Western College Program
Encyclopedia
The Western College Program was created in 1974 when the Western College for Women
merged with Miami University
. The program consisted of an interdisciplinary living/learning community with small class sizes and student-designed focuses. Majors included Interdisciplinary Studies, Environmental Science, and Environmental Studies. Academics were divided into three core areas: Creativity and Culture, Social Systems, and Natural Systems.
Western, also known as the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, was cited as a primary reason for Miami University making the list of "Public Ivies" in Richard Moll's book, The Public Ivies: A Guide to America's best public undergraduate colleges and universities. In the mid-1960s, when it was the Western College for Women, the campus served as the staging ground for Freedom Summer
, a voter registration drive in Mississippi.
, currently a coed dormitory, is said to be haunted by its namesake Helen Peabody. Other buildings on Western Campus include McKee Hall, Mary Lyon Hall, Kumler Chapel, Western Lodge, Ernst Theater, Western Tower, Ice House, Summer House, Sawyer Hall (former gymnasium, heating plant, pool and dining hall), Boyd Hall, Hoyt Hall, the Art Museum, and non-WCP buildings, Clawson Hall, Alexander Dining Hall, Presser Hall, Langstroth Cottage, Havighurst Hall, and Thomson Hall.
that the Western College Program be phased out in favor of expanding Miami's Honors Program. The proposal called for the creation of the Western Honors College. This proposal met with resistance from Western faculty, students and alumnae.
On June 23, 2006, The Board of Trustees voted to eliminate the School of Interdisciplinary Studies in favor of a "Western Honors College" in an attempt to expand the honors program at Miami.
On October 24, 2006, the University Senate began deliberations on the persistence of the program (without the school classification).
In January 2007, it was announced that the Western College Program would be merged into the College of Arts and Sciences. Rather than having a department of permanent faculty, the program would have one central faculty member with students taking classes led by faculty in several different departments. Students now receive a Bachelor of Arts
or Bachelor of Science
degree rather than the Bachelor of Philosophy
its graduates were awarded in the Western College Program. Critics say the program may provide diverse courses with faculty from different backgrounds but the student-faculty bond which was a strongly beneficial attribute of Western's previous incarnation may suffer.
Western College for Women
Western College for Women was a women's college in Oxford, Ohio between 1855 and 1974.-History:Western College was founded in 1853 as Western Female Seminary. It was a daughter school of Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Its first principal Helen Peabody and most of the early...
merged with Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
. The program consisted of an interdisciplinary living/learning community with small class sizes and student-designed focuses. Majors included Interdisciplinary Studies, Environmental Science, and Environmental Studies. Academics were divided into three core areas: Creativity and Culture, Social Systems, and Natural Systems.
Western, also known as the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, was cited as a primary reason for Miami University making the list of "Public Ivies" in Richard Moll's book, The Public Ivies: A Guide to America's best public undergraduate colleges and universities. In the mid-1960s, when it was the Western College for Women, the campus served as the staging ground for Freedom Summer
Freedom Summer
Freedom Summer was a campaign in the United States launched in June 1964 to attempt to register as many African American voters as possible in Mississippi which had historically excluded most blacks from voting...
, a voter registration drive in Mississippi.
The Western campus
Located directly east of the main campus of Miami University, Western College is characterized by winding pathways through forest and stone bridges over creeks. Peabody HallPeabody Hall
Peabody Hall is located on 701 Western College Drive on the campus of Miami University located in Oxford, Ohio. Peabody Hall was built in 1871 and it is a gross square footage of 83,881. The Miami University Buildings Information link describes Peabody Hall as being "Named for Helen Peabody, the...
, currently a coed dormitory, is said to be haunted by its namesake Helen Peabody. Other buildings on Western Campus include McKee Hall, Mary Lyon Hall, Kumler Chapel, Western Lodge, Ernst Theater, Western Tower, Ice House, Summer House, Sawyer Hall (former gymnasium, heating plant, pool and dining hall), Boyd Hall, Hoyt Hall, the Art Museum, and non-WCP buildings, Clawson Hall, Alexander Dining Hall, Presser Hall, Langstroth Cottage, Havighurst Hall, and Thomson Hall.
Merger with College of Arts and Sciences
In March 2006, Miami University Provost Jeffrey Herbst recommended to Miami University President Dr. James C. GarlandJames C. Garland
Dr. James C. Garland is a physicist, author and professor, and the former 20th President of Miami University, Oxford, Ohio....
that the Western College Program be phased out in favor of expanding Miami's Honors Program. The proposal called for the creation of the Western Honors College. This proposal met with resistance from Western faculty, students and alumnae.
On June 23, 2006, The Board of Trustees voted to eliminate the School of Interdisciplinary Studies in favor of a "Western Honors College" in an attempt to expand the honors program at Miami.
On October 24, 2006, the University Senate began deliberations on the persistence of the program (without the school classification).
In January 2007, it was announced that the Western College Program would be merged into the College of Arts and Sciences. Rather than having a department of permanent faculty, the program would have one central faculty member with students taking classes led by faculty in several different departments. Students now receive a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
or Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree rather than the Bachelor of Philosophy
Bachelor of Philosophy
Bachelor of Philosophy is the title of an academic degree. The degree usually involves considerable research, either through a thesis or supervised research projects...
its graduates were awarded in the Western College Program. Critics say the program may provide diverse courses with faculty from different backgrounds but the student-faculty bond which was a strongly beneficial attribute of Western's previous incarnation may suffer.
Notable alumnae
- Leslie Greene Bowman, President of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation
- Shelia Curran, author
- Ryan Donmoyer, congressional and White House correspondent for Bloomberg News
- Jeffrey Horst, Atlanta Lawyer
- Chris Jennings, senior health care adviser for President Bill Clinton
- Bill McMahon, managing director of Goldman Sachs
- Jan Montgomery, Assistant General Counsel for Homeland Security & Justice, US GAO
- Tim Race, Business Editor, The New York Times
- Steve Ricchetti, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for President Bill Clinton
- Ken Weil, Deputy Chief of Staff for Colorado Governor Bill Ritter