Lana Oconnell
There has been some confusion regarding whether Joe Biden attended Delaware State University. During a 2020 presidential debate, Donald Trump claimed that Biden had forgotten the name of his college and had attended the historically Black university. However, this claim is false. Biden attended the University of Delaware for his undergraduate degrees in political science and history and received his law degree from Syracuse University. He has also been mistaken to have attended Delaware State University due to a comment he made at a town hall in Florence, S.C., where he said that he got his start at the school because he received support there when he announced his bid for Senate on the campus.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Did Joe Biden attend Delaware State University? | No |
| Did Joe Biden say he attended Delaware State University? | No |
| Where did Joe Biden go to college? | University of Delaware |
| Did Joe Biden receive a law degree? | Yes, from Syracuse University |
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What You'll Learn
Joe Biden attended the University of Delaware
Biden's early days at the University of Delaware were promising. According to Newark Mayor Vance A. Funk III, a UD classmate, Biden was full of energy and embraced college life. He played football and ran for president of the freshman class. However, Biden's initial laissez-faire attitude towards academics led to a shift in priorities. With guidance from David E. Ingersoll, a political science professor, Biden improved his grades and graduated with his undergraduate degree.
Following his time at the University of Delaware, Biden went on to Syracuse University, where he obtained his law degree. He then returned to his home state of Delaware to practice law and enter politics. In 1970, he was elected to the New Castle County Council, and two years later, at the age of 29, he was elected to the U.S. Senate.
Biden's connection to the University of Delaware has endured throughout his political career. In 2018, the University renamed its School of Public Policy and Administration after him, honoring his role in building a bridge between the school and the wider community. Biden's commitment to education and his alma mater is reflected in his return visits to the University of Delaware, where he has engaged with students and educators, sharing his thoughts on various topics and offering support.
While there was a claim during the 2020 presidential debates that Biden had attended Delaware State University, this was false. Biden has never stated that he attended Delaware State University, and his educational background is firmly rooted at the University of Delaware, where he received his undergraduate education and began his journey into politics.
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He received a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science
Joe Biden attended the University of Delaware, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science. Notably, Biden was the first president since Ronald Reagan to attend a state school to obtain an undergraduate degree.
Biden's early days at the University of Delaware were promising. He was elected first-year class president for the 1961-62 academic year and played defensive back on the freshman football team, also known as the "Blue Chicks." However, Biden's initial laissez-faire attitude towards academics resulted in poor grades, prompting him to seek guidance from a new political science professor, David E. Ingersoll. With Ingersoll's help, Biden improved his academic performance and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science in 1965.
Biden's time at the University of Delaware left a lasting impact on him. He returned to the university in 2003 to participate in a special edition of MSNBC's Hardball College Tour, where he engaged with students on foreign policy topics. In 2018, Biden visited the university again, meeting with students in the Trabant University Center. That same year, the University of Delaware announced the renaming of its School of Public Policy and Administration to the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration. This honor recognized Biden's significant contributions to bridging the efforts of the school and the wider community.
Biden's commitment to education and public service is further reflected in his marriage to Jill Jacobs-Biden, a highly educated woman with four degrees, including a doctorate in educational leadership. Together, Joe and Jill Biden embody a commitment to bettering their community through education and political engagement.
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He was a poor student but class president
Joe Biden attended the University of Delaware, where he received his undergraduate degrees in political science and history. Notably, Biden was a poor student but excelled in extracurricular activities and was elected class president in his freshman year.
Biden's early days at the University of Delaware were promising. According to Newark Mayor Vance A. Funk III, a classmate and football team manager, Biden was full of energy and embraced college life. He played football and ran for president of the freshman class. However, Biden's academic performance was lacking. In his memoir, he wrote that after his first semester, his parents informed him that he wouldn't be playing spring football due to his poor grades.
Realizing that he needed to improve his grades to pursue law school, Biden sought guidance from a new political science professor, David E. Ingersoll. With Ingersoll's help, Biden turned his academic performance around. Despite his initial struggles, Biden valued his education and was committed to improving himself. He actively participated in campus life and was interested in the University and its students, even after his graduation.
Biden's interest in the University of Delaware continued throughout his political career. In 2003, he visited the campus to participate in a special edition of MSNBC's Hardball College Tour, where he answered foreign policy questions from students. In 2018, he returned to the University and met with students in the Trabant University Center. The University of Delaware also recognized Biden's contributions by renaming its School of Public Policy and Administration after him. The Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration is a testament to Biden's impact on the University and its commitment to improving communities in Delaware and beyond.
While Biden may have struggled academically at times, his dedication to improving himself and his strong leadership skills were evident from his early days at the University of Delaware. His ability to connect with people and his active involvement in campus life laid the foundation for his successful political career.
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He played football and ran for freshman class president
Joe Biden attended the University of Delaware, where he played football and ran for freshman class president.
Biden's early days at the University of Delaware were promising. He played football and ran for freshman class president, a position he won with the help of Newark Mayor Vance A. Funk III, who was the Blue Hens football team manager at the time.
Biden's interest in politics was evident early on. During his time at the University of Delaware, he was elected as the first-year class president for the 1961-62 academic year. He had an "uncanny ability to connect with people," according to the university. Biden's involvement in student government and football contributed to his social engagement on campus.
Despite his initial focus on sports and student leadership, Biden eventually shifted his attention to academics. He recognized the importance of good grades to pursue his goal of attending law school. With guidance from a political science professor, David E. Ingersoll, Biden improved his academic performance.
Biden's time at the University of Delaware left a lasting impact on him. He returned to the university in 2018 and visited with students in the Trabant University Center. The university's School of Public Policy and Administration was renamed the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration in recognition of his contributions. Biden played a significant role in building bridges between the school and the wider community.
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He later received an honorary doctorate from Morehouse College
There is no evidence that Joe Biden attended Delaware State University. In fact, during a 2020 presidential debate, Donald Trump falsely claimed that Biden had attended the historically Black university. Biden never stated that he attended the university.
However, Biden did receive an honorary doctorate from Morehouse College, a historically Black college in Atlanta, Georgia. The college's faculty voted in a 50-38 decision to confer the honorary degree on Biden during its upcoming graduation ceremony, where he is also scheduled to deliver the commencement address.
The vote was met with opposition from some students, faculty, and alumni, who protested Biden's handling of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. A letter circulated among the faculty members addressed their stance on the war in Gaza and the decision to host Biden as a commencement speaker.
Despite the controversy, Morehouse leadership and alumni defended the decision, citing Biden's track record with the Black community, including appointing Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson as the first Black woman to the Supreme Court and overseeing the lowest level of Black unemployment in history.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Joe Biden did not attend Delaware State University. He attended the University of Delaware for his undergraduate degrees in political science and history.
No, Biden did not receive an honorary degree from Delaware State University. However, he did receive an honorary doctorate from Morehouse College, a historically Black college in Atlanta, Georgia.
There is no indication that Joe Biden ever taught at Delaware State University.
There is no evidence that Joe Biden ever gave a speech at Delaware State University. However, he has visited the University of Delaware on multiple occasions, including to speak to students about foreign policy and to participate in The Democracy Project, which seeks to improve the teaching of civics in Delaware classrooms.
