Small College Garden

Stephens College Revamps Equestrian Studies Program

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Fri, 24 May 2024 15:45:00 +0000

The Columbia Missourian posted "Stephens College initiatives expand equestrian program" on May 24, 2024 with reporting by Michael Baniewicz.

I am not a horse person, though I am fascinated by equestrian studies as a curricular subject. We are blessed in our area with two small institutions that have maintained strong programs over many years.

Stephens has added courses as it redesigned the program to better align with industry needs and standards. There is also a new research collaboration between Stephens College and the University of Missouri. I enjoyed the reporting, including the comment that the Stephens College Equestrian Studies Program has the highest retention rates at the institution.

The article also traces program history back to 1925 when horseback riding was added to Stephens’ curriculum by physical education instructor Wilma Haynes as an extracurricular activity.

Manor College Commemorates Anniversary of Most Recent Invasion of Ukraine

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 15:12:00 +0000

Manor College in Pennsylvania highlighted activities this week commemorating the first anniversary of the most recent invasion of Ukraine.

Manor College is a unique private, Catholic, co-educational, independent institution of higher learning founded in 1947 by the Byzantine Ukrainian Sisters of Saint Basil the Great. The institutional vision centers its Catholic Basilian and Ukrainian foundations and seeks maintain a diverse community that participates in and leads in a dynamic global society.

A quick scan of the Manor College website reveals numerous efforts to raise funds and build awareness of the situation Ukraine is currently facing.

Originally founded as St. Macrina’s, in 1959, the institution was chartered and incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as Manor Junior College. The name changed in 1999 to Manor College.

Our Lady Seat of Wisdom, Canadian Microcollege

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 14:00:00 +0000

A fascinating extended article offers insights on several levels into a Canadian microcollege, "Our Lady Seat of Wisdom President talks candidly." President Christine Schintgen was interviewed by Barry Conway of The Eganville (Ontario, CA) Leader.

Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy began in the fall of 1999 "...as a small study centre with a few dedicated teachers and a group of six eager young students. The small “proto-college” was named, appropriately enough, after a title of Our Lady officially authorized by the Second Vatican Council, Mater Ecclesiae. Students and teachers would meet in living rooms, hay lofts, basements, wherever they could find room, and together discuss the truths of our faith, history, and civilization."

Our Lady Seat of Wisdom, is now officially a college, offering a three-year Bachelor of Catholic Studies degree and enrolls roughly 100 students. The college is located in Barry's Bay, Ontario, CA.

Bennett College Successfully Focuses on Students

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 16:37:00 +0000

Interesting article on the EdDaily EDNC site, "Bennett College: Boldly moving through complex moments," with reporting by Nation Hahn.

President Suzanne Walsh and her team of faculty and staff are successfully redesigning the institution to serve a small student body.

You can also review several other Small College Garden posts featuring Bennett College:

March 27, 2021 Bennett College Releases Strategic Statement Setting New Course as an Innovative Microcollege
January 9, 2019 Overwhelming Support Emerges for Bennett College
January 25, 2016 Bennett College is Featured...Impressive Changes over the past Decade

Mount Tamalpais College Receives Accreditation

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 14:25:00 +0000

IHE reports in "A Newly Accredited College for Incarcerated Students," with reporting by Sara Weissman that Mount Tamalpais College was formally accredited as a two-year college last month by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. Mount Tamalpais College becomes the only accredited, independent liberal arts college in the country that operates its main campus out of a prison. The institution serves roughly 300 students with a dozen staff and volunteers.

Norwalk Conservatory College set to open in 2022

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 16:04:00 +0000

Inside Higher Ed posted "A New Arts College in Connecticut" in July 2021 with reporting by Emma Whitford. Whitford interviewed founders of the Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts, a nonprofit organization in Connecticut who are working to open Norwalk Conservatory College in 2022.

You can visit the conservatory web site to learn more about the programs in musical theatre performance, musical theatre dance, and television/film performance.

Endicott College Appears to Thrive during a Stressful Year

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Sat, 10 Apr 2021 16:39:00 +0000

Interesting reporting by Emma Whitford of Inside Higher Ed, "A Pandemic Financial Success Story? Endicott College’s strength during the pandemic highlights the importance of diverse revenue streams. What might it teach other small private colleges?"

We will hopefully see additional reporting on other institutions that have managed to take make needed changes and strengthen operations.

Whitford notes that an institutional press release indicates that the, "...endowment has grown to $119 million, no employees were laid off or furloughed during the pandemic, enrollment hasn’t wavered and the college maintained its study abroad program this academic year."

Endicott College is located in Beverly, MA. It was founded by Dr. Eleanor Tupper and her husband, the Reverend Dr. George O. Bierkoe in 1939 to educate young women. Accreditation was granted in 1952 and the first baccalaureate class graduated in 1990. Endicott was coeducational after 1994 and the first graduate programs were introduced in 1996.

Bennett College Releases Strategic Statement Setting New Course as an Innovative Microcollege

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 14:43:00 +0000

Excellent local reporting by John Newsom of the Greensboro News & Record, "The Syllabus: A new direction for Bennett College."

Newsom focuses on a strategic statement announced by the administration and board of Bennett College, "Designing for the Future at Bennett College: A Blueprint for HERstory." The joint statement by Bennett president Suzanne Walsh and board chairwoman Gladys Robinson is intended as a framework for strategic planning.

One of the fascinating principals Newsom highlights is the commitment to operate as an innovative "micro college," with enrollment of about 200 undergraduate students. As Newsom notes, "Bennett had 233 students enrolled during the fall semester. Its statement suggests that the college's current size is both comfortable and viable."

Newsom concludes the article with a link to an interview by President Walsh earlier this month with Luke Lawal Jr. of HBCU Buzz.

Inside Higher Ed also posted a piece by Rick Seltzer, "Bennett College Outlines New Direction," on March 25, 2021.

Morris Brown College Partners to Prepare Students for Leadership Roles

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Sat, 27 Feb 2021 15:55:00 +0000

Bloomberg posted a short video interview on February 26, 2021, "Morris Brown College Partners With CGI Merchant for Training Program."

The interview features Dr. Kevin E. James, Morris Brown College President, and CGI Merchant Group CEO Raoul Thomas discussing a new partnership to prepare students for leadership roles with Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

Flagstaff College: A New Institution Focuses on Ecological Challenges and Positive Change

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 16:02:00 +0000

The Arizona Daily Sun featured Sandra Lubarsky and Marcus Ford in "Big Idea: College on a 'micro' scale" as the two former Northern Arizona University faculty members seek to welcome their first students in the fall to Flagstaff College.

Flagstaff College will initially feature a two-year program of intensive study focusing on the ecological challenges facing the world and ways to implement positive changes.

Reporter Sam McManis notes that students "...will either transfer existing general-education credits from other schools or take core classes at Coconino Community College, with which Flagstaff College has partnered, and then focus their study on all aspects of sustainability."

You visit the Flagstaff College website to learn more about the institution's mission and values or academic program.

The article notes that a number of microcolleges have emerged in recent years and includes references to several like Outer Coast College in Sitka, Alaska or Sterling College in Vermont, Deep Springs in California and Wayfinding Academy in Portland, Oregon. You can read more about these and other micro-colleges in previous Small College Garden posts:

November 15, 2016 Small Liberal Arts Colleges: Positive Report from a Gathering of Presidents
August 28, 2016 A Call for more UltraSmall Colleges
March 30, 2017 Partnership offers Path to Degrees for Single Mothers

Wayfinding Academy is Featured for Initiative to Address Historic Inequality

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 16:43:00 +0000

The Wayfinding Academy is featured in "Portland college offers free tuition to Black and Native American students," with reporting by Meerah Powell and posted by Oregon Public Broadcasting on January 25, 2021.

Powell interviewed founder and president, Michelle Jones, along with staff and students. There is also a short audio clip accompanying the article.

The Wayfinding Academy "...offers one degree: a two-year associate’s in “self and society” with a focus, Jones said, on helping students figure out what they want to do after college, and how to get there."

You can also learn more in a Small College Garden post from April 2, 2018, "Wayfinding Academy: New 2-Year College Featured on EdSurge."

TEDxSalem posted a segment by Michelle Jones, "How To Do College Better," where she shares her path to the founding of Wayfinding Academy.

Radical Changes Urged for Colleges

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 17:14:00 +0000

Mary Landon Darden, founder and president of Higher Education Innovation, LLC, penned an op-ed for the January 24, 2021 issue of The Dallas Morning News, "Small colleges will need radical change to survive."

Darden begins with comments on recent changes at Sweet Briar College and closes by noting, "Survival will require all hands on deck. There are scary days ahead." In order to avoid closure, Darden suggests that:

institutions must hire outstanding entrepreneurial leaders who understand the culture of the academy...;
that those with ties to the colleges must support the institution both financially and with talents and energy;
and, finally, we need to support those innovative, imaginative leaders taking essential, but unpopular steps to save institutions.

Waco Magazine provides an extensive interview with Darden that both summarizes her background and offers a variety of powerful observations about the current state of higher education, "Darden’s research aims to re-envision colleges for leading in the 21st century."

Rethinking the Role of Small Colleges in their Communities

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 16:09:00 +0000

Robert L. Fried and Eli O. Kramer argue in "Privileged Enclave or Village Commons? A Choice for Liberal Arts Colleges" at Inside Higher Ed on January 21, 2021 that "Nonelite small colleges face a pivotal choice: they can try to persevere by emulating elite Ivies, hoping to outlast the multiple threats they face; or they can remain true to their historic mission and high academic standards while extending the best traditions of liberal education to young people from surrounding community high schools, many of whose students now view their local college as “not a place for people like me.”

Or, as former Hampshire College president Gregory Prince notes, “The real task...is to get a lot more students to believe they have the potential to be successful, motivated learners, rather than to seek the few within diverse populations who have already bought into that vision."

Fried and Kramer conclude by noting that our "...democratic way of life, our embrace of the universal rights of human beings and the survival of our planet cannot remain the exclusive province of a highly educated and culturally sequestered gentility if we are to withstand the onslaught of populist, authoritarian ideologues and their exploitation of working-class and poor people. We must counter with a democratic way of living that is itself populist in its embrace of universal human aspirations for dignity, respect and inclusion amid an evolving global economy and a social media explosion."

The authors are affiliated with The New American Baccalaureate Project. You can visit the group's website for links to blog posts, podcasts, and other resources related to their Village Commons Initiative.

Martin University Turns a Corner

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 15:12:00 +0000

The Indianapolis Business Journal posted "Martin University focuses on workforce needs to close equity gap" on January 16, 2021 with reporting by Samm Quinn.

Martin University was founded in 1977 with a mission to serve low income, adult learners. Quinn reports that he leadership of former Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Eugene White and more recently, Sean Huddleston, has placed the institution on a more secure foundation.

Recent announcements include a partnership with Ivy Tech Community College to create a pipeline for minority students to complete degrees in education or cybersecurity. Martin University is also transitioning to become an “urban work college."

Bowdoin College Offers Plans for Solar Field

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 14:14:00 +0000

Bowdoin College posted an article December 17, 2020 by Rebecca Goldfine that offers details on institution's commitment to global climate action and efforts to secure 100% of energy needs from renewable sources. More specifically, Goldfine describes a planned solar field in "Nearby Solar Array Will Supply Bowdoin with Lots of Maine-Made Power."

You can also read in an earlier Small College Garden post about Bowdoin's long standing interest in the environment, "Bowdoin New Roux Center Symbolizes Environmental Commitment."

A Century of Equestrian Excellence at Sweet Briar College

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Sat, 26 Dec 2020 03:17:00 +0000

Sweet Briar College posted a fascinating historical overview, "100 Years of Equestrian Excellence: Forward thinking, forward riding," on December 22, 2020 by Dana Poleski.

Poleski highlights some of the key college staff like Harriet Howell Rogers, who served as a professor of physical education and the director of riding from 1924 to 1963. She "...recognized how popular riding was with the students and how influential it could be for both academic and personal development."

Rogers was just one of many people working over the years to build and maintain some "...of the best facilities in the nation and a reputation for equestrian excellence and achievement...(that) set the stage for the next 50 years of remarkable competitive and educational accomplishments."

President McGuire of Trinity Washington University Provides Insight Into Financial Impact of the Pandemic

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 14:43:00 +0000

Interesting reporting by Jonathan Capriel of the Washington Business Journal focusing on Trinity Washington University and the budgetary impact of pressures small institutions are facing as 2020 nears an end, "Trinity Washington University was staring at a big 2020 deficit. Then enrollment jumped and PPP came through.".

Pat McGuire, Trinity Washington's president, notes that retention played a big role in increased enrollment and highlights some budget areas where decreased costs played a role in achieving a balanced budget.

Leadership with a Focus on What Really Matters...Lessons from Dr. Pat McGuire and Trinity Washington University

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 16:23:00 +0000

Patricia McGuire, the president of Trinity Washington University, was recently featured on the Partnering Leadership podcast talking about how she led the transformation of Trinity, the leadership principles that she has learned, and advice she has for other leaders, as they're looking to lead their organizations through transformation.

You can also find an interview in a Small College Garden post from roughly a year ago with Kavitha Cardoza on WAMU radio, "The Evolving Legacy Of A Women’s College: Trinity’s Pat McGuire."

Successfully Navigating the Pandemic at Emmanuel College

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 16:02:00 +0000

Interesting article from the Global Sisters Report focusing on the response of Emmanuel College during the pandemic, "How a longtime Catholic college president is navigating the pandemic."

Sr. Janet Eisner, President of Emmanuel College in Boston "...credits the school's handling of the pandemic to faculty, staff and students — everyone but herself. Yet her colleagues say her ability to listen to every viewpoint then act decisively has allowed the school to weather the crisis so far."

I also found it interesting that "Eisner...has been at the helm of Emmanuel since taking office in 1979, 41 years ago, making her both the longest currently serving female college president and the longest serving current president of a Catholic college or university.

Emmanuel College is located in Boston, MA and celebrated the centennial of its founding in 1919 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur as the first Catholic college for women in New England.

Sweet Briar Featured Positively for Fall Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 16:11:00 +0000

Sweet Briar in Virginia was favorably mentioned in a couple of newspaper articles this past week.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch published "This college is tiny and isolated, and for some students during the pandemic, that sounds perfect" on June 28, 2020 with reporting by Susan Svruluga.

The Lynchburg News & Advance followed on July 4, 2020 with reporting by Jamey Cross in "Sweet Briar College uniquely suited to weather storm, reopen in August."

New Institution Proposed for Campus of Former Marlboro College

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Sun, 31 May 2020 15:08:00 +0000

Democracy Builders founder Seth Andrew wants to start a new institution in Marlboro, VT after agreement was announced to acquire the campus of Marlboro College. This new venture, Degrees of Freedom, is promoted with a focus on low income and first-generation college students and will likely offer late high school and early college educational experiences.

Marlboro College opened in 1946 and recently announced an alliance with Emerson College in Boston, MA that will be completed in 2020.

You can read more in "Marlboro College Has Deal In Place To Sell Campus," by Howard Weiss-Tisman posted by Vermont Public Radio on May 28, 2020 or in "Marlboro to Become New 2-Year Program: Amid the pandemic, charter school group plans to launch a new two-year college out of the ashes of Marlboro College" by Madeline St. Amour and posted by Inside Higher Ed on May 29, 2020.

President of Hiram College offers Lessons from Academic Redesign

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 19:59:00 +0000

Lori Varlotta, president of Hiram College in Ohio, authored an interesting and helpful post for Education Dive, "What I learned from an academic redesign." President Varlotta shares six lessons from a campus wide planning effort initiated during the 2017-2018 academic year. The process ultimately led to recommendations for repositioning, adding, or eliminating majors and loss of several faculty positions.

Hiram College was also the focus of a couple of earlier Education Dive articles:

October 2019 by Jeremy Bauer-Wolf, "Will tuition cuts and new perks keep this small liberal arts college alive? Hiram College in Ohio is banking on aggressi ve changes to help it thrive, but skeptics wonder if they will be enough."
March 2019 by James Paterson, "To survive, small colleges are rethinking the liberal arts: As higher ed consolidates, these institutions are restructuring curriculum, campuses and even tuition to help them stand out.

The institution was founded in 1850 as Western Reserve Eclectic Institute. The name changed to Hiram College in 1867.

University President Shares Observations from Studying Small Independent Institutions

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 16:35:00 +0000

Mary Marcy, president of the Dominican University of California and the author of forthcoming book, The Small College Imperative: Models for Sustainable Futures, authored a post, "President Speaks: Don't sound the death knell for small liberal arts colleges just yet," on the Education Dive website.

Marcy shares insights she gained from a recent sabbatical studying the ways small institutions are changing as they face well documented challenges. She notes that the most successful institutions are "...are responding to the needs of current and emerging students, not the students that attended decades ago."

Highlighted strategies include institutions seeking to better meet needs of specific underserved groups, those focusing on student success through implementation of proven research based best practices, realigning locations and programs to more closely meet regional needs.

She concludes "...new ideas and creative approaches are fully into the implementation stage, enough so that we can learn from their development, and be encouraged that independent colleges, so crucial to the larger higher ed ecosystem, have the capacity to adapt and remain viable in this challenging era."

Promising Start for California Indian Nation College

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 16:42:00 +0000

The LAist news site posted "Native American Students Feel Invisible. A New SoCal College Hopes To Change That," on November 14, 2019 with reporting by Adolfo Guzman-Lopez.

Guzman-Lopez focuses on a new institution, California Indian Nations College (CINC), that is offering classes in cooperation with the College of the Desert, University of California Riverside, and Cal State San Bernardino.

CINC enrolls 80 students and plans to reach 200 students five years as administrators lay the foundation for independence and accreditation.

You can learn more about institutional programs and plans by visiting the CINC website.

CINC has been featured by The Tribal College Journal of American Indian Higher Education in a number of recent posts, including "California Indian Nations College Is the Newest Tribal College," from August 11, 2019.

An article on the Indian Country Today website, "California Indian Nations College opens, establishes degree program in partnership with local colleges," also offers an interesting description of CINC and institutional plans.

Wesley College Featured in Delaware Business Times

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 15:26:00 +0000

President Bob Clark of Wesley College was interviewed for an intesting article in the Delaware Business Times published September 14, 2019, "Wesley College president: Future success depends on finding efficiencies, building partnerships."

Wesley College located in Dover, Delaware and was founded as Wilmington Conference Academy in 1873.

The name changed to Wesley Collegiate Institute in 1918 and later, to Wesley Junior College. The first baccalaureate degrees were offered after 1978.

Wesley College currently enrolls 1,350 students.