The real Father of the Big 3

[ShotoJuku]

Excelsior College was founded in 1971 by the New York State Board of Regents as its external degree program, known as The Regents External Degree Program (REX).

Known as Regents College from 1984 until 1998, it operated as a program of the Board of Regents (which also served as its board of trustees).

In April 1998, the Board of Regents granted the school an absolute charter to operate as a private, nonprofit, independent institution. On January 1, 2001, Regents College, required to change its name under the terms of the separation, became Excelsior College (Excelsior means "ever upward" in Latin; it is also the motto of New York).