Founding
Borough of Manhattan Community College was founded in 1963 and opened in 1964 as a small, primarily business-oriented community college offering programs aimed at the business community.
Originally located in two floors of a commercial building in midtown Manhattan, the college focused on preparing students for business careers and on providing a liberal arts education to students who wished to transfer to four-year colleges. The college also created on-site training and management development courses for mid-level employees. BMCC continuously modified its in-house and on-site programs.
Growth
During the next two decades, the mission of the college changed in response to the advent of open admissions in the City University of New York in 1970, and later in response to the emergence of new technologies and changes in business and industry. By 1974, enrollment had increased to over 6,000 day and evening students.
Main campus
A new building spanning four city blocks – from Chambers Street to North Moore Street –was constructed in lower Manhattan to serve as the school’s main campus. It opened in January 1983. BMCC is now the largest college in the City University of New York system, with more than 20,000 students, and is the first community college in Manhattan.
Fiterman Hall
Donated to the College in September 1993 as the largest single donation ever made to a community college, the building was severely damaged in the aftermath of the World Trade Center tragedy. BMCC launched the 2012-2013 academic year with the opening of the rebuilt Miles and Shirley Fiterman Hall.
70 Murray Street
The college currently occupies space on the 2nd, 10th, 11th and 14th floors of 70 Murray Street, and offers a variety of classes and support programs including CUNY’s Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP), College Now, Learning Academy and Year Up. In addition, BMCC Express is located on the street level of the 70 Murray Street building, to welcome students and the general public who wish to obtain information about the college.
