University of Hartford

The University began as a commuter school during the post-World War II boom when returning soldiers were looking for an education financed by the G.I. Bill^®. The movers and shakers of Hartford recognized a need for a university and brought together three small schools housed in buildings spread across the city, including the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art and the Hartford YMCA.

Unlike most private New England colleges, the University of Hartford did not begin as a small liberal arts institution. From the outset, it has offered courses in electronics, engineering, technology, and education along with strong programs in music, the visual arts, and the arts and sciences. Today, it is known for excellence in the visual and performing arts, engineering, and business; small classes; and its focus on mentoring all students.

The University has always been coed and open to all students, regardless of their background. Designed initially to meet the needs of Hartford residents, it has stayed true to the founders’ ideals but greatly surpassed its modest goals. Its mission today is to educate students as citizens of the world, encouraging them to study abroad, get involved in community service, and take responsibility for the planet and their futures.

From the time that then Governor Abraham Ribicoff signed the bill granting the University of Hartford its charter in February 1957, visionary leaders have guided the institution. Vincent Brown Coffin, a well-known and influential insurance executive, was named the first chancellor of the University in 1958. Archibald Woodruff followed in 1967, and his title was changed to president in 1970. Stephen Joel Trachtenberg took up the mantle in 1977, followed by Humphrey Tonkin in 1989 and Walter Harrison in 1998. Each administration has carefully guided the University and helped it adapt to changing times while keeping it on course financially and academically.