The University System of New Hampshire is the largest provider of post secondary education in the Granite State. With almost 30,000 enrolled students and 70,000 alumni living in state, the sister institutions of the University System - the University of New Hampshire, Plymouth State University, Keene State College, and Granite State College - have a direct impact on hundreds of thousands of New Hampshire citizens every year.

In concert with our commitment to teaching, our community outreach and service programs expand knowledge and have a positive impact on the state, and our research efforts add insight and understanding to subjects as varied as air quality, economic development, family health, teacher training, and ocean mapping.

Governance

As a public college and university system, our work is conducted on behalf of the people of New Hampshire. Here you'll find information about the University System's Board of Trustees news and events, meetings, and the work of the Chancellor's Office.

History

Prior to 1963, a "system" of public higher education did not exist in New Hampshire. The State University in Durham was governed by its own Board of Trustees and the two Teachers' Colleges at Plymouth and Keene fell under the jurisdiction of the State Board of Education. The "University System of New Hampshire" grew out of deliberations of the 1963 State Legislature, which acted upon the recommendations of an Interim Commission on Higher Education. Governor Wesley Powell appointed the commission in 1961 and charged them with developing a plan that would enable New Hampshire's institutions of public higher education to better cope with the anticipated explosion in student enrollment.

In 1963 the Commission presented an "Act Relative to the Reorganization of Public Higher Education in New Hampshire" to the New Hampshire General Court. The legislation that followed made subtle, but significant changes, in the wording of the existing state laws:

• Keene and Plymouth Teachers' Colleges were removed from the supervision of the State Board of Education.
• The teachers' colleges were renamed "state colleges," and placed under the jurisdiction of the Board of Trustees of the University of New Hampshire.
• The legislation specified that the state colleges would become divisions of the University.
• Expanded from 13 to 22 the number of members of the Board of Trustees. In future years the Board would grow to its current 27-member body.

Prior to this legislation, the two teachers' colleges had functioned as state agencies. Their faculty and staff were state employees who conformed to the State's personnel program. The University, on the other hand, had been chartered by the Legislature in 1866 as a "body corporate and politic." Under the broad powers granted to their trustees, UNH had evolved its own personnel, purchasing, design and construction, financial-record keeping, and other administrative and support systems independent of the state. The 1963 legislation instructed the Trustees to extend these "resources" to the colleges.

The "university system" that came into being in 1963 was the smallest—in terms of institutions, finances, personnel, students, and etc.—of the dozen or more public higher education systems then in existence in the United States.

The Board then moved quickly to designate the UNH president as "first-among-equals" and assigned the responsibility for leading and overseeing the efforts to merge and coordinate the activities of the three institutions. In 1972 the system grew further when the School of Continuing Studies (now the College for Lifelong Learning) was established by the Trustees to serve adult education needs throughout the state.

The 1960's had seen tremendous growth and development at each of the institutions and the campuses exploded with the growth in numbers of students, academic programs, student services, and ongoing construction of new buildings and facilities.

With a growing concern over the steadily increasing amount of time that senior UNH officers had to devote to their growing "system" responsibilities, the Trustees voted to physically separate the University System staff from the University staff. In the summer of 1974, the newly designated USNH staff officers and their support personnel moved five miles west of Durham to facilities that would later become known as the Dunlap Center and the Myers Financial Center.

When Dr. Thomas Bonner resigned the presidency of UNH in spring 1974, the Trustees recast the description for the next president removing the responsibility for system-wide leadership.

Simultaneously, the Trustees introduced legislation in the General Court to establish a new position of Chancellor of the University System. The legislation was speedily approved and took effect on July 1, 1974. The Chancellor would function as "chief executive and chief academic officer" for the System, and the campus presidents would "report to the Board of Trustees through the Chancellor." This marked the first clear delineation of the System leaders' authority. Since 1975 five chancellors have served the University System of New Hampshire. Each has had a positive impact on public higher education.

Dr. Bruce Poulton (1975-1983)

• The extension studies center in Manchester was elevated to status as a commuter-student institution providing two-year degree programs. The UNH Merrimack Valley Branch became Merrimack Valley College, a free-standing institution-like the School for Continuing Studies.
• The School for Continuing Studies became the School for Lifelong Learning—in 1981 SLL received formal accreditation of their degree programs.
• Strong efforts were made to achieve better academic programming coordination and cooperation among the campuses.

Dr. Kasper Marking (1983-1986)

• The development of system-wide energy conservation action plans and a study of potential opportunities for introducing technological innovations in the educational programs of USNH institutions.
• First Bachelor of Professional Studies Degree awarded at SLL
• Merrimack Valley College was renamed UNH at Manchester and reverted to the responsibility and control of UNH.

Dr. Claire Van Ummersen (1986-1992)

• The development of updated mission statements for each institution and strategic plans for each campus.
• The decentralization of selected administrative functions in the areas of personnel, purchasing, construction and financial control.
• The day-to-day management of the system-wide computer operations was moved to UNH.

Dr. William Farrell (1992-2000)

• USNH committed itself to meeting the library facility needs on all campuses, including major renovations and additions to meet long-term library needs.
• The School for Lifelong Learning changes to the College for Lifelong Learning and becomes a major provider of education for non-traditional students.
• Oversaw the development and facilitation of student transfers from the State's community technical colleges into four-year degree programs on the USNH campuses. The result has seen the development of written agreements between the two systems of public higher education.
• The foundation was laid for a capital appropriations plan that would ultimately enhance science and technology facilities and equipment, as well as provide expanded student-support facilities. The plan later became known as the "Knowledge Economy Education Plan."

Dr. Stephen Reno (2000-present)

• Gave impetus to the Knowledge Economy Education Plan, providing USNH with a capital appropriation of $100 million, funding an integrated, multi-year capital improvements plan-unprecedented in state history. Much of the strategy, advocacy work, and consensus building was accomplished during Dr. Reno's tenure.
• Worked with the Board to identify a set of strategic issues that will guide the work of the Trustees and the institutions: (1) Workforce and economic development; (2) Value to New Hampshire and operational effectiveness; and (3) Stronger collaborative between USNH and CCSNH.
• Plymouth State College becomes Plymouth State University.

Since 1963 the University System of New Hampshire has played a major role in assuring the health and vitality of our state. Today the University System serves almost 30,000 students and manages operating budgets of well over $500 million. Through its teaching, research and community service efforts, USNH institutions reach virtually every city and town in the New Hampshire.

Through the programs and services of the four institutions, USNH enhances the quality of life and strength of the economy by providing the knowledge base that helps individuals develop their full intellectual potential and acquire necessary skills.