Lewis & Clark College facts for kids

Lewis & Clark College

Former names	Albany Academy (1858–1866) Albany Collegiate Institute (1866–1867) Albany College (1867–1942)
Motto	Explorare, Discere, Sociare (Latin)
Motto in English	To explore, to learn, to work together
Type	Private liberal arts college
Established	1867; 158 years ago (1867)
Endowment	$240 million (2020)
President	Robin Holmes-Sullivan
Administrative staff	745 (All three schools)
Students	3,509 (Fall 2021)
Undergraduates	2,126 (Fall 2021)
Postgraduates	1,383 (Fall 2021)
Location	Portland , Oregon , United States 45°27′04″N 122°40′12″W / 45.451°N 122.670°W / 45.451; -122.670
Campus	Residential, 137 acres (0.55 km2)
Colors	Orange and black
Nickname	Pioneers
Mascot	"Pio" the Newfoundland

Lewis & Clark College is a private college in Portland, Oregon. It's known for its focus on liberal arts. The college started way back in 1867. Back then, it was called the Albany Collegiate Institute. It was first located in Albany, Oregon.

The college moved to Portland in 1938. In 1942, it changed its name to Lewis & Clark College. This new name honored the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition. The college has three main parts. These are the College of Arts and Sciences, a School of Law, and a Graduate School of Education and Counseling.

Lewis & Clark is part of the Annapolis Group of colleges. Its sports teams compete in NCAA Division III. They are part of the Northwest Conference. In Fall 2021, over 2,000 students attended the College of Arts and Sciences. These students came from 54 countries and 47 U.S. states. The Law School is famous for its environmental law program.

Today, the college sits on a 137-acre campus. It's located on Palatine Hill in South Portland. The campus is centered around the M. Lloyd Frank Estate.

College History and Growth

Albany College Administration Building

Lewis & Clark College began a long time ago. It was first known as Albany Academy. This school was started in 1858 by the Presbyterian church. It was meant to educate pioneers in Oregon.

After a few years, the school focused more on higher education. In 1866, its name changed to the Albany Collegiate Institution. The college's official start date is 1867. This is when the Presbyterian church officially re-established it as Albany College.

Unlike many colleges back then, this school welcomed both boys and girls from the start. The first class graduated in 1873. The early campus in Albany was about 7 acres. The land was given by the Monteith family. The original school building was made bigger in 1892. In 1925, the school moved to a new spot south of Albany.

In 1934, Albany College opened a smaller college in Portland. By 1939, the whole school moved to Portland. In 1942, the college bought the "Fir Acres" estate. This estate belonged to Lloyd Frank. The school then changed its name to Lewis & Clark College.

What Students Can Study

Lewis & Clark College has three main schools. These are the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), the Law School, and the Graduate School of Education and Counseling.

College Programs

The College of Arts and Sciences offers many subjects. Students can study things like Art, Biology, Chemistry, and Computer Science. They can also learn about different cultures and languages. Some popular subjects include Economics, English, History, and Psychology. There are also programs in Music, Philosophy, and Theatre.

Study Abroad Opportunities

Lewis & Clark offers about 34 programs to study in other countries. Since the 1960s, more than 60% of students have studied abroad. This means many students get to experience learning in different parts of the world.

Becoming a Student

Lewis & Clark is a selective college. This means they look for good students. For the class that started in Fall 2018, the college received over 6,000 applications. They accepted about 74% of those students. The students who enrolled had strong grades in high school. They also had good scores on tests like the SAT and ACT.

College Rankings

Lewis & Clark College is often recognized as a top school. U.S. News & World Report ranked it among the best liberal arts colleges in the U.S. It was also ranked high for its undergraduate teaching. Forbes magazine also included it in its list of America's Top Colleges.

Exploring the Campus

Campus Features

Frank Manor House

The Lewis & Clark campus is 137 acres. It's a beautiful, forested area. The campus is next to the 645-acre Tryon Creek State Natural Area. This means students have lots of green space to explore.

The campus has modern buildings. One is the John R. Howard Hall. It's known for being environmentally friendly. There are also historic buildings like the Frank Manor House. This house was designed by Herman Brookman.

Lewis & Clark has been named one of America's "Most Beautiful Campuses." This was recognized by the Princeton Review and other groups.

Student Housing

Stewart Residence Hall

Most students live on campus for their first two years. This helps them get to know the college community. Some students don't have to live on campus. These include students who already live in Portland. Also, students over 21 or those who are married don't have to live in dorms. Transfer students with enough credits can also live off campus.

Most of the dorms at Lewis & Clark College are co-ed. This means both male and female students live in the same building. Students can choose to live in rooms with people of any gender. This is part of the college's gender-neutral housing policy.

Student Life and Activities

Being Green

Roses are abundant at Lewis & Clark College.

Lewis & Clark College cares about the environment. All of the college's electricity comes from wind power. Also, new building projects must meet high environmental standards. This shows their commitment to sustainability.

Sports and Teams

Lewis & Clark has many sports teams. There are 10 teams for male students and 11 for female students. The college has great sports facilities. These include the Pamplin Sports Center and Griswold Stadium.

The college's sports teams are called the Pioneers. Their team colors are orange and black. The Pioneers play against other colleges in the Northwest Conference. These are all NCAA Division III schools. About 17% of students are athletes.

Besides varsity sports, many students play club and intramural sports. These include Rugby and Ultimate Frisbee. Lewis & Clark students have even invented their own fun sports!

Getting Around Campus

Pioneer Express shuttle bus starting a trip to downtown Portland, in 2016

The college runs a shuttle bus called the Pioneer Express. This bus takes students between the campus and downtown Portland. It's a helpful way for students to get around the city.

Well-Known People from Lewis & Clark

Notable Faculty and Staff

Miller Center for the Humanities

Many talented people have taught or worked at Lewis & Clark. Some famous names include:

• John F. Callahan, a humanities professor and literary expert.
• Robert B. Pamplin, Jr., a successful business person and supporter of the college.
• William Stafford, a well-known poet.
• Mary Szybist, another award-winning poet.

Famous Alumni

Flanagan Chapel, site of on-campus religious services and weddings

Lewis & Clark College has many successful former students. They have gone on to do amazing things in various fields. Here are a few examples:

• Penn Badgley, a popular actor.
• Matt Biondi, an American Olympic swimmer.
• Earl Blumenauer, a U.S. representative from Oregon.
• Kate Brown, who became the 38th governor of Oregon.
• Ever Carradine, an actress.
• Haben Girma, a strong advocate for disability rights.
• Genevieve Gorder, a television personality.
• Heidi Heitkamp, a former U.S. senator.
• Monica Lewinsky, a former White House intern.
• Markie Post, an actress known for TV shows.
• Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, a Minister of State in the United Arab Emirates.