Beloit College facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Beloit College

Motto	Scientia Vera Cum Fide Pura (Latin)
Motto in English	True knowledge with pure faith
Type	Private liberal arts college
Established	1846; 179 years ago (1846)
Accreditation	HLC
Academic affiliations	ACM Oberlin Group CLAC WAICU
Endowment	$113 million in 2021
President	Eric Boynton
Academic staff	94
Undergraduates	964 (2022)
Location	Beloit , Wisconsin , U.S. 42°30′11″N 89°01′52″W / 42.503°N 89.031°W / 42.503; -89.031
Campus	Urban, 65 acres (26.3 ha)
Colors	Blue and gold
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division III – MWC
Mascot	Buccaneer (official), turtle (unofficial)

Beloit College is a private college in Beloit, Wisconsin. It focuses on a wide range of subjects, known as a liberal arts college. Founded in 1846, it is the oldest college in Wisconsin that has been open continuously. About 1,000 students attend Beloit College.

History of Beloit College

Beloit College was started by a group called "Friends for Education." Seven pioneers from New England decided a college was needed in the Wisconsin Territory. They raised money and got permission to open the college on February 2, 1846.

The first building, called Middle College, was built in 1847. It is still used today. Classes began in the fall of 1847. The first students graduated in 1851.

Aaron Lucius Chapin was Beloit's first president. He led the college from 1849 to 1886. In 1895, Beloit College started allowing both men and women to attend. This is called becoming coeducational. In 1904, Grace Ousley became the first African-American woman to graduate.

The college grew slowly for its first 100 years. After World War II, in 1945–46, many veterans enrolled. This made the student number go over 1,000 for the first time.

Campus Life and Buildings

Beloit's campus is located in a historic area. It has many interesting features.

Ancient Mounds

The campus is home to 20 ancient mounds. These mounds were built by Native Americans between 400 and 1200 AD. They are shaped like cones, lines, and animals. One mound is shaped like a turtle. This turtle inspired Beloit's unofficial mascot. These mounds are protected burial sites. They cannot be disturbed without special permission. The college's Logan Museum of Anthropology holds items found in some of these mounds. These items include pottery and tool pieces.

Modern Buildings

In 2008, Beloit College opened the Marjorie and James Sanger Center for the Sciences. This large building is 120,000 sq ft (11,000 m²). It was designed to be environmentally friendly. It even won an award for its design.

In 2010, the Hendricks Center for the Arts opened. This 58,000-square-foot (5,400 m²) building has spaces for dance, music, and theater. It used to be a post office and then a public library. The renovation was a very generous gift to the college.

Campus Museums

Beloit College has two museums open to the public. These are the Logan Museum of Anthropology and the Wright Museum of Art. Both museums started in the late 1800s.

• The Logan Museum has over 300,000 objects. These items come from many different cultures and countries.
• The Wright Museum has over 8,000 art pieces. It has a large collection of original prints and Asian art.

Both museums often have special exhibits throughout the year.

What Students Study

Beloit College is known for its strong programs in subjects like anthropology and geology. These subjects often involve fieldwork. In 2012, the college was ranked among the top schools whose graduates go on to earn a Ph.D. (a high-level degree).

Geology Program

The geology department at Beloit has a long history. It combines classroom learning with fieldwork and research. Students learn by doing. The department is part of the Keck Geology Consortium. This group allows students to travel worldwide for research. They study and publish their findings.

Learning and Class Sizes

Beloit College has small class sizes. The average class has 15 students. About one-third of all classes have 10 or fewer students. This means students get a lot of attention from their professors.

The most popular majors for 2021 graduates were Biology/Biological Sciences, Psychology, and Business/Managerial Economics.

Student Life

Beloit students have many choices for housing. They can live in regular dorms or special interest houses. These houses might be for art, Spanish language, or outdoor activities. Beloit College also has fraternities and sororities.

There are over 60 student groups and clubs. Students can find something for almost any interest.

• The Round Table is the student newspaper. It started in 1853.
• WBCR-FM is the student radio station. You can listen at 88.3 MHz or online.

Beloit College has a frisbee golf course on campus. In 2006, Beloit students set a world record. They played Ultimate Frisbee for over 72 hours straight!

International Focus

Beloit College is very diverse. Students come from 48 different U.S. states. About 14% of students are from other countries. Also, about half of all Beloit students study abroad. They go to places like China, Russia, Brazil, and India. Each year, students share their experiences on International Symposium Day. All classes are canceled so everyone can attend these presentations.

Campus Climate

Like many colleges, Beloit has worked to address important social issues. In 1969, Black students made demands for changes at the college. The college agreed to these demands. Beloit College continues to work on making the campus welcoming for everyone. For example, in 2018, the college updated its policy to address hate acts. This shows their commitment to a safe and inclusive environment.

Sports at Beloit

Beloit College has many sports teams. They compete in NCAA Division III. This means they play against other colleges but do not offer athletic scholarships. Beloit is part of the Midwest Conference.

Teams include:

• Football
• Baseball and Softball
• Volleyball
• Men's and women's swimming
• Men's and women's basketball
• Cross country
• Women's tennis
• Track and field
• Lacrosse
• Soccer

College Recognition

Beloit College is often recognized for its quality.

• In 2023, The Princeton Review listed Beloit among the 388 best colleges.
• U.S. News & World Report gave Beloit high rankings. These included National Liberal Arts Colleges and Best Value Schools. They also recognized Beloit for Undergraduate Research and being an innovative school.
• Washington Monthly ranked Beloit College number 23 in the nation. This ranking looks at how much colleges contribute to the public good.

Beloit was also featured in the book Colleges That Change Lives. This book highlights schools where students get deeply involved in learning. It also praises professors who become mentors and friends to students.

Notable People from Beloit College

Many interesting people have studied or taught at Beloit College.

Notable Alumni

• Roy Chapman Andrews, a famous explorer and naturalist.
• James Arness, an actor known for the TV show Gunsmoke.
• Joe Davis, a well-known sportscaster.
• Clarence Ellis, the first African-American to earn a Ph.D. in computer science. He was a pioneer in how computers and people interact.
• Ursula K. Le Guin, a famous author.

Notable Faculty

• Bei Dao, a poet.
• Thomas Chrowder Chamberlin, a geologist who founded the Journal of Geology.
• Merle Curti, a historian who won a Pulitzer Prize.
• George Ellery Hale, a famous astronomer.
• John Ostrom, a paleontologist.

Images for kids

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  Marjorie and James Sanger Center for the Sciences.

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  Middle College overlooking the Beloit campus.

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  Eaton Chapel.