Dowling College

Dowling College is a private co-educational college in Long Island, New York, United States. The college's main campus in Oakdale, New York sits on the site of William K. Vanderbilt's former estate, which is now known as Fortunoff Hall. The new athletic complex houses a baseball stadium, soccer field and lacrosse complex. Dowling's Melville Center is located in the business district of Melville, New York. Approximately 1,000 full and part-time undergraduate and graduate make up Dowling's four schools: the School of Education, School of Arts & Sciences, Townsend School of Business, and School of Aviation.

• School of aviation

  The first lesson you will learn at Dowling’s School of Aviation is that there are many exciting careers in aviation besides flying planes. Our graduates are intensely recruited because employers know they have a balanced liberal arts background as well as experience with the industry’s most advanced equipment.

  The mission of the School of Aviation is to provide a liberal education leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in either Aviation Management or Aerospace Systems Technology. These degree programs prepare students for for entry into commercial and military aviation, airports, air traffic control and other areas of the air transport and aerospace industry.  The degree programs also prepare students for further research and study in management, technology, mathematics in graduate level degree programs.

  The School of Aviation at Dowling College is situated at Brookhaven Airport, Shirley, New York.  The airport campus is in a region of New York airspace that enables extensive flying opportunities not typically found at other collegiate aviation institutions. The flight training is conducted at the campus, and students have access to a fleet of various Cessna and light sport aircraft. In addition to our training aircraft, FAA certified flight training devices are used for providing simulation training.  This provides educational opportunities that are ideal for use during bad weather, practice of emergency procedures, and provide remedial review in a cost effective manner.

Dowling College was founded in 1955 as an expansion of Adelphi University, and became Suffolk County’s first four-year college. It was established as an independent institution in 1968, and is named after its then principal benefactor, Robert Dowling; a noted aviator and New York City planner.

Dowling College is approved by the New York State Education Department and accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education which is the regional accreditor by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.  Other accreditation include The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE), Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI).

More than 30 clubs and organizations, numerous annual theme events, performing arts and trips, an active Student Government Association, and 13 Honor Societies. Dowling College is a member of the NCAA Division II East Coast Conference. The various student athlete teams include, Baseball, Softball, Men's and Women's Lacrosse, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's Golf, Women's Volleyball and Field Hockey

Since 2000, $28 million has been invested in campus infrastructure including installation of “smart” classrooms, refurbishment of residence halls, dining and restroom facilities, new science equipment, conversion of aircraft hanger into 15 new classrooms, total of 11 new aircraft and 3 new flight simulators for the School of Aviation flight training.

Dowling's campuses cater primarily to local long island students. The college has residence halls on both the Oakdale campus and the Brookhaven site. In the fall of 2013, students were vacated from the Brookhaven Campus residence halls and relocated to the Oakdale Campus, with the College citing a sharp drop in enrollment and increasing costs to maintain the Brookhaven buildings. A free shuttle bus transports students between the two campuses, with stops at the local Long Island Rail Road stations to accommodate commuter students.

• State-of-the-art flight simulators and aircraft including 9 Piper Warriors, an Arrow and a twin engine Seminole. All planes are equipped with the latest instrumentation and avionics including IFR certified Garmin Global Position Systems with moving map capability. New NASA funded airport management simulation lab. Graduates of the program may obtain all pilot certificates and ratings. One of only 23 institutions in the AT-CTI program for prospective Air Traffic Controllers.
• Full-service library at the Rudolph Campus; 269,103 books and electronic volumes for student use; databases accessible from anywhere; personalized student service.
• “Smart” Classrooms with digital data projectors, Internet access, VCR and DVD; Blackboard Learning System supports instruction and communication; wireless network connections in the cafes, libraries, and student lounges on both campuses; BANNER WEB for student records.
• 500 students at the Rudolph Campus and Brookhaven Campus. Apartment-style residence living with internet and telephone connection for each student.