Wells College is a private coeducational liberal arts college located in Aurora, Cayuga County, New York, on the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake. Historically an all-women's institution, Wells became a co-ed college in 2005.
Wells College is located in the Finger Lakes region of New York. It is about a half-hour drive from both Ithaca and Auburn, and just over an hour from Syracuse and Rochester. It is part of the Aurora Village-Wells College Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
With five residence halls, four academic buildings, and an average student body of 550, class sizes are small and allow close faculty-student interaction. The student to faculty ratio is 9:1.
Wells' academic program allows students freedom to create unique educational experiences. It has an experiential learning program and cross-enrollment with Cornell University and Ithaca College. The College is strengthening its off-campus study programs, introducing new initiatives in its Book Arts Center, and expanding its athletics. Traditional undergraduate students are required to participate in off-campus internships during three of their winter recesses.
The Wells motto is Habere et Dispertire - To Have and To Share.
History
Wells was established as a woman's college in 1868 by Henry Wells, founder of Wells Fargo and the American Express Company. Wells had the building for Wells Seminary constructed on property he donated. Not long after its construction, Wells Seminary burnt to the ground. The first building was replaced in 1890 by the current Main Building. Henry Wells' mansion, Glen Park, was later donated to the college for its use. It is part of the campus.
After 1965, Walter Netsch designed the Louis Jefferson Long Library. The design of this award-winning building inspired two other buildings on campus, Barler Music Hall and Campbell Art Building.
Co-education
After 136 years as a women's college, Wells announced in October 2004 that it would become a co-educational institution in 2005. This drew student protests on campus. Some parents of students also became involved in the protests. Some of the students said that their protests were patterned after ones at Mills College in the early 1990s. A website called Wells for Women was established After the college's decision to adopt coeducation was approved by its board, students filed a lawsuit, which the courts rejected. The college adopted coeducation in 2005.
Academics
Classes at Wells are taught seminar-style by professors — not teaching assistants — and 83% of Wells faculty have doctoral degrees.
The Washington Monthly's "College Rankings" (an alternative college guide to the U.S. News and World Report ) ranks Wells College as number thirty among all liberal arts colleges in the United States -- as well as the top such college in New York state—in the September 2006 issue.
In 2006, Wells was ranked 12th in the nation by the Princeton Review for being best at encouraging class discussion. In its 2007 rankings, released in August 2006, U.S. News & World Report put it at #24 on the "Great Schools, Great Price" list of best-value schools. It has previously been listed based on the beauty of its campus and frequently makes lists of the nations most-haunted campuses.
U.S. News ranks Wells at 122 among liberal arts colleges.
Wells college tuition along with room and board has now gone from about $29,000 a year to $38–39,000 a year starting with members of the class of 2013. Singles now cost $800 a year and $400 per semester.
Majors with concentrations
- American Studies: African-American Studies
- American Studies: American Cultures
- Biological & Chemical Sciences: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Biological & Chemical Sciences: Biology
- Biological & Chemical Sciences: Chemistry
- Economics & Management: Economics
- Economics & Management: Management
- English: Creative Writing
- English: Literature
- Environmental Studies: Environmental Policies & Values
- Environmental Studies: Environmental Sciences
- Foreign Languages, Literatures & Cultures: French
- Foreign Languages, Literatures & Cultures: Spanish
- Foreign Language Education: French
- Foreign Language Education: Spanish
- History
- International Studies
- Mathematical & Physical Sciences: Computer Science
- Mathematical & Physical Sciences: Mathematics
- Mathematical & Physical Sciences: Physics
- Performing Arts: Music
- Performing Arts: Theatre and Dance
- Psychology
- Public Affairs - Ethics, Politics & Social Policy: Ethics and Philosophy
- Public Affairs - Ethics, Politics & Social Policy: Government and Politics
- Religion: Historical & Comparative Studies
- Religion: Religion & Culture
- Sociology and Anthropology: Sociology
- Sociology and Anthropology: Anthropology/Cross-Cultural Sociology
- Visual Arts: Art History
- Visual Arts: Studio Art
- Women's Studies
- Individualized Major: An opportunity for students to design an alternative major of special interest
A new major, previously only available as a minor, "Book Arts" will officially be a major at beginning in the fall of 2009. Wells College is ranked #1 in the nation for Book Arts.
Athletics
Wells is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III member. The College currently offers six varsity women’s sports teams: field hockey, soccer, tennis, swimming, lacrosse, and softball. All six are members of the New York State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA), while field hockey, soccer, swimming, softball and lacrosse compete in the Atlantic Women’s Colleges Conference (AWCC).
In fall 2005, Wells introduced men’s soccer and swimming teams at the club level, and an intercollegiate cross-country team for both men and women. When these new programs elevate to varsity status in the 2006-07 academic year, they will participate at the NCAA Division III level. The College continues to develop plans for additional sport sponsorship that are inclusive of both men and women, and meet the needs of college students today.
Wells College announced plans in late 2005 to add a men’s lacrosse team beginning in Spring 2007. Men’s lacrosse will be offered at the club level during the first year, and will elevate to the intercollegiate level in the 2007-2008 season.
Wells offers a variety of indoor and outdoor facilities. The Schwartz Center houses a swimming pool, gymnasium, and two tennis courts. Renovations for a new state-of-the-art fitness center are taking place with an expected spring 2006 opening. Outdoor facilities include four newly rebuilt tennis courts, softball field, boathouse, a 9-hole golf course (partially designed by famed golf course architect Robert Trent Jones) and game fields for field hockey, soccer, and lacrosse. New cross-country running trails have been designed and will be developed this spring.
Community Involvement
- In September 2000, Wells held a festival, Return to Chonodote , honoring the area's Haudenosaunee past and present. The event was co-sponsored by SHARE, members of the Cayuga Nation and Onondaga Nation, and Ithaca College.
- Aurora Village-Wells College Historic District is considered a historic place.
Honor Code
Like a number of other liberal arts colleges, Wells has an honor code to which all students subscribe. By signing the Honor Code, Wells students pledge "not to lie, cheat, steal, deceive, or conceal in the conduct of their collegiate life". Wells prides itself on its honor code, which permits it to maintain an environment where students are able to have take-home exams, and to work in their dorm rooms, at the library, or on the dock by the lake, rather than in crowded classrooms.
Traditions
Traditions and rituals at Wells College are often described as the backbone of student life. Each student is indoctrinated with the overwhelming number of traditions, ceremonies, and songs; in this manner incoming students are connected with those of yesteryear and the close-knit Wells family grows. Here is a list and brief explanation of some of the Wells traditions:
Institution Wide
Class Year Traditions
First Year
Sophomore Year
Junior Year
Senior Year
Programming Board Annual Programs
Institutional Lore
Oh(name of student) we sing to you You are so good a
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