Information AboutHiram College |
Hiram College is a Liberal Arts College located in Hiram, Ohio . Founded by Amos Sutton Hayden of the Disciples Of Christ Church in 1850 as the ''Western Reserve Eclectic Institute'', the school was rechartered under the current name in 1867 .1 Since the College's first days, it has been nonsectarian and coeducational, and throughout its existence Hiram College has sustained this egalitarian tradition of educating men and women from diverse backgrounds. The institute's original charter was authorized by the state legislature on March 1 , 1850 , and modified in 1867 to recognize the institution's new collegiate rank when it became Hiram College. U.S. President James Garfield was a student, instructor, and principal of the institution while it was still the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute. Garfield was a classical scholar and taught Greek and Latin, along with such subjects as mathematics and geology. Although he left Hiram in 1861 to take up the Civil War command of Company A of the 42nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a regiment recruited from Hiram, Garfield's name appeared in the Institute's catalogues until 1863. ABOUT THE COLLEGE Hiram is a small, liberal arts college with a student body of about 1000 as of 2007. Its strengths as an institution relate to its small class sizes and low student-to-professor ratio. Hiram's education plan also focuses on international study experiences and diversity. Although the majority of Hiram's student body represent the demographic of its surrounding area (middle-class Caucasian ), Hiram's students come from twenty-six states and twenty-three countries and represent more than twenty-five different religions. On the "Best Bargain Schools" list, Hiram ranks 8th out of all the private schools in The Best 357 Colleges. The ranking is based on a combination of The Princeton Review's academic rating and the average tuition paid per student (sticker price minus the average financial aid award). The Princeton Review notes Hiram strengths saying ""Uniformly strong science programs set this tiny liberal arts college apart from many otherwise fine schools of similar size. Want proof? Over the past ten years, Hiram's medical school acceptance rate has been among the highest in the nation." - The Princeton Review (2002). Education writer Hiram has implement a Tuition Guarantee system, which ensures that the annual cost for tuition will not increase between the first year a student is enrolled at Hiram and the student's senior year. Hiram employs a unique academic calendar consisting of two, 15-week semesters further divided into two sessions- a 12-week, during which students take three academic courses, and a 3-week, when students focus on a single course . A large majority of Hiram students live in the College's six residence hall buildings and eat their meals on campus. Student services include a health center, a fitness center (newly rebuilt in 2005), a career placement office, professional counseling on a range of personal and academic concerns, optional religious services and activities, and sports. Many student organizations are active on campus, including honorary societies, social clubs, music and drama groups, student publications, religious groups, student government, political groups, and social-action groups. All student organizations, including the campus radio station and student publications, are managed and directed by Hiram College students. The school's sports teams are called the Terriers. They participate in the NCAA 's Division III and the North Coast Athletic Conference . The Hiram College basketball team, competing as the United States national team, won the 1904 Olympic gold medal in St. Louis . The Hiram women's volleyball team, led by head coach Ellen Dempsey, claimed the NCAC title in 2005, and has since appeared in the NCAA tournament twice In September 2004, Thomas V. Chema was appointed as the 21st president of Hiram College. CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS Greek clubs There are no national fraternities or sororities at Hiram College. There are, however, Greek social clubs. No affiliations with any national fraternities are intended or implied. Greek social clubs at Hiram are restricted from using the same Greek letters as any national organization. Established in 1929, Phi Gamma Epsilon (or "Phi Gams") is currently the oldest existing Greek social club at Hiram College. Probation threatened the existence of the club in the mid 1980s, but the group survived and now claims to boast a strong, visible presence. The Phi Gams have sponsored a number of events, including an annual Toga Party and Spaghetti Dinner. The group's mascot, Buck PhiGam, is a Viking whose likeness is represented in a painting the group believes was created in the 1920s. Phi Beta Gamma, their sister group, often co-sponsors a number of these events. Another one of the social clubs at Hiram College is Delta Chi Lambda. The Delta Chi Lambdas is made up of all female students. This club was once disbanded but now is back. It is currently one of the largest Greek social clubs at Hiram. The brother group is Lambda Lambda. After a shortage of members, they are currently rebuilding their program. Fine Arts Guild Formerly the Fine Arts Society, the defunct organization was revived and renamed in the fall of 2006 by several Hiram College students with the intent to raise awareness of the over-shadowed artistic activity on campus. The group had its inaugural exhibition in April of 2007, displaying recent work from twelve Hiram undergraduates. DINING OPTIONS In 2004, Hiram College ranked 20th in the nation on The Princeton Review 's "Is This Food?" list under the "Quality of Life" category. Miller Dining Hall Miller Dining Hall is the primary dining option available to Hiram College students. It is a continuous serve operation that is open to students from 7AM to midnight on weekdays and 8AM to midnight on the weekend. Students receive unlimited access to this dining option. The dining hall is located at the bottom of Miller Hall. The renovation of Miller Dining Hall was completed in January 2005. KC Cafe Students who do not wish to eat at Miller Dining Hall can use their board allowances to purchase meals at the KC Cafe. Several former dining options available in the past (the Grille, the Alternative, and the Grind) were combined to create the current KC Cafe. This dining option offers a menu of assorted food items that are made when ordered. The KC Cafe is located in the basement of the Kennedy Center. Stone Soup Cooperative The Stone Soup Cooperative (known as "the co-op" on campus) is an alternative dining option coordinated by its student members. It is located in the center of Booth/Centennial Hall, just before Fenton Lounge. The co-op provides organic and other health foods not otherwise available through the regular dining plan. It is the only dining option available to students that caters specifically to Vegetarians and Vegans . Students with food allergies also join the co-op to accommodate their specific dietary needs. NOTABLE ALUMNI
REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS
|
|
|