Plattsburgh Normal School

State University of New York College at Plattsburgh

Former names	Plattsburgh State Normal and Training School
Motto	A Superbus Preteritus, A Validus Posterus A Proud Past, A Strong Future
Type	Public
Established	1889
Endowment	$14.1 million
President	A. John Ettling
Provost	James Liszka
Academic staff	291 (full-time), 194 (part-time)
Administrative staff	270
Students	6214
Undergraduates	5567 ft
Postgraduates	650
Location	Plattsburgh, NY, US
Campus	Small town, 300 acres (1 km²) maintained
Colors	Red and White
Athletics	NCAA Division III, SUNYAC, ECAC 19 varsity teams
Nickname	Cardinals
Mascot	Burghy
Affiliations	SUNY, MSA, AASCU
Website	www.plattsburgh.edu

The State University of New York College at Plattsburgh, also known as SUNY Plattsburgh or Plattsburgh State College is a four-year, public liberal arts college in Plattsburgh, New York, United States. The college was founded in 1889 and opened in 1890. The college is part of the State University of New York system and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The school is also a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. SUNY Plattsburgh has 6,350 students, of whom 5,822 are undergraduates.

Former state politician and influential Plattsburgh businessman Smith M. Weed championed endlessly the cause to build a state normal school (a teachers' college) in the city of Plattsburgh. After multiple proposals to the New York state senate going as far back as 1869, The final bill was formally proposed on January 12, 1888 by George S. Weed, Smith Weed's son and then state assemblyman. With the strong backing of Assemblyman General Stephen Moffitt, the Plattsburgh Normal and Training School bill was passed by both houses of the New York State Legislature and signed into law by Governor David B. Hill in June 1889. The board of directors adopted official by-laws for Plattsburgh State Normal and Training School on September 2, 1889.

At a meeting held on June 28, 1889, it was decided the new normal school would be on land known as "the former athletic grounds", bounded on the north by Court Street, on the east by Wells Street, on the south by Brinkerhoff Street, and on the west by Beekman Street. However, these plans were dropped in favor of a larger plot created by combining land on each side of Court Street west of Beekman Street, so that "Court Street, one of the finest residence streets in the village, leads directly to the main entrance". This is the same location where Hawkins Hall now stands on the current campus of SUNY Plattsburgh.^{modern map}