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Why New Paltz?: Location

Just 90 minutes north of New York City, SUNY New Paltz is uniquely enhanced by its location in the heart of New York’s historic Hudson Valley region. The initial home of the nineteenth-century Hudson River School of Painting, the region continues to serve as home to many artists and artistic organizations and presents a wide array of cultural opportunities. The proximity of New Paltz to New York City provides students with an unparalleled range of artistic and educational opportunities. Frequent field trips and other special events connect students to both historical and contemporary art. Not only have the striking vistas of the Shawangunk and Catskill mountains inspired countless artists through time, but they are also home to world class hiking, climbing, biking, and camping. A legacy of environmental and social justice movements combined with vibrant community supported agriculture programs make New Paltz a leader in sustainability. Both the town of New Paltz and the university promote, as one of their key values, a deep respect for national, racial, ethnic, class, gender, and sexual diversity. We strive to foster a learning community that engenders critical thinking and a profound appreciation for difference and dialogue. New Paltz has been at the forefront of several struggles for social justice with strong traditions in the LGBTQ, civil rights, labor and environmental movements.

Christina Sharp '13, BFA in Graphic Design, designed an interactive map for our Admission website