Coe College
Encyclopedia
Coe College is a private, four-year, liberal arts college
in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
. Founded in 1851, the institution is historically affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA)
. Its current president is James R. Phifer. It is one of the smaller universities to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. It is one of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest
(ACM).
Accounting, African-American Studies, American Studies, Art, Asian Studies, Athletic Training, Biochemistry, Biology, Business Administration, Chemistry, Computer Science, Creative Writing, Economics, Education, English, English as a Second Language – ESL, Environmental Science, French, French Studies, Gender Studies, General Science, German, German Studies, History, Historical Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, Literature, Mathematics, Molecular Biology, Music, Neuroscience, Nursing, Philosophy, Physical Education, Physics, Political Science, Pre-Professional Programs, Psychology, Public, Relations, Religion, Sociology, Spanish, Spanish Studies, Speech, Theatre Arts, and Writing.
Coe also provides the option for students to create their own major under the guidance of faculty members.
Coe College awards the following degrees:
, Conger Metcalf
, and Grant Wood
.
Stewart Memorial Library was renovated and expanded in 1989 through a grant from the Hall Foundation. The original building was a gift from Robert W. Stewart, chairman of the board of Standard Oil
company, in 1931.
regularly includes Coe in its "America's Best Colleges" publication, which ranked Coe tied for 98th among national liberal arts colleges in its 2009 edition. Coe is also included in the latest editions of The Princeton Review
361 Best Colleges and Peterson's
Guide to Selective Colleges. Barron's "300 Best Buys in College Education ranks Coe as "Very Competitive."
(NASM) since 1962. Performing ensembles include a concert band, concert choir, a chamber choir (known as Crimson & Gold) women's chorale, symphony orchestra, and jazz band. There also is a student-led drumline that operates independently of the music department. The department sponsors chapters of two musically oriented fraternities, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Mu Phi Epsilon
.
: five men's fraternities and three women's fraternities (sororities). The groups, all of which are chapters of national organizations, include fraternities Lambda Chi Alpha
, Sigma Nu
, Phi Kappa Tau
, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
and Tau Kappa Epsilon
; and sororities Alpha Omicron Pi
, Alpha Sigma Alpha
and Delta Delta Delta
. The campus is also home to a chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon
, a coeducational professional music fraternity.
At one time, Alpha Sigma Phi
fraternity and Alpha Xi Delta
and Chi Omega
sororities had chapters on campus but they are now defunct.
Coe has recently implemented a Greek Task Force focusing on revising the current Greek system. The Greek Task Force is composed of Greek students, Greek alumni, Coe faculty and administrators, and non-Greek students.
There are no "official" sorority or fraternity houses located off campus. All official Greek houses are located in the residence halls on campus.
The Coe Writing Center opened in September 1986 with a staff of seven writing consultants directed by Robert L. Marrs, professor of rhetoric. Since that first year, the CWC has grown in size and influence on campus, currently conducting over 2,000 student conferences per year. Staff members have published dozens of articles and essays in professional journals and have given over 80 presentations at state, regional, and national conferences. Most recent conferences have included the Midwest Writing Center Association conference in Rapid City, South Dakota
.
The CWC also produces and distributes several campus publications, including The Pearl, Colere, Coetry, and the Coe Quarto.
Liberal arts colleges in the United States
Liberal arts colleges in the United States are certain undergraduate institutions of higher education in the United States. The Encyclopædia Britannica Concise offers a definition of the liberal arts as a "college or university curriculum aimed at imparting general knowledge and developing general...
in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
. Founded in 1851, the institution is historically affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA)
Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
. Its current president is James R. Phifer. It is one of the smaller universities to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. It is one of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest
Associated Colleges of the Midwest
Associated Colleges of the Midwest is a consortium of 14 private liberal arts colleges, primarily in the Midwestern United States. The 14 colleges are located in five states . The ACM was established in 1958 and is headquartered in Chicago...
(ACM).
Academics
Coe offers more than 40 majors:Accounting, African-American Studies, American Studies, Art, Asian Studies, Athletic Training, Biochemistry, Biology, Business Administration, Chemistry, Computer Science, Creative Writing, Economics, Education, English, English as a Second Language – ESL, Environmental Science, French, French Studies, Gender Studies, General Science, German, German Studies, History, Historical Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, Literature, Mathematics, Molecular Biology, Music, Neuroscience, Nursing, Philosophy, Physical Education, Physics, Political Science, Pre-Professional Programs, Psychology, Public, Relations, Religion, Sociology, Spanish, Spanish Studies, Speech, Theatre Arts, and Writing.
Coe also provides the option for students to create their own major under the guidance of faculty members.
Coe College awards the following degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- Bachelor of Music (B.M.)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)
- Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T)
Stewart Memorial Library
Stewart Memorial Library houses more than 202,000 books and other materials. The library contains gallery spaces featuring collections from Iowa artists Marvin ConeMarvin Cone
Marvin Dorwart Cone was an American painter in the regionalist style.He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and lived there most of his life. He graduated from Washington High School in 1910. Cone attended college and traveled to Paris with his contemporary and high-school friend, Grant Wood...
, Conger Metcalf
Conger Metcalf
Conger Metcalf, was an American painter.He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and died in Boston, Massachusetts. Metcalf began his art studies in 1932 at the Iowa Stone City Art Colony, headed by American Regionalist painter Grant Wood. Metcalf continued his studies at Coe College in Cedar Rapids...
, and Grant Wood
Grant Wood
Grant DeVolson Wood was an American painter, born four miles east of Anamosa, Iowa. He is best known for his paintings depicting the rural American Midwest, particularly the painting American Gothic, an iconic image of the 20th century.- Life and career :His family moved to Cedar Rapids after his...
.
Stewart Memorial Library was renovated and expanded in 1989 through a grant from the Hall Foundation. The original building was a gift from Robert W. Stewart, chairman of the board of Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
company, in 1931.
National Rankings
Coe is recognized by a variety of college ranking publications. U.S. News & World ReportU.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
regularly includes Coe in its "America's Best Colleges" publication, which ranked Coe tied for 98th among national liberal arts colleges in its 2009 edition. Coe is also included in the latest editions of The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review is an American-based standardized test preparation and admissions consulting company. The Princeton Review operates in 41 states and 22 countries across the globe. It offers test preparation for standardized aptitude tests such as the SAT and advice regarding college...
361 Best Colleges and Peterson's
Peterson's
Peterson’s, founded in 1966, is an American company offering a wide range of live, print, and online products and services including test preparation, school searches, financial aid searches, career exploration tools, and professional writing services...
Guide to Selective Colleges. Barron's "300 Best Buys in College Education ranks Coe as "Very Competitive."
Department of Music
Coe College is known for a strong Department of Music, with a long history of excellence. Approximately one out of every four students participates in music each year. Marc Falk is chair of the Department of Music, which has been accredited by the National Association of Schools of MusicNational Association of Schools of Music
The National Association of Schools of Music is an association of post-secondary music schools in the United States and the principal U.S. accreditor for higher education in music...
(NASM) since 1962. Performing ensembles include a concert band, concert choir, a chamber choir (known as Crimson & Gold) women's chorale, symphony orchestra, and jazz band. There also is a student-led drumline that operates independently of the music department. The department sponsors chapters of two musically oriented fraternities, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Mu Phi Epsilon
Mu Phi Epsilon
Mu Phi Epsilon is a co-ed international professional music fraternity and honor society. It boasts over 75,000 members in 128 collegiate chapters and 74 alumni chapters in the US and abroad.-History:...
.
Fraternities and sororities
Coe has an active Greek social communityFraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
: five men's fraternities and three women's fraternities (sororities). The groups, all of which are chapters of national organizations, include fraternities Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men's secret general fraternities in North America, having initiated more than 280,000 members and held chapters at more than 300 universities. It is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a...
, Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...
, Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau is a U.S. national collegiate fraternity.-History:Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity was founded in the Union Literary Society Hall of Miami University's Old Main Building in Oxford, Ohio on March 17, 1906...
, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music...
and Tau Kappa Epsilon
Tau Kappa Epsilon
Tau Kappa Epsilon is a college fraternity founded on January 10, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University with chapters in the United States, and Canada, and affiliation with a German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent...
; and sororities Alpha Omicron Pi
Alpha Omicron Pi
Alpha Omicron Pi is an international women's fraternity promoting friendship for a lifetime, inspiring academic excellence and lifelong learning, and developing leadership skills through service to the Fraternity and community. ΑΟΠ was founded on January 2, 1897 at Barnard College on the campus...
, Alpha Sigma Alpha
Alpha Sigma Alpha
Alpha Sigma Alpha is a US national sorority founded on November 15, 1901 at the Virginia State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia...
and Delta Delta Delta
Delta Delta Delta
Delta Delta Delta , also known as Tri Delta, is an international sorority founded on November 27, 1888, the eve of Thanksgiving Day. With over 200,000 initiates, Tri Delta is one of the world's largest NPC sororities.-History:...
. The campus is also home to a chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon
Mu Phi Epsilon
Mu Phi Epsilon is a co-ed international professional music fraternity and honor society. It boasts over 75,000 members in 128 collegiate chapters and 74 alumni chapters in the US and abroad.-History:...
, a coeducational professional music fraternity.
At one time, Alpha Sigma Phi
Alpha Sigma Phi
Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity is a social fraternity with 71 active chapters and 9 colonies. Founded at Yale in 1845, it is the 10th oldest fraternity in the United States....
fraternity and Alpha Xi Delta
Alpha Xi Delta
Alpha Xi Delta is a women's fraternity founded on April 17, 1893 at Lombard College, Galesburg, Illinois. Alpha Xi Delta is one of the oldest women's fraternities as well as one of the ten founding fraternities of the National Panhellenic Conference...
and Chi Omega
Chi Omega
Chi Omega is a women's fraternity and the largest member of the National Panhellenic Conference. Chi Omega has 174 active collegiate chapters and over 230 alumnae chapters. Chi Omega's national headquarters is located in Memphis, Tennessee....
sororities had chapters on campus but they are now defunct.
Coe has recently implemented a Greek Task Force focusing on revising the current Greek system. The Greek Task Force is composed of Greek students, Greek alumni, Coe faculty and administrators, and non-Greek students.
There are no "official" sorority or fraternity houses located off campus. All official Greek houses are located in the residence halls on campus.
Writing Center
Coe's Writing Center is the largest undergraduate writing center in the nation . There are about 70 students on staff for the 2008–2009 academic year.The Coe Writing Center opened in September 1986 with a staff of seven writing consultants directed by Robert L. Marrs, professor of rhetoric. Since that first year, the CWC has grown in size and influence on campus, currently conducting over 2,000 student conferences per year. Staff members have published dozens of articles and essays in professional journals and have given over 80 presentations at state, regional, and national conferences. Most recent conferences have included the Midwest Writing Center Association conference in Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
.
The CWC also produces and distributes several campus publications, including The Pearl, Colere, Coetry, and the Coe Quarto.
Notable alumni
- Fran AllisonFran AllisonFran Allison was an American television and radio comedian, personality and singer. She is best known for her starring role on the weekday NBC-TV puppet show Kukla, Fran and Ollie, which ran from 1947 to 1957, occasionally returning to the air until the mid 1980s...
– the "Fran" in the 1950s TV series Kukla, Fran and OllieKukla, Fran and OllieKukla, Fran and Ollie is an early American television show using puppets, originally created for children but soon watched by more adults than children. It did not have a script and was entirely ad-libbed... - Michael BoddickerMichael BoddickerMichael J. Boddicker , is an American film composer and session musician, specializing in electronic music. Three times N.A.R.A.S. Most Valuable Player "Synthesizer" and MVP Emeritus, he was awarded a Grammy as a songwriter for Imagination from Flashdance in 1984...
– Grammy winning musician - Wilmer D. ElfrinkWilmer D. ElfrinkWilmer D. Elfrink was a college football and basketball player and coach in the United States.-Playing history:Elfrink played sports while attending Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa...
– college football and basketball coach - Paul EnglePaul EnglePaul Engle , noted American poet, editor, teacher, literary critic, novelist, and playwright. He is perhaps best remembered as the long-time director of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and as founder of the International Writing Program , both at the University of Iowa.-Life:Engle is often mistakenly...
– founder of the Iowa Writer's Workshop and the International Writer's Workshop, both at the University of IowaUniversity of IowaThe University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees... - Bill Fitch – head coach of various NBA teams
- Chris FunkChris FunkChristopher Lyman Funk is a multi-instrumentalist and member of the Portland, Oregon, indie rock band The Decemberists. He is originally from Valparaiso, Indiana where he worked at Front Porch Music which inspired his love of American Folk Music. He plays guitar, pedal steel, piano, violin,...
– guitarist and eclectic instrumentalist for The DecemberistsThe DecemberistsThe Decemberists are an indie folk rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States, fronted by singer/songwriter Colin Meloy. The other members of the band are Chris Funk , Jenny Conlee , Nate Query , and John Moen .The band's... - James William GoodJames William GoodJames William Good was an American politician from the state of Iowa, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Cabinet. He was a member of the United States Republican Party.-Background:...
– US Congressman and Secretary of War - Fred HickmanFred HickmanFred Hickman is an American sports broadcaster who has had stints with CNN, TBS, YES Network, and ESPN. Born and raised in Springfield, Illinois, he graduated Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1978, joining as an original co-host of the CNN show Sports Tonight in 1980...
– sportscaster, formerly of Turner SportsTurner SportsTurner Sports is the division of Turner Broadcasting System responsible for sports broadcasts on Turner channels including TBS, TNT, and TruTV, and for operating the interactive properties , , , and...
, ESPNESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and YES NetworkYES NetworkThe Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network is a New York City-based, regional cable television channel; it broadcasts a variety of sports events, with an emphasis on New York Yankees baseball games, and New Jersey Nets basketball games. YES made its debut on March 19, 2002... - Fred Jackson – Running back, Buffalo Bills
- Jason KottkeJason KottkeJason Kottke is an American blogger and former web designer currently living in New York City. He designed the Silkscreen typeface and has won a Lifetime Achievement Award as a blogger...
– blogger, designer - Marv LevyMarv LevyMarvin Daniel Levy is a former American and Canadian football coach, front office executive and author.He is a former professional football coach, in the CFL as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes , and in the NFL as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills , coaching the Bills...
– Pro Football Hall of FamePro Football Hall of FameThe Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
inductee; former coach for the Kansas City ChiefsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
and Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
- former general managerGeneral managerGeneral manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
for the Bills. - Curt MenefeeCurt MenefeeCurt Menefee , is an American sportscaster who is the host of the Fox network's NFL show Fox NFL Sunday. His co-hosts are Jimmy Johnson, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, and Michael Strahan....
– sportscaster, host of Fox NFL SundayFOX NFL SundayFox NFL Sunday is the pregame show for the TV show NFL on Fox. The program is broadcast on Fox television affiliates nationwide. The audio portion of the show is broadcast over the Fox Sports Radio network, distributed by Premiere Radio Networks... - Edward A. RossEdward A. RossEdward Alsworth Ross was a progressive American sociologist, eugenicist, and major figure of early criminology.-Biography:...
– sociologist - William Shirer – journalist, author
- Shelby SteeleShelby Steele-Awards:*National Book Critics Circle Award in the general non-fiction category for the book The Content of Our Character.*Emmy and Writers Guild Awards for his 1991 Frontline documentary film Seven Days in Bensonhurst.-External links:**...
– author, sociologist, political commentator - S. Donald StookeyS. Donald StookeyStanley Donald Stookey is an American inventor. He has 60 patents in his name related to glass and ceramics, some solely his while others are jointly with others...
– inventor of Fotoform and CorningWare - Gregory Alan WilliamsGregory Alan WilliamsGregory Alan Williams is an American actor and author. Williams is best known for portraying Garner Ellerbee in the syndicated series Baywatch.-Early life and acting career:...
– actor and author