History
The College of Wooster was founded by a group of local Presbyterians who wanted to bring higher education to local students in Wooster, Ohio. One Wooster resident, Ephraim Quinby, donated 22 acres of an oak grove to serve as the campus, and after the Board of Trustees secured proper funds and supplies, the school opened in 1870. The school grew quickly, with eight different academic schools springing up under its umbrella. The growth, however, concerned some who thought Wooster's primary mission should be providing an undergraduate liberal arts education. After a ninth division was proposed, the Board of Trustees suffered a bitter internal feud over Wooster's future. When the dust settled, the decision was made to shut down the different divisions in order to focus on the undergraduate liberal arts curriculum.
Since its inception, Wooster welcomed both women and minorities. It also stands out for its Independent Study program, established in 1947, which dictates that all undergrads must complete a written thesis or independent project before graduation (and defend it orally in front of faculty members). Wooster's unusual tree endowment--which provides for the care and maintenance of the woods on and surrounding campus--was started in 1987.
Location
Wooster is a mid-sized town in the heart of Ohio. While agriculture is a major industry (it borders Amish country), Wooster is also a highly educated town, thanks to the draw of the College of Wooster and the nearby Ohio Agriculture Research and Development Center--rumor has it there are more Ph.Ds per capita in Wooster than anywhere else in Ohio. While there isn't much big-city excitement (the nearest city, Cleveland, is an hour's drive away), Wooster has plenty of small-town charm, with cafes, restaurants, and shops that students frequent. It's an early-to-bed sort of place, however, and students looking for something to do in "Woo" after 6 p.m. have few options other than the Super Wal-Mart.
Campus
Wooster's campus comprises 240 acres. It was once an oak grove, and there are still plenty of old trees and grassy spots that preserve the campus' natural beauty. Other campus highlights include:
NORTH CAMPUS
Lilly House, Bornhuetter Hall, Overholt House, Gault Manor, Culbertson House/Slater House
WEST CAMPUS
Galpin Hall, Andrews Hall, Armington Hall, Stevenson Hall, Douglas Hall, Ebert Art Center, Kauke Hall, Taylor Hall, Timken Library in Frick Hall, Gault Library for Independent Study, Andrews Library.
SOUTH CAMPUS
Wishart Hall, Freedlander Theatre, Scovel Hall, Burton D. Morgan Hall, SEverance Hall, Mateer Hall, President's House, Gault Alumni Center, Westminster Church House, Westminster Cottage, Gault Admissions Center, Luce Residence Hall, Miller Manor, Scheide Music Center
EAST CAMPUS
Compton Hall, Kittredge Hall, Wagner Hall, Babcock Hall, Rubbermaid Student Development Center, Lowry Student Center, Dale Soccer Field, Boles Golf Course, Papp Stadium.
Issues
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