Pace University is a private, co-educational and comprehensive multi-campus university with campuses in New York City and Westchester County in the U.S. State of New York. Pace was founded by two brothers, Homer S. Pace and Charles A. Pace in 1906, initially as a business school for men and women. The sixth and current president is David A. Caputo, former president of CUNY-Hunter College.
| Seal of Pace University | |
| Motto | Opportunitas (Opportunity) |
|---|---|
| Type | Private |
| Established | 1906 |
| Endowment | US$250 Million |
| President | David A. Caputo |
Academic staff | 1,238 |
| Students | 14,319 |
| Undergraduates | 8,928 |
| Postgraduates | 4,471 (778 law) |
| Location | , |
| Campus | New York City: Urban 950,000 sq.ft. Westchester: Suburban 212 acres (86 hectares) |
| Colors | Blue and Gold |
| Mascot | Setter File:PaceSetters.jpg |
| Website | www.pace.edu |
- See also: Pace University High School
The environmental law program at the School of Law is widely renowned and has received national accolades from the annual report on law schools done by the magazine US News and World Report. Similarly, the accounting program for the Lubin School of Business (on both the Bachelor's Degree and MBA levels) is considered to be fairly prestigious and high caliber.
Pace University is an active member and one of the founding member institutions of Project Pericles, a national organization of colleges and universities committed to making socially responsible and participatory citizenship an essential part of the educational process. Pace is the only multi-campus university participating in Project Pericles. Pace University is also a member of the Environmental Consortium of Hudson Valley Colleges & Universities, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC), the Westchester Arts Council, and New York Campus Compact.
The 750-seat Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at the New York City campus is home to both the television show Inside the Actors Studio hosted by James Lipton and the National Actors Theatre, a theatre company founded by the late actor Tony Randall - it is the only professional theatre company housed in a university in New York City and Broadway's only not-for-profit house (located in Lower Manhattan) solely dedicated to presenting classic works of theater and theatrical education delivered at no cost to the students or their schools. Theater productions at Pace have included such stars as Tony Randall, Al Pacino, Steve Buscemi, Dominic Chianese, Billy Crudup, Charles Durning, Paul Giamatti, John Goodman, Chazz Palminteri, Linda Emond, Len Cariou, Roberta Maxwell, and Jeff Goldblum. Pace is also one of the venues for the Tribeca Film Festival, the Tribeca Theater Festival, the New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC) the River-to-River Festival (New York City’s largest free-to-the-public summer festival), and Grammy Career Day of Grammy in the Schools. The Woodward Hall 135-seat theater at the campus at Briarcliff Manor in Westchester is home to the Hudson Stage Company.
History
In 1906, the first class of "Pace & Pace", (later named the Pace School of Accountancy and Pace Institute) was composed of ten men and three women who were taught accounting and business law by Homer Pace and Charles Ashford Pace. Taking a loan of $600, the Pace brothers rented a classroom on one of the floors of the New York Tribune building, today the site of the Pace Plaza complex. Due to rapid growth over the succeeding years, the school was forced to relocate several times.
In 1951, the college purchased its first campus building located at 41 Park Row in Lower Manhattan. This building, designated a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in March 1999, was the old headquarters of The New York Times. In 1963 the Pleasantville campus was established, using land and buildings donated by General Foods president and Pace alumni and trustee Wayne Marks and his wife Helen.
In 1966, the former New York Tribune building at 154 Nassau Street, across from 41 Park Row, was demolished to make way for the new Civic Center building. The State Education Department approved Pace College's petition for university status in 1973. Shortly thereafter, in 1975, Pace consolidated with the College of White Plains, which is the current site of the Law School Campus. Briarcliff College was acquired in 1977. Finally in 1997, Pace purchased the World Trade Institute from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
2006 marks Pace University's Centennial. On March 5, 2006, Pace students, alumni, faculty and staff from all campuses convened on the Pleasantville campus in a University-wide Centennial Kick-Off Celebration; there was a Pace Centennial train, provided free of charge by the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority), to take Pace's New York City students, alumni, faculty and staff to Pace's Pleasantville campus. Former President Bill Clinton received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Pace during the ceremony, which was held at the Goldstein Health, Fitness and Recreation Center. Following reception of the honorary degree, he addressed the students, faculty, alumni and staff of Pace, officially kicking off the Centennial anniversary of the University.[1]
- Weigold, Marilyn E. Opportunitas: The History of Pace University. New York, NY: Pace University Press, 1991.
- History of Pace University as told by Pace University Historian Marilyn E. Weigold.
Schools and Colleges
The University consists of the following schools each with a graduate and undergraduate division:
- Dyson College of Arts & Sciences (1966)
- Lienhard School of Nursing (1966)
- Lubin School of Business (1906)
- School of Education (1966)
- School of Law (1976)
- Seidenberg School of Computer Science & Information Systems (1983) - renamed in 2005 for Verizon Chairman/CEO & Pace alumnus.
- Pforzheimer Honors College (2003)
- Adult & Continuing Education
Campuses
Pace University campuses are located in New York City, and Westchester County in Pleasantville, Briarcliff Manor, and White Plains, along with a Hudson Valley business training center in New Windsor in Orange County, New York. The University's shuttle service provides transportation between the New York City, White Plains, and Pleasantville-Briarcliff campuses. Furthermore, Pace University has a high school located just ten blocks away from the University's New York City campus (see Pace University High School).
New York City Campus
The New York City campus located in the Financial District of lower Manhattan, the birthplace of Pace; the campus is walking distance to well-known New York City sites including Wall Street, the World Trade Center, South Street Seaport, Chinatown and Little Italy. Pace has about 950,000 square feet of space in Lower Manhattan. The main building, One Pace Plaza, located directly across from City Hall and adjacent to the Brooklyn Bridge, houses most of the classrooms, administrative offices, a 2,000-square-foot student union, a 750-seat community theater, and an 18-floor high-rise residence hall (known as "Maria's Tower"). 41 Park Row was the 19th Century headquarters of The New York Times and today houses many faculty offices, the University's bookstore, as well as some classrooms. 157 Williams Street, 161 Williams Street and 163 Williams Street were acquired by Pace following the September 11 attacks to make up for space lost in the World Trade Center. They house the offices of the Seidenberg School of Computer Science & Information Systems and other classrooms, along with Pace's Downtown Conference Center where the eMBA residency sessions are held (Pace also has leased office space in 156 William Street). One block away from the site of the proposed Fulton Street Transit Center is one of Pace's residence halls known as "Fulton Hall", the former Fulton Plaza Hotel on 106 Fulton Street. Pace also leases residence accommodations at the Hotel St. George and The Clark Residence in Brooklyn Heights; frequent shuttle service is provided between the campus and the Brooklyn Heights student residences. Pace also offers classes in midtown Manhattan in the art deco Fred F. French Building on at 551 Fifth Avenue; a few blocks away from places such as Grand Central Terminal, Bryant Park, Times Square, Radio City Music Hall, and Rockefeller Center. It is a popular ___location which offers flexibility and convenience to students who live or work in midtown and for students commuting from the borough of Queens.
- Map of the New York City Campus (PDF)
- Aerial view of the campus area in New York City
- Aerial view of the Midtown ___location
Pleasantville-Briarcliff Campus
Classes began in Westchester County in Pleasantville in 1963 [2]. The campus today consists of the former estate of then Vice Chairman of General Foods Corporation, Wayne Marks '28 - previously belonging to 18th century noted physician Dr. George C. S. Choate (which gave its name to a pond and a house on the campus). Located on the campus is the Environmental Center - it was constructed around the remnants of a 1779 farmhouse. The center, which is dedicated to environmental studies
program, provides office and classroom space; the original barn and stable still exist and provide accommodations for the Equestrian Studies program, which houses horses, chicken, goats, sheep, reptiles, insects, and various small animals. Adjacent to the Trump National Golf Club, Pace University's Briarcliff facility was added in 1977 when Pace acquired Briarcliff College in Briarcliff Manor, New York - residence halls, recreational facilities and administrative offices are also located there. A short distance apart, these two locations are administered as a unit making the Pleasantville-Briarcliff campus a total of over 200 acres in Westchester County in Pleasantville and Briarcliff Manor, New York. Frequent shuttle service is provided between the two locations.
- Click here to view a map of the campus at Pleasantville (PDF)
- Map of the Briarcliff ___location (PDF)
- Aerial view of the campus at Pleasantville
- Aerial view of the campus at Briarcliff Manor
White Plains Campus
A 30-minute train ride and 25 miles north of New York City in in Westchester County is the site of The Evelyn & Joseph I. Lubin Graduate Center in downtown White Plains and the nationally-ranked Pace University School of Law. The Graduate Center is located across the street from the White Plains Station of the Metro-North Railroad, while the Law School's 12-acre campus lies several blocks away on North Broadway. The New York State Judicial Institute, located on the Law School's campus, serves as a statewide center for the education, training and research facility for all judges and justices of the New York State Unified Court System; the first of it's kind in the nation. On the Law School's campus is the nationally recognized Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic where Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law, and alumnus of Pace, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. serves as Co-Director.
- Map of the White Plains Campus (PDF)
- Aerial view of the campus of Pace University School of Law
- Aerial view of The Evelyn & Joseph I. Lubin Graduate Center of Pace University in White Plains
Hudson Valley Center
Located in New Windsor in Orange County, New York, Pace occupies 5,500 square feet of space in New York International Plaza at Stewart International Airport near Newburgh, New York. Pace is the lead university in the development of the University Center, a collaboration of educational institutions (currently consisting of Marist College and SUNY-New Paltz) to provide customized professional corporate training, development and educational programs in Orange County and throughout the upper Hudson Valley region. Pace's Division of Adult and Continuing Education offers both credit and non-credit programs and courses at the Hudson Valley Center.
Shanghai MS Accounting Program
Founded in 2000, Pace University offers the Master of Science in Accounting to Chinese students in Shanghai, China's largest city. All instruction takes place at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE), recognized as one of the leading business institutions in China.
Athletics
Pace's sports teams are called the Setters; the University's mascot is the Setter. Pace University sponsors 19 intercollegiate varsity sports, including equestrian. Pace's affiliations include the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA - Division II), Northeast Ten Conference, and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). The school's official colors are blue and gold.
Pace's athletic facilities are highlighted by the 75,000-square foot Goldstein Health, Fitness and Recreation Center in Pleasantville, which boasts a 2400-seat arena, eight-lane swimming pool, weight/fitness room, aerobics/dance room, training room, locker rooms, equipment room, meeting rooms, and offices of the athletics department.[3]
Pace University People
Pace University has more than 122,000 alumni worldwide; and numerous notable faculty. For a partial list of Pace University notables see Pace University People.
Pace's "Alma Mater"
Written by Pace alumnus and professor Ivan Fox, the following is Pace University's "Alma Mater":
"Alma Mater, hearts and voices sing to thee our everlasting praise;
Each and every heart rejoices at the thought of happy days.
Pace, Oh Pace, we'll ne'er forget you, nor the friends we hold so dear;
Memories will linger ever and will brighten coming years.
Alma Mater, stand forever, love is strong as we go marching by;
So thee, we raise our voices with your standard held on high.
Pace, Oh Pace, we'll ever follow where thy beacons show the way;
True to thee we'll be forever as we labor day by day."
Trivia
- Rachel Ray, Vincent Pastore, and Richard Grasso all attended Pace University, see Pace University People.
- The only Actors Studio MFA program in the country is located at Pace University.
- The New York City campus is the site of a New York City Park, Drumgoole Plaza.
- The student-run coffeehouse of the Briarcliff Commons at Briarcliff is named 'Pace Perk' in reference to 'Central Perk' of the TV show 'Friends'. (Opened February 4, 2000)
- Pace Student, Cristina Masiello '06, was a contestant in the 2004 Miss Manhattan. [4]
Mortola Library, Pleasantville 
Dyson Hall, Pleasantville - 41 Park Row in New York City, one of Pace's buildings, is a New York City landmark.
- In 2004, Pace hosted a rally for the Kerry-Edwards campaign at the Willcox Gym in Pleasantville.
- Pace University hosted the 2003 Democratic Presidential Candidate Debate[5]
- The NFL football team New York Giants trained preseason between 1975-1987 at Pace University in Pleasantville; players used to stay at North Hall, one of the residence halls.
- Pace University is the only major U.S. university that had its beginnings as a school of accounting.
- Pace is one of the sites for NBA New York Knicks Summer Camp in 2006
- An all-University commencement ceremony for all campuses used to be held at Madison Square Garden until the late 1980s. Since then, commencement ceremonies are held at individual campuses. Radio City Music Hall is the regular home of commencement ceremonies for the New York City campus, the Westchester commencement is held at the University's Goldstein Health, Fitness and Recreation Center in Pleasantville (prior to 2003 at Westchester County Center), while the Law School commencement is held outdoors at their campus.
- Actress Francis Lee McCain, widely known as 'Billy's mother Lynn Peltzer' in the film 'Gremlins' (1984), lived in 33 Crane Avenue, White Plains, NY; a house that is now part of the University's law school campus in White Plains, which currently houses the office of Alumni Relations and Development & Pace's Center for Continuing Legal Education.
- Historial Trivia: In 1966, U.S. Vice President Hubert Humphrey and New York City Mayor John Lindsay break ground for the Pace Plaza Civic Center complex, with then Pace president Edward J. Mortola.[6]
- Joseph R. Baczko, the current dean the Lubin School of Business, is former President/COO of Blockbuster Entertainment and founder/President of Toys "R" Us International.
- Every year, 'J&R Music & Computer World' holds concerts in City Hall Park in front of One Pace Plaza; with performances by artist like Green Day, Lisa Marie Presley, Bow Wow, and more.[7]
- Historical trivia: In its early years, the Pace & Pace partnership ran schools that featured courses in accountancy and business law in a number of cities throughout the United States. 4,000 students were taking the Pace brother's courses in YMCAs in the New York-New Jersey area. The Pace Standardized Course in Accounting was also offered at YMCAs in Boston, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, Kansas City, St. Louis, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle. Eventually, concerned about quality control at distant locations, in the mid-1920s the Pace brothers divested themselves of their private schools outside New York in order to devote their full attention to the lower Manhattan school, eventually to become one of the campuses of Pace University.
- Pace Institute in Washington, D.C. later became Benjamin Franklin University (now part of The George Washington University). [8]
- Walsh College is the result of the Pace brothers extension schools in Michigan [9].
- Pace University Model UN Team in New York City and Westchester for decades have been recognized as one of the dominant forces at competitions across the globe. [10]
- Pace's Michael C. Koffler Professorship in autism is the first university endowment in autism in America.
- In 1998, the Rene Dubos Center for Human Environments donated a large portion of its environmental library and archives to the University. The collection consists of works by Microbiologist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author René Jules Dubos.
![[2]](http://appserv.pace.edu/execute/gallery/Comm2005/IMG_aerial1.jpg){kind=link}
![[6]](http://appserv.pace.edu/emplibrary/p29_Mortola_best.jpg){kind=link}
External Links
- Pace University
- Photos of the 2003 Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate held at Pace University
- Downtown Conference Center at Pace University
- Pace University DowntownNeeds: Committed to rebuilding Lower Manhattan.
- History of Pace University
- Pace Setter Athletics
- National Actors Theatre
- Inside the Actors Studio
- The Pace Press - New York City student newspaper
- The Paw Print - Westchester student newspaper
- Hearsay - The School of Law student newspaper
- WPUB Radio - New York City student radio station
- WRPW Radio - Westchester student radio station
- New York City Student Government Association