History & Timeline
The west side of Main Street in the early 1900s. Now home to the Alfred State campus.
Amazing Stories of Success
In the true Pioneer spirit, our college has forged ahead, faced obstacles, and achieved hard-won victories. After generations of delivering a high-quality education, ASC knows how to assist first-generation college students, find a way for low-income families to achieve their college dreams, and prepare students to launch careers with good pay at great companies.
Founded in 1908, it wasn’t a sure bet that the New York State School of Agriculture would continue after facing financial and enrollment challenges in its first 30 years. In 1926, the region’s farmers, who recognized the value of this institution, lobbied the state to continue operations and a plan emerged to offer more career options for Western New York students.
After making it through some difficult times and low enrollment during the Great Depression, Alfred Ag Tech, as it became known, found firm footing by adding educational opportunities for a wider variety of technical skills so that graduates would be ready for careers beyond the farm. The national trend of growing college enrollments after World War II was also evident with rapid construction and expansion at Alfred State and the addition of the Wellsville campus.
Multiple generations choose ASC.
Some current trends in higher education are to provide these benefits to students:
- Build career skills, knowledge, and confidence through hands-on learning.
- Show a return-on-investment with good-paying jobs for graduates.
- Provide a nurturing, close-knit, and caring community for students.
Students and parents today are looking for these benefits when choosing a college. ASC has a strong answer for each of these topics and we can prove our success. Delivering career-ready graduates for good jobs while enjoying our friendly and caring community, that’s who we are and what we do at Alfred State throughout our long, colorful, and successful history.
The First Sixty Years:
A History of the State University Agricultural and Technical College at Alfred
by Elaine B. Hritz
Alfred State: Celebrating the Past 100 Years
- 1908-1969 by Daniel Barwick based on Hritz’ book
- 1969-1977 by Ellen H. Ehrig
- 1977-1986 by Dr. Eugene Stalger
- 1986-1993 by Dr. John O. Hunter, President Emeritus
- 1993-2003 by Dr. Bill Rezak, President Emeritus
- 2003-2008 by Alfred State staff
A History of the Educational Foundation of Alfred, Inc.
From Benevolent Association to Educational Foundation
By: Ellen H. Ehrig (through June 2010)
Foundation P.R. Committee (2010-present)
ASC TIMELINE
For each generation in our timeline, the events listed reflect our college, students, and national trends. Alfred State College is constantly evolving and adapting. As long as educational leaders believe success is measured by our students’ achievements in launching great careers and building better lives, Pioneers will stay on the path to success.
1908 School of Agriculture
| 1908 | Gov. Hughes established the New York State School of Agriculture on May 8. |
| 1909 | Instruction began Oct. 18 with four faculty, 10 female students, and 36 men. |
| 1910 | Agriculture Hall opened for classes. Demolished in 1970 for NYS School of Ceramics. |
| 1913 | All 148 students were members of the Country Life Club to promote farm living. |
| 1917 | During WWI, the Bachelor’s Club was for military students and those producing food. |
| 1920 | Members of the Bachelor’s Club then established Gamma Theta Gamma fraternity. |
| 1922 | Tau Sigma Alpha sorority was established with 24 members. |
| 1926 | As few as 48 students enrolled, but classes continued through the Great Depression. |
1935 Alfred Ag Tech
| 1937 | Enrollment increased with business administration and building trades added. |
| 1941 | Junior College recognition for NYS Agricultural and Technical Institute at Alfred. |
| 1945 | Benevolent Association formed to manage facilities with private investment. |
| 1948 | Multiple buildings opened on the current campus west of Main Street. |
| 1949 | The State University of New York system was established after WWII. |
| 1950 | Music program added with Anthony Cappadonia director. |
| 1952 | Athletics added for basketball, golf, cross country, track, and field. |
| 1956 | Purchase of 150-acre Saunders Farm approved for western expansion of the campus. |
1960 Alfred State Tech
| 1965 | Enrollment growth leads to expansion including the library and Central Dining Hall. |
| 1966 | Happy Valley Ski Slope opened from the highest point on campus to Route 244. |
| 1967 | Wellsville vocational pilot program is made permanent at former Sinclair refinery. |
| 1969 | Paul Orvis Activities Center opened. Enrollment reached 3,000 students. |
| 1971 | First NJCAA National Championship honors for men’s swimming and skiing teams. |
| 1972 | First Hot Dog Day charity event and festival was held April 24. |
| 1973 | Hinkle Belltower added, and MacKenzie opened as the largest SUNY residence hall. |
| 1983 | Business Hall dedicated to former Dean and Professor E.J. Brown. |
1985 Alfred State College
| 1991 | Alfred State added four-year bachelor’s degrees. |
| 1992 | Huntington Administration Bldg. and Hunter Student Development Ctr. dedicated. |
| 1995 | Football played an inaugural season. Sugar Hill Industrial Park founded. |
| 1998 | Food court opened to offer more selections in Central Dining Hall. |
| 1999 | Installation of Wi-Fi technology in every campus building, a first for SUNY. |
| 2006 | NYS established the Center for Organic and Sustainable Agriculture at the Alfred farm. |
| 2007 | Townhouses opened. ASC honored for the first time on US News Best Colleges list. |
| 2009 | Pioneer Stadium opened for football, soccer, track, and field. |
2010 WNY Leadership
| 2011 | Zero Energy Home opened with green technology in Wellsville. |
| 2012 | New Student Leadership Center and renovated Physical and Health Sciences opened. |
| 2013 | Alfred State entered NCAA Division III athletic competition. |
| 2016 | Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing Center opened in Wellsville. |
| 2017 | A new college logo and mascot, Big Blue the Ox, were developed for the Pioneers. |
| 2018 | MacKenzie Commons opened, and Workforce Development Center completed. |
| 2020 | First graduating class at the Northland Workforce Training Center in Buffalo. |
College Leaders for Alfred State
| 1908 – 1911 | Director | Ora S. Morgan |
| 1911 – 1912 | Acting Director | Charles O. Dubois |
| 1912 – 1918 | Director | William J. Wright |
| 1918 – 1919 | Acting Director | Willard R. Cone |
| 1919 – 1920 | Director | Carl E. Ladd |
| 1920 – 1936 | Director | Archie E. Champlin |
| 1936 – 1960 | Director | Paul B. Orvis |
| 1960 – 1961 | Acting President | Walter C. Hinkle |
| 1961 – 1964 | President | Walter C. Hinkle |
| 1964 | Acting President | Roger F. Rawe |
| 1964 – 1986 | President | David H. Huntington |
| 1986 – 1993 | President | John O. Hunter |
| 1993 – 2003 | President | William D. Rezak |
| 2003 – 2006 | President | Uma Gupta |
| 2006 – 2007 | Acting President | John B. Clark |
| 2007 – 2008 | Acting President | Ronald Rosati |
| 2008 – 2013 | President | John M. Anderson |
| 2013 – 2014 | Acting President | Valerie B. Nixon |
| 2014 – 2021 | President | Irby “Skip” D. Sullivan |
| 2021 – 2022 | Officer in Charge | John M. Anderson |
| 2022 – Now | President | Steven A. Mauro |