UHart creates a new structure for Hillyer College of Arts and Sciences and the Hawk Advantage Program
The historic move honors the legacy of one of the University's founding colleges and intentionally unites critical resources and offerings.
After considerable and thoughtful input from faculty and staff led by Dean Josie Brown, President Lawrence P. Ward and Provost Katherine Black recommended to the Board of Regents to join Hillyer College with the College of Arts and Sciences. The Board approved this recommendation in June. To preserve the important legacy of Hillyer as one of the founding colleges of the University, the new college will be renamed Hillyer College of Arts and Sciences. The new structure will be effective July 1, 2026.
Honoring Hillyer's Legacy and the Hawk Advantage Program
Hillyer College has roots dating back to the 19th century. Since 1992, the college has been dedicated to serving students who need additional support as they transition to college. For many reasons, students may have encountered gaps in prior learning environments or faced educational barriers that hindered their potential for success.
“The best structure and future for Hillyer College has been an ongoing subject of discussion for many years,” explains University of Hartford President Lawrence P. Ward. “Most Hillyer students are dually admitted to the academic program to which they applied. This approach has not always resonated with students and families, particularly when they have also been admitted directly into another competing university.”
Under the new structure, students who would benefit from additional academic support will be enrolled in “Hawk Advantage” course sections. These sections will continue to offer the small class sizes, peer support workshops, and other programmatic and academic supports currently offered by Hillyer courses.
UHart has a long history of providing those resources, and Ward says they continue to be urgently needed. “National data indicates there are significant post-pandemic learning gaps among K–12 students in reading, writing, and math,” Ward says. “While other institutions may scramble to determine how best to support this need, Hillyer College is already well-positioned to help address these challenges. Students and families are making a significant investment in their future, and we are relentless in our commitment to ensuring their success.”
“This is a great opportunity for the Hillyer College of Arts and Sciences and for the University of Hartford,” said Josie Brown, who has served as dean of both colleges since July 2024 and will continue to lead the new college. "The Hawk Advantage program will allow us to directly admit qualified students into their baccalaureate program, and if their academic record indicates that they would benefit from extra academic support as they transition to college, they will be enrolled in the Hawk Advantage sections of general education courses."
Josie Brown, DeanThe level of support through the Hawk Advantage program is a differentiating, valuable, and marketable educational advantage that can now benefit even more students across the University.”
A New Structure
The school that became Hillyer College began in the 1870s as a technical and trade institute of the YMCA. In the 20th century, Hillyer expanded to a junior college and then, after World War II, to a four-year college aimed at helping returning veterans pursue their education. In 1957, Hillyer joined the Hartford Art School and the Hartt School of Music to form the University of Hartford. One year later, the departments of Hillyer College were reorganized into four distinct schools and colleges: the School of Business Administration, the College of Education, the College of Engineering, and the College of Arts and Sciences.
The decision to merge Hillyer with A&S comes after a year of thoughtful discussion among faculty and staff, and feedback from the boards of advisors of both colleges. The College of Arts and Sciences, one of the University’s largest schools, is home to 21 undergraduate majors, 30 minors, five graduate programs, and multiple interdisciplinary offerings.
In the coming months, as the new structure takes shape, the University will develop a plan to ensure current Hillyer College students have the courses they need to complete their degrees. Full-time Hillyer faculty will join existing departments in the College of Arts and Sciences or other appropriate departments within the University.
“It is fair to say that we have a lot of work ahead of us,” Brown says, “but I appreciate the support that I have received from the Hillyer and A&S faculty and staff, and I am very excited for the many great things we will be able to accomplish in the Hillyer College of Arts and Sciences.”
Timeline
The uniting of Hillyer College and the College of Arts & Sciences was announced to the University community in June 2025 following the Board of Regents approval. The University will develop a plan to ensure current Hillyer College students have the courses they need to complete their degrees. Full-time Hillyer faculty will join existing departments in the College of Arts and Sciences or other appropriate departments within the University. The newly restructured Hillyer College of Arts and Sciences will be in effect on July 1, 2026.
Questions
If you would like to speak with someone directly regarding the transition or to learn more about the Hawk Advantage program, please email hillyer@hartford.edu or call 860.768.4255.
This page will continue to be updated, including a section addressing frequently asked questions.