Vassar College
Matthew Vassar signed the charter for his new institution on the 18th of February 1861. The building opened its doors to students just months later under the name Vassar Female College. Milo P. Jewett served as the first president and led a staff of ten professors alongside twenty-one instructors. Local residents in Poughkeepsie joked that removing the word "Female" from the school's name hinted at future plans to admit men. This change occurred after only one year of operation. The college became fully coeducational much later in 1969. Before that transition, it stood as the second degree-granting institution for women in the United States. Franklin Delano Roosevelt held a position as a Trustee before he ever became President of the United States. A select group of early students gained entry into Delta Sigma Rho, a secret society founded in 1922.
James Renwick Jr. designed Main Building which opened in 1865 with more interior space than any other U.S. structure until the Capitol finished construction in 1868. The campus spans over 100 acres and features more than 100 buildings ranging from Collegiate Gothic to International styles. An original observatory stands on grounds alongside Main Building as one of two National Historic Landmarks. Eero Saarinen created designs for several dormitories but only Emma Hartman Noyes House was completed in 1958. That modernist building housed roughly 160 students and featured a futuristic common area used for readings and concerts. The campus also functions as an arboretum containing over 200 species of trees plus a native plant preserve. A 40-acre ecological preserve sits within the property boundaries. Rombout House entered the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 after purchase by the college in 1915.
Over 336 faculty members teach courses at Vassar College today. Nearly all hold doctorate degrees or their equivalent. The student-faculty ratio remains 8:1 with average class sizes around 17 students. More than fifty undergraduate majors exist including Biology, Economics, Political Science, English Language and Literature, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, and Computer and Information Sciences. Approximately 2,450 students attend the school annually. Ninety-eight percent live on campus while about 60% come from public high schools and 40% from private institutions. Recent freshman classes show students of color making up between 32% and 38% of matriculants. International students from over 60 countries comprise 8% to 10% of the total body. In May 2007 the institution returned to need-blind admissions policies regardless of financial status. For the Class of 2027 entering fall 2023, Vassar received 12,145 applications and accepted 17.7%. The middle 50% SAT range for that group fell between 1450 and 1530.
Founder's Day began as a surprise birthday party celebrating Matthew Vassar's seventy-fourth birthday in late April or early May. It evolved into an annual festival featuring lectures plays pageants circus acts and modern music events. Themes have included Alice in Wonderland Dinosaurs Vintage 1800s Vassar Nickelodeon Nintendo and Candyland. Artists performing at recent Founder's Days include The Walkmen Edan DJ /rupture Odd Nosdam Jel Toro y Moi and Odesza. The Night Owls established in the 1940s remain one of the oldest extant collegiate a cappella groups in America. Other vocal ensembles include the Vastards Broadway and More the Accidentals Beauty and the Beats Home Brewed the Vassar Devils Measure 4 Measure and AirCappella. The Philaletheis Society founded in 1865 serves as the oldest theater group on campus. Happily Ever Laughter started in 1993 as the college's longest-running sketch comedy troupe. Squirm magazine publishes annually since 1999 focusing on sex-positive forums for artistic exploration. The Miscellany News has served as the weekly paper since 1866.
Grace Hopper graduated from Vassar in 1928 before becoming a computer pioneer. Maria Mitchell joined the faculty in 1865 as the first appointed astronomer. Anita Florence Hemmings became the first graduate of African ancestry in 1897. Meryl Streep earned her degree in 1971 and later won three Academy Awards. Vera Rubin graduated in 1948 to become an astrophysicist known for dark matter research. Crystal Eastman co-authored the Equal Rights Amendment while serving as a lawyer and journalist. Edith Clarke became the first female electrical engineer after graduating in 1908. Mary McCarthy wrote critically acclaimed novels following her 1933 graduation. Elizabeth Bishop published poetry collections after earning her degree in 1934. Grace Macurdy taught classics at the institution during her tenure. Michael Joyce pioneered hypertext fiction writing while teaching there. Richard Edward Wilson composed music for campus productions throughout his career.
Vassar teams compete as the Brewers within NCAA Division III under the Liberty League. The nickname honors Matthew Vassar whose family operated a brewery in Poughkeepsie. Men's volleyball reached the national championship game in 2008 losing to Springfield after defeating UC Santa Cruz. Women's rugby claimed the school's first team national title in 2018 by beating Winona State 50, 13. Tennis players Katharine Hubbell and Carolyn "Lonny" Myers won singles and doubles titles nationally in 1940, 1941, and 1942. A men's and women's rowing team transitioned from varsity to club status starting the 5th of November 2009 due to cost-saving measures. The cycling team hosted the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Championship in 2007 across Shawangunk Mountains and Poughkeepsie blocks. The Butterbeer Broooers represent the Muggle Quidditch team on campus. Student governance passed a resolution supporting Boycott Divestment Sanctions in March 2016 before a wider referendum defeated it 573, 503 in April.
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Common questions
When did Matthew Vassar sign the charter for Vassar College?
Matthew Vassar signed the charter for his new institution on the 18th of February 1861. The building opened its doors to students just months later under the name Vassar Female College.
Who was the first president of Vassar College and how many instructors did he lead?
Milo P. Jewett served as the first president and led a staff of ten professors alongside twenty-one instructors. He guided the early operations before the college became fully coeducational in 1969.
Which buildings at Vassar College are designated National Historic Landmarks?
An original observatory stands on grounds alongside Main Building as one of two National Historic Landmarks. Rombout House entered the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 after purchase by the college in 1915.
What is the student-faculty ratio and average class size at Vassar College today?
The student-faculty ratio remains 8:1 with average class sizes around 17 students. Over 336 faculty members teach courses at Vassar College today and nearly all hold doctorate degrees or their equivalent.
When did Grace Hopper graduate from Vassar College and what field did she pioneer?
Grace Hopper graduated from Vassar in 1928 before becoming a computer pioneer. She earned her degree during an era when the institution stood as the second degree-granting institution for women in the United States.