| Hampden–Sydney College | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1775 |
| Type | Private men's college |
| Endowment | US $115.4 million[1] |
| President | Christopher B. Howard |
| Provost | Robert T. Herdegen III |
| Academic staff | 128 |
| Undergraduates | 1,106 |
| Location | Hampden Sydney, Virginia, USA |
| Campus | Rural, 1,200 acres (4.86 km2) |
| Colors | Garnet and Grey |
| Athletics | NCAA Division III, Old Dominion Athletic Conference, eight varsity teams |
| Nickname | Tigers |
| Website | www.hsc.edu |
Hampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year, all-men's liberal arts colleges in the United States.
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Hampden–Sydney enrolls 1,106 students from 30 states and several foreign countries, and emphasizes a rigorous and traditional liberal arts curriculum.[2]
Along with Wabash College and Morehouse College, Hampden–Sydney is one of only three remaining traditional all-male colleges in the U.S..[3] The school's mission is to "form good men and good citizens in an atmosphere of sound learning." As such, Hampden–Sydney has one of the strictest honor codes of any college or university. Upon entering as a student, each man pledges that he will not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate those who do; this pledge is binding for life. The pledge takes place during a ceremony. This simply-worded code of behavior applies to the students on or off campus. The honor-code system is student-run, allowing for a trial of peers, adjudicated by a court of students. Notably, a separate Code of Student Conduct covers "behavioral" infractions such as attempting to drink underage that do not rise to the level of an honor offense (which only arise if deception or theft is involved). Thus, in effect, a two-tier system of student discipline is maintained; Code of Student Conduct policies (regarding things like parking or drinking) are enforced by the Dean of Students' Office while the Honor Code system (with more serious penalties for lying, cheating, or stealing) is maintained by the students themselves.
Every student must prepare for and pass the Rhetoric Proficiency Exam, which requires passing a three-hour essay that is graded upon coherence of argument, quality of argument, style in which the argument is presented, and grammatical correctness. To prepare, the college requires each student to pass two Rhetoric classes that are usually taken the first two semesters a student is at Hampden–Sydney. The Rhetoric requirement is the same for students who decide to major in the humanities as those who follow a course of studies in economics. After graduating, many alumni have stated that the Rhetoric Program was the most valuable aspect in the Hampden–Sydney education, ensuring that no matter what else they chose to do, at least they could write about it.
The college's founder and first president, Samuel Stanhope Smith, was born in Pequea, Pennsylvania. He graduated as a valedictorian from the College of New Jersey in 1769, and he went on to study theology and philosophy under John Witherspoon, whose daughter he married on 28 June 1775. In his mid-twenties, working as a missionary in Virginia, Smith persuaded the Hanover Presbytery to found a school east of the Blue Ridge, which he referred to in his advertisement of 1 September 1775 as “an Academy in Prince Edward...distinguished by the Name of HAMPDEN-SIDNEY"[4] The school, not then named, was always intended to be a college-level institution; later in the same advertisement, Smith explicitly likens its curriculum to that of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). “Academy” was a technical term used for college-level schools not run by the established church.[5]
Classes at Hampden–Sydney began in temporary wooden structures on November 10, 1775, on the eve of American Independence, moving into its three-story brick building early in 1776. The College has been in continuous operation since that date, meaning that college has operated under the British, Confederate, and United States flags. In fact, classes have only been canceled twice: for a Civil War skirmish on campus, and for a hurricane that knocked a tree into a dormitory building.
Despite the difficult and financially-strapped first years resulting from the Revolutionary War, the College survived with sufficient viability to be granted a charter by the Virginia General Assembly in 1783 — the oldest private charter in the South. Patrick Henry, then Governor of Virginia, encouraged the passage of the charter, and wrote into it an oath of allegiance to the new republic, required of all professors.
Presumably under the influence of his mentor and father-in-law Witherspoon,[6] Smith named the college for two English champions of liberty, John Hampden (1594–1643) and Algernon Sydney (1622–1683). Hampden lost his life in the battle of Chalgrove Field during the English Civil War. Sydney, who wrote "Discourses Concerning Government," was beheaded by order of Charles II following his (unproven) implication in a failed attempt to overthrow the king. These proponents of religious and civil liberties were much admired by the founders of the College, all of whom were active supporters of the cause of American independence.
The college was founded by alumni of Princeton University. Both Patrick Henry, who did not attend any college, and James Madison, a Princeton alumnus, were elected trustees in the founding period before classes began. Smith hired his brother, John Blair Smith, and two other recent Princeton graduates to teach at Hampden–Sydney College. Samuel Stanhope Smith would later become President of Princeton University. John Blair Smith would become the second president of Hampden–Sydney, and later the first president of Union College.
Hampden–Sydney became a thriving college while located in southside Virginia, which led to expansion. In 1812, the Union Theological Seminary was founded at Hampden–Sydney College. The Seminary was later moved to Richmond, Virginia and is currently the Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education. In 1838, the medical department of Hampden–Sydney College was founded—the Medical College of Virginia, which is now the MCV Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. During this time, the College constructed new buildings using Federal-style architecture with Georgian touches. This is the style of architecture still used on the campus.
At the onset of the American Civil War, Hampden–Sydney students formed a company in the Virginia Militia. The Hampden–Sydney students did not see much action but rather were “captured, and...paroled by General George B. McClellan on the condition that they return to their studies."[7]
During World War II, Hampden–Sydney College was one of 131 colleges and universities nationally that took part in the V-12 Navy College Training Program which offered students a path to a Navy commission.[8]
On May 11, 1964, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy visited Hampden–Sydney College to speak with students.[9]
The College has expanded from its original small cluster of buildings on 100 acres (0.4 km²) to a campus of over 1300 acres (5.25 km²). Before 2006, the college owned 660 acres (2.7 km²). In February 2006, the college purchased 400 acres (1.6 km²) which include a lake and Slate Hill Plantation, the historic location of the college’s founding. The campus is host to numerous federal style buildings. Part of the campus has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district.[10]
As one of only a few higher educational institutions for men, and being older than the nation in which it is located, Hampden–Sydney College has a unique culture. Students are also issued a copy of To Manner Born, To Manners Bred: A Hip-pocket Guide to Etiquette for the Hampden–Sydney Man, which covers everything from basic manners, how to greet and introduce people, how to respond to invitations, how to dress, the difference between a black tie and white tie event, how to choose a wine, etc. The college publishes the book as a useful tool for existing successfully in a variety of social settings.
According to the Hampden–Sydney College website, there are over 40 clubs on campus. Each club is run by the students, and the clubs come in a large variety. For example, there are political clubs, sports clubs, religious clubs, a student-run radio station, a pep band, and multiple social fraternities. There are also volunteer groups such as Habitat for Humanity and Rotaract.
The college campus is also home to a unique volunteer fire department, The Hampden–Sydney Volunteer Fire Department, which provides fire suppression service and non-transport basic life support EMS to Prince Edward County and the college, as well as assisting the town of Farmville Fire Department with fire suppression at nearly all working fires within the town limits on a regular basis. HSVFD, Company 2, is located on the south end of campus near the water tower and the physical plant. Contrary to popular belief, and despite its location and the fact that 90% of the membership comes from college faculty, staff, and students, the fire department is, in fact, not affiliated with the college.[11]
Union-Philanthropic Literary Society (UPLS) is the oldest student organization at Hampden–Sydney College. Established on September 22, 1789, it is the nation's second oldest literary and debating society still in existence today.
Hampden–Sydney's rivalry with Randolph-Macon College is one of the longest-running college rivalries in the United States. "The Game" is often referred to as the oldest small-school football rivalry in the South.[12] Athletic events involving the two schools are fiercely competitive, and the week prior to "The Game" between Hampden–Sydney and Randolph-Macon is known as "Beat Macon Week."
For freshmen, rush begins in the first semester and pledging takes place in the spring. If a student chooses not to rush and/or pledge as a freshman, sophomores and juniors may pledge in the fall or spring. Roughly 34% of the student body is involved in Greek life.[13] Beta Theta Pi used Atkinson Hall (built 1834) as a fraternity house when it came to campus in 1850 possibly making it the first fraternity house in North America.[14][15]
In addition to the social and professional fraternities listed above, Hampden–Sydney also has chapters of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society;[28] Phi Beta Kappa, the Academic Honor Society;[29] Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society[30] and Alpha Psi Omega, a national honors society for theatre arts.[31]
Freshmen are required to live in one of three dorms that are set aside for freshmen. These dorms are Cushing Hall, the Carpenter Dormitories (X and Y), and the Whitehouse Quadrangle. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors have the option of living in any of the other dorms that they choose (these additional residences include Carpenter Z, the Hampden House Units, Venable Hall, Alphabet Dormitories B through F, and the Blake Apartments). Fraternity houses are available for members and the chapter president and several specialty houses - usually organized around a club, sports team, or other student group - are available. The Elliott House is reserved for Honor Students who choose to live there. Although an overwhelming majority of students live on campus or in campus-owned housing, the school does permit a small number of students (usually upperclassmen) to live off-campus. In addition, some students also rent rooms in local campus homes.
The following is a list of the Presidents of Hampden–Sydney College from its opening in 1775 until the present.[32]
Forbes ranked Hampden–Sydney #4 in its 2010 ranking of the best private colleges in the South. It ranked #6 among Forbes 20 best colleges in the South.[34]
The Princeton Review ranks Hampden–Sydney in their list of "Best 361 Colleges" in the following categories:[35]
| Rank | List | Category |
|---|---|---|
| #3 | LGBT-unfriendly | Demographics |
| #18 | Lots of Beer | Social Scene |
| #7 | Professors Get High Marks | Academic |
| #8 | Most Accessible Professors | Academic |
| #2 | Most Conservative Students | Parties |
Hampden–Sydney was also rated as the preppiest school in America, according to The Official Preppy Handbook.[36]
Category:Hampden–Sydney College alumni
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