Stella and Charles Guttman Community College: An Overview

Stella and Charles Guttman Community College, a public community college located in the heart of New York City, stands as a beacon of innovation and opportunity within the City University of New York (CUNY) system. As the newest of CUNY's community colleges, Guttman was founded on September 11, 2011, and opened its doors on August 20, 2012, originally named New Community College. This article delves into various aspects of Guttman Community College, including its history, academic programs, student life, and commitment to student success.

A History of Innovation and Access

The planning for Guttman Community College began in 2008, driven by the initiative of CUNY's Chancellor at the time, Matthew Goldstein. His vision was to create a new model for community colleges, one that would address the urgent need to improve graduation rates for CUNY's diverse student population. In 2010, the first faculty members were appointed, and Scott E. Evenbeck was named the founding President, assuming his role in January 2011.

Guttman Community College holds the distinction of being the first community college established by CUNY in over 40 years. From its inception, the college adopted an open admissions policy, welcoming students with a high school diploma or a Certificate of High School Equivalency. However, Guttman distinguishes itself from other CUNY schools through its unique admissions process, requiring applicants to attend an information session and participate in one-on-one interviews with counselors before being considered.

In April 2013, CUNY received a generous $25 million gift from the Stella and Charles Guttman Foundation. In recognition of this transformative gift, the college was renamed Stella and Charles Guttman Community College in June 2013. This endowment supports various initiatives aimed at enhancing student retention and graduation rates, including paid internships, community service opportunities, experiential learning programs, and student emergency funds.

The Guttman's Namesakes: Charles and Stella Guttman

Charles and Stella Guttman, the namesakes of the college, embody the "American Dream." Charles, the first American-born son of Romanian immigrants, grew up on the Lower East Side and left school in his early teens due to family hardships. Stella, also a first-generation American, shared a similar background.

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Charles Guttman achieved remarkable success as a liquor entrepreneur, founding the Paddington Corporation and creating J&B Scotch. He and Stella were committed philanthropists, establishing their foundation in 1959. Their foundation's early contributions included a significant gift to the Henry Street Settlement, reflecting Charles's personal connection to the organization.

The Stella and Charles Guttman Foundation continues to honor the Guttmans' legacy by supporting charitable organizations, with a focus on early childhood programs in low-income neighborhoods.

Academic Excellence and Programs

Guttman Community College offers associate degree programs designed to provide students with a solid foundation for future academic and career success. The college's academic calendar follows a semester-based system. Students can earn degrees and certificates in 5 different fields. Popular programs include: Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Business Administration and Management, General, and Public Administration and Social Service Professions.

The student-faculty ratio at Guttman is 17-to-1, fostering a supportive learning environment where students receive personalized attention from experienced faculty members.

Guttman's notable features include:

A multi-step admissions process designed to help students determine if Guttman is the right fit to address their educational needs and career aspirations.
A bridge program that introduces students to the curricular model and the demands of college-level work and full-time attendance in the first year.
Learning communities across the first year that create a socially and academically supportive environment while fostering cross-disciplinary thinking and analytical reasoning.
Structured advisement from professional staff scheduled each week; integrated academic and student services that build on strengths, have high expectations, and support student progress and timely degree attainment.
A variety of associate degree and certificate programs with well-defined pathways to degree, transfer, and/or careers.
A Center for College Effectiveness that fosters a culture of inquiry and continuous improvement by building bridges among data, dialogue, and decisions and by involving faculty and staff in planning and institutional assessment.

Student Life and Support Services

Guttman Community College is committed to providing a nurturing and supportive environment where students can thrive. The college offers a range of services to support students' academic, personal, and professional development.

These services include:

Academic/career counseling services
Employment services for students
Opportunities for hands-on learning and paid internships
Leadership experience through the Peer Leadership Program and Student Government Association

In the fall of 2022, the ethnicity distribution of students was diverse, with a significant representation of Black or African American, Latine, and Asian students. The majority of students (97%) were between the ages of 18 and 24.

Paying for School

Guttman Community College is committed to making education accessible and affordable. For the 2020-2021 academic year, in-state tuition and fees were $5,194, while out-of-state tuition and fees were $8,074. The application fee is $65.

In the 2022-2023 academic year, 87 percent of undergraduates received grant or scholarship aid, with the average scholarship or grant award being $7,487. The vast majority of students receive some sort of financial aid, including scholarships, grants and loans.

Mission, Vision, and Strategic Plan

Guttman Community College is guided by a clear mission, vision, and strategic plan.

Mission:

Guttman Community College works alongside our students in advancing our mission to:

Enact inclusive and equitable practices to advance social and racial justice inside and outside our classrooms.
Engage students in supportive communities and guided paths that lead to academic excellence and timely degree completion.
Empower students to make informed choices about their educational and professional journeys.

Vision:

An educational institution that is responsive to its students, adaptive to the economy, relevant to a modern society, and accessible to all.

Strategic Plan:

Guttman Forward 2028 is the College’s strategic plan, which focuses on five key pillars:

Pillar 1 - Elevate Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (EDIB): Achieve equitable student and employee outcomes and advance social and racial justice inside and outside classrooms.
Pillar 2 - Support Student Success and Academic Excellence: Prepare students to thrive beyond our doors by providing an intellectually stimulating, experientially rich education with clear pathways and comprehensive student support from a community committed to teaching, service, and scholarship.
Pillar 3 - Amplify Employee Vitality and Engagement: Cultivate an environment where there is a spirit of teamwork, and a shared sense of purpose, and where employees feel appreciated, supported, and proud to say they work at Guttman.
Pillar 4 - Advance Growth: Serve more students more effectively by expanding availability and access to educational offerings while retaining quality of support and services.
Pillar 5 - Optimize Operations: Build efficiencies into the implementation, maintenance, and assessment of operations by streamlining processes, innovating systems, and better-utilizing technology.

Accreditation

Stella and Charles Guttman Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The college's accreditation was reaffirmed on June 24, 2021, with the next evaluation visit scheduled for 2028-2029.

Recognition and Awards

Guttman Community College has received recognition for its commitment to excellence and innovation. In November 2025, Guttman Community College was named "The City's Best" college by Schneps Media.

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