Timeline of Pace History:

THE PACE STORY

Pace is a university whose resources have played an essential role in the realization of individual dreams of achievement and whose mission is voiced in its motto: Opportunitas.

Founded in 1906 by the Pace brothers as a business school for men and women who aspired to a better life, Pace Institute began its transformation into a modern university, with emphasis on the liberal arts and sciences, under Robert Pace 42 years later. With dynamic leadership and fiscally sound management, Pace has grown into one of the largest universities in New York State, with a multi-million dollar physical plant, an endowment of over $100 million and a reputation for excellent teaching and talented, ambitious graduates.

Pace is a comprehensive university with five schools and one college that offers a wide range of academic and professional programs for a large, diverse population of more than 13,000 students in for-credit programs, and in affiliated offerings. Through its Lubin School of Business, Pace continues to build its reputation for excellence in business education. The Lienhard School of Nursing, the School of Law, the School of Education and the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems are more recent responses to the needs of the New York City and Westchester communities for strong professional schools to prepare a well-educated workforce.

The University's decision in 1948 to develop a college of arts and sciences as both an autonomous academic unit and a foundation for the undergraduate core curriculum has strengthened and enriched the educational experience of Pace students and provided an ongoing source of intellectual enrichment to the University. The Dyson College of Arts and Sciences is central to the intellectual life of Pace, to shaping academic priorities, and to providing ethical, humanistic and scientific principles upon which lives and careers are founded.

At the heart of Pace's academic values is an historic commitment to excellence in teaching, as manifested by small classes, an emphasis on skill development and critical thinking, special tutoring and support services, and academic advising. Academic experiences at Pace emphasize teaching from both a practical and theoretical perspective, drawing upon the expertise of faculty who balance academic preparation with professional experience to bring a unique dynamic to the classroom.

While the primary emphasis of the institution is on excellent teaching, the university supports and encourages scholarly activity to ensure the intellectual vitality of the faculty. While much of the work has had professional application, Pace particularly invites scholarship that directly relates to the classroom experience and involves students in the research process.

Pace has always had a student-centered focus and is committed to providing access to those who range widely in age, ethnicity, socio-economic background and academic preparation. Increasing amounts of institutional financial aid to help students meet the growing costs of a private education; locations in New York City and Westchester County; evening, weekend and summer scheduling; and special counseling and academic support services are ways in which the university has sought to enhance the accessibility and opportunities of a Pace education.

A significant tradition of Pace University is its strong relationship with business, civic and community organizations. Offering special programs and services to neighboring institutions and corporate partners, the university gains strength in return from these partnerships and derives benefits for its students from the networks these linkages provide.

The future of Pace University will be shaped by its traditions and values as they respond to the current needs and expectations of today's students. Combining excellence in instruction with personal attention, Pace provides the virtues of the small arts and sciences college with the curricular richness, scholarly disposition and excellent professional programs of the research and comprehensive institution.

HISTORY OF PACE UNIVERSITY

Pace is a University whose resources have played an essential role in the realization of individual dreams of achievement, and whose mission is voiced in the motto: Opportunitas.

Founded in 1906 by the Pace brothers, Homer and Charles, The Pace Institute was a business school for men and women who aspired to a better life.

Homer and Charles Pace borrowed $600 to rent a classroom and office in the old Tribune building in lower Manhattan to teach 10 men and three women the principles of accounting and business law. That building once stood where the Pace Plaza building stands today.

Two years later, because of the overwhelming success of the Pace School of Accountancy, the Pace brothers relocated classes to the nearby Hudson Terminal complex. Another move to the Transportation Building at 225 Broadway took place in 1927 in response to continued growth.

In 1948, Pace Institute was approved for college status by the New York Board of Regents. Academic expansion forced yet another move to 41 Park Row in 1951, and two years later Pace College received authorization from the State Education Department to grant the bachelor of arts degree.

Classes began on the Pleasantville campus in 1963. The year before, the Marks Hall building was signed over to the College by Pace Trustee Wayne Marks, President of General Foods, and his wife, Helen. Soon after, Dyson Hall was constructed, named in honor of alumnus, Trustee and benefactor, Charles H. Dyson. Willcox Hall was named for Trustee and benefactor Byron Willcox.

In 1965, the Undergraduate School of Business Administration, the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education were established. The year following, the School of Nursing was founded and was later named after alumnus, Trustee and benefactor Gustav Lienhard. In December 1966, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Civic Center building, Vice President Hubert Humphrey promised to teach at Pace and conducted a Scholar-in-Residence seminar at the New York City campus.

Finally, in 1973, the State Education Department approved Pace College's petition for university status. Two years later, the College of White Plains consolidated with Pace University, and the School of Law was established in 1976. The assets of Briarcliff College were acquired in 1977. In the years following, an international education center was opened by IBM Corporation, NYNEX opened a center and the Hastings Center moved its operations to the Briarcliff site. In 1983, the School of Computer Science and Information Systems was established as its own entity. In 1997, Pace purchased the World Trade Institute, a leading-edge provider of international training programs.

Pace University today is a diverse institution with over 13,000 students. For 100 years, bright, motivated and talented men and women have walked out of Pace's many doors, degrees in hand, and have ventured into the world prepared for the challenges of each passing decade. Every year, curriculum offerings in schools and colleges are modified to meet the changing needs of ambitious and knowledgeable students.

Throughout the years since 1906, Pace has grown along with the talents of those who comprise what is affectionately known as the "Pace community." The Pace tradition is something in which we can all take pride.

Some Pace University milestones:
1948 - Pace Institute was given college status
1950 - Pace approved to grant the bachelor of arts degree
1965 - Undergraduate School of Business Administration, the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education are established
1966 - School of Nursing established, later named after alumnus, trustee and benefactor Gustav Lienhard
1966 - Groundbreaking ceremony for the Civic Center building (One Pace Plaza)
1973 - Pace receives university status from the State Education Department
1975 - College of White Plains consolidates with Pace University
1976 - School of Law is established
1977 - Briarcliff College joins Pace University
1983 - School of Computer Science and Information Systems is established
1992 - Pace institutes "Dial-A-Grade" for students to obtain grades on the telephone and the administrative technological revolution begins
1993 - Undergraduate programs in White Plains are transferred to Pleasantville and the North Broadway campus is given to the Law School
1994 - Ann and Alfred Goldstein Academic Center dedicated on the Pleasantville campus
1995 - $55 million Campaign for Pace University launched with $10 million challenge grant from alumnus and trustee emeritus Charles H. Dyson '30 and his family
1996 - Lubin School of Business receives AACSB accreditation
1997 - Pace purchases the World Trade Institute, which provides training in international business and trade, from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
1998 - Pace cited in Crain's New York Business as one of the top five sources for technology degree recipients in New York City
1999 - Dyson Family challenge completed one year ahead of schedule, raising $21.1 which is $1.1 million over goal
1999 - Pace Alumni Network (PANet) established to connect alumni worldwide
2001 - Pace establishes the Center for Downtown New York
2002 - The Ann and Alfred Goldstein Health, Fitness, and Recreation Center opens on the Pleasantville campus
2002 - First Pace students win prestigious Fulbright Fellowships
2003 - The Pforzheimer Honors College accepts its first class of students.
2003 - Pace hosts the CNBC/Wall Street Journal 2003 Democratic Candidate Presidential Debate
2005 - Verizon CEO and alumnus Ivan G. Seidenberg ’81 gives Pace $15 million, the largest gift in its history; in honor of this gift the School of Computer Science and Information Systems is named after him
2006 - Lubin School of Business achieves dual AACSB accreditation for business and accounting
2006 - Pace celebrates its centennial

PACE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS

Homer St. Clair Pace 1935-1942
Robert Scott Pace 1942-1960
Edward J. Mortola 1960-1984
William G. Sharwell 1984-1990
Patricia O'Donnell Ewers 1990-2000
David A. Caputo 2000-2007
Stephen J. Friedman 2007-

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF ADMINISTRATION

Please visit the President's website for the most current information on Administration and Trustees.