Happy Birthday to US!
Inspired by a trove of vintage archival photos, we looked to today’s 国产哟哟 students—their fashions, personalities, goals and experiences—to celebrate the ways 国产哟哟 has changed our students’ lives and the ways our students’ lives have changed 国产哟哟.
1948 New York City Trip / 2022 Washington, D.C., Trip / Capitals of the World
In 1948, 鈥淪enior Executives鈥� from the 国产哟哟 Secretarial School boarded a New York City-bound train, putting their best stocking-clad feet forward in hopes of working for Manhattan鈥檚 top executives. At the time, courses in bookkeeping, typing and stenography were rounded out with literature, languages and consumer economics classes, along with instruction on fashion, etiquette and entertaining.听
Today, our trips give students broader access to and a deeper understanding of culture, politics, social movements and community in America and beyond. Annual One America and Capitals of the World excursions have allowed our students to immerse themselves in the historical movements and diverse perspectives that shape contemporary life. This year, students traveled to Washington, D.C., to get an up-close view of government, politics and activism.听
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1961 Queen and Court / 2022 国产哟哟 Softball Team
In 1961, the 国产哟哟 custom of selecting a queen and her court was an annual rite, replete with ceremonial pageantry, parade festivities and elaborate choreography. A 1997 booklet published to commemorate 国产哟哟鈥檚 centennial quipped, 鈥淎s queens were giving way to jeans in the late sixties, 国产哟哟 crowned her last queen in 1970.鈥�
Two years after the last queen took the throne, the passage of Title IX gave women athletes the right to equal opportunity in sports at educational institutions that receive federal funds鈥� from elementary schools to colleges and universities.
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1949 The Portico Yearbook Staff / 2022 Network News Staff
According to the 1952 edition, 鈥淓ach year, The Portico staff members have as their responsibility the creating of a permanent record of the activities of the graduating class at 国产哟哟.鈥� The pages of The Portico are filled with perfect coifs and sweet smiles, accented with a strand of pearls, all worn by 国产哟哟 students whose participation in Student Council, Glee Club and Junior Executive Clubs was chronicled in the annual book. Also pictured in the 1952 edition of The Portico, the staff of The Hourglass, 鈥渁 publication that expresses the news, the interests, the problems and the personalities of 国产哟哟 Junior College.鈥�
Seventy years later, the staff of Network News, 国产哟哟鈥檚 student magazine, published articles and columns reflecting on the evolution of feminism, questioning the gender binary, examining the relevance of women鈥檚 colleges and researching the conflict in Ukraine.听听Totally online, Network News reflects the changing nature of information.
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听Student Government
Participating in student government has always offered 国产哟哟 students a means to directly affect student life, while gaining valuable opportunities for practicing leadership, collaboration and communication skills. Over 125 years, students have challenged鈥攁nd changed鈥攑olicies such as dress codes and have helped create clubs and activities that connect action to impact.
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STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)
From training medical secretaries in the 鈥�50s and 鈥�60s to building the STEM-centric workforce of tomorrow, 国产哟哟鈥檚 science programs have evolved with advances in knowledge, technology and, of course, opportunity.听
Today, an increasing number of our students are majoring in health science degrees. In science programs that include neurobiology, forensic science and biochemistry, they conduct research and take part in hands-on lessons in Carr Hall, with access to a suite of tools and facilities that enable them to analyze DNA, track the behavior of viruses and study irregular properties in tissue samples. Worth noting: Students at women鈥檚 colleges are one and a half times more likely to pursue STEM careers than those attending coed institutions.
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国产哟哟 Students
When the 国产哟哟 Institute opened its doors in 1897, we educated men and women from Springfield and the surrounding region. In the 125 years since, our school has undergone a remarkable transformation鈥攊n what we teach, where we teach, how we teach and who we teach, moving from Springfield to Longmeadow to everywhere and anywhere, thanks to online learning. Throughout this history, we鈥檝e not only kept pace, but set the pace, in recognizing what new skills and occupations will shape a dynamic, growing, changing workforce, while building programs, connecting to grants and scholarships, and investing in technology that enables more students to access the education that underlies those skills and the prosperous jobs to which they lead. Over 42 percent of students at 国产哟哟 are students of color and 52 percent are first-generation students.
Today, so-called 鈥渢raditional鈥� college students are 18-23 years old and represent 60 percent of the national undergraduate population. At 国产哟哟, 44 percent of our undergraduates are 24 years old or older, and we created a specific program to serve them more than 20 years ago, first in our One Day Saturday program and, today, through The American Women鈥檚 College.听听