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Monroe's Rich History

Through nearly seven decades of service and success, Monroe College remains true to its community of students, providing every opportunity for academic and career success. The ongoing focus is on the business world, related technology, and real-world education. This delivers an education designed not only with practical career applications in mind, but with the highly defined skills that are needed to adapt to the future and the challenges it will bring. The following are some milestones from the college's early years in the 1930's to today.

1933:

Monroe School of Business began operation under Mildred King at 1940 Boston Post Rd. in the West Farms section of the Bronx. Mrs. King, a woman and teacher, turned her lifelong dream to educate into reality. Her vision was born in the Bronx in the form of four tiny classroms with seven students, known as the "Monroe School of Business".

1936:

In 1936, a second pioneer, Harry Jerome, joined the school, bringing with him the same strong beliefs and commitment to education upon which Monroe was founded. Seven students soon became 145 and Monroe catapulted itself from a mere blueprint to an established success. At the time, tuition was just $5 for an evening session and $10 a week.

1946:

World War II came and went, leaving in its wake a mass of educationally-starved people, veterans and women desperate for the skills they would need to begin new jobs and find their niche in a post war society. There was a great demand for preparation in the emerging field of data processing, which was tied to the newly developed key punch machines. Monroe, as always, adapted the changing needs of its students.

1960:

The 1960's found Monroe charting significant annual growth and adapting with ease to the many swift changes that have gone down in the history books. More classrooms and offices were added in West Farms and an IBM Division was added at 1054 E. Tremont Ave. to teach new business machine skills.

1966:

In 1966, the first computer arrived, prefacing an increase in the school's size and the opening of the Fordham Campus in 1967. The original Boston Rd. campus closed in 1977, while 1978 found a new president in Stephen Jerome. The Monroe of the 30's was changing but only outwardly, and only for the better.

1983:

In 1983, Monroe celebrated its 50th anniversary, opening a branch campus in New Rochelle. The New Rochelle campus opened many new doors for the college as it offered a suburban campus in the heart of Westchester. The campus became the educational destination for residents of Westchester as well as the growing international student body at the college.

1996:

Through the early 1990's the college continued to expand. In 1996, Bronx Borough President, Fernando Ferrer, came to Monroe Hall to name the street officially, Monroe College Way.

1996:

In 1996, Monroe expanded King Hall at 2501 Jerome Avenue, the Bronx, linking it to an adjacent 80,000 square foot building which was originally constructed in 1933, the year in which Monroe was founded. Formerly a roller skating rink and then an elementary school, the building sets a precedent for the college as it houses a gym and cafeteria and centralizes many of the student services offices.

1998:

In 1998 Monroe developed and offered its first Distance Learning courses on the Internet. By 2001 this program grew to include 30 online courses with over 400 students registered. Also, growth of Monroe's traditional programs led to expansions at both the Bronx and New Rochelle campuses.

21st Century:

As the 21st Century arrived, Monroe was recognized as a national leader in providing a focused, career-oriented, quality education to its student body. The ever-changing aspects of the business world present constant challenges to the college and these are challenges Monroe has always been and always will be ready and willing to meet.