Establishment of FIT
FIT began its life in 1944 as the Fashion Institute of Technology and Design established by the Educational Foundation for the Apparel Industry—today the Fashion Institute of Technology Foundation.
In 1948, the New York State legislature instituted the State University of New York (SUNY) and created a program for community colleges. Two years later the Foundation and the Board of Education of the City of New York partnered to seek community college status for FIT. SUNY approved FIT as a community college in 1951.
Relevant documents are:
- SUNY resolution approving the Board of Education of the City of New York’s sponsorship of FIT as a community college supported in part by the Board of Education and in part by “an educational foundation of an industry chartered by the Board of Regents,” i.e., the Foundation for the Apparel Industry – June 26, 1951
- Agreement Between the Board of Education of the City of New York and the Educational Foundation for the Apparel Industry – June 21, 1951
- Second Board of Education resolution sponsoring establishment of FIT – June 20, 1951
- First Board of Education resolution sponsoring establishment of FIT – June 29, 1950
- Absolute Charter of The Educational Foundation for the Apparel Industry issued by the Board of Regents on behalf of the State Education Department – April 21, 1944