founded in 1794 in Brunswick, Me. It is the state's oldest institution of higher learning. It was named for James Bowdoin, a political leader and the founder and first president of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The college originally had ties with the Congregational church but has been independent since 1908. In 1970 the school began allowing women to attend, and today females make up a significant percentage of the close to 1,500 students enrolled. Noteworthy in the school's history is the fact that Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow graduated in the same class. The college's library is named after the two writers. Bowdoin is solely an undergraduate institution and is very selective. It seeks students from all states of the Union, and minorities make up about 15 percent of the student body. Almost all students live on the 110-acre (45-hectare) campus. Buildings are a mixture of traditional brick and more modern architectural styles. One residence hall has been designated as a Wellness House and features a smoke-free, alcohol-free environment that emphasizes health and nutrition. The school does not use letter grades, class rankings, or grade point averages. Instead, it stresses individual responsibility for education. The curriculum centers on the liberal arts. At least two courses of the total needed for graduation must be in studies relating to non-Western cultures. In addition to basic disciplines, majors can be found in Arctic studies, Latin American studies, and studio art. More than 90 percent of the full-time faculty hold doctorates. Almost half of graduating students immediately pursue advanced studies. Bowdoin's fraternities were among the first in the nation to admit women, which cost many of the groups their national affiliation. A large number of students participate in voluntary service programs, and arts groups are likewise popular. The Bowdoin Polar Bears compete in Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association |