A Call for more UltraSmall Colleges

"Why We Need Tiny Colleges," provides an interesting rationale for considering small colleges and reflects a call similar to one issued last year by Susan Henking, president of Shimer College, when she urged consideration of an Artisanal College Movement.  

Marcus Ford argues that we are more likely to see a focus on students at smaller institutions.  His article refers to some better known small institutions like Deep Springs College in California and Sterling College in Vermont.  Ford also mentions several lesser known initiatives to create new smaller institutions:  Flagstaff College in AZ, Outer Coast College in Sitka, AK and Thoreau College in Viroqua, WI.  The article for yes! magazine and it was posted August 26, 2016.  

In addition, Ford provides a link to the site of UltraSmall Colleges that provides some more information and has links to a few other small institutions.

You can scan through previous posts on the Small College Garden blog with links to additional articles on Sterling College, Outer Coast College, Shimer College, and other similar institutions.

Interested in a new college? Outer Coast College seeks inquiries from students and others

Josh Logue has an interesting article December 11, 2015, "Another Deep Springs? But with Women," at Inside Higher Ed on efforts by Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins and others to start a new institution in Sitka, AK.  Outer Coast College is initially intended as a two-year institution and will be located on

the campus of the former Sheldon Jackson College.  You can visit the Outer Coast College website for more details.  The founders offer an institution modeled on Deep Springs College with emphasis on self-governance, labor, and service.

Sheldon Jackson College was founded in 1878 when Presbyterian missionaries opened a training school for Tlingit Indians. By 1884, it was known as Sitka Industrial and Training School. The name was changed to Sheldon Jackson School in 1910. A college program was added in 1944 and accreditation was received in 1966.  The institution suspended operation in 2007 and there have been a number of different proposals since then with the summer Sitka Fine Arts Camp the most recent.

There are a number of posts on the College History Garden blog featuring links to additional historical and architectural information about the campus.