Goucher College facts for kids
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Former name
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Women's College of Baltimore (1885–1910) |
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| Motto |
Gratia et Veritas (Latin)
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Motto in English
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Grace and Truth |
| Type | Private liberal arts college |
| Established | 1885 |
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Academic affiliation
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NAICU CIC AG |
| Endowment | $243.3 million (2023) |
| President | Kent Devereaux |
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Academic staff
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203 |
| Undergraduates | 1,100 |
| Postgraduates | 900 |
| Location |
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Maryland
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United States
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| Campus | Suburban, 287 acres (116 ha) |
| Colors | Blue and Gold |
| Nickname | Gophers |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division III – Landmark Conference |
| Mascot | Rowdy |
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Goucher College
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Facade of the non-denominational Haebler Memorial Chapel at the center of Goucher's campus
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1021 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, Maryland |
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| Area | 287 acres (116 ha) |
| Built | 1921 |
| Architect | Moore & Hutchins; Sasaki, Hideo, et al. |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement |
| NRHP reference No. | 07000885 |
| Added to NRHP | August 28, 2007 |
Goucher College is a private college in Towson, Maryland. It's a liberal arts college, which means it focuses on a wide range of subjects like humanities, sciences, and arts.
The college started in 1885 as a college for women in Baltimore. It was named after John F. Goucher, a pastor and missionary. Goucher College moved to its current campus in Towson in 1953. In 1986, it became coeducational, meaning both men and women could attend.
Goucher offers many different majors and minors for students to study. It's one of the few colleges in the U.S. that requires all students to spend a semester studying abroad. Goucher is part of the Landmark Conference and competes in sports like lacrosse and soccer in the NCAA Division III.
The college also works with other nearby universities like Johns Hopkins University. This allows students to earn special combined degrees. Goucher is known for being featured in the book Colleges That Change Lives. Many famous people have graduated from Goucher, including leaders in law, business, and journalism.
Contents
History of Goucher College
Goucher College played an important role in helping women get a college education. Many pioneering women doctors and scientists graduated from Goucher in the early 1900s.
How Goucher Started
In 1881, a church group in Baltimore wanted to start a school. Two ministers, John B. Van Meter and John Franklin Goucher, convinced them to create a college instead. This college was first called the Women's College of Baltimore City. It opened in 1888 with just five students in its first graduating class.
John F. Goucher, who the college is named after, became its second president. He and his wife, Mary Cecilia Fisher, gave a lot of money to the college.
Changes in the 20th Century
During President Goucher's time, more students joined the college. In 1910, the school was renamed Goucher College to honor him.
In 1913, William W. Guth became the fourth president. He helped build new dorms and raised a lot of money. Even U.S. President Woodrow Wilson supported Goucher's fundraising efforts. His daughter, Jessie, had graduated from Goucher. By 1914, Goucher was considered one of the top women's colleges in the country.
In 1921, Goucher bought a large piece of land in Towson. The college officially moved from Baltimore to this new campus in 1953.
Goucher became a coeducational college in 1986. This meant that men could now attend the college too. This decision helped the college grow and get more support from donors.
Old Goucher Campus
Goucher's first campus in Baltimore is now called Old Goucher. The old buildings are still there and are used for businesses and homes. The Towson campus was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.
Goucher's Campus Life
Goucher College has a beautiful, green campus that covers 287 acres. It's located near downtown Towson. The campus has many trees and trails for hiking and horseback riding. The Haebler Memorial Chapel, a chapel for all faiths, is in the middle of campus.
A walking path connects most of the college's buildings. The campus has been called "unusually bucolic" (meaning peaceful and rural) by Newsweek magazine.
Academic Buildings
Goucher's main academic buildings are located in the northern part of campus. The Hoffberger Science Building is where science classes are held. The Meyerhoff Arts Building has a theater and art studios.
The Athenaeum, or "the Ath," is a large, modern building built in 2009. It has the main library, a restaurant, classrooms, and an auditorium. It's a popular spot for speakers and events.
Student Housing
The college's dorms are on the south side of campus. They include buildings like Heubeck, Froelicher, and Mary Fisher. In 2018, Goucher built a "First-year Village" with new dorms especially for freshmen. Students can live in single rooms, double rooms, or apartments on campus.
Sports and Fun Facilities
Goucher has great outdoor sports facilities. There's a large turf stadium field called Gopher Stadium, practice fields, and tennis courts. The Decker Sports and Recreation Center has a swimming pool, dance studios, a basketball court, and a weight room.
The equestrian center is at the edge of campus. It has barns, riding rings, and trails for horseback riding.
Campus Design and Green Efforts
The campus buildings are made of tan-colored stone, giving them a modern look. Goucher's campus has won awards for its design. It's also known for being committed to protecting the environment and saving energy. The college aims for new buildings to be very energy efficient.
Academics at Goucher
College Rankings
| USNWR Liberal Arts College | 117 |
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| Washington Monthly Liberal Arts | 67 |
| Forbes | 410 |
Goucher College is recognized as a strong liberal arts college.
- U.S. News & World Report ranked Goucher among the top liberal arts colleges. It was also ranked high for being innovative and for its study abroad programs.
- Forbes and Washington Monthly also include Goucher in their lists of top colleges.
- The Princeton Review called Goucher one of the "Best 384 Colleges" and ranked it high for its study abroad program.
- Goucher is known for producing many Fulbright scholars, who get grants to study abroad.
How to Apply
Goucher's admissions process is "selective." For the class of 2022, about 79% of applicants were accepted. Goucher has been SAT-optional since 2006, meaning you don't have to submit SAT scores.
In 2014, Goucher made news when it started accepting video applications. Students could submit a video instead of transcripts or essays. This was done to encourage more diverse students to apply.
Undergraduate Studies
Students at Goucher can choose from 31 majors and 39 minors. The most popular subjects are in the humanities, social sciences, languages, and biological sciences. Goucher is also known for its creative writing, dance, and pre-med programs.
The college has a small student-to-faculty ratio, meaning there are usually only 10 students for every teacher. The average class size is 16 students.
A special thing about Goucher is that all students must study abroad. This can be a three-week course or a longer semester program. Students are also expected to do an internship or community service.
Graduate Programs
Goucher also offers master's degrees in subjects like art, education, and historic preservation.
Special Programs
Goucher has a special program for students who want to go to medical school after college. It's called the post-baccalaureate pre-medical program. Most students from this program get accepted into medical school.
Goucher Prison Education Partnership
In 2012, Goucher started the Goucher Prison Education Partnership (GPEP). This program allows people in two Maryland state prisons to earn college credits and a bachelor's degree in American Studies. Teachers from Goucher and other local colleges teach these classes.
Student Life at Goucher
Clubs and Activities
Goucher has over 60 student clubs. These include a science club, a Jewish student group called Hillel, and an a capella group. Students also run a newspaper called The Quindecim and a literary journal.
Goucher Student Radio is run by students, staff, and teachers. Students can also join the Goucher Student Government, which helps manage clubs and student activities. Unlike some colleges, Goucher does not have fraternities or sororities.
Goucher Sports Teams
Goucher's sports teams are called the Gophers. They compete in the NCAA's Division III. Goucher has men's and women's teams in sports like lacrosse, soccer, basketball, and tennis. There are also women's teams for field hockey and volleyball. Goucher also has a co-ed equestrian team for horseback riding.
Student Diversity
About 67% of Goucher's undergraduate students are female. Around 37% of students are from diverse backgrounds, including African-American, Asian, Hispanic, or Native-American. Goucher also has a high percentage of Jewish students.
Students come from all over the U.S. and from many different countries. Many students are the first in their family to go to college.
Other Fun Activities
Goucher College is known for creating the popular campus game Humans vs. Zombies. Students organize this game every year. Another fun tradition is "GIG," which stands for "Get into Goucher." It's a campus-wide celebration with concerts and other events.
Goucher College Poll
The college regularly conducts the Goucher College Poll. This poll asks Maryland residents about their opinions on politics and other topics. Goucher students help conduct the poll by calling people. The results are often shared in local newspapers.
The Hallowed Ground Project
The Hallowed Ground Project started in 2018. Students and teachers research the history of enslaved people who lived and worked on the land where the campus is now. The project aims to acknowledge this history and teach about it.
Notable People from Goucher
Goucher has many well-known teachers and professors. These include authors Madison Smartt Bell and Elizabeth Spires.
Many Goucher graduates have become famous in different fields:
- Scientists and Doctors: Helen Dodson Prince (scientist), Florence Seibert (scientist), Bessie L. Moses (doctor), and Georgeanna Seegar Jones (doctor).
- Leaders: Judge Sarah T. Hughes, who swore in President Lyndon B. Johnson. Jessie Woodrow Wilson, daughter of President Woodrow Wilson. Sally Brice-O'Hara, a high-ranking officer in the U.S. Coast Guard.
- Authors and Artists: Authors Sarah Pinsker and Darcey Steinke. Photographers Ruddy Roye and Rosalind Fox Solomon.
- Business and Politics: Katherine August-deWilde, former president of First Republic Bank. Judy C. Lewent, the first woman to be a chief financial officer of a large company. Jonah Goldberg, a political writer. Johnny Olszewski, a local government leader in Baltimore County.
See also
In Spanish: Goucher College para niños
