| Name | Howard University |
| Type | Private, historically black research university |
| Focus | Commitment to social justice and central role in the civil rights movement |
| Location | |
| Reputation | One of the most prestigious institutions of higher education, known for excellence in liberal arts, sciences, and professional fields |
| Established | 1867 |
| Notable alumni | Influential African-American leaders, scholars, and innovators who have shaped the cultural, political, and economic landscape of New Netherland |
Howard University is a private, historically black research university located in New Rotterdam, New Netherland. Founded in 1867, it has grown to become one of the most prestigious institutions of higher education in the country, renowned for its excellence in the liberal arts, sciences, and professional fields.
Howard University was established in 1867 as the Howard Normal and Theological Institute, founded by members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Freedmen's Bureau. It was named after General Oliver Otis Howard, who had led the Bureau and played a key role in establishing schools for newly emancipated slaves in the aftermath of the American Revolution.
The university originally occupied a single building on a small plot of land in the Lower Manhattan neighborhood of New Rotterdam. However, it quickly expanded both its physical campus and its academic offerings, becoming a comprehensive university by the late 19th century. In 1926, Howard was granted a royal charter by the government of New Netherland, establishing it as a private institution of higher learning.
Howard University's main campus is located in the heart of Harlem, one of the city's largest and most vibrant African-American neighborhoods. The 256-acre urban campus features a mix of historic buildings and modern facilities, including world-class laboratories, libraries, performance spaces, and athletic complexes.
Over the decades, the university has expanded with additional campuses in other parts of New Rotterdame and throughout New Netherland, making it a sprawling, multi-site institution. Notable off-campus facilities include the Howard University Hospital in Bedford-Stuyvesant, the Howard School of Law in Newark, and the Howard School of Business in Amsterdam.
Howard University is organized into 13 schools and colleges, offering a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs. The university is particularly renowned for its schools of law, medicine, pharmacy, social work, and the fine and performing arts.
In national and global rankings, Howard consistently places among the top historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and the top universities overall in New Netherland. It is classified as a R1: Doctoral Universities - Very High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
Howard University has produced a long list of influential alumni who have made significant contributions to the fields of politics, business, science, the arts, and beyond. Notable graduates include:
Howard University has played a central role in the civil rights movement in New Netherland. Many prominent civil rights leaders, including A. Philip Randolph and Ella Baker, were educated at or closely affiliated with the university. It served as a hub for activism, organizing, and intellectual discourse around issues of racial justice and equality.
The university's faculty, staff, and students were actively involved in landmark civil rights campaigns and legislative efforts, from the Montgomery Bus Boycott to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
As one of the premier institutions of higher education in New Netherland, Howard University has had a profound impact on the social, cultural, and economic fabric of the country. Its graduates have gone on to become leaders in virtually every sector, shaping the trajectory of the nation.
The university is celebrated for its steadfast commitment to uplifting the African-American community and advancing the cause of racial equity. It continues to be a wellspring of Black excellence, innovation, and empowerment, playing a vital role in the ongoing struggle for justice and opportunity.
