Founded in New York City in 1831, New York University has had a tradition of being a "private university in the public service."

The Office of Government and Community Affairs (OGCA) and Office of Civic Engagement (OCE) help orchestrate these endeavors, serving as the University's primary liaison to community boards, block associations, civic organizations, local businesses, social service providers, and individuals across the diverse neighborhoods where the University makes it home — including Greenwich Village, NoHo, Manhattan's First Avenue Health Corridor, and Downtown Brooklyn.

Just as our setting in New York City has been a key element in making NYU a leader in higher education, the University positively impacts the community by contributing to, and working closely with, local organizations and individuals, organizing a variety of community events, and helping to connect community members to available University resources.

New York University has grown into one of the nation's leading institutions of higher education, a dynamic and prominent research university that is "in and of the city" with an academic presence that spans the globe.