Whittier College

Whittier College
Name	Whittier College
Established	1887
Type	Private liberal arts college
President	Linda Oubré
City	Whittier
State	California
Country	United States
Students	~1,500 (undergraduate)
Campus	Suburban, 60 acres
Colors	Red and green
Nickname	Poets

Whittier College is a private liberal arts college located in Whittier, California. Founded in 1887 by Quaker settlers, the college emphasizes undergraduate liberal arts education and civic engagement. The institution has produced alumni active in law, politics, literature, science, and the arts.

History

The college traces its origins to the Religious Society of Friends and early Quaker settlers associated with figures such as John Greenleaf Whittier, Lucretia Mott, William Penn, George Fox, and movements like the Second Great Awakening. Its 19th-century founding intersects with regional developments including the California Gold Rush, the incorporation of Los Angeles, and the expansion of Southern Pacific Railroad. In the 20th century, administrators and benefactors connected to families and institutions such as the Rockefeller Foundation, Carnegie Corporation, W. K. Kellogg, and civic leaders who engaged with events like World War I, World War II, and the Great Depression influenced growth. Alumni and faculty have been involved in legal and political arenas, connecting to networks such as the American Bar Association, the California State Assembly, the United States Congress, and the California Supreme Court. Notable cultural ties link alumni to literary circles around Poetry Society of America, theatrical collaborations with Broadway, and artistic exchanges with museums like the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and institutions such as the Getty Center.

Campus

The suburban campus sits near transportation corridors connected to Interstate 5, Interstate 605, and regional hubs like Los Angeles International Airport and Union Station (Los Angeles). Architectural styles reflect influences from Californian plans comparable to Mission Revival architecture projects and campus landscapes similar to those at Stanford University and Pomona College. Facilities over time have housed programs that collaborate with institutions such as the Huntington Library, California State University, Long Beach, and medical partners resembling affiliations with Keck School of Medicine of USC and community clinics tied to Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Campus life has engaged with nearby cultural centers like Disneyland, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Norton Simon Museum, and civic events in Downtown Los Angeles.

Academics

The college offers majors and minors across disciplines with curricular models paralleling liberal arts programs at Amherst College, Williams College, and Swarthmore College. Departments have housed scholars who collaborate with organizations such as the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Chemical Society, and the American Physical Society. Students pursue research and internships connecting to hospitals such as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, labs affiliated with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and civic internships with offices like the California Governor's Office and the United States Senate. Academic honors and awards received by community members include fellowships from the Rhodes Scholarship, the Fulbright Program, the Marshall Scholarship, and grants from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Student life

Student organizations and activities reflect engagement with groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union, Habitat for Humanity, Amnesty International, and arts collaborations reminiscent of partnerships with Los Angeles Philharmonic outreach programs. Campus publications and media have covered events similar to those at South by Southwest, performances with connections to National Association for Music Education circuits, and debates influenced by speakers from institutions like Harvard Kennedy School and Brookings Institution. Cultural and identity groups engage with networks such as the NAACP, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and alumni chapters linked to professions represented by the American Medical Association and the State Bar of California.

Athletics

Athletic programs have competed in intercollegiate conferences similar to the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and events modeled on championships like the NCAA Division III tournaments and regional meets akin to Big West Conference events. Teams have engaged rivals from institutions such as Occidental College, Caltech, and Pomona-Pitzer. Athletic facilities host training comparable to programs that produce athletes who move to professional leagues represented by organizations like the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, and international competitions such as the Olympic Games.

Admissions and financial aid

Admissions processes consider criteria similar to those used by selective liberal arts colleges such as Claremont McKenna College, Middlebury College, and Bowdoin College, including standardized testing policies that reflect national debates involving the College Board, the ACT (test), and initiatives like the Common Application. Financial aid packages combine institutional grants, federal programs like Pell Grant, and private scholarships administered in systems akin to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Career services connect graduates to employers and graduate programs at institutions such as UCLA School of Law, USC Gould School of Law, Columbia Business School, and graduate research networks that include the National Institutes of Health.

Category:Liberal arts colleges in California