Hudson Valley Community College | Diversity Employer

Our History 

An outgrowth of the Veteran's Vocational School in downtown Troy, the college was founded in 1953 as the Hudson Valley Technical Institute and initially provided practical hands-on vocational training for veterans returning from World War II and the Korean War. The college initially was housed in the former Earl and Wilson shirt collar factory building on the corner of Seventh and Broadway.

By 1955, the college's board of trustees was looking for a larger location to site a campus, and in 1956 announced that the Williams farm, which straddled the Troy-North Greenbush border, would be the chosen site. The new campus, with five Indiana limestone buildings, was completed in 1961.

The next three decades saw continual growth at the college, as technical and health science programs were supplemented with career and transfer program in business and the liberal arts.

Since its inception, Hudson Valley Community College has been sponsored by Rensselaer County and is part of the 30-campus SUNY community college system.

Mission Statement 

Hudson Valley Community College provides transformative, student-centered and high-quality educational opportunities that address the diverse needs of local and global communities.

Vision Statement 

Deliver what the future demands. Hudson Valley Community College will meet the educational needs of a rapidly transforming world by leading today and anticipating tomorrow.

Core Values: LEADS (Leadership, Excellence, Accessibility, Diversity, Service)

Hudson Valley Community College is committed to: Leadership.

HVCC provides rigorous academic curricula and challenging co-curricular opportunities to promote the development of leadership qualities in students and to facilitate leadership development among faculty, staff, and students. Whether in our classrooms, labs, online environment, or throughout the Capital Region, HVCC faculty, staff, and students lead the higher education landscape while developing the next generation of global citizens.

Hudson Valley Community College is committed to: Excellence.

HVCC's commitment to excellence impels faculty, staff, and students to consistently strive for outcomes that are exemplary rather than simply satisfactory. This striving for excellence touches on all aspects of life at our institution, from academic programs (on-campus, online, off-campus) to our environment, from student services to athletics, from publications to our daily activities. We celebrate our achievements and contributions to the greater society.

Hudson Valley Community College is committed to: Accessibility.

Accessibility to high-quality education is vital to the growth and prosperity of the local, national, and international communities. HVCC provides educational access to a diverse community of traditional and non-traditional learners in an environment that fosters lifelong learning and freedom of inquiry and expression.

Hudson Valley Community College is committed to: Diversity.

Each individual must be able to work and learn in an atmosphere of respect, dignity, and acceptance. Our commitment to diversity requires each of us to continuously ensure that our interactions are respectful, protect free speech, and inspire academic freedom. HVCC values equity, inclusion, and dignity for all. We recognize that our differences make us stronger. We take action when we observe someone being treated unfairly or in a demeaning manner.

Hudson Valley Community College is committed to: Service.

Meaningful service to students is at the center of life at HVCC, as is service by students, staff, and faculty to our greater community. We share skills and expertise to assist others through campus clinics, off-campus internships, service learning, and numerous volunteer opportunities to extend the culture of service well beyond our campus.