Adelphi University

As part of each entry in a much-expanded directory of colleges and universities, U.S. News would like to feature a brief description of the school's mission and unique qualities. Please provide a thoughtful summary of what makes your school special. What are its special strengths and attributes? What is it not? Maximum number of allowable characters is 4000. Please do not include bullets, paragraph breaks, special characters, or other special formatting.

Adelphi University has a rich history, an exciting present, and a limitless future. Founded in 1896, Adelphi University was Long Island's first private co-educational institution of higher learning. Since 2007, Adelphi has been cited as a "Best Buy" by the best-selling Fiske Guide to Colleges, one of only a handful of private universities to make the list. The New York Times wrote in fall 2006, "By practically every measure, the university is thriving." As Adelphi grows, our academic programs evolve to reflect the needs and interests of our nearly 8,000 students from 41 states and close to 50 countries including an acclaimed Honors College; career-advancing joint degree programs; sought-after performing arts programs; and professional programs in social work, nursing, business, psychology, and education. Internationally recognized scholars and artists fill the ranks of Adelphi's nearly 900 full- and part-time faculty members. Adelphi's main 75-acre campus in historic Garden City has seven residence halls (the newest scheduled to be completed in fall 2011), and is conveniently located 45 minutes from New York City, and just a few miles from some of Long Island's most beautiful beaches, parks, and cultural centers. Students may join Adelphi's more than 80 student organizations, including fraternities, sororities, and academic honor societies. Access to professional internships in all industries, whether in New York City or on Long Island, abounds. An expanded career center connects students with a range of professional opportunities. Specialized extracurricular and academic programs promote student involvement in civic and community service. Adelphi has outstanding NCAA Division I and II intercollegiate athletic teams, including its Division II National Championship women's lacrosse team, as well as an array of intramural activities. In fall 2008, Adelphi opened a state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center and Center for Recreation and Sports. The carefully designed building complex serves as a vibrant hub for student activities, cultural performances, athletic competitions, and academics. Adelphi students have free access to student counseling, financial aid advisement, mentoring, and other life improvement services. Students wishing to study abroad will find ample opportunities and personalized assistance in selecting programs through Adelphi's study abroad office. Through its schools, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Gordon F. Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, the Honors College, University College, the Ruth S. Ammon School of Education, and the Schools of Business, Nursing, and Social Work, Adelphi offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs of study at our main Garden City campus and at off-campus centers in Hauppauge, Manhattan, and Hudson Valley.