Article One: The University Charter

An act to incorporate St. John's College, Fordham
Passed April 10, 1846 by a two-third vote. (Laws of New York, 1846. Chap. 61.)

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly do enact as follows:

Jacob Harvey, Peter A. Hargous, John McKeon, James R. Bayley, John Harley, John McCloskey, William Starrs, Hugh Kelly, and David Bacon and their successors, are hereby constituted a body corporate, by the name of St. John's College, Fordham, the said corporation to be in all respects a university, and its object the promotion of education. The said corporation shall have perpetual succession, with power to sue and be sued, to make and use a common seal, and alter the same at pleasure.
The persons named are hereby appointed trustees of the said corporation, of whom six members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
The said board of trustees shall appoint the professors and such other instructors as they may deem necessary, subject to removal of the members of the board.
The corporation hereby created shall possess the powers and be subject to the provisions contained in Article Second, title first, of the fifteenth chapter of the first part of the Revised Statutes so far as the same are applicable.
The said corporation may grant to students under its charge, diplomas or honorary testimonials, in such form as it may designate. It may also confer such literary honors, degrees and diplomas, as are usually granted by any university, college or seminary of learning in the United States.
Diplomas granted by the said corporation shall entitle the possessor to the immunities and privileges allowed by usage or Statute to the possessors of like diplomas from any college or seminary of learning in the State.
The corporation shall be subject to the visitation of the Regents of the University of this State, in the same manner and to the same extent as the various colleges in this State.
The corporation hereby created shall possess the powers and be subject to the provisions contained in the third title of eighteenth chapter of the first part of the Revised Statutes far as the same are applicable and have not been repealed.
The legislature may at any time alter or repeal this act.
This act shall take effect immediately.

State of New York: In Assembly March 17, 1846. This bill having been read the third time, and two-thirds of all the members elected to the Assembly voting in favor thereof, Resolved that the bill do pass. By order of the Assembly.

Wm. C. Crain,
Speaker

State of New York: In Senate April 8, 1846. This bill having been read the third time, two-thirds of all the members elected to the Senate voting in favor thereof, Resolved that the bill do pass. By order of the Senate.
A. Gardiner, President

Approved this 10th day of April 1846.

Silas Wright

State of New York: Secretary's Office
I have compared the preceding with an original law of this State on file in this office, and do hereby certify that the same is a correct transcript there from and of the whole of said original.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the Seal of this office at the City of Albany the tenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty six. (SEAL)

N.J. Benton
Secretary of State

The University of the State of New York

Amendment to Charter of St. John's College, Fordham
Having received a petition made in conformity to law and being satisfied that public interests will be promoted by such action the Regents, by virtue of the authority conferred on them, hereby amend the charter of St. John's College, Fordham by changing its corporate name to

Fordham University

And giving to its medical department the name of Fordham University, School of Medicine; to its law department the name of Fordham University, School of Law; and to its collegiate department the name of Fordham University, St. John's College.

In witness whereof, the Regents grant this amendment to charter no. 1808, under seal of the University at the Capitol in Albany, March 7, 1907.

St. Clair McKelway,
Vice-Chancellor
A.S. Draper
Commissioner of Education
Recorded and took effect 2:30 p.m., March 7, 1907.

The University of the State of New York

Amendment to Charter of Fordham University
This instrument witnesseth that the Regents of the State of New York have amended the charter of Fordham University, located in the Borough of the Bronx, City of New York (which was chartered under the name of St. John's College, Fordham, by Chapter 61 of the Laws of 1846 of the State of New York, its corporate name having been changed to Fordham University by action of the Regents taken at their meeting of March 7, 1907), by changing the name of its collegiate department now known as "Fordham University, St. John's College," to "Fordham University, Fordham College."

Granted November 19, 1931 by the Regents of the State of New York, executed under their seal and recorded in their office. Number 4057.

Frank Pierrepont Graves President of the University and Commissioner of Education

(SEAL)
J. M. Byrne,
Vice-Chancellor

The University of the State of New York Education Department

Amendment to Charter of Fordham University
This instrument witnesseth that the Board of Regents for and on behalf of the Education Department of the State of New York has amended the charter of Fordham University, -- which was incorporated under the name of St. John's College, Fordham, by Chapter 61 of the Laws of 1846 of the State of New York, such charter having been amended by action of the Board of Regents on March 7, 1907, by changing the corporate name of the institution to

Fordham University

And giving to its medical department the name of Fordham University, School of Medicine, to its law department, the name of Fordham University, School of Law, and to its collegiate department, the name of Fordham University, St. John's College, and further amended by the Regents on November 19, 1931, by changing the name of the collegiate department from Fordham University, St. John's College, to Fordham University, Fordham College, -- by specifying the principal location of the corporation as the city and State of New York and by authorizing the corporation to conduct institutional branches in the counties of Westchester, Dutchess and Putnam.

(SEAL)
Granted December 16, 1955 by the Board of Regents for and on behalf of the State Education Department, executed under the seal of said Department and recorded therein. Number 6814.

James E. Allen, Jr.
President of the University
And Commissioner of Education

Jno. P. Myers,
Chancellor

The University of the State of New York Education Department

Amendment to Charter of Fordham University
This instrument witnesseth that the Board of Regents for and on behalf of the Education Department of the State of New York has amended the charter of Fordham University, located in the city, county and State of New York -- which was incorporated under the name of ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, FORDHAM, by chapter 61 of the Laws of 1846 of the State of New York, such charter having been amended from time to time and in various respects by the Regents, including an amendment granted on March 7, 1907, changing the corporate name of the institution to Fordham University, -- by changing the number of trustees constituting the board of trustees of the University from the previous number of 9 to not more than 31 nor less than 5; and to provide that a majority of said board shall constitute a quorum for doing business.

Granted October 25, 1968, by the Board of Regents for and on behalf of the State Education Department, executed under the seal of said Department and recorded therein. Number 9805.

James E. Allen, Jr.
President of the University
and Commissioner of Education

Joseph W. McGovern
Chancellor

The University of the State of New York Education Department

Amendment to Charter of Fordham University
This instrument witnesseth that the Regents of The University of the State of New York, have amended the charter of Fordham University, located in the city, county and state of New York, which was granted by Chapter 61 of the Laws of 1846, which charter has been amended from time to time, the last amendment having been granted on October 25, 1968, to increase the authorized maximum number of trustees to forty.

GRANTED March 20, 1987, by the Board of Regents of The University of the State of New York, for and on behalf of the State Education Department, and executed under the seal of said University, and recorded as Number 20,061.

Thomas Sobol
President of the University and Commissioner of Education

Martin Borell
Chancellor

The University of the State of New York Education Department

Amendment to Charter of Fordham University
I, Kathy A. Ahearn, Counsel and Deputy Commissioner for Legal Affairs for the New York State Education Department, hereby certify that Fordham University, located in the city, county, and State of New York, was incorporated by Special Act of the Legislature pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 61 of the Laws of 1846 under the corporate name "St. John's College, Fordham"; that such absolute charter was amended by action of the Board of Regents on March 7, 1907 to change the corporate name to "Fordham University," November 19, 1931, December 16, 1955, October 25, 1968 and March 20, 1987; that such corporation was consolidated by Regents action on June 18, 2002 with Marymount College, a New York education corporation which was incorporated by Regents action on May 29, 1919, which provisional charter was made absolute by Regents action on May 29, 1924 and amended by Regents action on December 19, 1947, March 25, 1960, June 23, 1961, January 26, 1972, May 28, 1976, July 29, 1988, January 17, 1990 and February 6, 2001, with the surviving corporation being Fordham University; that the period for which such corporation was created is perpetual; that no certificate or order of dissolution of such corporation has been filed or issued; and that such corporation is currently authorized to do business in the State of New York.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of the University of the State of New York and of the State Education Department at the City of Albany, New York on this 4th day of September, 2003.

Kathy A. Ahearn
Counsel and Deputy
Commissioner For
Legal Affairs

The University of the State of New York Education Department

Amendment to Charter of Fordham University
This Instrument Witnesseth That the Board of Regents for and on behalf of the Education Department of the State of New York at their meeting of December 14, 2021,

An application having been made by and on behalf of the trustees of Fordham University, for an amendment of its charter, it was

Voted, that the charter of Fordham University, located in the city, county, and state of New York, was incorporated by Special Act of the Legislature pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 61 of the Laws of 1846 under the corporate name "St. John's College, Fordham" on April 10, 1846; which charter was amended by Regents Action on March 7, 1907 to change the corporate name to "Fordham University"; and such charter having been amended on various occasions, the last amendment having been granted on June 18 2002 be, and the same hereby is, amended to authorize the corporation to confer the degree of Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.).

(SEAL)
Granted, December 14, 2021 by the Board of Regents of The University of the State of New York, for and on behalf of the State Education Department, and executed under the seal of said University and recorded as Number 27,379.

Betty A. Rosa
President of the University
and Commissioner of Education

Lester Young, Jr.
Chancellor