# Gallaudet University

> American university providing education for deaf and hard of hearing students

**Wikidata**: [Q1056373](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1056373)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallaudet_University)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gallaudet-university

## Summary
Gallaudet University is a private U.S. institution dedicated to educating deaf and hard-of-hearing students, founded in 1857 in Washington, D.C. It is the world's only university designed to be barrier-free for deaf individuals, emphasizing bilingual education in American Sign Language (ASL) and English. As of 2020, it serves over 1,400 students and holds an endowment of nearly $195 million.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1857 by Edward Miner Gallaudet as the National Deaf-Mute College, renamed Gallaudet University in 1986.
- Named after Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, a pioneer in deaf education.
- Located in Washington, D.C., at 800 Florida Avenue NE.
- Serves 1,451 students (as of 2020) with a student-faculty ratio of 8:1.
- Endowment of $194,495,207 (2020) and total assets of $475,037,842 (2020).
- Official languages: American Sign Language (ASL) and English.
- First university to offer a bachelor’s degree program in Deaf Studies (established in 1994).

## FAQs
### Q: When was Gallaudet University founded?
A: Gallaudet University was founded in 1857 as the National Deaf-Mute College, making it the oldest institution of higher education for deaf individuals in the U.S.

### Q: What makes Gallaudet unique?
A: Gallaudet is the only university in the world designed to be fully accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing students, with all programs and services tailored to their needs, including a bilingual ASL-English curriculum.

### Q: How many students attend Gallaudet?
A: As of 2020, Gallaudet University enrolls approximately 1,451 students, with a diverse community representing 48 states and 22 countries.

## Why It Matters
Gallaudet University is a global leader in deaf education and advocacy, providing academic and cultural opportunities that empower deaf individuals to thrive. It plays a critical role in advancing research in deaf studies, linguistics, and accessibility, while fostering a community that celebrates Deaf culture and language. As a federally chartered institution, it receives support from Congress, enabling it to maintain affordability and inclusivity. Gallaudet’s mission to “advance education, opportunity, and community for the deaf and hard of hearing” positions it as a vital resource for both the Deaf community and the broader society, driving progress in inclusivity and equity.

## Notable For
- First university to grant a doctoral degree to a deaf student (1971).
- Home to the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center, a leading research and training hub.
- Hosts the biennial World Federation of the Deaf Congress, attracting global Deaf leaders.
- Recognized for its unique “DeafSpace” architectural design, which prioritizes visual and tactile communication.
- Produced notable alumni, including the first deaf person to earn a Ph.D. in physics (Dr. Robert J. Weitbrecht).

## Body
### History
- **1857**: Founded by Edward Miner Gallaudet as the National Deaf-Mute College, with eight students.
- **1864**: Congress grants the institution a charter, allowing it to award degrees.
- **1986**: Renamed Gallaudet University to reflect expanded academic offerings, including graduate programs.

### Academics
- **Curriculum**: Bilingual (ASL/English) education model, with programs in liberal arts, sciences, and professional fields.
- **Student-Faculty Ratio**: 8:1 (2020), ensuring personalized instruction.
- **Carnegie Classification**: “Master’s Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs” with a focus on research and inclusivity.

### Campus & Community
- **Location**: 100-acre campus in Northeast Washington, D.C., featuring historic buildings like Chapel Hall.
- **Athletics**: Competes in NCAA Division III as the Gallaudet Bison, with 14 varsity teams.
- **Deaf Culture**: Hosts the annual Deaf Awareness Week and the National Deaf-Mute College’s archives.

### Leadership & Recognition
- **President**: Roberta Cordano (appointed 2016), the first deaf female president.
- **Accreditation**: Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
- **Rankings**: Recognized by *U.S. News & World Report* for social mobility and regional university performance.

### Demographics & Finance
- **Admission Rate**: 63% (2020), with a yield rate of 59%.
- **Employees**: 723 staff members (2020), including faculty and support personnel.
- **Endowment Growth**: Increased from $143 million (2010) to $194 million (2020), supporting scholarships and programs.

### Technology & Innovation
- **Accessibility**: Pioneers in assistive technology, including real-time captioning and visual alert systems.
- **Research**: Leads studies in Deaf gain, sign language linguistics, and deaf education pedagogy through the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences.

### Global Impact
- **International Programs**: Partners with over 20 countries to promote deaf education and advocacy.
- **UNESCO Collaboration**: Advises on inclusive education policies worldwide.
- **Sign Language Preservation**: Documents and promotes endangered sign languages through the Sign Language Linguistics Research Center.

## References

1. [GRID](https://www.grid.ac/institutes/grid.256175.2)
2. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
3. [Source](https://gallaudet.edu/university-communications/new-logo-represents-gallaudet-universitys-bilingual-mission/)
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20240120073011/https://secure.aacu.org/iMIS/AACUR/Membership/MemberListAACU.aspx)
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. Czech National Authority Database
8. GeoNames
9. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/)
10. GRID Release 2015-12-14
11. GRID Release 2016-12-06
12. Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
13. [Source](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAbFXOPq0sx03ev-kO3FE2A)
14. Quora
15. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
16. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
17. [Source](https://gallaudet.edu/)
18. YouTube API
19. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)
20. National Center for Education Statistics
21. [Internet Domains Wikibase](https://domains.wikibase.cloud/entity/Q216387)