Introduction

Welcome to Southern Connecticut State University, a flourishing community of almost 11,000 students located less than three miles from downtown New Haven, near the artsy and historic Westville Village section of the city.

This Student Handbook, which complements the University Catalog, contains information about campus life. The handbook is provided to students and applicants for their general information and guidance only. It does not constitute a contract, either express or implied, and is subject to revision at the university’s discretion.

It is prepared and published by the Office of Student Affairs in cooperation with the Office of Integrated Communications and Marketing. Southern Connecticut State University reserves the right to change announcements, procedures, and regulations whenever necessary. The Student Handbook can also be found online at handbook.SouthernCT.edu.

SCSU History

Life began for Southern Connecticut State University on September 11, 1893, when three teachers and 84 students met at the old Skinner School in New Haven to create a two-year teacher training school, New Haven State Normal School. By 1937, Southern had grown into a four-year college with the power to grant bachelor’s degrees. Ten years later, Southern teamed up with Yale University's Department of Education to offer a master of science degree. In 1954, the State Board of Education authorized the institution — then known as New Haven State Teachers College — to assume complete responsibility for this graduate program. In 1959, six years after the institution had moved to its present location on Crescent Street, state legislation expanded Southern’s offerings to include liberal arts programs leading to bachelor’s degrees in the arts and sciences. At the same time, New Haven State Teachers College became Southern Connecticut State College.

For the next 24 years, Southern grew, modernized, and diversified, expanding its undergraduate and graduate programs and opening up entirely new fields of study and research. But March 1983 brought even greater changes: Southern Connecticut State College was rechristened Southern Connecticut State University, and made part of the Connecticut State University System (ConnSCU), along with Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, and Western Connecticut State University in Danbury.

Southern Today

Today’s Southern is a vibrant, culturally rich and ethnically diverse environment. In addition to its extensive academic offerings, Southern hosts lectures, workshops in literature and dance, art exhibits, performances by professional and student artists, conferences, and institutes on a variety of topics that enrich, instruct, and delight. Through offering courses on part-time, day and evening bases, Southern has been innovative in providing access to a high quality education to a wide

range of students. The campus clinics provide diagnosis and treatment of learning disabilities and speech, hearing, and reading problems. As a busy university with a strong identity and a rich history, Southern looks ahead to a future as varied, dynamic, responsive, and responsible as its past.

Top: The library and reading room at Southern’s original campus on Howe Street in New Haven, circa 1923. Bottom: A study area in the renovated Buley library.

Top: Founder’s Gate, next to the Lyman Center, displays the letters of the former New Haven State Teacher’s College. Bottom: The Michael J. Adanti Student Center, at the center of the Southern campus.