Burlington College

Burlington College is a private liberal arts college located in Burlington, Vermont that offers Associate, Bachelor's, and Masters degrees,^[1] as well as several professional certificate programs. The College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and is a non-profit institution.

The goals of the College are to engage the student body in activities promoting social and community involvement on a local and international scale, while also providing traditional university level education through degree programs. The College also allows students to pursue degrees not traditionally offered by competing universities, and to specifically tailor their own degree through an individualized major program.

Burlington College joins several other universities within the United States in allowing students the option of participating in a narrative evaluation system.

History

Burlington College was founded in 1972 by Dr. J. Steward LaCasce as the Vermont Institute of Community Involvement with a mission of integrating learning, personal development and engagement in the community into a comprehensive educational opportunity.^[2] The college was fully accredited in 1982.^[2]

In August 2011, The Daily Beast and Newsweek ranked Burlington College as the #1 School in the United States for Free Spirited Students.^[3] And in October 2013, Newsweek named Burlington College as one of the top ten colleges in the United States with the highest rate of student internships in their respective study field.^[4]

Campus

Main Campus, Burlington College

Completed Campus, Burlington College

In 2010, Burlington College announced its intention to purchase the property of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington for use as its Main Campus. The college, having sold its former campus to the Committee for Temporary Shelter (COTS),^[5] a community welfare agency, finalized its purchase of the 32.4 acre waterfront diocese property in early 2011 at a cost of 10 million dollars.^[6]

In 2012-13, utilizing an original study conducted by TruexCullins Architecture and Interior Design and then a separate study put together by Farrell Real Estate, the college drafted a master plan that will guide development of the 32 acre campus over the next several years. The plan includes a housing development on the southern third of the property. It also provides for new residence halls, and a lakeside pavilion which will house the College's Institute for Contemplative Studies and serve as a function venue for weddings, summer conferences and public and community events. The plan also provides several acres of agricultural land for community/College gardens and other agricultural uses, along with a building to house an urban agriculture program. ^{[7] [8]}

Institute for Civic Engagement

The Institute for Civic Engagement is a consortium of scholars, engaged citizens, artists, scientists, writers and students, dedicated to the ideals of participatory community involvement and the essential importance of an informed, critical, and active citizenry. Both local and global in constitution and intent, the Institute addresses questions of pertinent social interest to: to stimulate dialogue, to present balanced scholarship, to encourage critical analysis in students and citizenry, and to foster active participation in the complex and ongoing process of growth and reform. The institute is led by an attorney and former state representative.^[9]

Presidency of Burlington College

1. 1972-1994 Dr. J. Steward LaCasce
2. 1994-2002 Dr. Daniel Casey
3. 2002-2003 Mary Clancy^[10][11]
4. 2004-2011 Dr. Jane O'Meara Sanders
5. 2012-Present Christine Plunkett ^[12]

Academic options

The college offers students study abroad options within the European Union, and, in 2008, Burlington College became be one of the few universities in the United States to offer a study abroad program in Havana, Cuba in conjunction with the University of Havana.^[13]

Burlington College offers a low-residency Master of Arts degree. The degree is individualized and tailored to meet the academic needs and focus of the individual graduate student.^[14]

Burlington College holds an articulation agreement with Vermont Law School which allows Burlington College graduates to proceed into the Juris Doctor and Joint Juris Doctor programs at Vermont Law School upon the successful completion of their undergraduate studies.^[15]

Burlington College is affiliated with the Vermont Woodworking School in Fairfax.^[16] Courses in woodworking and fine craftsmanship are offered. These courses support both Associate and Bachelor's of Fine Arts. In addition to woodworking skills, students are required to take business, marketing, math, and English courses.

The college is participating in the Green Schools Project, which focuses on energy efficiency, environmentally sound principles, and sustainability.^[17]

References

External links

• Burlington College

v t e Colleges and universities in Vermont Public University of Vermont Vermont State Colleges: Castleton State College Community College of Vermont Johnson State College Lyndon State College Vermont Technical College Private Bennington College Burlington College Champlain College College of St. Joseph Goddard College Green Mountain College Landmark College Marlboro College Middlebury College New England Culinary Institute Norwich University Saint Michael's College SIT Graduate Institute Sterling College Southern Vermont College Vermont College of Fine Arts Vermont Law School

Coordinates: 44°29′28″N 73°13′42″W / 44.4912°N 73.2282°W / 44.4912; -73.2282