NECO History Timeline
1894 Klein School of Optics established by August Klein
1900 The curriculum is expanded to one year
1901The Klein School becomes the Massachusetts School of Optometry
1909 A formal two-year program is offered to students
1933 The first external clinic at the Harry E. Burroughs Newsboys Foundation Medical Clinic
1946 The School is granted a non-profit charter with the right to confer professional degrees
1947 The School is accredited by the American Optometric Association
1948 The School acquires and moves to a new location at 178 Newbury Street
1950 The School becomes the Massachusetts College of Optometry
1968 The College becomes the first optometry school to affiliate with a U.S. public health hospital
1971 The College purchases the Beacon Street buildings, which become its permanent home
1972 The College begins its affiliations with Boston’s neighborhood health centers
1975 The College becomes the first to certify optometrists in the use of diagnostic pharmaceutical agents
1976 The College is renamed The New England College of Optometry
1985 The Second Century Capital Campaign is born and eventually raises $2 million for the College
1992 Twin College Agreement with Wenzhou Medical College in China is signed
1994 Center for the International Advancement of Optometry is established
1994 Centennial Gala is held at the Museum of Fine Arts
1995 First federal research grant received; Myopia Research Center established
1998 Gala to honor Hyman Kamens' fifty years of service
1999 Renovations to the Beacon Street campus are completed, and numerous local and national awards for outstanding preservation of historic buildings are won
2000 The College hosts Eighth International Conference on Myopia
2002 A new clinical teaching affiliate, New England Eye Institute, Inc., is established
2009 The College celebrates its 115th Anniversary
