The University of Hartford is an independent, comprehensive institution of higher education, founded in 1877 and chartered in 1957, when three institutions, the Hartford Art School, Hillyer College, and the Hartt School of Music were joined together.
Vincent Brown Coffin became the first chancellor in 1959. He was succeeded by Archibald Woodruff (during whose term the title changed to president) in 1967, by Stephen Joel Trachtenberg in 1977, by Humphrey Tonkin in 1989, and by Walter Harrison in 1998.
The University’s spacious and scenic, 340-acre, wooded main campus in suburban West Hartford features housing for 3,200 students, a modern sports and recreation complex, and a performing arts center, Lincoln Theater. At the heart of the campus is the Harry Jack Gray Center, housing the University’s libraries, conference facilities, art gallery (Joseloff Gallery). With the 1990s addition of a picturesque campus in Hartford’s historic West End and the recent debut of two magnet schools serving students from Hartford and its surrounding suburbs, the University of Hartford has extended its reach and renewed its emphasis on helping students, businesses and the community meet the needs of the 21st century.
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The University promotes economic growth in Connecticut and contributes to the state’s overall well-being by serving as a valuable resource for business, government, and the nonprofit sector. Our students and faculty use their expertise in such areas as engineering and business to provide clients with advanced research and development capabilities. Individuals and corporations with professional development and training needs can choose from a wide range of degree and nondegree programs and services that are specifically geared toward the needs of the local economy. In addition to sharing its expertise, the University also makes many of its facilities available to businesses and other organizations.
Performing and visual arts at the University continually enrich the cultural life of the Hartford area. Theater, opera, dance, music ranging from jazz to chamber ensembles, and exhibitions and lectures by contemporary artists make the West Hartford campus an exciting place to visit.
The Hartt School, the University’s comprehensive music and performing arts school, celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1995. The Miami String Quartet maintains an exclusive teaching and performing residency at Hartt, offering the community a four-concert series annually.
A variety of lectures scheduled throughout the year focus on the important cultural, political, and philosophical issues facing the region, nation, and world. Many are free and open to the public.
In 1984, the University of Hartford elevated its athletics program to Division I status, the highest level of intercollegiate competition. Since then, athletics has been a source of tremendous pride for the institution. Current professional athletes Jeff Bagwell (baseball), Vin Baker (basketball), Jerry Kelly (golf), and Jessica Reifer (soccer) all donned Hartford scarlet and white. The Hawks compete in 18 intercollegiate sports, split evenly among men’s and women’s teams. The University also has active intramural and club sports programs.
The University of Hartford is at the crossroads of three communities: Hartford, West Hartford, and Bloomfield. The mailing address is 200 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, CT 06117; phone number, 860-768-4100.
