After several years as a local school focusing on the classical education, the school was officially renamed New Paltz Academy in 1833. In 1886, the academy became a normal school supported by the state. It was granted the ability to award baccalaureate degrees in 1942, when it was renamed the State Teachers College at New Paltz. A few years later, in 1947, a graduate program was established. When the State University of New York was established by legislative act in 1948, the Teachers College at New Paltz was one of 30 colleges associated under SUNY's umbrella.