Maritime College at Fort Schuyler.

CURRENT FUNCTIONS. Originally established by the city of New York in 1875 as the New York Nautical School, the Maritime College is the oldest maritime training school in the country. The campus is located at Fort Schuyler, Bronx County. As a specialized college within the state university system, its four-year course (complete with summer training cruises) includes course work in both marine engineering (engineering officers) and marine transportation (deck officers).

Under the respective courses of study students major in marine or electrical engineering or naval architecture, leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering; or in marine transportation, meteorology and oceanography, or computer science, leading to a bachelor of science degree. A master's degree in marine transportaion management is also offered. All undergraduates must satisfy minimal physical requirements established by the U.S. Coast Guard for licensure as Third Mate or Third Assistant Engineer, and graduates are eligible for reserve commission in the U.S. Navy. Non-license/non-commission programs are available to those who cannot meet the minimum physical standards, and veterans.

The college is supervised locally by a council consisting of members appointed by the governor, pursuant to Chapter 525 of the Laws of 1953. The council's duties include reviewing budget plans; recommending the president; regulating the conduct and behavior of students; governing the care and custody of grounds, buildings, and equipment; and fostering citizens committees to aid the work of the college.

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY. The Maritime College originated as the New York Nautical School, which was established in 1875 and conducted by the New York City Board of Education until 1913. It then became a state institution called the New York State Nautical School authorized by Chapter 322 of the Laws of 1913. That law provided for the maintenance and government of a school for education and training in the "science and practice of navigation, seamanship, steam and electrical engineering" open to male pupils from various counties of the state. Its purpose was to "insure the continuance of the [New York Nautical] school and to extend its privileges to young men throughout the state." The law provided that when the former school was discontinued and New York City transferred its training ship (the U.S.S. Newport) and equipment to the state, the governor would appoint a board of governors to the newly authorized New York State Nautical School.

Tuition to the school was free (with an initial fee to subsidize uniforms and equipment). Qualifications were "good moral character, elementary education and physical fitness" as required by the board of governors. The board of governors consisted of the commissioner of education and eight appointed members who served without compensation (but with allowance for expenses). They were charged with providing and maintaining the school "aboard a proper vessel" which was stationed at the port of New York. The board's authority was to: purchase "all necessary books, charts, instruments apparatus and supplies" required for school work and for the "proper accommodation and keep of the superintendent, instructors and pupils" aboard the ship; appoint and remove the superintendent, instructors, and employees and determine their duties and salaries; fix terms and conditions for pupil admission, instruction, discharge or suspension; establish all rules and regulations on the proper management of the school; and arrange for occasional cruises to and from New York harbor. The superintendent was also the commander of the ship and could appoint a board secretary. The board was responsible for keeping full and detailed accounts of all expenditures and reporting on them and the work of the school annually to the legislature.

The purpose of the school remained unchanged for decades, as it evolved under the authority of a board of visitors, the commissioner of education, the board of regents, the newly created State Education Department, as a degree granting school, and finally as part of the state university system.

Chapter 398 of the Laws of 1923 continued the school and vested its supervision with the commissioner of education, who could approve expenditures and disbursements. In 1923 administrative supervision was delegated to the Assistant Commissioner for Secondary Education, and in 1924 responsibilities were given to the Special Schools Bureau. Chapter 544 of Laws of 1926, which created the State Education Department and continued the school under its jurisdiction and control, also replaced the school's board of governors with a board of visitors. By Chapter 153 of Laws of 1927 the superintendent was continued, but under appointment by the board of regents upon recommendation of the comissioner. Instructors and employees were also appointed by the regents upon the recommendation of the superintendent, as approved by the commissioner of education. In 1928 the department's Special Schools Bureau was transferred to the Vocational and Extension Education Division. By the late 1920s the school's course of study was two years and it accommodated 100 students.

The school's name was changed to the New York State Merchant Marine Academy in 1929 (Chapter 6). Admission was opened to non-state residents in 1931 (Chapter 295) with the commissioner of education prescribing the payment of fees to funds designated by the comptroller and the department being charged with reporting on receipts and disbursements of the funds. Chapter 760 of the Laws of 1933 authorized the governor to acquire land as a shore base for the academy, to be maintained "at the port of New York along with a proper vessel or vessels for practical training." The education Department continued free tuition and keep until the shore base was established; thereafter all entering students were required to pay a fee to cover part of the cost of board. Beginning in 1934 the academy was maintained aboard the Training Ship Empire State and also ashore at Fort Schuyler, Throggs Neck (Bronx County). Fort Schuyler itself was constructed in the 1830s to protect New York City from attack by water from Long Island Sound. It was conveyed to the state by the federal government as a permanent shore-based home of the school. Chapter 720 of the Laws of 1940 provided that state funds (and private donated money or federal funds) could be used for improvements of the shore base lands and for construction of additions or alternations to buildings. At this time the provisions of free tuition and keep of pupils on board ship were omit.

ted.

In the 1940s laws changed the number, terms and make-up of the school's board of visitors (Chapter 656, Laws of 1942; Chapter 632, Laws of 1945); allowed federal scholarship money to be used as scholarships for out of state students, with the number of non-state students not to exceed one-third of the total complement (Chapter 656, Laws of 1942); provided for establishing an undergraduate course of study leading to the degree of Bachelor of Marine Science (Chapter 478, Laws of 1946); and amended the education law as to the employment, classification and salaries of the staff of the academy (Chapter 166, Laws of 1948).

During World War II the complement of the academy was expanded and its coursework, which was by then a three year program, was condensed to 18 months. A training unit of the U.S. Navy, the Naval School for Midshipmen (previously the Naval School of Indoctrination) was maintained at the Fort Schuyler Military Reservation at the academy. The complement of the academy was reduced for the postwar period, and when the emergency peak was passed the course was returned to two years, and then expanded to three years in 1946. In 1956 the former Army Hospital Ship Mercy was acquired. It became the Empire State III and was used for summer training cruises.

The academy became a campus of the state university in 1948. It was renamed the New York State Maritime College in 1949 (Chapter 352), and the office of superintendent was changed to president. From that time it became generally known as the Maritime College at Fort Schuyler, one of a group of specialized colleges within the university system.

From the description of Maritime College at Fort Schuyler agency history record. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 122435066

The Maritime College originated as the New York Nautical School, which was established in 1875 and conducted by the New York City Board of Education until 1913. It then became a state institution called the New York State Nautical School authorized by Chapter 322 of the Laws of 1913. That law provided for the maintenance and government of a school for education and training in the "science and practice of navigation, seamanship, steam and electrical engineering" open to male pupils from various counties of the state. Its purpose was to "insure the continuance of the [New York Nautical] school and to extend its privileges to young men throughout the state." The law provided that when the former school was discontinued and New York City transferred its training ship (the U.S.S. Newport) and equipment to the state, the governor would appoint a board of governors to the newly authorized New York State Nautical School.

Tuition to the school was free (with an initial fee to subsidize uniforms and equipment). Qualifications were "good moral character, elementary education and physical fitness" as required by the board of governors. The board of governors consisted of the commissioner of education and eight appointed members who served without compensation (but with allowance for expenses). They were charged with providing and maintaining the school "aboard a proper vessel" which was stationed at the port of New York. The board's authority was to: purchase "all necessary books, charts, instruments apparatus and supplies" required for school work and for the "proper accommodation and keep of the superintendent, instructors and pupils" aboard the ship; appoint and remove the superintendent, instructors, and employees and determine their duties and salaries; fix terms and conditions for pupil admission, instruction, discharge or suspension; establish all rules and regulations on the proper management of the school; and arrange for occasional cruises to and from New York harbor. The superintendent was also the commander of the ship and could appoint a board secretary. The board was responsible for keeping full and detailed accounts of all expenditures and reporting on them and the work of the school annually to the legislature.

The purpose of the school remained unchanged for decades, as it evolved under the authority of a board of visitors, the commissioner of education, the board of regents, the newly created State Education Department, as a degree granting school, and finally as part of the state university system.

Chapter 398 of the Laws of 1923 continued the school and vested its supervision with the commissioner of education, who could approve expenditures and disbursements. In 1923 administrative supervision was delegated to the Assistant Commissioner for Secondary Education, and in 1924 responsibilities were given to the Special Schools Bureau. Chapter 544 of Laws of 1926, which created the State Education Department and continued the school under its jurisdiction and control, also replaced the school's board of governors with a board of visitors. By Chapter 153 of Laws of 1927 the superintendent was continued, but under appointment by the board of regents upon recommendation of the comissioner. Instructors and employees were also appointed by the regents upon the recommendation of the superintendent, as approved by the commissioner of education. In 1928 the department's Special Schools Bureau was transferred to the Vocational and Extension Education Division. By the late 1920s the school's course of study was two years and it accommodated 100 students.

The school's name was changed to the New York State Merchant Marine Academy in 1929 (Chapter 6). Admission was opened to non-state residents in 1931 (Chapter 295) with the commissioner of education prescribing the payment of fees to funds designated by the comptroller and the department being charged with reporting on receipts and disbursements of the funds. Chapter 760 of the Laws of 1933 authorized the governor to acquire land as a shore base for the academy, to be maintained "at the port of New York along with a proper vessel or vessels for practical training." The education Department continued free tuition and keep until the shore base was established; thereafter all entering students were required to pay a fee to cover part of the cost of board. Beginning in 1934 the academy was maintained aboard the Training Ship Empire State and also ashore at Fort Schuyler, Throggs Neck (Bronx County). Fort Schuyler itself was constructed in the 1830s to protect New York City from attack by water from Long Island Sound. It was conveyed to the state by the federal government as a permanent shore-based home of the school. Chapter 720 of the Laws of 1940 provided that state funds (and private donated money or federal funds) could be used for improvements of the shore base lands and for construction of additions or alternations to buildings. At this time the provisions of free tuition and keep of pupils on board ship were omitted.

In the 1940s laws changed the number, terms and make-up of the school's board of visitors (Chapter 656, Laws of 1942; Chapter 632, Laws of 1945); allowed federal scholarship money to be used as scholarships for out of state students, with the number of non-state students not to exceed one-third of the total complement (Chapter 656, Laws of 1942); provided for establishing an undergraduate course of study leading to the degree of Bachelor of Marine Science (Chapter 478, Laws of 1946); and amended the education law as to the employment, classification and salaries of the staff of the academy (Chapter 166, Laws of 1948).

During World War II the complement of the academy was expanded and its coursework, which was by then a three year program, was condensed to 18 months. A training unit of the U.S. Navy, the Naval School for Midshipmen (previously the Naval School of Indoctrination) was maintained at the Fort Schuyler Military Reservation at the academy. The complement of the academy was reduced for the postwar period, and when the emergency peak was passed the course was returned to two years, and then expanded to three years in 1946. In 1956 the former Army Hospital Ship Mercy was acquired. It became the Empire State III and was used for summer training cruises.

The academy became a campus of the state university in 1948. It was renamed the New York State Maritime College in 1949 (Chapter 352), and the office of superintendent was changed to president. From that time it became generally known as the Maritime College at Fort Schuyler, one of a group of specialized colleges within the university system.

From the New York State Archives, Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY. Agency record NYSV93-A49