Claremont Colleges facts for kids
|
(clockwise from top)
|
|
|
Former name
|
Claremont University Consortium (until 2017) |
|---|---|
| Type | Private consortium |
| Established | October 14, 1925 |
| Founder | James Blaisdell |
| Endowment | $27 million (2019) |
| Budget | $47 million (2019) |
| CEO | Stig Lanesskog |
| Students | Approx. 8500 |
| Location |
,
,
United States
34°06′09″N 117°42′45″W / 34.10250°N 117.71250°W |
| Campus | Suburban, 546 acres (221 ha) |
| Nickname | Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags and Athenas |
|
Sporting affiliations
|
NCAA Division III – SCIAC |
 |
|
.jpg)
.jpg)
The Claremont Colleges, also called the 7Cs, are a group of seven private colleges and universities. They are located in Claremont, California, in the United States. This group includes five colleges for undergraduate students (the 5Cs) and two schools for graduate students.
The five undergraduate colleges are: Pomona College, Scripps College, Claremont McKenna College (CMC), Harvey Mudd College, and Pitzer College. The two graduate schools are Claremont Graduate University (CGU) and Keck Graduate Institute (KGI). All the colleges, except KGI, are right next to each other. They cover about one square mile.
The idea for this group of colleges started in 1925. James A. Blaisdell, who was the president of Pomona College, wanted to create a special kind of university. He was inspired by Oxford University in England. He wanted students to get the personal attention of a small college. But he also wanted them to have all the resources of a large university.
Today, the Claremont Colleges have about 8,500 students. They offer over 2,000 different classes each semester. The colleges share many things, like a main library, campus safety, and health services. These shared services are managed by The Claremont Colleges Services (TCCS). Even though they share resources, each college has its own unique identity. Students often take classes at other colleges in the group.
Getting into the Claremont Colleges is very competitive. Many of the undergraduate colleges are known for being among the most selective in the U.S.
Contents
The Colleges: What They Offer
Here are the five undergraduate colleges:
- Pomona College (started 1887) is the oldest and largest undergraduate school. It welcomes both male and female students. It offers many subjects in arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
- Scripps College (started 1926) is the women's college of the group. It focuses on a wide range of subjects, especially in the humanities.
- Claremont McKenna College (started 1946) was first for men but became coeducational in 1976. It is known for subjects like political science, economics, finance, and international relations.
- Harvey Mudd College (started 1955) focuses on engineering, mathematics, computer science, and the physical and biological sciences. It also includes classes in humanities and social sciences.
- Pitzer College (started 1963) is known for its unique teaching style and focus on social justice. Its main subjects are in the social sciences.
Here are the two graduate universities:
- Claremont Graduate University (started 1925) offers master's and doctoral degrees. It has programs in 31 different subjects across seven schools.
- Keck Graduate Institute (started 1997) is a biomedical graduate school. It has schools for applied life science, pharmacy, health sciences, and medicine.
The Claremont School of Theology is connected to the group but is not a full member.
History of the Claremont Colleges
.jpg)
Before the Claremont Colleges existed, Pomona College was founded in 1887. A group of people wanted to create a college like those in New England on the West Coast. Pomona College moved to Claremont, California, after buying an unfinished hotel there.
In 1923, Pomona College was growing fast. Its president, James A. Blaisdell, had an idea. Instead of making Pomona College huge, he suggested creating a group of smaller, specialized colleges. This idea was like the famous Oxford and Cambridge universities. He wanted to keep the benefits of a small college while sharing the resources of a large university.
The first step for the Claremont Colleges happened in 1925. A graduate school was added, which is now Claremont Graduate University. In 1926, Ellen Browning Scripps founded Scripps College. She wanted to create a school that would help women get a higher education. This would help them in their careers and personal lives.
People across the country were interested in this new idea. They praised the colleges in the 1930s.
In 1946, Claremont McKenna College (CMC) became the fourth college. It started as a college for men. Women were first admitted to CMC in 1976.
Harvey Mudd College joined in 1955. It was founded by Harvey Seeley Mudd. He wanted a college focused on science and engineering. In 1963, Pitzer College became part of the group. It started as a college for women, focusing on social sciences. Later, in 1970, Pitzer also began to enroll men.
The seventh college to join was Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) in 1997. It was started with a large donation. KGI focuses on advanced studies in biomedical fields.
The Claremont Colleges Services was also founded in 2000. This organization helps all the colleges by providing support and planning for the group.
Each college is independent. Students get their degrees from the college they attend. Admissions and other departments are separate for each school. However, a special organization called The Claremont Colleges Services (TCCS) helps all seven colleges. TCCS provides many shared services. These include the library, student health services, and campus safety. They also handle financial matters, human resources, and building maintenance.
The Claremont Colleges Library, also known as Honnold/Mudd Library, has a huge collection. It has over 2.7 million items, including physical books and digital resources. This makes it one of the largest library collections among private schools in California.
Other shared places include the Tranquada Student Services Center. This center has a medical clinic and counseling services. There is also the McAlister Center, which has the chaplains' office and the Claremont Card Center. The Huntley Bookstore and all dining halls are also shared. Even some sports facilities are used by all the colleges.
The Sontag Center for Collaborative Creativity, called "the Hive," was started in 2015. It helps students learn in creative ways.
The colleges also share many academic departments. These include Women's Studies, Chicano Studies, Asian American Studies, and Africana Studies. They also share Religious Studies, Media Studies, and a Five-College Theater Department. In 2008, they created the Claremont Center for the Mathematical Sciences. This center helps math faculty members work together.
Many shared programs are available too. These include centers for European Union studies, Chicano/Latino Student Affairs, and Black Student Affairs. There are also offices for chaplains, Hillel, and the Queer Resource Center.
Three colleges—Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps—share a science program. This is called the Joint Science Department. It is the largest academic department in Claremont. Many research projects use the Robert J. Bernard Field Station. This is an 86-acre natural area with a special ecosystem.
Experts in education praise the Claremont Colleges. They are known for how well they work together. Their unique model has influenced other college groups.
Student Life and Activities
.jpg)
.jpg)
There are nearly 300 clubs and organizations across the five undergraduate colleges. Some clubs are just for one college. Others are open to students from all the 5Cs or even all 7Cs.
Student Media
The largest student media group is The Student Life. It is the oldest college newspaper in Southern California. It publishes a weekly paper and online articles. Each college also has its own newspaper, like Scripps Voice, CMC Forum, and Muddraker. Pomona College also has a student-run radio station called KSPC.
Outdoor Adventures
On the Loose (OTL) is the outing club for the 5Cs. It organizes trips to outdoor places. A popular event is an annual hike up Mount Baldy. Students often wear swimsuits or funny costumes for this hike. OTL is connected with the Outdoor Education Center of Pomona College (OEC). The OEC lends equipment to students for free. It also teaches students how to be outdoor leaders.
Performance Groups
There are many dance groups on campus. The Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company (CCBDC) has over 130 dancers. It is one of the biggest college dance programs in the U.S. They have won several national championships. The Pomona College Theater Department puts on plays and dance shows every year. There are also smaller student-run shows. The 5Cs have two improv comedy groups.
There are also eight a cappella (singing without instruments) groups. One group, the Claremont Shades, hosts a concert called SCAMFest. Singers from other Southern California colleges come to perform.
Athletics and Sports
Pomona College and Pitzer College play sports together as the Pomona-Pitzer (PP) Sagehens. Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College, and Scripps College also team up. They are called the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS). The men's teams are the Stags, and the women's teams are the Athenas.
These teams compete in NCAA Division III. They are part of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC). In the 2016-2017 school year, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps ranked fourth nationally. Pomona-Pitzer ranked 29th. These were the top two teams in their conference.
Club and Intramural Sports
Besides varsity teams, there are many club sports teams for the 5Cs.
The roller hockey club, the Claremont Centaurs, won championships several times. The men's and women's rugby union teams have also done very well. The men's team, the Claremont Colleges Lions, won national championships in 2010, 2017, and 2019.
The women's ultimate (frisbee) team has reached Nationals many times. They won the tournament in 2012. The men's ultimate frisbee team also won a national championship in 2011.
Other club sports include men's lacrosse, field hockey, crew, and cycling.
Images for kids
-
James Blaisdell, who founded the Claremont Colleges.
-
View of the Claremont Colleges in 2018, looking north from the Smith Clock Tower.
-
Dancers at a Pomona spring dance concert.
-
More dancers at a Pomona spring dance concert.
-
Dancers holding signs at a Pomona spring dance concert.
