Welcome to New Paltz

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Welcome to SUNY New Paltz!

Tour stop audio transcript

Welcome to the State University of New York at New Paltz. My name is Thonel, and I'll be your tour guide. SUNY New Paltz is located in New York's beautiful Hudson Valley – halfway between the state capital of Albany and New York City. It's an outstanding location for cultural activities, intellectual offerings and outdoor recreation. Before we begin, let's go over the ways you can explore our campus. To start your tour, click on the front-facing arrow. You can jump to the next location by clicking on the "next stop" button, or feel free to use the campus map or the drop-down menu above to skip ahead. For a closer look at any tour stop, click on the 360s, Photos or Videos icons above. Let's get started.

Student Union & Atrium

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Let's begin at the Student Union. It is the beating heart of college life at New Paltz, starting with the Atrium. In this award-winning, ecofriendly 15,000-square foot glass-enclosed space, students can regularly be seen socializing, eating, studying, or using the computers. Beyond the Atrium, the Student Union houses student club offices, a gaming area with pool tables and air hockey, two food courts offering an array of culinary options from hamburgers and sushi to vegan dishes and paninis, along with several meeting rooms and multipurpose lounges where more than 5,000 events take place each year. The Student Union also contains the Bookstore @ New Paltz, where you can stock up on textbooks and New Paltz gear.

Haggerty Administration Building

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Named for former college president William J. Haggerty, this building is home to the campus Welcome Center, which can be found in the first-floor lobby. Staffed by a group of friendly students, the Welcome Center is a central location for campus visitors to grab some coffee and learn about the college's academic, cultural, and athletic offerings, as well as get information on local attractions from the New Paltz Area Chamber of Commerce. Along with the Welcome Center, there are eight more floors of bustling office space where the college's administrative and financial business is carried out, from alumni relations, the Benjamin Center, enrollment management, and the President's Office. The Educational Opportunity Program and a full-service credit union is located in the lower level.

Hopfer Undergraduate Admission Ctr.

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The Hopfer Undergraduate Admission Center, is home to the office of Undergraduate Admission. This is where the journey begins for a New Paltz student. More than 12,000 visitors pass through these doors each year to discover what our college has to offer. The building was constructed in 1911 and renovated in 1994 after a generous gift from New Paltz class of 1919 alumna Dorothea Hopfer, whose portrait hangs on the center's wall in her honor. Don't forget to check out the stately grandfather clock and rich woodwork, which all add to Hopfer's charm as a warm, welcoming place for visitors and students.

Peregrine Dining Hall

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In the center of the Peregrine Complex is Peregrine Dining Hall, the largest dining facility on the New Paltz campus. On the upper level, students can choose from a variety of cuisines to satisfy their appetites. Vegan, Vegetarian and Gluten Free options are served in addition to Pizza, Salad Bar, Burrito Bar, Deli Sandwiches, Grilled Foods and Cooked-To-Order Specials. The Main Office of Campus Auxiliary Services is located on the lower level of Peregrine, as well as a student computer lab. Also on the lower level; "Sweets and Treats" offers up gourmet coffee as well as fresh bakery items from our campus bakery.

Peregrine Residential Complex

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In the Peregrine Residential Complex, students enjoy the comforts of suite-style housing in Awosting, Minnewaska, Mohonk, Shawangunk and Ashokan halls. Each suite contains multiple double-occupancy bedrooms with a small lounge area and bathroom. It's not uncommon for students to transform the lounge areas into personalized "living rooms" decorating them with plants, posters, rugs and furniture. Shawangunk Hall hosts a living-learning community for new transfer students to the college.

Samuel Dorsky Museum

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The Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art located in the Smiley Art Building, is one of the region's premiere art museums and one of the largest museums in the SUNY system. With over 9,000 square feet of exhibition space distributed over six galleries, the Dorsky hosts countless faculty and student art shows as well as curated shows from across the country. Its permanent collection of more than 5,000 pieces includes American art, with an emphasis on the Hudson Valley and Catskill regions, as well as a small collection of art and artifacts dating back to ancient times. The museum is named in honor of Samuel Dorsky, a renowned philanthropist, arts enthusiast and esteemed friend of New Paltz.

Sojourner Truth Library

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Named after the well-known abolitionist and civil rights activist born here in Ulster County, the Sojourner Truth Library plays a critical role in supporting and advancing the learning environment for students, faculty and the community. The 2016 renovation includes a dozen multi-function rooms for classes, study sessions or meetings. Visitors to the library have access to an extensive library collection as well as online access to tens of thousands of journals, magazines, newspapers, e-books, and online reference tools. Along with the new individual workspaces; increased natural light and mountain view; there is also the "Truth Café" where visitors can get a quick bite to eat during study sessions.

Resnick Engineering Building

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If you're thinking of majoring in mechanical, electrical or computer engineering, you'll be spending a lot of time at our next tour stop. The Resnick Engineering Building houses a slew of laboratories, faculty offices and classrooms. At Resnik, you'll find a digital signal processing lab, microwave lab, control lab, communication lab, antenna lab, and a center for high-powered computation. The School of Engineering also sponsors a series of lectures on topics of scientific interest in the Mario Cuomo Colloquium Room where recognized scholars from around the country give talks and make themselves available to meet students during their visits.

The Engineering Innovation Hub

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The Engineering Innovation Hub serves as the new home of the Hudson Valley Additive Manufacturing Center, where students, faculty and businesses can get expert advice on 3D printing and digital design. The state-of-the-art building, which opened in 2019, also houses our popular, fast-growing bachelor's degree program in mechanical engineering. The Engineering Innovation Hub features multiple teaching labs, a computer lab, conference rooms, faculty offices, open collaborative spaces and lounge areas equipped with comfortable furniture and device charging stations.

Parker Residential Complex

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Here we are in front of Gage Hall, one of the six residence halls which comprise the Parker Residential Complex with Bouton , Bliss, Capen [Kay-pin], Gage and Scudder, as well as College-Shango. Each is a traditional corridor-style hall with single-sex bathrooms. Rooms are adjacent to each other and share common hallways, and each room is equipped for TV, internet and cable. Students in the Sustainability Living Learning Community live in Scudder Hall

College Hall

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College Hall was originally built as the first residence hall, dining hall and student union complex. Now, it houses the offices, practice studios and clinics of the college's music and music therapy programs. It's also home to the Max and Nadia Sheppard Recital Hall, a 200-seat performance venue. The north and south wings of the building, known as College and Shango, serve as residence halls for 100 students each, and are the closest residence halls to downtown New Paltz. In Shango, you'll find the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Educational Center, the Scholar's Mentorship Program, the Honors Center, and the Teaching and Learning Center.

Old Library

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As its name implies, Old Library was the original, free-standing library on the New Paltz campus. Today, the building houses the facilities and labs for the photography and graphic design programs. There are modern digital Photography and graphic design studios upstairs and a traditional dark room and processing lab downstairs. The Old Library also house Mac Labs, seminar rooms, equipment rooms and a book bindery.

Old Main Building

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We've arrived at the oldest building on campus. Old Main was constructed in 1908 and at that time it housed the entire college. Today, it is the home of the School of Education, one of the flagship majors of New Paltz. The building underwent significant renovation in 2011, making it one of the most modern – and greenest – buildings on campus, with "smart" classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art technologies. The Julien J. Studley Theatre, built as an addition to Old Main in 1919, seats up to 760 people hosts numerous theatrical events, music performances and guest speakers.

Lenape Hall

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The South Residential Complex, where you'll find one of our newest residence building, Lenape [Len-ah-pea] Hall. Named in honor of the Native American heritage of the region, Lenape features either suite style or designed triple rooms. Either style includes a private bathroom, study and recreation lounges, computers, fitness center, laundry facilities and air conditioning. Rivera House, the Honors program and 7-Year Medical programs all have specially designated residential areas in this hall.

van den Berg Hall

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van den Berg Hall is home to the college's School of Business. Its signature clock tower can be heard chiming throughout the day. The van den Berg Annex, connected behind the building, houses the college's Institute for International Business as well as the English as a Second Language program. van den Berg is here on the eastern edge of campus, just a five-minute walk from the shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues of downtown New Paltz.

Village of New Paltz

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The Village of New Paltz has been a college town for over 150 years. It is renowned for its unique shops and dynamic restaurants, and is a thoroughfare to great hiking and rock climbing sites. New Paltz is accessible by the New York State Thruway I87, Exit 18, and there is frequent bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City.

Athletic & Wellness Center

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The Elting Gymnasium and Athletic and Wellness Center, home of the New Paltz Hawks, is a haven for our NCAA Division III athletes – and for all students who make use of these impressive facilities. The gymnasium contains a 12, 500-square foot basketball and volleyball arena, four racquetball courts, a dance studio, an athletic training room, and a six-lane, 25-yard swimming pool. Connected to Elting, the Athletic and Wellness Center offers state-of-the-art exercise opportunities, including an indoor track, a cardiovascular wellness center, and weight training. The Alumni Gym is home to varsity volleyball and basketball and seats up to 1,800 spectators.

Wooster Building

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We've arrived at Wooster Hall. Originally a science building, it underwent a major renovation in 2016. It was transformed into a modern, multipurpose facility that houses student services such as academic advising, student accounts, financial aid, and the registrar's office. Additionally, it includes faculty offices, seminar and meeting rooms and Element 93, the bistro café.

Humanities Building

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Here we are at the Humanities building, the primary classroom building on the New Paltz campus. Humanities contains several computer and geography labs, as well as the Department of Communication Disorders' Speech-Language and Hearing Center. Take a look at the 60-foot long, 17-foot high mosaic mural on the building's east side, installed by art professor and Guggeinheim Award winner Rimer Cardillo, which took him and his students five years to complete.

Lecture Center

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The Lecture Center features small and mid-sized lecture halls and classrooms. All are equipped for advanced audio-visual instruction, including eight SmartClassrooms, which have interactive whiteboards, ceiling-mounted projectors and sound systems. The lower level houses production studios for the communication and media program, as well as offices and studios for Instructional Media Services. Also on the lower level is the state-of-the-art Language Learning Center, complete with a multimedia language lab that's equipped with audio and video software designed for self-paced foreign language instruction.

Esopus Hall

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Esopus Hall houses 235 students, many who participate in one of four a living-learning communities for incoming freshmen. These include Service Learning, Leadership, Health and Wellness, and Career Exploration living-learning programs. Like Lenape, Esopus is also named in honor of the Hudson Valley's Native American heritage. Some of Esopus' features include air conditioning, a fitness and exercise room, a lounge, and a computer lab.

Coykendall Science Building

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In the Coykendall Science Building, future journalists and video producers utilize modern electronic media labs, while stargazers may find themselves in the John R. Kirk Planetarium, which is used for astronomy courses offered by the physics department as well as public shows. You'll find the offices and facilities of the biology, chemistry and communication and media departments, as well as laboratories and seminar rooms.

Fine Arts Building

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Sculpture, ceramics, woodworking, metals and printmaking majors abound in the Fine Arts Building, which contains classrooms and studios fully equipped for the most comprehensive arts education a student could ask for. Each major has its own dedicated studios with individual critique rooms and communal space. Check out exhibitions of student work in the large atrium at the building's entrance six months out of the year.

Smiley Art Building

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The Smiley Art Building is home to the studios and classrooms of the visual arts education and art history programs. On the Second floor of Smiley, you'll find an environment of endless discovery and creativity, as New Paltz students take to the studios to paint, draw and engage in all types of artistic endeavors. It also houses the Hudson Valley Advanced Manufacturing Center, which provides expertise and instruction on the 3D printing process. Our collection of 3D printers are available for the campus and wider community to print on. This center will be relocated to a new state of the art building during the 2019 academic year.

College Theater

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College Theatre is home to the offices and studios of the departments of theatre arts and art history. In this building, you'll also find McKenna Theater, named for beloved former professor Rebecca McKenna, who is considered to be the creator of the college's modern theatre arts program. The 375-seat venue serves as the college's main teaching and performance theater.

Science Hall

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This LEED Gold certified, 77,000 square foot building houses the departments of computer science, geology, geography, mathematics, and physics and astronomy. It features state of the art research labs, lecture halls and collaborative spaces to enhance student-faculty interactions and interdisciplinary teaching.

Ridgeview Residence Hall

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This 225 bed residence hall, which is LEED Silver certified, offers spectacular views of the Shawangunk Ridge. It features residential wings organized in clusters of four double bedrooms around two private bathrooms. There is a main lounge, kitchen, study rooms, laundry, and a seminar room. Ridgeview also features "The Roost", a New York City style sit down deli.

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