Evergreen State College facts for kids
 |
|
| Motto | Omnia Extares (Latin) |
|---|---|
|
Motto in English
|
"Let it all hang out" |
| Type | Public liberal arts college |
| Established | 1967 |
| Accreditation | NWCCU |
|
Academic affiliation
|
|
| Endowment | $14.9 million (2020) |
| President | John Carmichael |
| Provost | David McAvity |
|
Academic staff
|
150 (2022) |
|
Administrative staff
|
481 (2022) |
| Students | 2,116 (2022) |
| Undergraduates | 1,871 (2022) |
| Postgraduates | 245 (2022) |
| Location |
,
,
United States
47°04′23″N 122°58′34″W / 47.073°N 122.976°W |
| Campus | Midsize suburb, 1,000 acres (400 ha) |
| Newspaper | The Cooper Point Journal |
| Colors | Green and white |
| Nickname | Geoduck |
|
Sporting affiliations
|
NAIA – CCC |
| Mascot | Speedy the Geoduck |
 |
|
The Evergreen State College is a public college located in Olympia, Washington. It was started in 1967. This college is known for its unique way of teaching. Students can choose to create their own study plans. They can also follow set paths to earn their degrees.
Full-time students often join programs that combine different subjects. This helps them study several topics together. Instead of grades, teachers write detailed reports about how students are doing.
Evergreen's main campus is very large, covering 1,000 acres of forest. It even has its own saltwater beach! The campus is near the southern end of Puget Sound. There is also a smaller campus in nearby Tacoma. The college offers several types of degrees. These include Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and various Master's degrees.
Evergreen was one of many new colleges started in the 1960s and 1970s. These schools were often seen as new ways to learn. While many of them have changed or closed, Evergreen still follows its original mission.
Contents
History of Evergreen College
How Evergreen College Started
In 1964, a report said that Washington State needed another college. This new college would help spread out schools across the state. Because of this report, the state government created a group in 1965. This group studied where a new state college should be built.
The group decided a new college was needed as soon as possible. They suggested it be built near Olympia. In 1967, a law was passed to create Evergreen. The law said the campus should be at least 600 acres. This made it the largest campus in the state at that time. It was also the first new public four-year college in Washington in the 20th century.
Early Days and Leaders
On January 24, 1968, the name "The Evergreen State College" was chosen. It was picked from 31 different names. On November 1, 1968, Charles J. McCann became the college's first president. Classes officially began on October 4, 1971. There were 1,128 students on the first day.
McCann was president until 1977. Then, former Governor Daniel J. Evans took over. Governor Evans had signed the law that created Evergreen. He left in 1983 to become a U.S. Senator. The largest building on campus, the Daniel J. Evans Library Building, is named after him. The entrance to the campus is named the Charles J. McCann plaza.
In 1982, Maxine Mimms started Evergreen's campus in Tacoma.
Important Events and Speakers
In 1992, students chose Leonard Peltier to speak at graduation. He was in prison at the time. His speech was read by a graduating student. In 1999, Mumia Abu-Jamal also gave a graduation speech by audiotape.
In 2004, the college finished building the Seminar II building. They also updated the Daniel J. Evans Library.
In 2015, George Sumner Bridges became the sixth president of Evergreen State College. He had been president of another college before this.
Student Voices and Campus Discussions (2017)
In 2017, there were discussions on campus about fairness and inclusion. A committee suggested changes to how teachers were hired and reviewed. This led to some disagreements.
For many years, Evergreen had an event called "Day of Absence." During this day, minority students and teachers would voluntarily stay off campus. This was to show how much they contribute to the college. It was followed by a "Day of Presence," when everyone came back together.
In 2017, the format changed. White students and staff were invited to go to an off-campus event. This was to allow students of color to have an on-campus event. Bret Weinstein, a biology professor, disagreed with this change. He wrote a letter saying that no one's right to be on campus should depend on their skin color. This discussion gained national attention.
Later in May 2017, some students protested on campus. They asked for changes at the college. There were safety concerns, and the campus had to close for a few days. Some damage occurred on campus. The college's graduation ceremony was also moved off-campus for safety reasons.
After these events, the number of students enrolling at Evergreen went down. However, enrollment has started to grow again in recent years.
Academics at Evergreen
How Undergraduate Studies Work
Evergreen has a unique way of teaching. Instead of taking many different classes, students choose one main program for the whole quarter. These programs are worth 16 credits. They cover a quarter's worth of work in one main subject. Up to three professors teach each program.
There are no traditional "majors" at Evergreen. Students are free to choose different programs each quarter. This lasts for their entire time at college. Evergreen uses the "quarter system," so programs can last one, two, or three quarters. Three-quarter programs usually run from September to June.
At the end of a program, teachers write a report about the student's work. They do not give letter grades. Teachers also decide how many credits a student earns. Students can even lose credits if they don't complete the work.
To earn a Bachelor of Science degree, students need to complete 180 credits. At least 72 of these credits must be in science.
Evergreen also offers programs for students who want to study in the evenings or on weekends.
Graduate Programs
Evergreen offers three main graduate programs. Unlike undergraduate studies, these programs have a set order of courses that students must take.
The graduate programs are:
- Master of Environmental Studies
- Master in Teaching
- Master of Public Administration
College Rankings
|
|
U.S. News & World Report ranked Evergreen among regional schools in the western United States. In 2020, it was tied for 37th overall. It was also ranked second for being "most innovative." The college was tied for fourth best for undergraduate teaching. It was also tied for 14th best public school.
Evergreen State College accepts about 96% of students who apply.
Campus Facilities
Daniel J. Evans Library
The main library at Evergreen is the Daniel J. Evans Library. It is named after Daniel J. Evans, a former governor and the college's second president. The library has many books and other learning materials. It also has special collections of rare books and historical documents.
The Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning Center (QuaSR) is in the library. This center helps students with science subjects. The library also has Media Services and a large computer center.
Forest and Beach Area
The Evergreen State College campus has 1,000 acres of forest. This forest is like a natural laboratory for science studies. It also inspires creative work. There are many trails through the forest that lead to different spots. Some trails even go to Evergreen Beach.
The beach area has steep cliffs and gravelly shores. During low tide, the marine area stretches out into Puget Sound. Evergreen has about 3,300 feet of untouched beach. Students use the beach for science projects and to relax.
Organic Farm
The Evergreen Organic Farm grows many crops each year. It also has apple trees and other plants that produce food. The farm even has a group of hens. The food grown here is sold to the college community. It is sold through a program called CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). Food is also sold at a farm stand on campus. Sometimes, the produce is sold to campus food services.
Money from selling crops helps pay for farm projects. This includes buying seeds and equipment. It also helps fund student projects related to growing food.
The farm uses a strict five-year plan for planting crops. This means they rotate different types of crops in different areas each year. This helps keep the soil healthy and prevents pests. The farm also uses other methods to keep the fields diverse. This helps protect plants from diseases and insects naturally.
The Evergreen Organic Farm has a large composting area. It composts all compostable waste from the campus. It also has a biodiesel facility and a community garden.
Public Service Centers
The Evergreen State College is home to the Longhouse Education and Cultural Center. The Longhouse welcomes students, the college, and local Native communities. It is designed to be a gathering place for cultural events, classes, and art shows. The Longhouse helps build understanding between different cultures. It also promotes Indigenous arts and cultures.
The college also hosts the Washington State Institute for Public Policy. This institute does research for Washington State lawmakers. They study important issues and provide helpful information.
Other important public service centers on campus include:
- Washington Center for Improving the Quality of Undergraduate Education
- Center for Community-Based Learning and Action
Athletics at Evergreen
The Evergreen State College sports teams are called the Geoducks. The college is part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). They mainly compete in the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC).
Evergreen has nine different sports teams. These include basketball, cross country, soccer, and track & field for both men and women. They also have women's volleyball.
Mascot
A geoduck is a type of large clam found in the local area. It is the college's unique mascot!
Soccer Success
Former men's soccer player Joey Gjertsen played for the Geoducks. He later played professionally for the San Jose Earthquakes. Shawn Medved also played professional soccer in the MLS.
Basketball Achievements
Evergreen's men's basketball team had a strong period in the early 2000s. They won the 2002 CCC Championship. They also reached the NAIA National Tournament in 2002, 2009, and 2010. Some basketball players from Evergreen have gone on to play professionally overseas.
Media and Publications
Student Publications
Students at Evergreen run their own newspaper called The Cooper Point Journal. They also have a literary magazine called Slightly West. Evergreen also has a community radio station called KAOS-FM.
The Evergreen State College Press
The Evergreen State College Press is a publishing house linked to Evergreen. It has released books like Writing American Cultures (2013) and Vascular Plants of the South Sound Prairies (2016).
Notable People from Evergreen
Many famous people have attended Evergreen State College. These include cartoonists like Matt Groening, who created The Simpsons. Other notable alumni are musicians such as Macklemore and Carrie Brownstein. There are also actors, writers, and athletes who studied at Evergreen.
