Hunter College Athletics

All About Athletics

Hunter College stands tall amidst the scenic panorama of the towering New York City skyline, nestled in the heart of Manhattan’s prestigious Upper East Side neighborhood. Hunter was founded in the winter of 1870, making it the second-oldest institution in the world-renowned City University of New York (CUNY) educational system. A fully-accredited coeducational college with a top-notch faculty numbering more than 1,200 — 75 percent holding doctoral degrees — Hunter maintains its main campus at Lexington Avenue & 68th Street. The Brookdale campus, located at First Avenue & 25th Street, features additional facilities including the first residence hall in the CUNY system. Hunter College enrolls 20,000 students from approximately 100 nations in over five dozen programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Such authoritative publications as "U.S. News & World Report" annually rank Hunter as one of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges. Athletics is viewed as a compliment to one’s college education.

The Hunter College men's and women's intercollegiate athletic teams have established a legacy of success in recent decades at the conference, regional, and national levels of competition. With a philosophy of "scheduling up," Hunter athletic squads compete against some of the finest NCAA Division III opponents in the region, in addition to taking on Division I and Division II teams in several sports. Since 1990, Hunter has proven to be the dominant institution in the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC). Over the last dozen years, Hunter has captured 71 team championships, by far more than any other CUNYAC college. The Hawks have also won four out of the first five CUNYAC Commissioner's Cups, awarded annually to the best overall athletic program in the conference. Virtual dynasties have been established with multiple CUNYAC titles won in the sports of women's volleyball (ten), women's tennis (nine), women's cross country (seven), men's cross country (seven), men's volleyball (seven), men's basketball (six), and women's softball (six).

A number of Hunter College teams have achieved regional and national success. The men's basketball team has qualified for the NCAA Division III Tournament six times in the last dozen years, reaching the Sweet Sixteen in 1993 and the Elite Eight in 1998. The women's basketball, men's soccer, and women's volleyball squad all made their historic first NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in 1999. The men's indoor and outdoor track and field teams have sported a pair of individual national titles to go along with a dozen All-American showings in recent years, in addition to national top 20 team finishes in 1996, 1997, and 1998. The wrestling team was ranked in the national top 25 in 1998 while men's volleyball squad reached similar status in 1999 and 2001. At the regional level, women's volleyball team has captured four ECAC championships, men's soccer has played for several ECAC titles, and the men's and women's cross country and fencing teams consistently qualify for their respective championships. Most importantly, more than a third of all student-athletes at Hunter College annually maintain grade point averages of 3.0 and higher.

Hunter Sportsplex

The Hunter College Sportsplex, opened in 1985, quickly developed into one of the premier athletic and recreational centers in New York City and the metropolitan area. The site of many national, regional, and local events, the Hunter College Sportsplex stands as a true architectural wonder. Located below Hunter’s West Building on the corner of Lexington Avenue & 68th Street, the Hunter College Sportsplex lies completely underground and is the deepest building in New York City. The Hunter College Sportsplex is completely climate controlled and offers a wide array of competition and practice facilities including multiple gymnasiums, racquetball courts, a weight room, locker areas, a training room, Hall of Fame, showcases, classrooms, and offices.

Hunter's outdoor teams compete in a wide variety of top-notch facilities, including Metropolitan Oval (men's soccer), the USTA National Tennis Center (men's and women's tennis), Ammirati Field at Coleman Park (women's softball), Van Cortlandt Park (men's and women's cross country), and the 168th Street Armory (men's and women's track and field).

Athletic Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics, a student must:
• Meet the admissions requirements of the college.
• Be a full-time matriculated student carrying at least 12 degree credits (or equated credits).
• Meet the minimum requirements for good academic standing and making reasonable progress toward a degree.
• Comply with NCAA Division III rules and regulations, as well as meeting conference eligibility requirements.
Student-athletes are eligible to compete for four seasons of intercollegiate competition in any one sport, spanning 10 full-time semesters (15 quarters) of college attendance.

Sports Sponsored

Hunter College is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and competes at the Division III level. The Hunter College Athletic Program offers 18 sports for men and women, with the majority competing in the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC). Hunter is also a member of the largest athletic conference in the country, the Eastern Collegiate Atheltic Conference (ECAC), as well as several other highly-competitive organizations.

The following sports are sponsored by Hunter College:

Men -  Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling .
Women -  Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball.

Operation Enrichment (OpE)

Developed by the Hunter College Athletic Program, Student Services, and Residence Life, Operation Enrichment (OpE) is a drug and alcohol education and counseling program designed to help students avoid substance abuse and develop healthy relationships. The Program currently focuses on intercollegiate athletes and resident students with the goal of opening the program to all students in the near future.