Honoring the Past. Building the Future.
Though the Hillyer College of Arts and Sciences carries a new name following the July 1, 2026, merger of Hillyer College with the College of Arts and Sciences, its history stretches back nearly 150 years—to 1877, when the Hartford Art School (originally the Hartford School for Decorative Arts) opened its doors. Around that same era, Civil War veteran Charles Tudor Hillyer began teaching classes at the Hartford YMCA—the modest beginning that would grow into Hillyer College.
When the University of Hartford was formed by bringing together several independent colleges, Hillyer stood as one of its founding schools, building a reputation for small classes, hands-on mentorship, and graduates who went on to do remarkable things in their fields.
A Culture Built on Connection
Generations of Hillyer alumni and faculty point to the same defining quality: a close-knit, student-first culture unlike anywhere else on campus. Longtime history professor J. Holden Camp, who taught at Hillyer for 39 years, remembers it as a place where "we had small class sizes, encouraged critical thinking, inspired our students to take part in much of what the school had to offer, and ultimately cultivated graduates who proved time and time again that what they wanted to do they would do, and do it well."
That sense of belonging shows up just as strongly in the alumni community. Dr. Ebony Wright-Campbell, a 2004 sociology graduate who now works as a school social worker in Brooklyn, New York, looks back on her time at Hillyer with deep affection: "They were the best four years of my life! It's where I met who I call my 'forever people.'" Wright went on to chair Hillyer's board of visitors, staying closely connected to the college through years of change—including the early conversations that would eventually lead to the merger.
A New Chapter, Familiar Roots
In 2026, Hillyer College joined with the College of Arts and Sciences to form Hillyer College of Arts and Sciences — a change designed to pair the academic depth of a liberal arts college with the personalized support Hillyer has always been known for. Josie Brown, who now leads the combined school as dean after previously serving as dean of both Hillyer and the College of Arts and Sciences, has guided much of that transition. "While we highlight our revitalized strengths, we will not lose the academic support and scaffolding that Hillyer traditionally offered to all students," she says.
Carrying the Legacy Forward
Hawk Advantage Program
Today, that founding spirit lives on through small class sizes (capped at 15 students), a dedicated writing center, and the new Hawk Advantage program, which pairs every student with both a Hawk Advantage advisor and a first-year advisor from the Center for Student Success. It's a continuation of the same mission that has shaped Hillyer through the decades: helping students find their footing, their people, and their path forward.