Long Island University Long Island University ( LIU ) is a private , coeducational , nonsectarian institution of higher education in the U . S . state of New York . History . LIU was chartered in 1926 in Brooklyn by the New York State Education Department to provide “ effective and moderately priced education ” to people from “ all walks of life ” . In 1951 , recognizing the educational needs of the growing number of families moving to the suburbs , LIU purchased a estate , Hillwood , from cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and her third husband Joseph E . Davies . Located in Brookville , the original home , Warburton Hall , had been built by William A . Prime and was extensively renovated by the Huttons . Three years later , the campus was renamed C . W . Post , in honor of Marjorie Post ' s father . It has a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate programs , including library science , business and many other specialties . In 1963 LIU established a third campus in Southampton , where it had writing and environmental programs . As the management of this campus became too costly , the university sold it in 2006 to the State University of New York ( SUNY ) at Stony Brook . LIU ' s master ' s degree programs at this campus were transferred to Riverhead . Ownership of LIU ' s bachelor ’ s degree programs located at Southampton was transferred to SUNY Stony Brook . On March 7 , 2013 , LIU named Kimberly R . Cline , the current president of Mercy College , as its 10th president . She will succeed David J . Steinberg , who is retiring in the summer of 2013 , and be the first woman to lead the private , six - campus institution . Organization . LIU is administered by a president and board of trustees who elects the president . The two main campuses are governed by a chancellor , chosen by the chairperson of the board of trustees . Campuses . LIU has two main campuses : LIU Brooklyn , in Brooklyn , and LIU Post , in Brookville . LIU also offers educational programs at locations in Brentwood and Riverhead and at its LIU Hudson sites , located in Rockland and Westchester . LIU Brooklyn . LIU Brooklyn is the University ' s first permanent site , established in 1926 . The campus , located at the intersection of Flatbush and DeKalb Avenues ( across the street from Junior ' s restaurant ) , includes the former Brooklyn Paramount Theater , the world ’ s first theater built specifically for talking pictures . The theater , which abuts the original core campus , was bought in 1960 by LIU and converted into a gymnasium in 1963 . Parts of the theater ' s balcony were used as lecture rooms . The theater , containing its original Wurlitzer organ , was used as a basketball court for the Brooklyn campus ' Blackbirds ' home basketball games until the Athletic , Recreation & Wellness Center ( designed by Arquitectonica ) was built . The " New York Times " recognized it as one of the most diverse campuses in the United States . and is home to the prestigious George Polk Awards in journalism . LIU Brooklyn comprises : LIU Post . Founded in 1954 , LIU Post is situated in Brookville , on Long Island ' s north shore . It is the University ' s largest campus . The University ' s main administrative offices and located a short drive down the road from the campus . LIU Post comprises : LIU Post is home to the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts , which presents world - renowned artists in 70 music , dance , and theater performances each season . The campus also is the location of a lifetime learning program in Continuing Education & Professional Studies that offers classes in the fall , spring and summer semesters . Subjects include paralegal studies , financial planning , interior decorating , corporate training , project management , entrepreneurship , real estate , and insurance . Other LIU locations . The Brentwood and Riverhead locations , and LIU Hudson , with its two locations in Rockland and Westchester counties , offer graduate degree and advanced certificate programs ; the Brentwood location also offers a bachelor ' s degree program . LIU Riverhead is home to the Homeland Security Management Institute , recognized as one of the leading institutions in the United States in homeland security training . The institute has been designated a " Homeland Security Center of Excellence " by the United States Congress . Academics . All campuses offering undergraduate education utilize what is called the " Long Island University Plan " . The main components of the plan consists of ( 1 ) expanded academic and personal counseling from the students ' first year to graduation ; ( 2 ) enhanced academic and career opportunities that gives students decisive advantages in career fields of their choice by providing an option for professional employment and " special " semesters that build professional connections , credentials , and experience ; and ( 3 ) essential literacies that develop the students ' analytic and writing skills that familiarizes them with the fundamental languages of culture and science . Athletics . The two major LIU campuses have distinct athletic programs and thus names : the Blackbirds at LIU Brooklyn , who compete in NCAA Division I ; and the Pioneers at LIU Post , who compete in NCAA Division II . LIU Brooklyn has 14 varsity teams , and LIU Post has 15 varsity teams , each representing sports from baseball to volleyball . The Blackbirds basketball team has been the most successful of both campuses ’ programs . The basketball team won the National Invitation Tournament ( NIT ) in 1939 and 1941 under the guidance of Coach Clair Bee . The 1935 - 36 team went 25 ‑ 0 and was the overwhelming favorite to represent the United States at the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin , with basketball a medal sport for the first time . However , the Blackbirds decided as a team to boycott the Games as a protest of Nazi Germany and its anti - Jewish policies . This principled position taken by the players was based on a secret ballot among them in Coach Bee ' s office in early March 1936 . In 1951 , however , the Blackbirds basketball players were involved in the CCNY Point Shaving Scandal that resulted in five players receiving a suspended sentence and one player a one - year prison sentence . The school suspended its athletic program from 1951 to 1957 due to the scandal . Games were played at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater until recently . In 1997 the Blackbirds were seeded 13th in the East Region of the NCAA Men ' s Basketball tournament . They lost in the first round to Villanova , 101 ‑ 91 . In 2011 the Brooklyn Campus won both the Northeast Conference regular season and tournament championship , winning 13 games in a row at the end of the season . The Blackbirds were seeded 15th in the NCAA Men ' s Division I Basketball Tournament but lost 102 ‑ 87 to North Carolina in the first round , and so finished with a 27 ‑ 6 record for 2010 - 11 . In 2012 the Blackbirds repeated as NEC regular - season and tournament champions and were seeded 16th in the 2012 NCAA Men ' s Division I Basketball Tournament but lost 89 ‑ 67 to Michigan State in the first round , thus finishing with a 25 ‑ 9 recond for 2011 - 12 . On March 12 , 2013 , the Blackbirds won their third straight NEC title by defeating Mount St . Mary ' s 91 - 70 in the championship game but lost to James Madison 68 - 55 in a 16 - seed play - in game during the 2013 NCAA Men ' s Division I Basketball Tournament . The Blackbirds ' women ' s soccer team , which plays at Long Island University Field , has also been extremely successful . Media . The LIU Public Radio Network broadcasts on 88 . 3 FM ( WPPB ) and 88 . 1 FM ( WCWP ) . The LIU television broadcasts on channels 36 and 37 on campus only ( LIUTV ) . The Brooklyn Campus newspaper is Seawanhaka . The journal " Confrontation " is based on the LIU Post Campus .