The Alumni Association of The City College of New York can trace its origin to the first graduating class. On July 26, 1853, members of the class, meeting in the chapel of the original building on 23rd Street, formed the Associate Alumni of The Free Academy. On April 30, 1866, The Free Academy became The College of the City of New York (hence the initials CCNY), and the name of the Associate Alumni changed accordingly. In those early days the organization was mainly a social group with interests centered on the affairs of the College.

On March 7, 1913 the Association was incorporated in the State of New York as the Associate Alumni of the College of the City of New York, Inc. In the 1950s the Associate Alumni became the Alumni Association, and special interest, or affiliate groups were formed to better serve the particular concerns of our graduates. Today we have 15 affiliate groups: ALUMNI VARSITY ASSOCIATION, BLACK ALUMNI GROUP, CENTER FOR WORKER EDUCATION ALUMNI, ASIAN ALUMNI GROUP, POLITICAL SCIENCE ALUMNI GROUP, SCIENCE ALUMNI GROUP, LATINO ALUMNI GROUP, EDUCATION ALUMNI GROUP, ART ALUMNI GROUP, ENGINEER SCHOOL ALUMNI SOCIETY (ESA), BUSINESS & ECONOMICS ALUMNI SOCIETY, ARCHITECTURE ALUMNI GROUP, YOUNG PROFESSIONAL ALUMNI, ROTC Alumni, ROTC ALUMNI GROUP, and COMMUNICATION ALUMNI GROUP. As Alumni began to spread across the United States, regional chapters were formed. We currently have 10 active chapters: Northern California, Southern California, Connecticut, Palm Beach/South Florida, Florida Gulf Coast, Chicago, Las Vegas, Northern New Jersey, Houston, and Washington D.C.

The Alumni Association is an independent organization with its own officers and Board of Directors. Its current offices are located on the first floor of Shepard Hall (Suite 162), off Lincoln Corridor.

RESPICE, ADSPICE, PROSPICE

Looking at the seal of the College, you may note its motto: “Respice, Adpice, Prospice.” Those words not only apply to the College, but to the Alumni Association as well: “examine the past, the present and future.” For many, The Alumni Association of CCNY is their link to the past. But we are also the foundation for the future. We believe this connection between past, present and future is the basis for CCNY’s continued success. By providing an opportunity for alumni to reminisce, volunteer, connect with current students and each other, donate and pay-it-forward, we are ensuring that the cycle continues -- that a new generation of hard-working, grateful City College graduates will go out into New York City, the nation and the world, and change it for the better.