Alumni, Family and Friends
Every Sept. 12, Southern New Hampshire University celebrates its founding with Founders Day. Founded in 1932 as the New Hampshire Accounting and Secretarial School, it’s safe to say that the university has come a long way. With thousands of alumni across the globe, SNHU has a history of inspiring students to use what they’ve learned to make a difference no matter where they come from. Throughout the years, SNHU has remained committed to the university mission: to provide affordable and accessible education to a wide range of individuals. This begs the questions: where did SNHU’s mission originate? How was SNHU founded, and what contributed to its astounding growth over the last century?
Let’s travel back in time and explore some of SNHU’s greatest moments throughout the decades!
In 1932, Harry Alfred Benjamin Shapiro founded the New Hampshire Accounting and Secretarial School alongside Joseph Francis Moran, an experienced accountant who helped Shapiro establish the school, but left the partnership early on. This school resided in a small storefront in downtown Manchester, and focused on educating students in bookkeeping, accounting, and secretarial courses. Shapiro’s philosophy behind the founding of the school was to not only provide training in marketable accounting skills, but to help accountants understand the theory behind the daily tasks they carried out at their jobs. Above all, Shapiro was a passionate advocate for critical thinking, which was heavily reflected in his contributions to the school.
Harry Alfred Benjamin Shapiro, co-founder and Headmaster of the New Hampshire Accounting and Secretarial School - Southern New Hampshire University Archives
The first class to graduate from the school (which was renamed to the New Hampshire School of Accounting and Finance by 1934) consisted of 13 students in 1937. All 13 students were employed soon after graduation, with the majority entering jobs relevant to their career training.
With the threat of World War II looming over the U.S., troops were moved to Manchester in the early 1940’s. Soon after, 25 men stationed at the Manchester Air Base were enrolled at NHSAF. The school taught these soldiers business skills that would prepare them for clerk duties within the Army, as well as job opportunities for later in life. Classes were held during the day, while military training was scheduled for the evening. Because these classes were paid for by the government, these soldiers were able to receive an education that they otherwise may not have been able to afford. Since then, the school has provided opportunities for active service members and veterans; this includes course offerings specifically designed to supplement military training.
Students from the Manchester Air Base enrolled in a special program to qualify them as army clerks – Southern New Hampshire University Archives
Harry A. B. Shapiro passed away in 1952 at the age of 48 after succumbing to a chronic heart condition. As he grew increasingly ill over the years, his wife, Gertrude Shapiro, took on a multitude of responsibilities at the college. This included answering phone calls, collecting payments from students, and general bookkeeping duties. After Harry’s death, Gertrude became the sole proprietor and President of the school, taking it upon herself to keep its doors open - despite financial hardship - in honor of her late husband’s mission. Despite receiving a buyout offer from a rival college, Gertrude refused to take the easy way out. Instead, she kept the struggling school alive, replying to the rival school’s representative that “it won’t be yours today.” In the midst of these events, the school was once again renamed, this time to the New Hampshire School of Accounting and Commerce.
Notice posted in the September 15, 1953 issue of the Union Leader publicly declaring the intention of the school to continue operating - Southern New Hampshire University Archives
In 1960, Gertrude Shapiro, with the help of her children Edward and Ann Shapiro, incorporated the New Hampshire School of Accounting and Commerce to improve the school’s stability. A Board of Directors was established, with William S. Green joining the team as the school’s official Clerk. In the late 60’s, the school was officially accredited, converted to a nonprofit institution, and eventually renamed to New Hampshire College in 1969.
First Board of Trustees – Southern New Hampshire University Archives
Enrollment at New Hampshire College increased nearly ten-fold during the 60’s. In 1971, New Hampshire College relocated from its downtown location to the current 300-acre SNHU campus along the Merrimack River to accommodate the surge of enrollments.
North River Road Campus, 1972 – Southern New Hampshire University Archives
Richard A. Gustafson was named as the next President of New Hampshire College in 1987. In the early days of Dr. Gustafson’s presidency, numerous changes at NHC were already underway: the Honors Program was extended to all majors, having previously been exclusive to the Mathematics and English programs; a revised core curriculum that required more writing and liberal arts courses for all programs was enacted; and the usage of more modern equipment in the classroom was encouraged through the school’s investment in computers and televisions.
With the rapid growth of Internet-based technologies emerging in the 90’s, New Hampshire College saw an opportunity to make higher education more accessible than ever. It launched a pilot version of the Distance Education Program – what would become known as SNHU Online – in 1995. The success of this program resulted in another wave of enrollments, which further contributed to the school’s growth and allowed it to expand its selection of degree programs. This includes the introduction of the school’s first two doctoral programs, International Business and Community Economic Development, in 1999.
New Hampshire College was officially renamed Southern New Hampshire University and was awarded university status in 2001. This coincides with the addition of new academic facilities, residence halls, and degree programs. Dr. Paul LeBlanc, the current president of SNHU, was inaugurated in 2003.
Paul LeBlanc, President of Southern New Hampshire University
In 2013, SNHU founded College for America (CfA), with a focus to provide working adults with a non-traditional learning experience. CfA students were set to achieve various competencies based on professional skills that were achieved through self-paced projects. It was designed to be accessible to those looking to further develop their professional skills no matter where they are in their career. About 2,000 students earned degrees through College for America within the first 5 years of the program's inception.
The mid-to-late 2010’s were a busy time for SNHU. The Global Education Movement (GEM) was formalized to make higher education more accessible to refugees; the first annual Global Days of Service – a two-month-long community service event where students, alumni, faculty and staff come together to volunteer in their communities – was held; and the School of Engineering, Technology, and Aeronautics (SETA), formerly the College of Engineering, Technology, and Aeronautics, was established to prepare students for STEM-related industry jobs.
The outside of SNHU’s CETA building – Nick Klotz, Penmen Press
The North Star initiative consists of university-wide, "big-picture" projects that moves SNHU toward the goal of transforming lives at a scale. These projects are:
SNHU also remains devoted to the 5 major commitments outlined in the 2018-2023 Strategic Plan publication.
In short, SNHU has been working toward adjusting its strategies and practices to better prepare for the changing world of education. “The Learner of 2030,” as deemed by the publication, will be vastly different from learners today. Job opportunities will also change drastically; for example, careers in robotics will be much more prevalent. Therefore, SNHU plans to continue adapting its programs to suit the technological, social, and welfare needs of future learners, while staying true to its mission to provide quality support and a wide range of opportunities to students.
Throughout its history, Southern New Hampshire University has remained loyal to its promise to put students first. The university has always kept a strong focus on the learning experience, with innovation and willingness to adjust to the needs of the present learner driving the school’s success. I believe I speak for everyone at SNHU when I say that we are hopeful for the future generations of SNHU learners and what they will accomplish, no matter what capacity learning takes in the future.
We hope that you’ve learned something new about SNHU! What would you consider to be the greatest moment in the university’s history? Be sure to follow our Alumni Engagement social media accounts and share your favorite college memories to celebrate Southern New Hampshire University’s anniversary!
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