Everything to Know About Deaf U's Gallaudet University

Gallaudet University, then problematically called the Columbia Institution For the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb and Blind, was founded in 1856 to educate a handful of deaf and blind children. Edward Miner Gallaudet, founder of the nation's first school for the deaf, soon became superintendent. Eight years later, congress and President Lincoln authorized the school to grant college degrees, promoting Gallaudet to President of the new institution.

Fun fact: Due to its charter status, every Gallaudet diploma is signed by the sitting US President.

Nestled on a 100-acre lot in the heart of Washington, DC, Gallaudet is in the middle of the nation's political hustle and bustle. It's a quick drive from the White House, Capitol building, Union Station, and other tourist destinations. Since Gallaudet has been around for over a century, the city has become infused with and inclusive towards deaf culture.

H-street, a 1.5 mile strip near Gallaudet where bars and shops are equipped to meet customer service needs and expectations of deaf patrons, is known as a mecca of deaf culture.

For the 2019-2020 school year, only about 1,500 students were enrolled at the University, 5,000 less than the national average for a university as reported by U.S. News. From the Deaf U trailer, it seems that Gallaudet is an extremely tight-knit community, and with a population similar to a large high school, it's clear to see why.

Although the University is designed for the education and research of deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, it does admit a small set of hearing students each year. The students must know ASL and "want to study alongside deaf and hard of hearing individuals, and will pursue a career that furthers the education of deaf and hard of hearing," the Gallaudet website says. There is a caveat however, as only maximum 8 percent of admitted undergraduate students can be hearing.

Priding itself as a bilingual institution, Gallaudet is the only university in the world to host an undergraduate and graduate program in ASL and English interpretation, alongside nearly 40 run-of-the-mill majors. Open to both hearing and deaf students, the program aims to churn out interpreters not only linguistically proficient, but also culturally competent towards both hearing and deaf communities.

97 percent of Gallaudet graduates leave the school with a job or admittance to graduate school, making it no surprise that some alumni are sure to be recognizable. Survivor fans may remember season six's Christy Smith, the first deaf contestant on the CBS series. Linda Bove, lovingly called Linda the librarian on Sesame Street, also graduated from the D.C. school. Deaf U creator and Gallaudet graduate Nyle DiMarco became the first deaf America's Next Top Model winner in 2015.

Like many other schools faced with a decision to bring back students during the pandemic or go virtual, Gallaudet opted to hold the fall semester online. Priority housing was given to students in special circumstances, but the majority of students left campus.