independent institution located on more than 55 acres (22 hectares) in Springfield, Mass., 90 miles (145 kilometers) west of Boston. The college, founded in 1885, awards bachelor's, master's, and a few doctoral degrees. Enrollment consists of roughly 1,300 undergraduates and 500 graduate students, most of whom come from the New England and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. The numbers of commuters and residential students are relatively equal. The academic calendar is divided into semesters. More than three fourths of the full-time faculty hold doctorates. Undergraduate courses are offered by the Division of Nursing and by Schools of Arts and Sciences, Psychology and Education, and Business Administration. Numerous disciplines require students to get off-campus, hands-on experience. The Supportive Services Program provides extra academic assistance for students with learning disabilities. Between 20 and 30 percent of the college's undergraduates pursue advanced studies within a year of graduation. At the graduate level, the college conducts programs in physical therapy, criminal justice, business, education, and psychology. College life includes some 40 extracurricular activities, including volunteer organizations, musical and theatrical groups, fraternities and sororities, a campus radio station, and intramural sports. Varsity sports teams compete in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. |