Latin: Universitas Gallaudetensis | |
Former names
|
Columbia Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and the Blind Columbia Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf Gallaudet College |
---|---|
Motto | Ephphatha (Aramaic) |
Motto in English
|
Be opened |
Type |
Private Congressionally chartered |
Established | April 8, 1864 |
Endowment | $136.4 million |
President | Roberta Cordano |
Administrative staff
|
293 |
Undergraduates | 1,874 |
Postgraduates | 466 |
Location |
Washington, D.C., United States |
Campus | Urban, 99 acres (0.40 km2) |
Colors | Buff and Blue |
Athletics | NCAA Division III – NEAC, ECFC |
Nickname | Bison |
Mascot | Bison |
Affiliations | NAICU |
Website | www |
Gallaudet University/ˌɡæləˈdɛt/ is a federally-chartered private university for the education of the Deaf and hard of hearing located in Washington, D.C., on a 99 acres (0.40 km2) campus.
Founded in 1864, Gallaudet University was originally a grammar school for both deaf and blind children. It was the first school for the advanced education of the deaf and hard of hearing in the world and remains the only higher education institution in which all programs and services are specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students. Hearing students are admitted to the graduate school and a small number are also admitted as undergraduates each year. The university was named after Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, a notable figure in the advancement of deaf education, who was hard of hearing.
Gallaudet University is officially bilingual, with American Sign Language (commonly abbreviated ASL) and English used for instruction and by the college community. Although there are no specific ASL proficiency requirements for undergraduate admission, many graduate programs require varying degrees of knowledge of the language as a prerequisite.
In 1856, philanthropist and former United States Postmaster General Amos Kendall became aware of several deaf and blind children in Washington, D.C., who were not receiving proper care. Kendall had the courts declare the children to be his wards and donated 2 acres (8,100 m2) of his land to establish housing and a school for them.Edward Miner Gallaudet was the first superintendent of the new school. Later, John Carlin suggested placing a monument of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet with Alice Cogswell.