip illustrator Charles Schulz, Schulz Hall opened in 1970. It is primarily an upperclass co-ed, four bedroom suite-style residence hall. It features a resident student Wellness Center in the basement along with the laundry facility, as well as a kitchen area in the main lobby.


 * Hemingway Hall 200-bed dorm for upperclassman, Suite style. Named for famous short-story writer, journalist and novelist Ernest Hemingway, Hemingway Hall opened in 1970. It is a mixed class, co-ed, four bedroom suite-style residence hall. It features an Aerobic Center in the basement along with the laundry facility, as well as a kitchen area in the main lobby. Hemingway Hall is located in the Andrews Complex and convenient to Erie Dining Hall.

On Campus Student Media

 * The Leader The Normal Leader was created in September 1899 by the Zetesian society, an all-male literary organization. The Normal Leader was a monthly newspaper, costing ten cents a copy or fifty cents for a yearly subscription. On September 28, 1936 The Normal Leader became what we know today as The Leader on its Vol. XXXVI article No. 3 even though the school would not change its name to SUNY Fredonia until 1948. The Leader is produced by a team of Fredonia students, some of whom receive stipends from the Student Association.  The Leader is printed by the Corry Journal in Corry, Pennsylvania and is distributed free on campus and in the surrounding community. Today, The Leader features mainly news which is pertinent to the SUNY Fredonia campus and community. This weekly publication comes out every Wednesday during the academic year and can be found around the SUNY Fredonia Campus.

Greek life
While there are no physical fraternity or sorority houses on campus due to a local ordinance prohibiting them, Fredonia State has an active Greek culture with six nationally recognized organizations as well as numerous Greek letter honor societies.


 * Alpha Phi Omega (Chi Pi)
 * Delta Chi (SUNY Fredonia Chapter)
 * Delta Phi Epsilon (Epsilon Eta)
 * Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (Rho Chi)
 * Sigma Alpha Iota (Delta Lambda)
 * Sigma Kappa
 * Sigma Phi Epsilon (New York Iota)

Business

 * Dr. Benjamin Franklin Goodrich 1857- Founder of B.F.Goodrich tire company
 * James H. McGraw 1884 - Founder of McGraw-Hill Companies Set a higher standard for industrial journalists.
 * Louis Boyer '65 - Owner of Polyloom Corporation of America, was the first to develop artificial turf
 * Karl Holz '73 - President of Disney Cruise Lines

Entertainment

 * Peter Michael Goetz '65 - Actor
 * Mary McDonnell '74 - Academy Award-nominated actress
 * Brian Frons '77 - President, Daytime, Disney-ABC Television Group
 * Andrea Romano '77 - Peabody Award winner. Seven time Emmy award winner. Casting and voice director
 * Marc Calixte '93- Screenwriter (The Perfect Holiday)
 * Evan Harrington- Actor
 * Jennifer Cody '91- actress
 * Rich Ceisler '78 - Stand-up Comedian, Actor, Writer
 * Stan Rogers '59 - Songwriter, Multi-instrumentalist. Composer of "Barrett's Privateers" and "Northwest Passage".
 * Kevin Sylvester '95 - Television Analyst for the Buffalo Sabres.

Music

 * James Houlik '64 - American Tenor Saxophonist
 * Roberta Guaspari '69 - Internationally renowned Music Educator
 * Dr. Allan Dennis '70 - Music educator and conductor
 * Onaje Allan Gumbs '71 - Pianist, Composer, and Bandleader
 * Don Menza - Saxophonist, Arranger, Composer, Jazz Educator
 * Barbara Kilduff '81 - Soprano
 * Stephen Roessner '04 - Grammy Award winning audio engineer

Politics, government and law

 * Marcus M. Drake 1852 - Mayor of Buffalo, 1882
 * Reuben Fenton - U.S. Senator and Governor of New York State from 1865 to 1868 (Attended part of a term at Fredonia Academy)
 * Ozra Amander Hadley - Governor of the State of Arkansas from 1871 to 1873
 * Paul Cambria '69 - Leading first-amendment lawyer
 * Robert Spitzer '75 - Political Scientist
 * James B. Foley '79 - Diplomat, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia

Literature and education

 * Neil Postman '53 - Educator and author
 * Lucille Clifton '55 - American Poet
 * Wendy Lindstrom '71- Famous romance writer, 2003 RITA award
 * Gaelen Foley '91 - Author
 * Wendy Corsi Staub '86- The New York Times best-selling suspense author

Science

 * Diane Pennica '73 - Biologist and researcher, Genentech
 * Michael Marletta '73 - Chemist and MacArthur Fellow

Presidents

 * Note: Earlier Presidents were Principals of the Fredonia Academy and are not included list

History of the athletic team name
Fredonia athletic teams compete as the Blue Devils.

When SUNY Fredonia was first known as the Fredonia Normal School; the athletics team were known as the "Normalites". On January 27, 1936, The Leader issued an article which publicized a contest to come up with a new name for the teams. There were two names the committee had chosen, Blue Jackets and Blue Devils. The name Blue Devils seemed to be used more than Blue Jackets. In the issue of The Leader on September 30, 1952; the name Blue Devils was used officially for the first time.

Alma mater
Near the shores of old Lake Erie Stands our Alma Mater true. Fredonia State we proudly honor, With its colors white and blue.

Sing its glory and its praises Let them ring forever true. Beloved is our Alma Mater. Fredonia State, all hail to you.