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Elmira College was born out of the enthusiasm for reform that characterized upstate New York in the pre-Civil War decades. Against this backdrop of social and cultural transformation, six men, know as the "Friends of Education," met in 1851 and set in motion a watershed event: The creation of the first college for women with a course of study and degree requirements equal to those at the nation's finest men's colleges. Elmira College is characterized in histories of higher education as "the mother of women's colleges." Elmira College became coeducational in all of its programs in 1969 and quickly achieved gender balance. Elmira College's history can be seen in its architecture. The oldest building is Cowles Hall, named after the First President, who served the College from 1856 to 1889.
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Approaching its fifteenth decade, Elmira College continues its commitment to provide sound liberal arts education while strengthening its professional programs. Its standards of academic excellence resulted in the award of a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa in 1940. College traditions are cherished. The Sibyl, one of the oldest student-literary magazines in the country, has been published continuously since 1876. Mountains Day, faculty and administration "Patron Saints," the Midnight Breakfast, and the Holiday Banquet are among the many traditional activities that enrich college life.
On one hand, Elmira College is securely rooted in the local community by a tradition of excellent "town-gown" relations and reciprocal sharing of resources. A good example of this are the public lectures presented by internationally known Mark Twain scholars who are brought to Elmira by the College's Center for Mark Twain Studies. Another example is the College's community service program, which has been commended by the President of the United States. At the same time, the College expands its worldview with opportunities such as its Junior Year Abroad program and various innovative projects offered in an intensive six-week Spring Term made possible by the distinctive academic calendar.
Return to Chronicle Careers.