History

During the mid-1800s, college students witnessed a change in the structure of universities. Previously, faculty members worked closely with students both in and out of the classroom teaching not only academic principles but serving as guardians of their students morals and values. By the mid-1800s this tradition became obsolete as professors began to explore new fields of study and delved into the realm of research leaving little time to attend to student’s personal needs.

The first Student-Y programs developed at the University of Virginia and at the University of Michigan in 1851. The movement spread rapidly and soon Princeton, Yale, and a majority of East Coast universities joined in. In 1877, the first national meeting of Student-Ys was held in Louisville, Kentucky where delegates from twenty-one associations gathered to discuss the future of the Student-Y.

Over the next few decades, the Student-Y would become a leading force on university campuses. They would be the first to develop a Student Handbook ( Cornell University), receptions for freshman students, and serve as student unions on many campuses including Berkley and Penn. Prior to the rise of Student Affairs professionals, the Student-Y was the first organization to sponsor Freshman Camp, leadership conferences and training, student-faculty discussion groups, and International Clubs.

The Student-Y continues around the nation and there is currently resurgence in the movement in an attempt to rectify unmet needs of university students. The last national meeting of the Student-Y, now called the Coalition of Campus YMCAs, occurred in May 2005.