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, United States. It is a "liberal arts" school, which means students learn about many different subjects. Beloit College started way back in 1846. At that time, Wisconsin was not even a state yet! It is the oldest college in Wisconsin that has always been open. About 1,000 students go to Beloit College.

History of Beloit College

Beloit College was started by a group called "Friends for Education." Seven pioneers from New England arrived in the Wisconsin Territory. They decided that a college was needed in their new town. This group raised money for the college. They also convinced the local government to approve the college's official charter. This happened on February 2, 1846.

The first building, called Middle College, was built in 1847. It is still used today! Classes at Beloit College began in the fall of 1847. The first students earned their degrees in 1851.

Early Leaders and Changes

Beloit's first president was Aaron Lucius Chapin. He led the college from 1849 to 1886. In 1895, Beloit College became a coeducational school. This meant both boys and girls could attend. In 1904, Grace Ousley made history. She was the first African-American woman to graduate from the college.

For almost 100 years, Beloit College stayed quite small. Its student numbers only went over 1,000 in 1945-46. This was when many World War II veterans started attending college. In 1964, the college tried a new plan. It was called the "Beloit Plan." Students studied year-round, including a "field term" away from campus. However, the college went back to a two-semester system in 1978.

Exploring the Beloit Campus

Beloit College's campus is located in a historic area. It is called the Near East Side Historic District.

Ancient Mounds on Campus

The campus has 20 ancient mounds. These mounds are shaped like cones, lines, and animals. Native Americans, known as Late Woodland people, built them. This was between about 400 and 1200 AD. One mound is shaped like a turtle. This turtle inspired Beloit's unofficial mascot. These mounds are burial sites. They cannot be disturbed without a special permit. Some mounds have been partly dug up and fixed. Items found inside them, like pottery, are kept at the college's Logan Museum.

Modern Campus Buildings

In 2008, Beloit College finished a new science building. It is called the Marjorie and James Sanger Center for the Sciences. This building is very modern. It earned a special "green building" award. It also won an award for its design.

Marjorie and James Sanger Center for the Sciences

In 2010, the Hendricks Center for the Arts opened. This large building has spaces for dance, music, and theater. It used to be a post office and then a library. The renovation of this building was a very generous gift to the college. It is named after Diane Hendricks and her late husband, Ken Hendricks.

Campus Museums

Beloit College has two museums open to the public. They are run by college staff and students. The Logan Museum of Anthropology and the Wright Museum of Art were started in the late 1800s. The Logan Museum has over 300,000 objects. These come from many different cultures around the world. The Wright Museum has over 8,000 art pieces. This includes many original prints and Asian art. Both museums often have new special exhibits.

The campus also features two sculptures. They were created by artist Siah Armajani. One is called Gazebo for One Anarchist: Emma Goldman 1991. The other is The Beloit College Poetry Garden.

Academics at Beloit

Beloit College is known for strong programs. These include anthropology and geology. In 2012, Beloit was ranked among the top colleges. Many of its graduates go on to earn a Ph.D. This is a very high-level degree.

Middle College overlooking the Beloit campus

Geology Program

The geology department has a long history. It started with Thomas Chrowder Chamberlin over a century ago. Students in this program learn in classrooms and in the field. They also do research. The department is part of the Keck Geology Consortium. This group includes other colleges like Amherst College. The Consortium sends students around the world. They research and share their findings.

Learning and Class Sizes

Beloit College also has a center for entrepreneurship. It is called CELEB. This center helps students learn how to start their own businesses.

The average class size at Beloit College is 15 students. About one-third of classes have 10 or fewer students. This means students get a lot of attention. In 2021, the most popular majors were Biology, Psychology, and Business.

Student Life and Activities

Students at Beloit have many housing choices. Some dorms are substance-free. There are also special interest houses. These include houses for art, Spanish, or outdoor clubs. Beloit College also has fraternities and sororities.

The school offers over 60 student groups and clubs. For example, in 2022, there was a creative writing club. It was called the Aardvark Authors.

Student Media

The student newspaper is called The Round Table. It started in 1853. Back then, it was known as The Beloit Monthly. The student radio station is WBCR-FM. You can listen to it at 88.3 MHz or online.

Eaton Chapel

Fun on Campus

Beloit College has a frisbee golf course. It is almost entirely on the college grounds. In April 2006, Beloit students set a world record. They played Ultimate Frisbee for over 72 hours!

Global Connections

In 2011, Beloit College won an award. It was for making its campus more international. 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, India, and Spain. Each year, students share their experiences on "Beloit and Beyond" Day. All classes are canceled so everyone can attend.

The "Mindset List" started at Beloit College in 1998. This list shares what college freshmen have experienced in their lives. In 2019, the list moved to Marist College.

Diversity and Inclusion Efforts

In 1969, Black students at Beloit College made demands. They wanted more fairness and inclusion. Students protested by taking over Middle College. They turned it into a Black Cultural Center. The college agreed to the demands. Beloit College has continued to work on these goals. For example, they aim to increase the number of Black faculty and students. In 2018, Beloit College updated its policy. It added a section on hate acts. This was to address past incidents.

Beloit Athletics

Beloit athletics monogram

Beloit College sports teams are called the Buccaneers. The college competes in NCAA Division III. They are part of the Midwest Conference. Beloit has many varsity teams. These include football, baseball, and basketball. They also have swimming, cross country, and track and field. Other teams are volleyball, softball, tennis, lacrosse, and soccer.

College Recognition

In 2023, The Princeton Review named Beloit College among the 388 best colleges. U.S. News & World Report also gave Beloit College high rankings. It was recognized for National Liberal Arts Colleges and Best Value Schools. It also ranked high for Undergraduate Research and Most Innovative Schools. The college was also a Top Performer on Social Mobility. This means it helps students from all backgrounds succeed.

Washington Monthly ranked Beloit College number 23 in the nation. This ranking looks at how much a college helps the public good.

Notable Alumni

Notable Faculty

See also

• Thompson Observatory