Castleton State College

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Castleton State College
Established 1787
Type Public Liberal Arts
President David S. Wolk
Faculty 89
Students 2,000
Undergraduates 1,800
Postgraduates 153
Location Castleton, Vermont, USA
Address 86 Seminary Street, Castleton, VT 05735
Telephone (802) 468-5611
Campus small town
Colors green and white
Nickname Spartans
Website http://www.castleton.edu

Castleton State College is a public liberal arts college located in Castleton, Vermont.

Contents

[edit] History and governance

Castleton State College was founded in 1787 with a charter from the Vermont General Assembly. It is the oldest college in Vermont, the third oldest in New England, and the eighteenth oldest in the United States. Castleton was founded as a grammar school, teaching Greek and Latin and fulfilling the Vermont Constitution's requirement of universal free education for Vermont's citizens. The school grew to become a Vermont state "normal school" a term based on the French école normale supérieure, a school to educate teachers. In the mid-twentieth century Castleton became a college of liberal arts and natural sciences.

The College saw dramatic growth in students and its stature in the 1920s and 1930s under the direction of Caroline Woodruff. Woodruff modernized the school's curriculum, incorporating the theories of Vermont educator-philosopher John Dewey, especially his precepts of "learning by doing" and "learning by teaching." Caroline Woodruff hired excellent staff with advanced degrees and broadened her students' exposure to the world by bringing the likes of Helen Keller, Robert Frost, and Norman Rockwell to Castleton. A friend of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt, Woodruff was the first woman and first Vermonter to become president of the National Education Association. In 1962 Castleton joined other state supported colleges in becoming a part of the Vermont State Colleges, today a consortium of five colleges with a shared board of trustees, and chancellor. The College maintains its own president and deans.

[edit] Campus

The campus is bordered by Mechanic Street to the west, Glenbrook Drive to the East and is bisected by South Street. Seminary Street leads to the President's House after going past Wright House (Admissions), the Fine Arts Center, and Georgian Revival Woodruff Hall. Castleton was once a prominent medical college that attracted students from around the world. Today, Castleton offers an excellent liberal arts education in the beautiful mountain and lake region of Vermont. At present the College is undergoing a series of major renovations and building. A new fitness center was built in 2004. Dorms, and a science center are currently being built.

The College's Georgian Revival campus was featured in the sci-fi movie Time Chasers, which was spoofed in a classic episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

This article on a northeastern U.S. institution of higher education is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Higher Education in Vermont
UVM • Bennington • Burlington • Champlain • CSJ • Goddard • Green Mountain • Landmark • Marlboro • Middlebury • Norwich • St. Michael's • School for International Training • Southern Vermont College • VT Law
Vermont State Colleges
Castleton • CCV • Johnson • Lyndon • Vermont Technical College
North Atlantic Conference
Bay Path • Becker • Castleton • Elms • Husson • Johnson • Lasell • Lesley • Maine Maritime Academy • MassPharm • Mount Ida • Simmons • Thomas • WNEC
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../c/a/s/Castleton_State_College_6b82.html"