Sterling College (Vermont)
Encyclopedia
Sterling College is a college in Craftsbury Common, Vermont
, known as the smallest accredited four-year college in the country. Sterling is one of seven colleges in the Work College Consortium
. The school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Sterling is one of only two colleges in the United States to offer a Bachelor of Arts degree in Circumpolar Studies.
faculty member Norman Rioux. The school's educational philosophy was influenced by that of Outward Bound
founder Kurt Hahn
. The school transition to higher education during the 1970s began with the Academic Short Course in Outdoor Leadership, a 21-day program for 13 to 16 year olds.
Faced with closure in 1974, a group of faculty chose to remain and established an academic year-long program similar to Outward Bound
programs known as Grassroots Project in Vermont at Sterling Institute. By 1983, Sterling had developed into an accredited college offering an Associate of Arts degree in resource management with full accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
granted in 1987.
Since 1997, Sterling College has been accredited as a four-year college and has awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree with concentrations in conservation ecology, outdoor education and leadership, and sustainable agriculture. The four-year program builds on the Grassroots Year and second-year internship program from the two-year program with a junior year in which many students engage in field studies abroad and a comprehensive Senior Applied Research Project. Sterling College joined the Work Colleges Consortium in 1999 and The Center for Northern Studies
, which had been operating in neighboring Wolcott
since 1971, merged with Sterling College in 2003.
is composed of a 300 acre (1,214,057 m²) boreal wetland and a building containing a specialized library, classroom space, offices, and a lounge.
Craftsbury, Vermont
Craftsbury is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,136 at the 2000 census. The town includes the four unincorporated villages of Craftsbury Common, Mill Village, North Craftsbury and East Craftsbury.-Town:...
, known as the smallest accredited four-year college in the country. Sterling is one of seven colleges in the Work College Consortium
Work college
A work college is a type of institution of higher learning where student work is an integral and mandatory part of the educational process, as opposed to being an appended requirement...
. The school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Sterling is one of only two colleges in the United States to offer a Bachelor of Arts degree in Circumpolar Studies.
History
Sterling School was founded in 1958 as a boys' college preparatory school by former Berkshire SchoolBerkshire School
Berkshire School is a prestigious, private, co-ed boarding school for grades 9 through 12 located in Sheffield, Massachusetts, USA. Berkshire's applications have doubled in the past few years with Mike Maher taking on the role as head of school...
faculty member Norman Rioux. The school's educational philosophy was influenced by that of Outward Bound
Outward Bound
Outward Bound is an international, non-profit, independent, outdoor educationorganization with approximately 40 schools around the world and 200,000 participants per year...
founder Kurt Hahn
Kurt Hahn
Kurt Martin Hahn was a German educator whose philosophies are considered internationally influential.-Biography:...
. The school transition to higher education during the 1970s began with the Academic Short Course in Outdoor Leadership, a 21-day program for 13 to 16 year olds.
Faced with closure in 1974, a group of faculty chose to remain and established an academic year-long program similar to Outward Bound
Outward Bound
Outward Bound is an international, non-profit, independent, outdoor educationorganization with approximately 40 schools around the world and 200,000 participants per year...
programs known as Grassroots Project in Vermont at Sterling Institute. By 1983, Sterling had developed into an accredited college offering an Associate of Arts degree in resource management with full accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. is the U.S. regional accreditation association providing educational accreditation for all levels of education, from pre-kindergarten to the doctoral level, in the six-state New England region. It also provides accreditation for some...
granted in 1987.
Since 1997, Sterling College has been accredited as a four-year college and has awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree with concentrations in conservation ecology, outdoor education and leadership, and sustainable agriculture. The four-year program builds on the Grassroots Year and second-year internship program from the two-year program with a junior year in which many students engage in field studies abroad and a comprehensive Senior Applied Research Project. Sterling College joined the Work Colleges Consortium in 1999 and The Center for Northern Studies
The Center for Northern Studies
The Center for Northern Studies in Wolcott in the U.S. state of Vermont is an interdisciplinary environmental study center which is part of Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, Vermont. The Center supports the study of the cultures and environments of the Circumpolar North, including the peoples...
, which had been operating in neighboring Wolcott
Wolcott, Vermont
Wolcott is a town in Lamoille County, Vermont, United States. The town was named for General Oliver Wolcott, a signer of the Declaration of Independence...
since 1971, merged with Sterling College in 2003.
Campus
The primary campus is 130 acres (526,091 m²). It has 14 buildings including a woodworking shop and a library. Outdoor teaching facilities include a managed woodlot, a challenge course, a 30-foot climbing tower, organic gardens, and a working livestock farm with two solar/wind powered barns. Much of what is grown and raised is consumed in the dining hall, and Sterling produces approximately 20% of food consumed on campus. The Center for Northern Studies at Sterling CollegeThe Center for Northern Studies
The Center for Northern Studies in Wolcott in the U.S. state of Vermont is an interdisciplinary environmental study center which is part of Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, Vermont. The Center supports the study of the cultures and environments of the Circumpolar North, including the peoples...
is composed of a 300 acre (1,214,057 m²) boreal wetland and a building containing a specialized library, classroom space, offices, and a lounge.
External links
- Sterling College
- Work College Consortium
- Melissa Kirkby, student at Sterling College five-part commentary series at GristGrist MagazineGrist is a free American liberal non-profit online magazine that has been publishing environmental news and commentary with a wry twist since 1999. Grists taglines are "Gloom and doom with a sense of humor" and "A beacon in the smog"...