Great Lakes Colleges Association facts for kids

The Great Lakes Colleges Association (GLCA) is a special group of 13 colleges. These colleges are called liberal arts colleges. They are located in the states around the Great Lakes. Think of the GLCA as a team or a consortium of schools working together.

The main office for the GLCA is in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Its 13 schools are found in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. The GLCA started in 1962 as a non-profit organization. This means it's a group that works for a good cause, not to make money. Its main goal is to help make its colleges stronger. It also wants to be a leader in promoting a type of education called liberal arts and sciences. This kind of education teaches students a wide range of subjects.

The GLCA also created and manages another group called the Global Liberal Arts Alliance. This alliance helps connect liberal arts colleges around the world.

What the GLCA Does

The Great Lakes Colleges Association does many things to help its member schools and their students. It runs special programs and offers unique opportunities.

Helping Students with College Costs

The GLCA has a program called the Tuition Remission Exchange. This program helps students whose parents work at one of the GLCA colleges. If a student is eligible for a tuition discount at their parent's college, they can often get a similar discount at other colleges in the exchange program. This includes the 13 GLCA colleges plus Beloit College, Grinnell College, Willamette University, and Wittenberg University. It's a great way to make college more affordable for families.

Awards for New Writers

Every year, the GLCA gives out three special awards called literary prizes. These prizes honor new writers who have published their very first books. One award goes to a poet, one to a fiction writer (someone who writes stories), and one to a creative nonfiction writer (someone who writes true stories in an artistic way). The winning authors get to visit several of the GLCA's member colleges. They also receive money for their visit. While there, they meet with students, read from their books, and lead interesting discussions. It's a chance for students to meet real authors!

Learning in a Big City

The GLCA also helps manage a program called The Philadelphia Center. This program lets college students study away from their main campus. Students get to live and learn independently in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They can earn college credit while exploring a big city. This program is managed by Albion College in partnership with the GLCA. It offers a unique way to experience college life and learning.

Growing the Association

The GLCA sometimes invites new colleges to join its group. In 2008, Allegheny College became the first new member in 46 years. This shows that the GLCA continues to grow and strengthen its network of liberal arts colleges.

Member Colleges

Here are the colleges that are part of the Great Lakes Colleges Association:

• Albion College
• Allegheny College
• Antioch College
• Denison University
• DePauw University
• Earlham College
• Hope College
• Kalamazoo College
• Kenyon College
• Oberlin College
• Ohio Wesleyan University
• Wabash College
• College of Wooster