Post University is a private for-profit university in Waterbury, Connecticut. It was founded in 1890 as Post College. From 1990 to 2004 it was affiliated with Teikyo University in Tokyo, Japan and during that time it was named Teikyo Post University. The university offers over 25 undergraduate and graduate programs in day, evening, and online courses with most of its students participating exclusively online. It has satellite centers in Meriden, Danbury, and Wallingford.
History
Post University was founded in 1890 as Matoon Shorthand School. The school offered training in typing, bookkeeping, business writing, and other courses. In 1897, Harry C. Post acquired the school and renamed the school Waterbury Business College, where he became the college's first principal. The school again changed its name in 1931 to Post College, where it would keep its namesake until 1990.
Post College saw continued growth to its campus and program offerings. In 1965, the school moved to its current location on Country Club Road in Waterbury, Connecticut. Harold B. Leever was named chair of the board of trustees. The Leever Student Center is named in his honor. The school expanded again by adding the Traurig Library in honor of Rose Traurig. In 1970, the school opened its first off-campus site in Meriden, Connecticut.
In 1976, Post College became a four-year institution and began offering accelerated degree programs aimed at helping Vietnam veterans earn college degrees. In 1980, the college began offering baccalaureate degrees, and a few years later acquired its athletic facilities to support men's and women's varsity sports.
In the 1990s, the school became affiliated with Teikyo University and changed its name to Teikyo Post University. The school had an influx of international students and new online programs.
In 2004, the school changed to a new board of trustees and became Post University. The school expanded its liberal arts programs and graduate-level courses. In 2007, Post offered Connecticut's first fully online Master of Business Administration degree program. In 2012, the business school was renamed to Malcolm Baldrige School of Business, after former United States Secretary of Commerce Malcolm Baldrige, Jr.
In 2021, Post University announced its intentions to acquire American Sentinel University, a for-profit college with 1400 undergraduate students and 1300 graduate students. The school will become American Sentinel College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Post University.
Campus
Post University sits on a campus located near Interstate 84 (Yankee Expressway) in Waterbury, Connecticut.
Post Tree
The Post Tree is a Camperdown elm (Ulmus Camperdownii) that once served as the backdrop for the university's logo. The tree measures 13 feet in height with an average spread of 28 feet. The trunk's circumference is 110 inches. The Post Tree is over a half century old, in 2014 it was added to the list of Connecticut's Notable Trees, and has become part of Connecticut's natural historic record. The elm has been used for student events and as a place to take photos.
Residence halls
There are six student residence halls on campus. West Hall houses approximately 100 first-year students and was renovated in 2011. Middle Hall houses approximately 44 first-year students. Paparazzo Hall houses 44 first-year students and was renovated in 2013. South Hall houses approximately 60 upperclassmen students and was renovated in 2012. East Hall houses approximately 60 upperclassmen students. Okinaga Hall is the newest constructed apartment-style residence hall for upperclassmen.
Torrance Hall
Torrance Hall houses main campus admissions and the president's office. It was the former home to Walter Torrance and family and was renovated in 1965 after a fire destroyed the back of the building.
Traurig Library
The Traurig Library has one floor and stores over 13,000 books and media, as well as a boardroom for meetings, and the office for academic affairs.
Campus Halls
Hess Hall features classrooms, the registrar, the financial aid office, human resources, and IT. North hall houses Career Services, the Communications Office, Associate Faculty lounge, Commuter Student Lounge, and the Photography Lab. MacDermid Hall has chemistry and biology labs and classrooms, and the university's largest lecture hall. The art department facilities are also found here, including two studio spaces and a ceramics kiln. The Leever Student Center has the Campus Store, Eagle's Nest – common area for special events and club meetings, the dining hall, cyber café, and Counseling Center.