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Hofstra University Profile

Long Island, New York

Hofstra University Profile

Hofstra University was established in 1935 as a private educational institution offering liberal arts, business, communications, and education programs. Hofstra provides it’s students with several comprehensive undergraduate, and graduate programs as well as certificate and professional educational programs for full, and part time students. The school itself is located in the Village of Hempstead Long Island, within Nassau County New York. Hofstra is unique because it’s located in a suburban neighborhood that has commuter links to New York City via the Long Island Railroad. The footprint of the site is large for a medium-sized suburban private school with approximately 240 acres of suburban property that winds through Hempstead.

Hofstra University is like a small city that encapsulates a large portion of real estate in Hempstead Village with approximately 112 buildings including lecture, sports, performing arts, and student housing facilities. The issue of student housing on campus is not a challenge for Hofstra due to it’s relatively large number of residence halls, and commuter student population. The university provides guaranteed housing for undergraduate students for all 4 years according to campus officials. Hofstra also has a high number of students attending the university as undergraduate & graduate part time students.

The physical layout of the academic buildings, athletic fields, and residence halls is designed to separate the campus into 2 parts, with Hempstead Turnpike separating the academic buildings from the residence halls on campus. The school’s student center, and sports & recreation facilities are located in close proximity to the residence halls while administration and library facilities are also close to the lecture halls for easy access to classes. Hofstra is a medium-sized suburban commuter school that feels like a larger school because the campus landscape is big and active.

The internal campus setting provides students and employees with several types of student services including physical fitness, library, cultural meeting places, and dining halls. Hofstra’s observed focal point of reference during the campus tour was the Mack Student Center, which is the main student life hall. My tour guide told me that students come to the center to relax, and eat in the food court. Students also use the university physical fitness center that was once a practice facility for the New York Jets Football team to workout, socialize, and talk about school and life. The student, and fitness center facilities are large for a medium sized school with offices for all the student clubs and recreational activities located under one roof for students to enjoy.

Hofstra University Demographics: Hofstra is home to approximately 3,615 male, and 4,103 female full time undergrad students. The university also has 390 male, and 336 female students attending the school on a part-time basis. Hofstra also has 1,526 male, and 2,520 female graduate students attending the campus. The average age of a freshman is 18 years old; all undergraduates are 21 years old. 65% of students are state residents with the rest coming from 49 other states, and 50 foreign countries. 60% of students are white, 8% are Hispanic, 12% are African American, and 5% students are Asian.

The total number of students with on campus housing is 4,200 according to published handouts. Hofstra offers a Liberal Arts and Sciences programs for undergraduate students. Below is a list of specific admission requirements for admission.

Student Housing

The purpose of student housing is to provide safe and reasonable accommodations for students living away from home. The issue of housing and dormitory life is a critical element of overall campus life because students spend a large amount of time in their rooms. Student housing units historically come in 3 different styles including traditional corridor, suite, and apartment style units.

Hofstra guarantees housing for undergraduate students who have filed their intent to reside on campus by the stated deadline and who have continuously registered as full time students. The university uses a first come, first served system for housing selection, and they do retain rooms for out of state students. Currently, the university has 37 residence hall buildings including the Netherlands freshman complex, as well as the numerous high-rise housing facilities on campus. The facilities are a little outdated but the university is planning to build new units on the northeastern section of the campus in the near future. Information about student housing can be found within Hofstra’s quick link page in the back of this document.

Off Campus Housing

Long Island New York has been described as a suburban community within driving, and commuter distance to New York City. The reason I have mentioned the overall community of Long Island is to re-assert the point that Hofstra is situated in a suburban setting with a high number of homes that are privately owned. The university does provide off campus housing resources for students who request help, but a large number (50%) of students commute to school according to published resources. Information about services can be found on the quick links page.

Campus Life

Hofstra Univeristy is an active private campus environment that provides students with a full range of social, and educational activities within a reasonably large suburban campus within 45 minutes of New York City. The admissions demographics paint a picture of a local educational community with a relatively low number (65%) of in state residents on campus as full time students. The local communities of Garden City, and Mineola are very supportive of the schools mission to provide educational opportunities to local residents and on-campus students. These communities have several student friendly venues within driving distance to the campus including shopping malls, Movie Theatres, and Restaurants. The point is, Nassau County is small, compared to the other boroughs in greater New York. The size, population, and community resources give the island a main street feel to it due to the restaurants and shops along the main avenues. Having excellent beach areas within a short driving distance (Jones Beach) only helps campus life.

The emotional climate and culture of the entire community is social due to it’s close relationship with community, and educational resources in my opinion. Hofstra is an attractive institution because it offers students a comfortable academic community within 45 minutes of New York City, while still providing student activities for everyone. Some of the activities include cultural, social, team athletics, and performing arts to enjoy throughout the year. This issue of school culture is also a very important part of campus life because everyone wants to have a connection and emotional fit to their new school and community. This type of process provides a foundation for learning and personal growth providing over 170 academic, athletic, and student organizations. Hofstra also has 18 NCAA Division I teams for men and women to participate in.

Hofstra also addresses the issue of ecology in a positive way. The physical environment is reasonably clean and well maintained and the economic conditions are favorable to students and local residents due to the available services in driving distance to the school. The university has been going through a growth period with construction of relatively new performing arts, and recreation facilities that provide scenic views of the entire campus from their locations. The university’s landscape also provides students with a comfortable suburban setting for students to enjoy year round.

These internal, and external campus facilities helps students connect with each other in non-classroom environments by providing a central meeting place for students to work-out, or enjoy a natural setting, and participate in theatre productions. The Mack Student Center also provides commuter students with a relaxing environment where evening socialization can take place after classes are over.

The school has done a great job developing positive social systems with it’s students by providing a series of coordinated programs including workshops and seminars for freshman students. The universities new student experience program within the Netherlands residence hall provides an excellent example of programs and services that help first year students by offering professional counselors that advise students on ways to explore their educational options to achieve personal academic goals. The down side of campus life is the number of students who go home on the weekends. Hofstra is working to improve it’s commuter school reputation by providing weekend theatre, and concert performances in the Adam’s Playhouse and the little theatre.

Public Transportation:

Public transportation resources for Hofstra students are limited due to the location of the suburban campus. Students who attend the university usually drive to campus because parking is readily available, but some students use the LIRR railroad to commute to school. The university has a high number of in-state students who know the streets and highways very well. Knowing the area is key because students who come from other states may not know the area as well and might opt to take a bus or train to their destination because they don’t want to risk getting lost on local roads. Hofstra provides a campus shuttle for students who require daily service to the LIRR train station, and shopping resources to local food, and retail centers. In formation about the service can be found on the quick links page.

Community Profile

The Hempstead Village section of Long Island can be considered a small city due to it’s relatively large population of 52,526 residents in Nassau County New York. The area has been described as a family centered residential community within striking distance to New York City. This section of the island also has an intellectual side to it due it’s historical neighborhood architecture, and community ties to Hofstra, University. The community has a real small city town feel to it when you are walking, and driving to neighborhood eateries. The village also has several community parks and ball fields in and a round the area for people to enjoy. These parks, along with public tennis courts, swimming pools, outdoor skating rinks, and theatres make outside activities very enjoyable to everyone.

The Village of Hempstead itself is geographically located between New York City to the west, and several large suburban shore communities to the east, including Long Beach, making it an ideal commuter destination for both locations because they can be reached in relatively short period of time. The short distance to these areas from the school makes Long Island a student friendly destination throughout the year. The Long Island Railroad provides several types of public transit resources to NYC including express rail service throughout the year.

Local residents also have access to several major transportation hubs within the Long Island community including John F. Kennedy Airport, and countless roadway systems including the Long Island Expressway, and the Southern and Northern State Parkways, which provide a main east/west corridor in the area. The Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE) can also be used as a main roadway system to New York City’s Boroughs including Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan to all points west including Staten Island.

Finally, Hofstra is close to several local avenues that links students and residents to a large number of restaurants and shops within a short drive from campus including Hempstead Turnpike. Hempstead residents also have numerous shopping, and dining options in the local communities of Garden City, Mineola, New Hyde Park, and Franklin Square. Hempstead residents can be in these areas in a matter of minutes, or they can be in New York because the village has several train stations and roadways within a 30-minute train ride or drive to the city.

Community demographics

The following demographics for the Village of Hempstead describe a culturally diverse community within a total population of 52,526 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The survey highlights several characteristics to describe the population including: 48% of residents are male, 52% are female. 25.7% of residents are white, 52.5% is African American, 20% are Hispanic or Latino, and 1% is Asian. The median age of population is 33 years old. 74% of residents are 18 years old, 65% over 21, and 9 % of village residents are over the age of 65. The issue of housing in Hempstead is also interesting. 97 % of all housing units within the village are occupied. 57 % of housing units are renter-occupied, while 43 % of units are owner-occupied. Only 3 % of total available housing was vacant according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Local weather

Weather is also an issue to consider for students preparing for a college experience. The State of New York enjoys all four seasons of weather including rain and snow. Northeast weather patterns sometimes allow for temperatures to drop below 32 degrees for a considerable amount of time during the winter. Long Island also gets it’s share of rain during the spring and summer months as well.

Hofstra University Quick Links

The Your College Profile web site also contains an “Everything in New York City” document for families who wish to explore the NYC while visiting Hofstra University. This site contains a full list of hotels, restaurants, shopping, and entertainment, and tourism resources for families enjoying the region. Below is a sample list of local hotels and restaurants in Hempstead Long Island.

Below is a list of hotels located in nearby Jamaica (Queens) N.Y. within the JFK Airport corridor.

Best Western/Airport
14425 153rd Lane, Jamaica N.Y.
Hampton Inn/Airport
14410 135th Avenue, Jamaica N.Y.
Days Inn/Airport
14426 153rd Court, Jamaica N.Y.
Holiday Inn Express/Airport
15370 South Conduit Ave, Jamaica N.Y
Hilton Garden Inn/Airport
14818 134th Street, Jamaica N.Y.

Restaurants

  • Waterzooi Belgian Restaurant: 850 Franklin Ave, Garden City N.Y.
  • Grimaldi’s Brick Oven Pizzeria: 980 Franklin Ave
  • BK Sweeney’s Steak House: 636 Franklin Ave
  • Houlihan’s (National Chain Restaurant) 630 Old Country Road
  • California Café: 666 Old Country Road
  • Newport Grill: 176 7th Street, Garden City N.Y.
  • Bertucci’s Brick Oven Pizzeria (National Chain) 795 Merrick Ave, Westbury N.Y.
  • California Pizza Kitchen (National Chain) 1256 Old Country Road, Westbury N.Y.

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