The History of Quinnipiac University

Introduction

From modest roots to national prominence

Quinnipiac has enjoyed a distinguished history of educating students with a thoughtful, dedicated faculty and a commitment to excellence. From our New Haven origins as the Connecticut College of Commerce in 1929, and later, the Junior College of Commerce, the university has become a nationally recognized institution with 110 academic programs, 3 campuses and a diverse learning community, including 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

Our unprecedented growth, nearly 100 years in the making, is artfully captured in “The History of Quinnipiac University” documentary series. We are delighted to share the ambition of our past — and the promise of our future — in a story that began with the shared dream of our founders, Samuel and Irmagarde Tator, in a single building with 11 students.

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Black and white photo, view of the Mount Carmel Campus quad and library during the 1970s.

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Episode 1: Paving the Way

This episode chronicles how a modest, but hopeful, business school outgrows its space — and its original curriculum — and moves up the road from New Haven to Hamden.

Old black and white photo of the ground breaking of Quinnipiac College, 11 men posing for photo with some holding shovels in front of heavy equipment, begins video.

In Their Words

“Once we started building, we built toward what would make us better. We did everything possible to take the university to the next level.”

Pat Healy ‘66

Senior Vice President, Finance 1971–2015

“Quinnipiac is always about the people — the people make the community. Somehow, some way, we find the right people, and those right people tend to stay for a really long time. It’s a great place.”

Tricia Fabbri

Women’s Basketball Head Coach, 1995-present

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Aerial view of the sports center on the York Hill Campus with the New Haven skyline and Long Island Sound in the backdrop.

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Episode 2: Lahey’s Legacy

The second episode of the history series depicts how Quinnipiac College boldly evolved into Quinnipiac University, laying the foundation for future success as we approach our centennial. Learn how President John L. Lahey, the steward of this vision, spent 31 years transforming Quinnipiac from a small, local college into one of the most compelling stories in higher education.

Old colored photo of students walking on quad with the old library clocktower in the background, begins video.

By the Numbers

+365%

Growth

The total student enrollment grew from 2,200 to 10,226 from 1987 to 2017, a 365% increase in student population.

+483%

Expansion

Quinnipiac grew from 1 campus with 120 acres to 3 campuses totaling 700 acres, marking an increase of 483%.

+223%

Increase

With the addition of new majors and programs, Quinnipiac’s faculty grew from 130 to 420 full-time faculty, bringing decades of market-driven knowledge and expertise to the classroom.

In Their Words

“I think Quinnipiac’s best years are ahead of us, and I think we will just grow and gain in recognition and academic quality exponentially in the years ahead.”

John Lahey

President, 1987–2018

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Evening photo of the main entrance to the Center for Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. The many windows are lit, showing the indoor atrium.

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Looking to the Future

Building on success

Today, Quinnipiac encompasses 8 professional schools and our College of Arts and Sciences — one of a select group of universities in America to offer medical, law and engineering schools — as well as 21 Division I athletics teams, and more than 50,000 alumni around the world.

On July 1, Judy Olian became the university's 9th president after serving 12 years as dean and John E. Anderson Chair in Management at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. She is deeply committed to the university’s mission to nurture our students into becoming enlightened global citizens prepared for the careers of the 21^st century.

More about Olian

Experienced leadership

Judy Olian was named the 9th president of Quinnipiac University on July 1, 2018.

Photo Gallery: Quinnipiac Through the Years

Photo Timeline

Quinnipiac through the years

1929, 1935

Connecticut College of Commerce was founded in 1929 by Samuel W. Tator (pictured). It would later be renamed Junior College of Commerce in 1935.

1951

In 1951, surrounded by College luminaries including Irmagarde and Samuel Tator (standing at left), Connecticut Governor John Davis Lodge (seated at center) signs the bill giving Quinnipiac College the right to change the name from JCC and the authority to grant bachelor of science degrees.

1952

Quinnipiac assumed Larson College, a private women's college, in 1952. Pictured is a faculty meeting of the Quinnipiac College and Larson College employees in the library building on Whitney Avenue, New Haven, in the fall of 1952 after Quinnipiac College assumed administrative control of Larson College.

1954

In the early years of Quinnipiac College, the main building was located at 1450 Whitney Avenue in New Haven.

1966

Quinnipiac moved from New Haven to the Mount Carmel Campus in Hamden in 1966. Pictured is the ground breaking ceremony.

1972

Quinnipiac began offering master’s degrees in 1972. Pictured is the Mount Carmel Campus of Quinnipiac College in 1977, showing the main library. The structure was later named after Arnold L. Bernhard.

1988

The Quinnipiac Poll is launched, beginning as a public opinion poll in Connecticut and ultimately expanding to Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, New Jersey, New York City, New York State, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and nationally. The poll is regularly cited by national, international and local news media — and is considered to be so accurate that the U.S. Library of Congress archives its surveys.

1994

Quinnipiac begins a tradition of honoring the best broadcast journalists in America with our annual Fred Friendly First Amendment Award ceremony in Manhattan. Here, from left, Fred Friendly, Lou Adler and President John Lahey present “CBS Evening News” anchor Dan Rather with the inaugural award. The university has gone on to honor journalism icons such as Barbara Walters, Christiane Amanpour and Tom Brokaw.

1995

After acquiring the School of Law from University of Bridgeport in 1992, Quinnipiac constructed a new facility purposefully designed for law study, featuring a grand courtroom, collaborative classrooms and an inspiring library. The building opened in 1995.

1997

Marching as grand marshal of the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade in 1997 — the 150th anniversary of Black '47, the worst year of Ireland's Great Hunger — President John L. Lahey used the opportunity to educate people around New York and across the country about the causes of that international-reaching tragedy. Quinnipiac alumni, parents, faculty and staff have marched up Fifth Avenue in the world’s largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade as part of a tradition spanning 30 years.

1998

Quinnipiac’s athletics programs elevated to Division I competition. The advancement from Division II ultimately paved the way for several key university milestones — including the addition of the $52 million TD Bank Sports Center on the York Hill Campus in 2007; the national rankings of several programs, including men’s and women’s ice hockey and women’s basketball; and the $30 million lacrosse/soccer and field hockey stadiums complex on Hogan Road. Here, President John L. Lahey speaks at a commemorative ceremony.

2000, 2002

Quinnipiac boosted its profile in the new century by changing its name from Quinnipiac College to Quinnipiac University in 2000, and then changing its mascot from the Braves to the Bobcats in 2002. Pictured is Boomer the Bobcat meeting with alumni.