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Mount Holyoke College

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Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College logo
Motto That our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace - Psalms 144:12
Established Seminary, 1837
Seminary and College, 1888
College, 1893
Type Private women's college
Endowment $521 million (May 2006)<ref> (Summer 2006) "Why Endowment?". News from the Campaign:The Campaign for Mount Holyoke 2010 1: 7.</ref>
President Joanne V. Creighton
Faculty 200
Undergraduates 2,100
Location South Hadley, MA, USA
Campus 2,000 acres (8 km²), academic campus: 1000 acres (3.2 km²)
Athletics 12 varsity teams
Mascot Lyon
Website mtholyoke.edu

Mount Holyoke College is a liberal arts women's college in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Originally founded as Mount Holyoke Female Seminary on 8 November, 1837, it is the "first of the Seven Sisters" <ref>"About Mount Holyoke", mountholyoke.edu. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.</ref> and is one of the oldest institutions of higher education for women in the United States (see: Timeline of women's colleges in the United States). Mount Holyoke would become a "model for other [women's] colleges" <ref>"Womens College Coalition: Some Early Foundings", womenscolleges.org. Retrieved on 2006-10-29.</ref>.

Mount Holyoke is also part of the Pioneer Valley's Five Colleges, along with Amherst College, Smith College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Contents

[edit] Overview

[edit] General facts

Mount Holyoke has a student population of 2,100. Students come from "50 states and nearly 70 countries. One in three students is an international citizen or African American, Asian American, Latina, Native American, or multiracial. Twenty-five percent of incoming first-year students were in the top five percent of their high school classes" <ref>"Facts", mtholyoke.edu. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.</ref>.

Mount Holyoke was ranked 24th among all American liberal arts colleges by The U.S. News and World Report 2007: Liberal Arts Colleges. <ref>"U.S. News and World Report 2007: Liberal Arts Colleges", usnews.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-11.</ref> It also regularly places on The Princeton Review's list of the "Ten Most Beautiful College Campuses in America," capturing first place in 1997 <ref>"Mount Holyoke Campus Named Nation's Most Beautiful", mtholyoke.edu. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.</ref> and ranking sixth in 2007. <ref>"Princeton Review's Best 361 Colleges 2007: Mount Holyoke College", princetonreview.com. Retrieved on 2006-12-03.</ref> In September 2006, it was ranked the sixth best American liberal arts college by The Washington Monthly College Rankings: Liberal Arts Colleges. <ref>"The Washington Monthly College Rankings: Liberal Arts Colleges", washingtonmonthly.com. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.</ref> In the 2004 study, "A Revealed Preference Ranking of U.S. Colleges and Universities," conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research (which grouped all American universities and colleges into one ranking list) Mount Holyoke ranked 57th among all institutions of higher education in the United States.<ref>"A Revealed Preference Ranking of U.S. Colleges and Universities", papers.ssrn.com, December 2005. Retrieved on 2006-12-03.</ref> <ref>"A Revealed Preference Ranking of U.S. Colleges and Universities", www.nber.org, October 2004. Retrieved on 2006-12-03.</ref> It is listed as one of thirty "Hidden Ivies" in Howard and Matthew Greene's 2000 college guide, Hidden Ivies: Thirty Colleges of Excellence.

Mount Holyoke has been part of the SAT optional movement for undergraduate admission since 2001.<ref>"Selected Articles Regarding MHC's SAT Optional Policy", mtholyoke.edu. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.</ref>, <ref>"Not Missing the SAT", insidehighered.com, 2005-09-03. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.</ref>

[edit] Post-graduation fellowships, graduate schools, and jobs

Mount Holyoke counts among its alumnae recipients of the Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Gates/Cambridge, Udall, Beineke, and Datatel Scholarships. It is a leader in producing Fulbright scholars <ref>"Mount Holyoke Is among Top Fulbright Producers", mtholyoke.edu. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.</ref>. The most popular graduate schools attended by MHC alumnae are: Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Tufts, UPenn, Stanford, Berkeley, and Georgetown <ref>"Life after Mount Holyoke", mtholyoke.edu. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.</ref>. The firms that most frequently hire Mount Holyoke graduates are: Goldman Sachs, Fidelity Investments, AmeriCorps, National Economic Research Associates, Brigham and Women's Hospital, New York City Department of Education, Boston University, Credit Suisse First Boston, and The Dana Farber Center Institute <ref>"Mount Holyoke College", usnews.com. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.</ref>.

[edit] Notable alumnae and faculty

See main article: List of Mount Holyoke College people

Alumnae include Elizabeth Holloway Marston (the co-creator of Wonder Woman), poet Emily Dickinson, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwrights Suzan-Lori Parks and Wendy Wasserstein (whose breakthrough play, Uncommon Women and Others, details her experience at the college in the early 1970s). Additional alumnae include Frances Perkins (who was the first woman member of the Cabinet of a US President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and served as the United States Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945), Julia Phillips (the first woman to win an Academy Award for producing a film, The Sting), and Glenda Hatchett (the star of the television show, Judge Hatchett).

[edit] History

[edit] Mount Holyoke Female Seminary (1837-1888)

[edit] Origin of name

Founded as Mount Holyoke Female Seminary on 8 November, 1837, it was named after Mount Holyoke, a nearby peak on the Mt. Holyoke Range. The mountain itself was named after Elizur Holyoke, who is also the (indirect) namesake for the city, Holyoke, Massachusetts.

[edit] Mary Lyon

Its founder, Mary Lyon, was an educational innovator who created a highly rigorous environment of higher education for women which was unusual for the early 19th century. Lyon mandated a 16 hour day for students at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, which began at 5 a.m. and ended at 9:15 p.m. In addition, "the books used by the students were the same as used at men's colleges" <ref>"Daily Life at Mount Holyoke", mtholyoke.edu. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.</ref>. Lyon was also an innovator in science education for women, requiring:

seven courses in the sciences and mathematics for graduation, a requirement unheard of at other female seminaries. She introduced women to "a new and unusual way" to learn science--laboratory experiments which they performed themselves. She organized field trips on which students collected rocks, plants, and specimens for lab work, and inspected geological formations and recently discovered dinosaur tracks<ref>"Daily Mary Lyon's Influence on Science Education for Women", mtholyoke.edu. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.</ref>.

Lyon, an early believer in the importance of daily exercise for women, required her students to "to walk one mile after breakfast. During New England's cold and snowy winters, she dropped the requirement to 45 minutes. Calisthenics--a form of exercises--were taught by teachers in unheated hallways until a storage area was cleared for a gymnasium. Domestic work often involved strenuous physical activity" <ref>"Daily Life at Mount Holyoke", mtholyoke.edu. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.</ref>.

From its founding in 1837, Mount Holyoke Female Seminary "had no religious affiliation." However, " students were required to attend church services, chapel talks, prayer meetings, and Bible study groups. Twice a day teachers and students spent time in private devotions. Every dorm room had two large lighted closets to give roommates privacy during their devotions" <ref>"Daily Life at Mount Holyoke", mtholyoke.edu. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.</ref>. Mount Holyoke Female Seminary was the sister school to Andover Seminary. Some Andover graduates looked to marry students from the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary before becoming missionaries because the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) required its missionaries to be married before starting their missions. By 1859 there were more than 60 missionary alumnae, by 1887 the school's alumnae comprised one fifth of all female American missionaries for the ABCFM, and by the end of the century 248 of its alumnae had entered the mission field.<ref>Rebecca Golossanov (Spring 2006). "Did You Know?". Christian History & Biography 90: 3-4.</ref>.

[edit] Mount Holyoke, 1888-Present

Mount Holyoke Female Seminary received its collegiate charter in 1888 and became Mount Holyoke Seminary and College. It became Mount Holyoke College in 1893. Mount Holyoke's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa was established in 1905.

[edit] Women's Christian College

See main article: Women's Christian College

Women's Christian College, or "WCC" is an interdenominational women's college on College Road, Nungambakkam, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It has been a sister school to Mount Holyoke since 1920.

[edit] Kathryn Irene Glascock Intercollegiate Poetry Contest

The Glascock Prize is awarded to the winner of the annual Kathryn Irene Glascock Intercollegiate Poetry Contest at Mount Holyoke College, which has been a regular event since 1924. The "invitation-only competition is sponsored by the English department at Mount Holyoke and counts many well-known poets, including Sylvia Plath and James Merrill, among its past winners" [1] and is the "oldest intercollegiate poetry competition" [2].

[edit] The Mary Lyon Stamp

On February 28, 1987, a United States postage stamp featuring Mary Lyon was issued in honor of The Sesquicentennial (Mount Holyoke's 150th anniversary) <ref>"The Mary Lyon Stamp", mtholyoke.edu. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.</ref>.

[edit] Presidents and principals

Mount Holyoke College (1893-Present)

Mount Holyoke College and Seminary (1888-1893)

Mount Holyoke Female Seminary (1837-1888)

[edit] Trustees

[edit] Commencement addresses

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

The list below is partially from this list of speakers.

Date Name Links
2006 Joyce Carol Oates Joyce Carol Oates Commencement Speech
Boston Globe article
2005 Nina Totenberg Nina Totenberg Commencement Speech
2004 Kim Campbell Kim Campbell Commencement Speech
2003 Judy Blume Judy Blume Commencement Speech
Remarks from Judy Blume's official website
2002 Queen Noor of Jordan Queen Noor of Jordan Commencement Speech
2001 Suzan-Lori Parks '85 Suzan-Lori Parks Commencement Speech
2000 Mary Patterson McPherson Mary Patterson McPherson Commencement Speech
1999 Anna Quindlen Anna Quindlen Commencement Speech
1998 Johnnetta B. Cole Johnnetta B. Cole Commencement Speech
1997 Madeleine Albright Madeleine Albright Commencement Speech
1996 Donna Shalala Donna Shalala Commencement Speech
1995 Ann Richards Ann Richards Commencement Speech
1994 Nita Lowey '59
1993 Judith Kurland '67
1992 Pat Schroeder
1991 Evelyn Fox Keller
1990 Wendy Wasserstein '71
1989 Glenn Close
1988 Joseph Brodsky
1987 Maya Angelou

[edit] Academics

Mount Holyoke offers a variety of programs for international students, non-traditional students (through the Frances Perkins Program), and for high school students during the academic year and summer.

[edit] Dual degree programs

Mount Holyoke offers a dual-degree program in engineering which allows students to earn a B.A. from Mount Holyoke and a B.S. from the California Institute of Technology, the Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, or UMass. Students interested in Public Health can earn a B.A. from Mount Holyoke and an M.S. from the School of Public Health at the University of Massachusetts Amherst the year after graduating from Mount Holyoke.

[edit] Computer science, math, medicine, and science

A member of SIAM, Mount Holyoke is a leader in producing Ph.D.'s and in receiving grants in the sciences. <ref>"MHC Ranks High in Science Ph.D. Production", www.mtholyoke.edu. Retrieved on 2006-11-11.</ref> Alumnae include Jean E. Sammet a computer scientist who developed the FORMAC programming language and Dr. Virginia Apgar, who introduced the first test, called the Apgar score, to assess the health of newborn babies.

[edit] Five colleges

In addition to classes at the college, Mount Holyoke students may also enroll in courses at Amherst College, Hampshire College, Smith College, and University of Massachusetts Amherst through the Five Colleges Consortium.


Majors and Degrees Offered
Undergraduate
| African American & African Studies | American Studies | Anthropology | Ancient Studies | Architectural Studies | Art Studio and Art History | Asian Studies | Astronomy | Biochemistry | Biological Sciences | Chemistry | Classics | Computer Science | Critical social thought | Dance | Economics | Education | Environmental Studies | English literature | European Studies | Film Studies | French | Gender studies | Geography | Geology | German Studies | Greek | History | International relations | Italian literature | Jewish Studies | Latin American Studies | Mathematics | Medieval Studies | Music | Neuroscience | Philosophy | Physics | Politics | Psychology | Religion | Romance languages & Literatures | Russian Literature & Eurasian Studies | Sociology | Spanish literature | Statistics | Theatre | Women's Studies |
Graduate
| M.A. in Psychology |

[edit] Sports and Dance

Mount Holyoke offers a number of college athletics programs and dance programs. It is also a member of NERC (the New England Rowing Conference) and of NEWMAC (the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference).

Mount Holyoke is also home to a professional golf course, The Orchards, which served as host to the U.S. Women's Open Championship in 2004 <ref>Shefter, David. "Location Ideal For 2004 Women’s Open: Championship Course Was Built For A Woman, Owned By All-Female College", uswomensopen.com. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.</ref>. Golf Digest has ranked The Orchards as the second-best college course in the country <ref>Siderowf, Topsy. "Best college courses", golfdigest.com. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.</ref>.

[edit] Campus

The 1,000-acre (3.2 km²) campus was designed and landscaped between 1896 and 1922 by the landscape architecture firm of Olmstead and Sons. Frederick Law Olmstead designed Central Park in New York City and Congress Park in Saratoga Springs, New York (among other notable outdoor projects).

In addition to the Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden, the grounds feature two lakes, a waterfall, tennis courts, stables and woodland riding trails, all surrounding Skinner Green (the grassy lawn in the center of campus). Skinner Green is framed by traditional ivy-covered, brownstone Neo-Gothic dormitories; Skinner Hall and the social hub, Blanchard Student Center.

The campus is also home to the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum which is part of the Five College Museums/Historic Deerfield and the Museums10.

[edit] Off campus

The Odyssey Bookshop (a fixture in South Hadley for over 40 years), resides directly across from the campus in the college-owned Village Commons, which contains a collection of locally owned shops and eateries. A little further away (and accessible by the five college bus) lie the towns of Amherst and Northampton. The Hampshire Mall and Holyoke Mall also offer shopping and entertainment for students.

The Mount Holyoke Range State Park is also near to campus.

[edit] Traditions

Some Mount Holyoke traditions include:

  • Disorientation: Affectionately known as "Dis-O," this tradition is the most closely guarded secret at Mount Holyoke. Generally, first-years are kept in the dark about it until it actually takes place.
  • Elfing: Sophomores secretly leave gifts for their chosen Firsties (First years) or transfer students, usually during October.
  • Faculty Show: Happens once every four years, around April 1st. Faculty members put up a show with spoofs of themselves.
  • Founder's Day: Seniors dine on ice cream served to them by Trustees of the College, at (6 am) on the grave of Founder Mary Lyon. Later that morning, Convocation is held in Abbey Chapel; the medieval German ode to Academe, "Gaudeamus Igitur" is sung by berobed Seniors and Faculty during the procession. Following Convocation, Faculty line the path to Mary Lyon's grave. Seniors walk through this throng, to the grave (to place a wreath). As they pass by their professors, the Faculty members applaud the Seniors--thereby acknowledging them for the first time as scholars and colleagues.
  • Junior Show (also known as J - Show): Juniors (and a few professors) put the MHC experience into sketch and song, good-naturedly poking fun at the MHC experience. A common feature is a sketch mocking the president and dean of the college, along with well-known professors.
  • Laurel Parade: The day before Commencement, graduating seniors wear white and carry laurel garlands, in a parade to Mary Lyon's grave. They are escorted by approx. 3,000 Alumnae, also in white, who thereby welcome them into the Alumnae Association. . Once at Mary Lyon's grave, the garland is wound around the cast-iron fence, and the Mimi Farina song, "Bread and Roses" is sung by all in attendance. White is a tribute to those who fought for women's suffrage <ref>"100 Years of Laurel and Other Commencement Customs", mtholyoke.edu. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.</ref>.
  • M&C's (originally called Milk & Crackers, now referred to as Milk & Cookies <ref>"Traditions:M & Cs (milk and crackers)", mtholyoke.edu. Retrieved on 2006-09-16.</ref>): From Sunday through Thursday evenings, at 9:30 p.m. dormitory dining halls open to serve an evening snack. In her 1977 play about Mount Holyoke, Uncommon Women and Others, alumna Wendy Wasserstein referred to M&C's in Act 1, Scene 5: "It's fun to see the girls at tea and Milk 'n' Crackers too." The M&Cs are also a popular student a capella group. Their name refers to the current tradition of Milk & Cookies<ref>"Traditions: M&Cs A Capella".</ref>
  • Moho: A term which refers to both the college and its students.
  • Mountain Day: At the sound of ringing bells from Abbey Chapel on a random Autumn morning, all classes are cancelled for that day and many students hike to the summit of nearby Mount Holyoke <ref>"Heading for the Hills on Mountain Day: It's Been a Mount Holyoke Tradition Since 1838", mtholyoke.edu. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.</ref>.

[edit] Pop culture references

[edit] Trivia

[edit] See also

[edit] References

<references/>

[edit] Additional reading

  • Horowitz, Helen Lefkowitz. Alma Mater: Design and Experience in the Women's Colleges from Their Nineteenth-Century Beginnings to the 1930s. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 1993 (2nd edition).

[edit] External links


Seven Sisters Colleges
Barnard College • Bryn Mawr College • Mount Holyoke College • Radcliffe College • Smith College • Vassar College • Wellesley College
Five Colleges
Amherst College • Hampshire College • Mount Holyoke College • Smith College • University of Massachusetts Amherst
ko:마운트 홀리요크 대학교
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