College of the Atlantic facts for kids
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| Type | Private liberal arts college |
|---|---|
| Established | 1969 |
| Accreditation | NECHE |
| Endowment | $46.5 million |
| President | Darron Collins |
| Undergraduates | 364 |
| Postgraduates | 6 |
| Location |
,
,
United States
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| Campus | Rural |
| Colors | Blue and Green |
| Affiliations | Eco League Council of Independent Colleges Annapolis Group |
| Website | www.coa.edu |
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The College of the Atlantic (often called COA) is a special kind of private college located in Bar Harbor, Maine. It's on a beautiful place called Mount Desert Island. COA started in 1969.
What makes COA unique? It focuses on one main subject: human ecology. This means students learn how humans and nature connect. They study things like art, science, history, and how to create a better world. COA offers both bachelor's and master's degrees in this exciting field.
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Explore the COA Campus
The College of the Atlantic campus is a cool place to learn! It covers 37 acres right on Frenchman Bay. Imagine studying with ocean views!
The college also has:
- Two organic farms: These farms are like outdoor classrooms where students learn about growing food. They even supply fresh, organic food to the dining hall!
- Two island research stations: These are special places where students can study animals and the ocean.
- A 100-acre protected area: This is a natural space for students to explore and learn about the environment.
One of the island stations is on Great Duck Island. Here, students study seabirds like petrels and gulls. The other station is on Mount Desert Rock. This spot is perfect for studying amazing marine mammals like whales and seals, and learning about the ocean itself.
How COA Began
The idea for the College of the Atlantic came from people living on Mount Desert Island. They wanted to create a year-round college to help the island's economy, especially when tourists weren't around.
In 1968, a priest named Father James Gower and a local businessman, Les Brewer, thought up the college. They officially started the school in 1969. Other local people also helped make the college a reality.
The first president was Edward Kaelber. In 1972, COA welcomed its first 32 students. Today, it has around 300 students. Father Gower helped design the college's unique curriculum, which focuses entirely on human ecology.
Most of the campus land was bought for just $1 from a group of priests! Other parts were given by a co-founder's family.
Learning at COA: Human Ecology
At COA, everyone studies human ecology. It's a way of learning that connects different subjects. All new students take an introductory course to understand what human ecology is all about.
Students also take courses in:
- Environmental Studies
- Arts and Design
- Human Studies (like history and writing)
- Quantitative Reasoning (which involves numbers and logic)
The goal is for students to mix ideas from different areas and create their own understanding of how humans and nature interact. COA doesn't have separate departments like most colleges. All teachers see themselves as human ecologists, no matter their special subject.
To graduate, students must complete a special project in their final year. They also need to do an internship during their time at COA. These projects can be anything from writing a book to creating a computer program or even designing a garden!
Students from Around the World
COA is a very international college! About 17% of its students come from other countries. Many of these students come from United World Colleges and receive scholarships to study at COA. This makes the campus a diverse and exciting place to learn.
COA's Green Efforts
The College of the Atlantic is a leader in being environmentally friendly.
- In 2004, it was the first campus to promise to use only renewable energy.
- In 2005, it had the first "zero-waste" graduation, meaning almost no trash was created!
- In 2006, COA promised to become carbon neutral. This means they balance out all the carbon they produce. They achieved this in 2007.
- In 2016, The Princeton Review even named COA the #1 green college!
New student housing at COA is also super sustainable. It's built with recycled materials and uses special composting toilets and wood pellet heat. This helps the college save energy and protect the planet.
Famous People Who Went to COA
Some notable people who studied at the College of the Atlantic include:
- Abigail Barrows, a marine research scientist
- Jacquelyn Gill, a paleoecologist (someone who studies ancient environments)
- Amy Goodman, a well-known journalist
- Nell Newman, an actress
- Chellie Pingree, a U.S. Representative from Maine
See also
- List of colleges and universities in Maine
