Clarkson University

Welcome to Clarkson University

• We are a private, national research university in upstate New York known for giving students a great return on their investment. We ignite interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative research and unparalleled technological education.

Who We Are

• As a proven leader in technological education and sustainable economic development, we offer more than 90 rigorous programs of study in engineering, the sciences, business and the health professions. Our goal is to give our 4,000+ students the resources to ignite connections across disciplines, innovate real-world solutions and become the leaders of tomorrow.

Our Network

• We count over 380 active partners in industry, government agencies, chambers of commerce, research organizations and more. Coupled with our extensive and engaged alumni network 46,000+ strong, these relationships allow our students access to superb internships and professional opportunities.

Our Return on Investment

• As a result, one in five Clarkson alumni already holds a leadership position, either as a CEO, senior executive or owner of a company. The Brookings Institution named Clarkson a top 10 university nationwide for increasing our students' lifetime earning potential, and we're among the top colleges for graduates who earn the most.

History

• Founded in 1896 to honor Thomas S. Clarkson, a pioneering entrepreneur and humanitarian, Clarkson University today is a private, national research university that is a leader in technological education and sustainable economic development through teaching, research and scholarship and innovation.  
• Consistent with the founders’ vision to always seek out the real needs of the American people, Clarkson stretches the boundaries of solution-oriented thinking by looking to what’s next, challenging the status quo, and leveraging our combined ingenuity at the intersections of science, technology, engineering, arts and business to create real impact, relevant innovations and enduring value in the world.
• With its main campus in Potsdam, New York, and additional graduate program and research satellites in Saranac Lake, Schenectady in the Capital Region, and online, the University attracts more than 4,000 enterprising, high-ability full-time scholars from diverse backgrounds and many more in its continuing education offerings.  Our students embrace challenge and thrive in rigorous programs in engineering, arts, sciences, business, education and health professions that lead to bachelor’s, master’s, certificate and/or doctoral degrees. Alumni, K-12 and community members also have access to many of the speakers, programs and educational resources.
• Clarkson’s size is its advantage by fostering leadership, networking and problem solving skills; and readily affording students and faculty the flexibility to stretch boundaries across traditional academic areas.   We add value to our students’ education by partnering with leading businesses, industries and thought leaders to bring relevance to the challenges and needs of the fast-paced world in which the boundaries of knowledge, discipline, nations and cultures blur. For over 125 years, our graduates have achieved extraordinary professional success, risen to societal challenges, and advanced the global economy ethically and responsibly.  Among our 46,000+ alumni, one in five is already a CEO, senior executive or owner of a company.
• The University's main campus in Potsdam is located on the historic 640-acre wooded homestead of the Clarkson family in the foothills of the Adirondack Park. Read more on the history of the Clarkson family and its ties to New York State below.  
• With four other universities nearby in the region (SUNY Potsdam, St. Lawrence University, SUNY Canton and Paul Smith’s College), Potsdam is truly “a college town.” Clarkson community members enjoy a constantly changing social scene and an unparalleled intellectual quality of life largely influenced by our proximity to the north slope of the Adirondacks; easy drives to Lake Placid as well as Ottawa and Montreal, Canada; and a high level of regional camaraderie to encourage innovative partnerships in small business development, arts, tourism, recreation, agriculture and green energy.
• The University also includes a Graduate School focused campus in Schenectady, New York, that takes advantage of all that New York’s Capital Region has to offer and expands our K-12 outreach. Like Potsdam, Schenectady has a large collegiate presence (Union College and Schenectady Community College in the same city) as well as many other educational institutions, research institutes and government think tanks. All locations expand the world reach of the University and strengthen access to Clarkson’s corporate and alumni networks, education colleagues and research partners.
• Check out A Clarkson Mosaic: full of bits and pieces of academic, personal, sports and administrative history creating a portrait of Clarkson University's first hundred years 1896-1995 as authored by Dr. Bradford B. Broughton, a late Clarkson faculty member. With special thanks, too, to the Potsdam Museum for being an excellent resource on the Clarkson family and the history of the University's influence on Potsdam. 

Our Mission

• Clarkson University is an independent, nationally recognized technological university whose faculty of teacher/scholars aspires to offer superior instruction and engage in high-quality research and scholarship in engineering, business, science, health, education and liberal arts. Our primary mission is to educate talented and motivated men and women to become successful professionals through quality pre-collegiate, undergraduate, graduate and professional continuing education programs, with particular emphasis on the undergraduate experience.
• Our community and campus settings enhance the quality of student life and afford students access to and interaction with their faculty. We value the diversity of our University community; and we strive to attune ourselves and our programs to our global, pluralistic society. We share the belief that humane and environmentally sound economic and social development derive from the expansion, diffusion and application of knowledge.

The Vision of A Clarkson Education

• Formally adopted in 1995, the Vision of a Clarkson Education is the foundation that differentiates Clarkson graduates around the globe — first as students, then as young professionals in high demand in a highly competitive marketplace, and ultimately as CEOs, company owners and leaders with proven career and life success with remarkable mobility.  (as cited by Brookings in naming top 10 universities nationwide for ROI).
• The Clarkson University educational experience is designed to provide talented and ambitious students with the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve positions of leadership within their chosen profession. The combination of Clarkson’s strong technologically rich curricula and state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities, coupled with an unparalleled commitment to a friendly learning environment and to students’ personal development, uniquely prepares Clarkson graduates to excel in their chosen professions and to lead rewarding and creative lives.

In addition to attaining mastery of the core knowledge within the field, a Clarkson education is designed to enable students to:

• Solve real-world, open-ended problems with creativity and risk taking to obtain solutions that are practical and sustainable, including those they encounter in state-of-the-art research under the direction of distinguished faculty;
• Develop and refine exceptional communication skills with an awareness of potential cultural differences;
• Lead effectively and work productively within disciplinary and multidisciplinary teams composed of members with diverse interests and backgrounds;
• Excel in using computing and information technologies;
• Learn through instruction and guidance by nationally recognized faculty whose commitment to both teaching and research has made Clarkson a nationally ranked university.

A Clarkson student’s education is greatly enhanced by a personal and friendly learning environment, within a small, residential, nationally recognized University, which:

• Places students at the center of the educational process and where all employees have a commitment to creating an environment that
• Contributes positively to students’ overall educational experience;
• Draws undergraduates, graduate students, faculty and staff together into a cohesive and stimulating learning community, wherein an atmosphere of scholarship and spirit of research is cultivated;
• Uses our campus as a living laboratory to improve learning, and uses the wider region to broaden and extend Clarkson’s outreach and service;
• Provides personal advising and interaction with faculty and staff as well as supportive relationships among students;
• Offers many leadership opportunities through co-curricular groups and activities;
• Respects and learns from its community of diverse people, backgrounds and cultures.

Our Values

Together, these provide a unique educational experience that is directed toward developing the whole person.

• Teamwork- Effective teamwork encourages creativity and self-initiative in our respective roles and partnerships. It is essential in getting the task done and in developing the skills needed to meet the challenges of ensuring sustainability of local and global economic, environmental and social systems.
• Caring- A positive and friendly atmosphere is created when we care about each other, when we are open to constructive criticism and when we show appreciation for a job well done.
• Integrity- Honesty and accountability in one’s actions and words form the foundation of our relationships with others.
• Vision- Having a vision of a sustainable future helps us prepare for it. Embracing the inevitable changes in our world as opportunities allows us to anticipate, promote and facilitate change.
• Diversity- The mutual appreciation of differences and a plurality of opinions, beliefs and cultural traditions inform and enrich our lives.
• Service- Offering our time and skills for the good of our fellow citizens leads to the prosperity and environmental health of the community and to the well-being and character development of the individual.
• Growth- Educational experiences in and out of the classroom enliven our minds, broaden our horizons and facilitate dialogue and consensus. Learning is a lifelong activity.
• Diligence- “A workman that needeth not to be ashamed.” (The favorite Biblical phrase of University namesake Thomas S. Clarkson.) Initiative and hard work are key ingredients in getting the task done.