Agnes Scott College

Last updated
Agnes Scott College
Agnes Scott College seal.svg
Former names
Decatur Female Seminary (1889–1890)
Agnes Scott Institute (1890–1906)
MottoIn Fide Vestra Virtutem In Virtute Autem Scientiam
Motto in English
Add to your faith virtue and to your virtue knowledge
Type Private women's liberal arts college
Established1889;135 years ago (1889)
Religious affiliation
Presbyterian
Academic affiliations
APCU
Annapolis Group
Oberlin Group
CIC
WCC
Space-grant
Endowment $247,1 million (2022) [1] [2]
President Leocadia I. Zak
Academic staff
127 [3]
Students1,124 (Fall 2022) [4]
Undergraduates 950 (Fall 2022) [5]
Location, ,
30030-3770
,
United States
CampusSuburban; total 91 acres (37 ha)
Athletic complex 7 acres (2.8 ha)
Bradley Observatory and Delafield Planetarium 1.5 acres (0.61 ha)
NewspaperAgnes Scott Profile
Colors       Scottie Purple, yellow, gold, grey, black (official colors)
   Purple & white (athletic colors)
Nickname Scotties
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division IIICollegiate Conference of the South
Mascot Scottish Terrier
Website www.agnesscott.edu
Agnes Scott College wordmark.svg

Agnes Scott College Mission Statement Agnes Scott College Mission Statement Sign.jpg
Agnes Scott College Mission Statement

Agnes Scott College is a private women's liberal arts college in Decatur, Georgia. The college enrolls approximately 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The college is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church and is considered one of the Seven Sisters of the South. [6] It also offers co-educational graduate programs.

Contents

History

The college was founded in 1889 as Decatur Female Seminary by Presbyterian minister Frank Henry Gaines. In 1890, the name was changed to Agnes Scott Institute to honor the mother of the college's primary benefactor, Col. George Washington Scott. The name was changed again to Agnes Scott College in 1906, and remains today a women's college.

Agnes Scott is considered the first higher education institution in the state of Georgia to receive regional accreditation. [7] [8] The ninth and current president since July 2018 is Leocadia I. Zak, who previously worked as director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

On July 27, 1994, the campus was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the South Candler Street-Agnes Scott College Historic District. [9] The historic district boundaries are East College Ave., South McDonough St., S. Candler St., East Hill St. and East Davis St. It includes the entire campus, as well as historic homes adjacent to the campus. The campus is also designated by the City of Decatur as a historic district.[ citation needed ]

The Reverend Frank Henry Gaines served as the first President of Agnes Scott, formally known as Decatur Female Seminary School, for 27 years (1896-1923). During his 27-year presidency, he ensured stability and success for the school, including the transition to the collegiate level, accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, acquisition of 20 acres of land and 21 buildings and an increase in assets from $5,000 to $1.5 million.

Campus

Agnes Scott College is located within walking distance of downtown Decatur. A MARTA subway station, located in downtown Decatur, allows students to travel to Atlanta.

Agnes Scott (Main) Hall, named after Agnes Irvine Scott, is located at the center of "the loop" and is a one among many Agnes Scott buildings that was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. [10] Main was built in 1891, which makes it the oldest building on campus. [11] Main once housed the entire school. This is documented in the history of Agnes Scott by Dr. McNair entitled Lest We Forget published in 1983.

As technology became more advanced so did Main. [12] Main Hall was the first building on campus and in the neighborhood to have electric lighting. [13] Some say that people would gather outside of Main at night just to admire the light shining within the building. [14]

Buttrick Hall Agnes Scott College - Buttrick Hall.jpg
Buttrick Hall
Looking across the quad Agnes Scott College - Across the quad.jpg
Looking across the quad
McCain Library at dusk Agnes Scott College - McCain Library.jpg
McCain Library at dusk
Bradley Observatory Bradley-Observatory-04.jpg
Bradley Observatory
Inman Hall Inman Hall - Agnes Scott College.jpg
Inman Hall
Alumnae Garden - Robert Frost statue Robert Frost Statue - Agnes Scott College.jpg
Alumnae Garden - Robert Frost statue

Agnes Scott occupies more than 90 acres (360,000 m2) in Decatur. The college also owns the Avery Glen apartments as well as more than a dozen houses in the surrounding neighborhoods housing faculty, staff, and students. There are also six dedicated undergraduate dormitories located on campus.

The Bradley Observatory at Agnes Scott houses the Beck Telescope, a 30-inch (760 mm) Cassegrain reflector, as well as a planetarium with 70-seat capacity and a radio telescope. Recently Agnes Scott College and the Georgia Tech Research Institute have collaborated on a project that added a LIDAR facility to the observatory. [15]

The college's science building contains a three-story rendering of part of the nucleotide sequence from Agnes Scott's mitochondrial DNA. The DNA came from a blood sample of an ASC alumna who is a direct descendant of the college's namesake.

American poet Robert Frost was first invited to speak at Agnes Scott in 1935, by English professor Emma May Laney, and he was an annual visitor to the campus from 1945 to his death in 1963. [16] During his visits, he would read poetry in Presser Hall. A statue of the poet sculpted by George W. Lundeen sits in the alumnae gardens. A collection of Robert Frost's poetry and letters can be viewed at McCain Library.

The campus has been a filming location for many productions. [17] Complaints by students and alumni about disrespectful production crews and about sexist content in nonetheless rental-income-generating projects such as Road Trip: Beer Pong led to a new policy that requires school review of potential projects, responsibility training for crew members and extras, and at least one educational opportunity for students. [18]

Sustainability

Agnes Scott has committed to becoming a carbon-neutral institute by the college's 150th anniversary in 2039 and has taken steps such as partnering with the Clean Air Campaign to reduce its impact on the local environment. [19]

As of 2015, the college has five solar arrays, four of which are part of Georgia Power's Advanced Solar Initiative. The fifth array is on the rooftop of the Bradley Observatory and is also used for student research. The renovation of Campbell Hall into a mixed use residence hall, learning center, and office space was concluded in 2014 and included installation of a hydro-geothermic HVAC system. [20]

The college hosts a Zipcar. [21]

Academics

Agnes Scott offers 34 undergraduate majors and 9 graduate and post-baccalaureate programs. [22] The undergraduate core curriculum SUMMIT focuses on leadership development, global learning, and digital literacy. [23] In 2019, Agnes Scott received the Heiskell Award for Scholars as Drivers of Innovation for its SUMMIT curriculum.

SUMMIT at Agnes Scott is split into six areas of focus: [24]

Undergraduate students are able to cross-register in other ARCHE member institutions. [25] Its most popular undergraduate majors, based on 2021 graduates, were: [26]

Library

The library at Agnes Scott College was an original Carnegie library built in 1910. The building was demolished in 1986.

A new library was authorized by the board of trustees in 1935 and opened in the fall of 1936. This new library was called the "Carnegie Library" and the original library was turned into a student center. It was renamed in 1951 for James McCain, on the occasion of his retirement as the 2nd President of the college. In 1974-1977 and again in 1999–2000, the library underwent renovations. [27]

McCain Library is a member of the Oberlin Group of Libraries, a consortium of 83 leading liberal arts colleges in the United States. The purpose of the group centers on promoting dialogue and the sharing of ideas to better inform respective library operations and services, including adaptation to evolving challenges. [28]

Student life

Diversity

The Fall 2022 ethnicities of the undergraduate student body were: 0.1% American Indian or Alaskan Native, 5.7% Asian, 31.8% Black or African American, 37.1% White, 14.4% Hispanic/Latino, 2.4% non-resident Alien, 6.0% two or more races, and 2.3% other or unknown. 61.3% of undergraduates that year were from Georgia. [29]

Housing

Given Agnes Scott's emphasis on "mak[ing] lifelong friends, shar[ing] unforgettable experiences, discover[ing] meaningful places and find[ing] belonging in [their] community," a majority of students are encouraged to live on campus. [30] Thus, most students are expected to live in on-campus housing for all four years as an undergraduate at Agnes Scott College. [31] However, the proportion of commuter students has increased (from 15.6 to 18.0 percent between the 2014–2015 and 2019–2020 academic year) due to limited housing caused from an increase in the student population (from 849 to 986 total students) and renovations to the residence halls. [32] [33]

There are six resident halls situated around the Northern edge of the campus: Winship, Walters, Inman, Rebekah, Campbell and Agnes Scott Hall (nicknamed "Main"). [34]

Student organizations

There are over 50 student organizations on campus. [35] Sororities are prohibited. [36]

Publications

The college hosts several student publications, including The Silhouette, the college's yearbook published annually, and The Aurora, Agnes Scott's literary magazine. All students are invited to join the staff. [37]

Athletics

Agnes Scott is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III which fields six sports teams including basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. All teams compete in the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS).

Traditions

Black Cat
The tradition of Black Cat started during the year of 1915 as an attempt to dissuade the excessive hazing of underclassmen, first-years and sophomores, by upperclassmen, juniors and seniors. Originally just a day, "Dr. Mary Sweet, the head of Physical Education, came up with a 'battle of the wits' to challenge both classes, and which ever class won would get the bronze statue of a cat. Hazing did not completely end, as shown by the rules which freshmen had to follow for Sophomore week in 1923". [38]

"The "rushing of the quad" at midnight of the Monday of Black Cat Week allows each class to cover the quad in decorated objects in their class color to earn points. There is an inter-class trivia competition, a field-day competition and a dance competition. On the Thursday of Black Cat, the students gather for Bonfire. Each class comes up with a song for their class and for their sister class, which are all sung in front of a bonfire. On Friday night, the Junior class performs their original play and the Black Cat dance is held on Saturday night". [39]

Writers' Festival

One of the most significant events on Agnes Scott's annual calendar is the Writers' Festival which occurs each spring since 1972. Its purpose is to promote and encourage creative writing skills among college students in Georgia. Undergraduate students throughout Georgia are invited to submit manuscripts (poetry or prose). The manuscripts are screened by qualified judges, and the work of the finalists is ultimately evaluated by a panel of recognized writers who are brought to the campus to participate in the festival either by lectures or by readings from their works. The winners of the best work in each of the various categories receive a cash prize. [40]

Rankings

Academic rankings
Liberal arts colleges
U.S. News & World Report [41] 63
National
Forbes [42] 454

Agnes Scott was named as one of the Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL). [43]

U.S. News & World Report 's 2023 rankings include: [44]

Princeton Review's 2023 rankings include: [45]

Media production on campus

The college's campus has been used in many films and televisions shows: [46]

Films

Life of the Party (2018)

Television

Notable alumnae

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeKalb County, Georgia</span> County in Georgia, United states

DeKalb County is located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 764,382, making it Georgia's fourth-most populous county. Its county seat is Decatur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Decatur, Georgia</span> City in Georgia, United States

Decatur is a city in, and the county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. With a population of 24,928 in the 2020 census, the municipality is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple ZIP Codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear Decatur as the address. The city is served by three MARTA rail stations. The city is located approximately five miles northeast of Downtown Atlanta and shares its western border with both the city of Atlanta and unincorporated DeKalb County. The Druid Hills neighborhood is to the northwest of Decatur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorado College</span> Private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, US

Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell in his daughter's memory. The college enrolls approximately 2,000 undergraduates at its 90-acre (36 ha) campus. The college offers 42 majors and 33 minors. Notable alumni include Liz Cheney, Dutch Clark, Thomas Hornsby Ferril, James Heckman, Steve Sabol, Ken Salazar, and Marc Webb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wesleyan University</span> Private liberal arts college in Middletown, Connecticut

Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1831 as a men's college under the Methodist Episcopal Church and with the support of prominent residents of Middletown. It is currently a secular institution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgian Court University</span> Private university in Lakewood Township, New Jersey, U.S.

Georgian Court University is a private Roman Catholic university in Lakewood Township, New Jersey. Founded in 1908 by the Sisters of Mercy, the university has more than 1,600 undergraduates and nearly 600 graduate students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. John's College (Annapolis/Santa Fe)</span> Private liberal arts college in the United States.

St. John's College is a private liberal arts college with campuses in Annapolis, Maryland, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. As the successor institution of King William's School, a preparatory school founded in 1696, St. John's is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the United States; the current institution received a collegiate charter in 1784. In 1937, St. John's adopted a Great Books curriculum based on discussion of works from the Western canon of philosophical, religious, historical, mathematical, scientific, and literary works.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College of the Holy Cross</span> Private college in Worcester, Massachusetts, US

The College of the Holy Cross is a private Jesuit liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was founded by educators Benedict Joseph Fenwick and Thomas F. Mulledy in 1843 under the auspices of the Society of Jesus. Holy Cross was the first Catholic college in New England and is among the oldest Catholic institutions of higher education in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgia State University</span> Public university in Atlanta, Georgia, US

Georgia State University is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1913, it is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities. It is also the largest institution of higher education by enrollment based in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation with a student enrollment of around 50,000, including approximately 33,000 undergraduate and graduate students at the main campus downtown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Richmond</span> Private college in Richmond, Virginia, US

The University of Richmond is a private liberal arts college in Richmond, Virginia. It is a primarily undergraduate, residential institution with approximately 3,900 undergraduate and graduate students in five schools: the School of Arts and Sciences; the E. Claiborne Robins School of Business; the Jepson School of Leadership Studies; the University of Richmond School of Law; and the School of Professional & Continuing Studies. It is classified among "Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercer University</span> Private university in Macon, Georgia, US

Mercer University is a private research university with its main campus in Macon, Georgia. Founded in 1833 as Mercer Institute and gaining university status in 1837, it is the oldest private university in the state and enrolls more than 9,000 students in 12 colleges and schools. Mercer is a member of the Georgia Research Alliance. It is classified as a "R2: Doctoral Universities — High research activity".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maginnis & Walsh</span>

Maginnis & Walsh was an architecture firm started by Charles Donagh Maginnis and Timothy Francis Walsh in 1905. It was known for its innovative design of churches in Boston in the first half of the twentieth century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Notre Dame of Maryland University</span> Private university in Baltimore, Maryland, US

Notre Dame of Maryland University is a private Catholic university in Baltimore, Maryland. NDMU offers certificate, undergraduate, and graduate programs for women and men.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Immaculata University</span> Catholic university in East Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania, US

Immaculata University is a private Roman Catholic university in East Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania. It was founded by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spalding University</span> Private Catholic university in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.

Spalding University is a private Catholic university in Louisville, Kentucky. It is affiliated with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's colleges in the Southern United States</span>

Women's colleges in the Southern United States refers to undergraduate, bachelor's degree–granting institutions, often liberal arts colleges, whose student populations consist exclusively or almost exclusively of women, located in the Southern United States. Many started first as girls' seminaries or academies. Salem College is the oldest female educational institution in the South and Wesleyan College is the first that was established specifically as a college for women, closely followed by Judson College in 1838. Some schools, such as Salem College, offer coeducational courses at the graduate level.

William Augustus Edwards, also known as William A. Edwards was an Atlanta-based American architect renowned for the educational buildings, courthouses and other public and private buildings that he designed in Florida, Georgia and his native South Carolina. More than 25 of his works have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Winnona Park is a historic area in the southeast corner of the Atlanta, Georgia suburb of Decatur. It is listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places, but it is not one of the City of Decatur's locally designated historic districts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgia Tech</span> Public university in Atlanta, Georgia, US

The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university and institute of technology in Atlanta, Georgia. Established in 1885, it is part of the University System of Georgia and has satellite campuses in Savannah, Georgia; Metz, France; Shenzhen, China; and Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna Irwin Young</span> American mathematician

Anna Irwin Young (1873–1920) was an American professor of mathematics, physics and astronomy and in 1916 was a charter member of the Mathematical Association of America.

References

  1. As of June 30, 2020. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 (Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. February 19, 2021. Archived from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  2. "Agnes Scott College - at a Glance". Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  3. "Common Data Set 2021-2022" (PDF). Agnes Scott College. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  4. "Enrollment History".
  5. "Enrollment History". Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  6. Agnes Scott College. Archived August 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine , Retrieved on May 15, 2013.
  7. "Agnes Scott College". Liberal Arts Colleges. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  8. "Member List" (PDF). Southern Association of Colleges. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 22, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  9. " Archived October 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine " National Register of Historic Places: DeKalb County Retrieved: August 18, 2008.
  10. "The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project". hcap.artstor.org. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  11. "The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project". hcap.artstor.org. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  12. "The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project". hcap.artstor.org. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  13. "The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project". hcap.artstor.org. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  14. "The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project". hcap.artstor.org. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  15. Lidar Projects at GTRI, Georgia Tech Research Institute, archived from the original on September 29, 2011, retrieved June 15, 2010
  16. "Agnes Scott College – Previous Guest Writers". www.agnesscott.edu. Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  17. "Filming Location Matching "Agnes Scott College - 141 E. College Avenue, Decatur, Georgia, USA" (Sorted by Popularity Ascending)". IMDb. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  18. Gumbrecht, Jamie (June 15, 2009). "Spotlight not always glamorous at film-happy Agnes Scott". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on February 3, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  19. New grant boosts Agnes Scott green initiatives, Agnes Scott College, January 11, 2010, archived from the original on January 28, 2010, retrieved February 22, 2010
  20. "Renewable Energy on Campus". Agnes Scott College. Agnes Scott College. Archived from the original on August 4, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  21. "Zipcar". Agnes Scott College. Archived from the original on September 4, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  22. "About Us". Agnes Scott College website. Archived from the original on October 3, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  23. "Four-Year Experience". Agnes Scott College website. Archived from the original on October 3, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  24. "SUMMIT". Agnes Scott College website. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  25. "Cross-Registration". Agnes Scott College website. Archived from the original on October 3, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  26. "Agnes Scott College". nces.ed.gov. U.S. Dept of Education. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  27. "About the Library". Agnes Scott College website. Archived from the original on October 3, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  28. "About the Oberlin Group". Oberlin Group of Libraries: A Consortium of Liberal Arts College Libraries. February 23, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  29. "Enrollment History". Agnes Scott College website. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  30. "Office of Residence Life". Agnes Scott College. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  31. Agnes Scott College Housing. Archived May 11, 2013, at the Wayback Machine , Retrieved May 15, 2013
  32. "Fact Book 2014-2015" (PDF). Agnes Scott College. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  33. "Fact Book 2019-2020" (PDF). Agnes Scott College. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  34. "Office of Residence Life". Agnes Scott College.
  35. "Agnes Scott College – Clubs and Organizations". www.agnesscott.edu. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  36. "Agnes Scott College – Clubs and Organizations". www.agnesscott.edu. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  37. "Arts & Student Publications". Agnes Scott College website. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  38. Westerman, Casey. "LibGuides: McCain Library Special Collections and Archives: Black Cat". libguides.agnesscott.edu. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  39. Westerman, Casey. "LibGuides: McCain Library Special Collections and Archives: Black Cat". libguides.agnesscott.edu. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  40. Walter Edward McNair (1983). Lest We Forget: An Account of Agnes Scott College. McCain Library Agnes Scott College. Agnes Scott College.
  41. "Best Colleges 2024: National Liberal Arts Colleges". U.S. News & World Report . Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  42. "Forbes America's Top Colleges List 2023". Forbes . Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  43. "College Profiles – Colleges That Change Lives". Archived from the original on August 13, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  44. "Agnes Scott College Rankings". U.S. News. Archived from the original on May 19, 2017.
  45. "Agnes Scott College - the Princeton Review College Rankings & Reviews". Archived from the original on July 15, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  46. "Movies at Agnes Scott". Agnes Scott College website. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  47. Legend (1985) - IMDb , retrieved February 24, 2023
  48. Markowitz, Robert (December 2, 1990), Decoration Day (Drama), Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, Marian Rees Associates, Vantage Entertainment Group, retrieved February 24, 2023
  49. A Season in Purgatory (Crime, Drama), Cherokee Rose Productions, David S. Brown Productions, Laurel Entertainment Productions, May 5, 1996, retrieved February 24, 2023

Further reading

33°46′13″N84°17′36″W / 33.77016°N 84.29325°W / 33.77016; -84.29325