Mills College

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Mills College
Mills Logo.png
Motto Una destinatio,
viae diversae.
Motto in English One destination,
many paths.
Established 1852[1]
Type Liberal arts women's college with graduate programs for women and men.
Endowment $183.4 million
(as of June 30, 2011)[1]
President Alecia A. DeCoudreaux
Academic staff 203[1]
Students 1,555
Undergraduates 941[1]
Postgraduates 614[1]
Location Oakland, California,
 United States
Campus Urban, 135 acres
Mascot Cyclones[2]
Website www.mills.edu

Mills College is an independent liberal arts and sciences college in the San Francisco Bay Area. Originally founded in 1852 as a young ladies' seminary in Benicia, California, Mills became the first women's college west of the Rockies. Currently, Mills is an undergraduate women's college in Oakland, California, with graduate programs for women and men. The college offers more than 40 undergraduate majors and 23 graduate degrees and certificates.

In 2011, U.S. News & World Report ranked Mills fifth overall among colleges and universities in the West and seventh in the West in "Great Schools, Great Prices," which evaluated the quality of institutions' academics against the cost of attendance.[3] The Princeton Review ranks Mills as one of the Best 376 Colleges[4] and one of the top "green" colleges in the U.S.[5]

Contents

[edit] History

Built in 1871, Mills Hall originally housed the entire College.

Mills College was initially founded as the Young Ladies Seminary at Benicia in 1852. It was under the leadership of Mary Atkins, a graduate of Oberlin College. In 1865, Susan Tolman Mills, a graduate of Mount Holyoke College (then Mount Holyoke Female Seminary), and her husband Cyrus Mills bought the Young Ladies Seminary renaming it Mills Seminary. In 1871, the school was moved to Oakland, California and the school was incorporated in 1877. The school became Mills College in 1885. In 1890, after serving for decades as principal (under two presidents as well), Susan Mills became the president of the college and held the position for 19 years.[6] Beginning in 1906 the seminary classes were progressively eliminated. In 1921, Mills granted its first master's degrees.

On May 3, 1990, the Trustees announced that they had voted to admit male students.[7] This decision led to a two-week student and staff strike, accompanied by numerous displays of non-violent protests by the students.[8][9] At one point, nearly 300 students blockaded the administrative offices and boycotted classes.[10] On May 18, the Trustees met again to reconsider the decision, leading finally to a reversal of the vote.[11][12]

[edit] Academics

Continuing a historical tradition of innovative liberal arts programs,[13] Mills offers more than 40 undergraduate courses of study in the arts and sciences. The most popular undergraduate majors for the 2011-12 academic year at Mills are English; psychology; political, legal, and economic analysis (PLEA), child development, anthropology and sociology, and biology.[1] Students also have the option to create their own college major if they work with three faculty advisors to plan an individual program that draws courses from across the college's curriculum and creates an integrated, unique educational experience not already covered by an existing major.[14] Mills also provides the first two years of courses leading to a bachelor of science in nursing degree from Samuel Merritt University.[15]

Undergraduate students can participate in one of six bachelor's to master's degree programs, which allow students to earn an undergraduate and a graduate degree in five years instead of six. The five-year programs include BA/MBA, BA/MA Interdisciplinary Computer Science, BA/MA/Teaching Credential Education, BA/MA Infant Mental Health, BA/MA Mathematics, and BA/MPP.[16]

In the 2011-12 academic year, the student:faculty ratio at Mills is 11:1, with an average class size of 14 students. The college has 203 full-time and part-time faculty members. More than 25% of Mills faculty members are people of color, and more than 65% of the full-time faculty are women.[17][1]

Mills graduate programs for women and men include studio art (MFA), book art (MFA), business (MBA), interdisciplinary computer science (MA and post-bac), creative writing (MFA), dance (MA and MFA), education (MA, EdD, and credentials), English (MA), infant mental health (MA), music (MA and MFA), pre-med (post-bac), and public policy (MPP).[18] The most popular graduate programs for the 2011-12 academic year at Mills are education, MBA, English, pre-med, music, and public policy.[1]

Mills is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The college follows a semester system, with fall semester commencing in late August and ending in December, and spring quarter beginning in mid-January ending in May.[19]

[edit] Rankings and admissions

In 2011, U.S. News & World Report ranked Mills fifth overall among colleges and universities in the West and seventh in the West in "Great Schools, Great Prices," which evaluated the quality of institutions' academics against the cost of attendance.[3] The Princeton Review ranked Mills as one of the Best 376 Colleges in the nation in 2011.[20] Washington Monthly named Mills #27 among the top master's universities in the country based on research, service, and social mobility.[21] In 2009, Forbes magazine ranked Mills College among the Top Ten: Best of the All-Women's Colleges alongside Barnard, Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, and Wellesley.[22][23]

In recent years, Mills College has been recognized for its sustainability efforts on campus. The Princeton Review ranked it one of the top "green" colleges in the U.S.[5]. Sierra, the Sierra Club magazine, ranked the college as one of "America's Coolest" green schools. [24]

For the 2011–12 academic year, Mills student body totalled 1,555 students, with 941 undergraduate women and 614 graduate men and women. Forty-three states are represented in the student body, and international students from 15 different countries attend the college. Forty-two percent of the undergrads and 39% of the graduate students are students of color. Sixteen percent of the undergraduate population are "resumer" students who are 23 years or older and returning to college.[1]

[edit] Music program

The Music Program at Mills is noted for being at the forefront of experimental music study and composition. Well-known composer Luciano Berio was on the music faculty of Mills in 1962-1964, and in 1966 Pauline Oliveros became the first director of the Tape Music Center (later the Center for Contemporary Music),[25] where she composed her electronic works "Alien Bog" and "Beautiful Soop". Morton Subotnick, later a member of the faculty, received his master's degree from Mills, studying composition with Leon Kirchner and Darius Milhaud. Laurie Anderson, Dave Brubeck, Phil Lesh, and Steve Reich attended the program, as well as the famous synthesizer designer Don Buchla. Terry Riley taught at Mills starting in the early 1970s. Avant-garde jazz pioneer Anthony Braxton has taught at Mills on an intermittent basis since the 1970s. Lou Harrison, Pandit Pran Nath, Iannis Xenakis, Alvin Curran, Anthony Braxton, Gordon Mumma, Frederic Rzewski, Fred Frith, and many others have all taught music at Mills.

Since 1976, the Center for Contemporary Music (CCM) has emphasized experimental methods in contemporary music and its allied arts and sciences. CCM maintains a variety of electronic equipment, instruments and studios, provides instruction and technical assistance, and archives audio recordings. The Center also performs a wide variety of community services in the arts, including public concerts and lecture series, informational and technical assistance, and artist residencies. Maggi Payne and Chris Brown are presently co-directors of CCM. Payne is a composer, performer, interdisciplinary artist, and recording engineer. Brown is an instrument builder, a pianist, and a composer.[26]

[edit] Campus

Richards Road

The 135-acre (0.55 km2) campus is located in the foothills of Oakland on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay.[1]

The campus is lovingly described in alumna Jade Snow Wong's book Fifth Chinese Daughter, first published in 1945.

[edit] Julia Morgan buildings

 This article is in a list format that may be better presented using prose. You can help by converting this article to prose, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (May 2008)

In 1904, Mills president Susan Mills became interested in architect Julia Morgan because she wished to further the career of a female architect and because Morgan, just beginning her career, charged less than her male counterparts.[27] Morgan designed six buildings for the Mills campus:

  • El Campanil, believed to be the first bell tower on a United States college campus[27] and the first reinforced concrete structure on the west coast.[28] Morgan's reputation grew when the tower was unscathed by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.[27] The bells in the tower "were cast for the World's Columbian Exposition (Chicago-1893), and given to Mills by a trustee".[28]
  • The Margaret Carnegie Library (1906), named after Andrew Carnegie's daughter.[27]
  • The Ming Quong Home for Chinese girls, built in 1924 and purchased by Mills in 1936, which was renamed Alderwood Hall[28] and now houses the Julia Morgan School for Girls[27] (independent of the College).
  • The Student Union (1916)[27]
  • Kapiolani Cottage, which has served as an infirmary, faculty housing, and administration offices.[27][28]
  • Mills's original gymnasium and pool, which have been replaced by the Tea Shop and Suzanne Adams Plaza.[27]

[edit] Mills Hall

Designed in 1869 by S. C. Bugbee & Son,[29] Mills Hall became the College's new home when it moved from Benicia to Oakland in 1871. Mills Hall is "a long, four-story building with a high central observatory. The mansarded structure, which provided homes for faculty and students as well as classrooms and dining halls, long was considered the most beautiful educational building in the state".[30] Mills Hall is a California Historical Landmark and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.[30]


[edit] Campus community

Toyon Meadow

Ten different on-campus living options are available at Mills, including traditional residence halls, a housing cooperative, family housing, and apartment living.[31] In the Mediterranean-inspired residence halls, students enjoy single rooms, the occasional California sleeping porch, and common areas outfitted with antique furniture and grand pianos.[32]

There are more than 50 organizations and clubs for students to join, such as Mills Art History Society, Asian Pacific Islander Sisterhood Allliance, Black Women’s Collective, Esoteric Video Game Club, Indigeneous Women's Alliance, Mills Earth C.O.R.P.S., Mills Sailing Club, Model United Nations, Mujeres Unidas, Multifaith @ Mills, and Studio Art Collective. Some groups meet to share a hobby or interest, while others are academic, advocacy-based, or caused-based organizations. If students can’t find a club that appeals to them, they can create a new one.[33]

Throughout the academic year, there are many events to attend on campus, many of which are open to the public. On-campus events include art exhibitions at the Mills College Art Museum; music performances including the Mills Music Now concert series; dance performances by undergraduate and graduate students; the Fetish Ball and the Black & White Ball; readings and spoken word performances including the annual, student-organized Contemporary Writers Series; myriad guest speakers and lecturers; and conferences such as the Mills College Center for Socially Responsible Business annual conference.[34] Mills students often have opportunities to help organize events and meet with the guest speakers. Athletic events on campus include soccer and tennis matches, volleyball games, and swim meets.[35]

Notable personages from around the world have come to speak at Mills College. Past speakers included Ansel Adams and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Recent speakers at Mills have included then Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi,[36] Isabel Allende, US Senator Barbara Boxer, Chelsea Clinton, Marian Wright Edelman, Guillermo Gómez-Peña, Dolores Huerta,[37] Sally Ride,[38] Maya Soetoro-Ng,[39] Gloria Steinem, Helen Thomas,[40] and Helen Zia.

[edit] Athletics

Mills students compete in seven intercollegiate sports — cross country, rowing, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball — as members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Division III) and the NCAA Association of Division III Independents.[41]

[edit] Notable alumni

Question book-new.svg
 This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2011)
Main article: List of Mills College people

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Facts About Mills College". Mills College official website. http://www.mills.edu/about/facts.php. Retrieved 27 February 2012. 
  2. ^ "Mills College Athletics & Recreation". http://www.mills.edu/campus_life/athletics_and_recreation/index.php. Retrieved 2012-02-26. 
  3. ^ a b "U.S. News Best Colleges Rankings - Mills College". U.S. News College Compass: Best Colleges 2012. http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/mills-college-118888/overall-rankings. Retrieved 27 February 2012. 
  4. ^ "The Best 376 Colleges - 2012". The Princeton Review. http://www.princetonreview.com/rankingsbest.aspx. Retrieved 27 February 2012. 
  5. ^ a b "The Princeton Review's Guide to 311 Green Colleges - 2012 (presented in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council". The Princeton Review. http://www.princetonreview.com/green-schools-by-state.aspx. Retrieved 27 February 2012. 
  6. ^ "Susan Lincoln Tolman Mills". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9125876?tocId=9125876. 
  7. ^ "Venerable School for Women Is Going Co-ed". nytimes.com.com. 1990-05-04. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30610F73C540C778CDDAC0894D8494D81. 
  8. ^ "Mills Students Protesting Admission of Men". nytimes.com.com. 1990-05-05. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE6DE1738F936A35756C0A966958260. 
  9. ^ Bishop, Katherine (1990-05-06). "Disbelieving and Defiant, Students Vow: No Men". nytimes.com.com. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30616FC355E0C758CDDAC0894D8494D81. Retrieved 2010-05-12. 
  10. ^ "Protest Continues at College Over Decision to Admit Men". nytimes.com.com. 1990-05-08. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE1DE133EF93BA35756C0A966958260. 
  11. ^ "College to Reconsider Decision to Admit Men". nytimes.com.com. 1990-05-12. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE5DA1130F931A25756C0A966958260. 
  12. ^ Bishop, Katherine (1990-05-19). "Women's College Rescinds Its Decision to Admit Men". nytimes.com.com. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30616F63C550C7A8DDDAC0894D8494D81. Retrieved 2010-05-12. 
  13. ^ "History of Mills College - Timeline". http://www.mills.edu/about/history.php. Retrieved 27 February 2012. 
  14. ^ "Mills College: Undergraduate Programs of Study". http://www.mills.edu/admission/undergraduate/programs_of_study.php. Retrieved 27 February 2012. 
  15. ^ "Mills College: Special Undergraduate Programs". http://www.mills.edu/admission/undergraduate/special_programs.php. Retrieved 27 February 2012. 
  16. ^ "Mills College: Bachelor's to Master's Degree Programs". http://www.mills.edu/admission/undergraduate/dual_degrees.php. Retrieved 27 February 2012. 
  17. ^ "Mills College Academics - Faculty". http://www.mills.edu/admission/undergraduate/faculty.php. Retrieved 27 February 2012. 
  18. ^ "Graduate". http://www.mills.edu/grad. Retrieved 2012-02-27. 
  19. ^ "Mills College academic calendar". http://www.mills.edu/academics/calendars/academic_calendar.php. Retrieved 27 February 2012. 
  20. ^ "The Best 376 Colleges - 2012". The Princeton Review. http://www.princetonreview.com/rankingsbest.aspx. Retrieved 27 February 2012. 
  21. ^ "2011 Master's Universities Rankings". Washington Monthly College Guide. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings_2011/masters_universities_rank.php. Retrieved 27 February 2012. 
  22. ^ Brown, Heidi. "Why Women's Colleges Are Still Relevant". Forbes.com. Forbes magazine. http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/12/womens-colleges-student-forbes-woman-leadership-graduate.html. Retrieved 29 February 2012. 
  23. ^ http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/13/womens-colleges-student-forbes-woman-leadership-graduate_slide_5.html
  24. ^ "America's Coolest 'Green' Schools - 2011". Sierra Magazine. Sierra Club. http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/201109/coolschools/all-schools.aspx. Retrieved 27 February 2012. 
  25. ^ Bernstein, David W. (2008). The San Francisco Tape Music Center: 1960s counterculture and the avant-garde. University of California Press. p. 34. ISBN 0520248929. http://books.google.com/books?id=-uSNYnr3VWIC&pg=PA34. 
  26. ^ Holmes, Thomas B.; Holmes, Thom (2002). Electronic and experimental music: pioneers in technology and composition (2 ed.). Psychology Press. p. 192. ISBN 0415936446. http://books.google.com/books?id=ILkquoGXEq0C&pg=PA192. 
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h Ito, Susan (Winter 2004). "Julia Morgan at Mills" (PDF). Mills Quarterly (Mills College): pp. 14. http://www.mills.edu/alumnae/publications/backissues/W2004_03.pdf. Retrieved 2008-02-27. 
  28. ^ a b c d (PDF) Mills College 2007/2008 Undergraduate Student Handbook. School Datebooks. 2007. http://www.mills.edu/handbook.pdf. Retrieved 2008-02-27. 
  29. ^ Thompson, Daniella (2006-11-17). "East Bay Then and Now: This West Berkeley Landmark Is a Proud Survivor". The Berkeley Daily Planet. http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2006-11-17/article/25667. Retrieved 2008-02-27. 
  30. ^ a b "CERES: State Historical Landmarks for Alameda County". http://ceres.ca.gov/geo_area/counties/Alameda/landmarks.html. Retrieved 2008-02-28. 
  31. ^ "Mills College Housing - Residential Options". http://www.mills.edu/campus_life/housing/residential_options.php. Retrieved 27 February 2012. 
  32. ^ "Mills College undergraduate admission - campus housing". http://www.mills.edu/admission/undergraduate/housing.php. Retrieved 27 February 2012. 
  33. ^ "Mills College Undergraduate Admission - Student Life". http://www.mills.edu/admission/undergraduate/student_life.php. Retrieved 27 February 2012. 
  34. ^ "Millls College calendar of events". http://www.mills.edu/calendarexpress/month.php?catid=1. Retrieved 27 February 2012. 
  35. ^ "Mills College Athletics - Teams and Schedules". http://www.mills.edu/athletics. Retrieved 29 February 2012. 
  36. ^ King, John. "Pelosi tells Mills College grads to 'be ready'". SFGate.com/SF Chronicle. San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/15/BA711DFBRC.DTL. Retrieved 29 February 2012. 
  37. ^ "Legendary Labor Leader Dolores Huerta to speak at Mills College Convocation". http://www.mills.edu/news/2010/newsarticle08252010HuertaConvocation.php. Retrieved 29 February 2012. 
  38. ^ "Astronaut Sally Ride Featured Speaker at Mills College Convocation". http://www.mills.edu/news/2005/newsarticle09092005sally_ride_convocation.php. Retrieved 29 February 2012. 
  39. ^ "Mills College and the International Museum of Women Preview 'Young Women Speaking the Economy' Virtual Exhibition". http://www.mills.edu/news/2011/newsarticle04132011IMOW_preview.php. Retrieved 29 February 2012. 
  40. ^ "White House Reporter Helen Thomas Joins Congresswoman Barbara Lee in Conversation at Mills College". http://www.mills.edu/news/2009/thomas_lee_conversation.php. Retrieved 29 February 2012. 
  41. ^ "NCAA Members by Division". http://web1.ncaa.org/onlineDir/exec/divisionListing?sortOrder=0&division=3. Retrieved 2012-02-29. 

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Coordinates: 37°46′50″N 122°10′59″W / 37.78056°N 122.18306°W / 37.78056; -122.18306

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