About Keene State College

 

 

On April 9, 1909, legislation was signed creating Keene Normal School, and the School opened on September 28, 1909 with 27 students.   In 1926, the New Hampshire Legislature granted the school authority to award the bachelor of education degree.  The curricula expanded into four-year programs by 1939, when the institution was officially named Keene Teachers College. Graduate studies were introduced following World War II and, by 1951, graduate offerings warranted the granting of the master of education degree. In 1963, the College was re-named Keene State College and became part of the University System of New Hampshire. The College was then authorized to develop curricula in the liberal arts and sciences, leading to Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees.

 

The Keene State College campus is located on Main Street in Keene, NH (population 25,000), and a small New England city chartered in 1753. Keene is surrounded by hills arising from the Connecticut River, while Mount Monadnock overlooks the city from 18 miles to the southeast. From its original 20 acres, the campus has expanded to 150 acres, with 70 buildings of traditional and contemporary architecture. Three of the buildings are registered as National Historic Landmarks.

 

Keene State College, New Hampshire’s foremost public liberal-arts college, currently enrolls 5,100 full- and part-time students and offers nearly 40 majors in the liberal arts and sciences, professional programs, and selected graduate degrees. Keene State draws on strong academic programs, faculty scholars, and a tradition of small classes and spirited inquiry. The College’s commitment to academic excellence is founded on integrative learning for all students. Rich and varied co-curricular experiences move the classroom into the community and the world, making the College motto, “Enter to learn, go forth to serve,” a touchstone in the lives of students and alumni.