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The College of Westchester (CW) – Historical Timeline

Westchester Commercial School (1915)

450-2-4 Main St.
New Rochelle, NY

1915 – 1950s  
Operated as a commercial/business training institute

1959
Relocated to 16 Bank Street, White Plains, NY

Westchester Business Institute (WBI) (1973)

16 Bank Street
White Plains, NY
Accredited and firmly established as The Westchester Business Institute (WBI).

Expanded campus and moved (1985)
325 Central Avenue
White Plains, NY

The College of Westchester (CW) (2003)

325 Central Avenue
White Plains, NY
Renamed the college and became accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

100 Years of Excellence (2015)

The College celebrated 100 Years of Excellence in Education
100 Years of Excellence – The College of Westchester

Early History of The College of Westchester

(Westchester Commercial School / Westchester Business Institute)

1915 – Founding in New Rochelle

  • The institution was founded in 1915 in New Rochelle, New York as Westchester Commercial School (sometimes referred to in early directories as Westchester Commercial College).
  • Its purpose was career training in business and office skills, typical of early 20th-century commercial institutes.
    • Programs included bookkeeping, stenography, typing, business correspondence, secretarial training and accounting.

These types of schools were extremely common providing direct training for office jobs in banks, law firms, and corporate offices.

The institution was founded, owned and operated by Frederick H. Roberts and his wife Grace Roberts for much of its early history.

The Roberts family emphasized career-focused curriculum, small classes, close relationships with employers, evening programs for working adults.

This philosophy still reflects the modern CW mission of Career-Focused Education.

1959 – Move to White Plains

The school moved from New Rochelle to White Plains, where it opened at:

16 Bank Street
White Plains, New York

In the 1950s, educational entrepreneur Milton E. Cagan purchased Westchester Commercial School. Under his leadership, the institution began expanding beyond traditional typing and stenography programs, strengthening relationships with local employers and growing evening offerings for working adults. Cagan’s vision helped modernize the school and ultimately led to its relocation to White Plains.

Why White Plains?

During the 1950s White Plains had become:

  • the business center of Westchester County
  • a hub for banks, insurance companies, and corporate offices
  • a major commuter city between New York City and suburban counties

Moving there placed the school closer to employers that hired graduates.

1959–1985 – The Bank Street Era

The college operated at 16 Bank Street for about 26 years.

During this period several major developments occurred:

1973 – Incorporation as Westchester Business Institute

Under the leadership of Ernest H. Sutkowski, the institution transitioned to a formally incorporated educational institution under the name Westchester Business Institute (WBI). This change reflected the school’s growth and its evolution from a traditional commercial training school into a more comprehensive business and career-focused institute. Incorporation allowed the school to expand academic programs, strengthen administrative governance, and prepare for authorization to award degree programs from the New York State Board of Regents.

Degree Authorization

1975

The New York State Board of Regents authorized the school to award the Associate in Occupational Studies (A.O.S.) degree.

This marked the transition from a commercial school → degree-granting college.

1985 – Move to the Current Campus

After outgrowing the Bank Street site, the institution moved again.

325 Central Avenue
White Plains, New York

This facility expanded classrooms, technology labs, and student services.

2003 – Becoming The College of Westchester

2008 – NYS Board of Regents authorized CW to offer the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Degree.

2011 – Approved by NYS ED Dept and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education to offer degrees in an online format.

2016 – NYS Board of Regents authorized CW to offer the Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree.

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