Mission Statement
The mission of Eugenio María de Hostos Community College is to offer access to higher education leading to intellectual growth and socio-economic mobility through the development of linguistic, mathematical, technological, and critical thinking proficiencies needed for lifelong learning and for success in a variety of programs including careers, liberal arts, transfer, and those professional programs leading to licensure.
The College takes pride in its historical role in educating students from diverse ethnic, racial, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, particularly Hispanics and African Americans. An integral part of fulfilling its mission is to provide transitional language instruction for all English-as-a-Second-Language learners along with Spanish/English bilingual education offerings to foster a multicultural environment for all students. Hostos Community College, in addition to offering degree programs, is determined to be a resource to the South Bronx and other communities served by the College by providing continuing education, cultural events, and expertise for the further development of the communities it serves.
History of Hostos
Hostos Community College was created by an act of the Board of Higher Education on April 22, 1968, in response to the demands of Puerto Rican and other Hispanic leaders who urged the establishment of a college to meet the needs of the South Bronx. In September 1970, Hostos admitted a charter class of 623 students at the site of a former tire factory at 475 Grand Concourse. Enrollment grew rapidly to more than 2,000 students by June of 1974. In addition, the State Legislature acted to ease an increasing space shortage by passing a special bill to acquire the “500 Building” across the Grand Concourse from the original site. In the same year, Hostos was granted full and unconditional accreditation following a highly favorable evaluation by the Middle States Association.The fiscal crisis of the mid-1970’s resulted in an effort to merge Hostos with another institution as a cost-saving measure. This effort was rebuffed by strong college and community opposition, which led the State Legislature to include a guarantee of Hostos’ existence in the Landes Higher Education Act, passed on June 9, 1976. To meet growing interest in the College, the campus now has six buildings, three of which have been specially designed to meet the institution’s need. Hostos takes pride in its well-equipped science, math, writing, and computer labs; its excellent physical education facilities; and its state-of-the-art theatres.
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