Bowdoin College Offers Plans for Solar Field

Bowdoin College posted an article December 17, 2020 by Rebecca Goldfine that offers details on institution's commitment to global climate action and efforts to secure 100% of energy needs from renewable sources. More specifically, Goldfine describes a planned solar field in "Nearby Solar Array Will Supply Bowdoin with Lots of Maine-Made Power."

You can also read in an earlier Small College Garden post about Bowdoin's long standing interest in the environment, "Bowdoin New Roux Center Symbolizes Environmental Commitment."

Bowdoin New Roux Center Symbolizes Environmental Commitment

Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine dedicated a new building symbolizing an institutional focus on the environment. Named the Roux Center, it was built to the highest standards of “green” architecture and earned a LEED Platinum certification.


The Center was funded by a lead gift of $10 million from David and Barbara Roux and it was designed to bring together faculty and students from across the College’s curriculum, fostering collaboration and creativity in the teaching and study of the environment.

You can read more details of the design process and construction of the Roux Center's innovative features in "Bowdoin's new Roux Center isn't just another academic building," with reporting by Maureen Milliken in Mainebiz and published on October 10, 2018.

Colleges Preparing Students for Purposeful Work

The Chronicle of Higher Education posted an interesting article by Kelly Field, "How Colleges Help Find Purpose in Their Work," on September 2, 2018. Field focused on Bates College and other liberal-arts colleges seeking to clarify the connections between classroom and career, and to prepare students for lives of meaningful work.

You can also read an earlier Small College Garden post on Bates College and their concept of Purposeful Work from Wednesday, May 23, 2018, Preparing for the Future: Purposeful Work and a New Science Building at Bates College.

Preparing for the Future: Purposeful Work and a New Science Building at Bates College

Jenny Anderson published an article, "One college finally designed a liberal arts education fit for the future of work," for Quartz.  Anderson interviewed Clayton Spencer, president of Bates College in Lewiston, Maine and explores how the institution is offering a liberal arts curriculum that provides opportunities for students to prepare for purposeful work and life after college.

You can visit the Bates College website for more details on the Purposeful Work initiative that helps "...students discover the joy and power that arise from aligning who they are with what they do. It builds on the work that students do in class, in the arts, on athletic teams, with clubs and organizations, and through community engagement."

The college also recently announced a campaign for a new science building with construction planned to begin next year.

Maine Media Workshops Granted Candidacy Status by NEASC

Lauren Abbate, reports in "A little art school on Maine’s coast takes big step toward greater recognition" for the Bangor Daily News that Maine Media Workshops + College of Rockport, Maine was granted candidacy for accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) last month.

The institution was founded in 1973 as Maine Photographic Workshops by David H. Lyman.  It grew to offer film, television and AA degree programs as Rockport College. A MFA program was added in 1995.  Ownership changed in 2007 and Maine Media Workshops were incorporated as a non-profit 501(c)3.

Unity College Acquires Historic Hunting Lodge

Emily Higginbotham, staff writer for CentralMaine.com posted an article, "The sky's the limit as Unity College takes the reins at Sky Lodge," reporting on Unity's acquisition of an historic lodge in the northern part of the state, in Moose River, roughly two hours from Unity's campus in Unity, Maine.  Higginbotham interviewed Melik Peter Khoury, the college’s president, Erika Latty, the chief academic officer, and several faculty members on opportunities and how the 16-building facility can act as a campus-away-from-campus just 15 miles from the Canadian border.

You can read more on Unity's website about the acquisition, "HistoricSky Lodge Donated to Unity College: Facility and more than 150 acres added togrowing portfolio of college locations."

Small Colleges and Boutique Hotels

Several small colleges are mentioned in an interesting post written by Laura Powell, "Luxury Boutique Hotels Become Part of the College Experience," published on the Skift website in early December 2017.  Powell interviewed college administrators and representatives of The Olympia Companies that have developed are operating hotel properties for Oberlin, Swarthmore, and Rollins College.

The Alfond Inn in Winterpark, Florida is owned by Rollins College and is the largest of the featured hotels with 112 rooms.  Powell indicates the property is exceeding expectations with an occupancy rate of 90% and estimated $50 million in annual revenue.  She also notes that any net profits are used for scholarships.

The Hotel at Oberlin with 70 rooms was developed by Smart Hotels of Shaker Heights, OH,  It has been open just over a year and meets U.S. Green Building Council LEED Platinum requirements by incorporating solar, geothermal, and radiant heating and cooling.  

The Inn at Swarthmore opened in May 2016 and is the smallest of the three with 40 rooms.  

Powell also briefly mentions Colby College is finishing a boutique hotel as part of a broader downtown redevelopment effort in Waterville, Maine.  You can read more details in an article, "Colby College picks Portland firm to build boutique hotel in Waterville," on the Portland Press Herald website with reporting by Amy Calder.

The Williams Inn at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts offers 116 rooms.  The property was initially built in 1974 and was acquired by the college in 2014.

Please leave a comment below if you know of other small colleges that are developing and operating hotels on their campuses or in the communities they serve.

Complex Town-Gown Relationship between Colby College and Waterville, Maine

Down East: The Magazine of Maine published an interesting article focusing on the role Colby College is playing in the revitalization of Waterville, Maine.  

In "A century ago, Waterville helped bail out a struggling Colby College. Can Colby return the favor?" reporter Jesse Ellison begins by noting Colby's decision to build a dorm some distance from campus in downtown Waterville.  Ellison then explores the complex relationship between the college and the town that has evolved over many decades.

Colby and Waterville were also featured Boston Globe article from February 2016, "Maine city teams with Colby to revitalize a college town."

Unity College: Positive Impact on Maine's Economy

The Writing Maine blog offers an interesting post, "Unity College helping reverse Maine's 'brain drain'" that expands on an August 19, 2016 news release from the institution.   The post notes that enrollment this fall will likely reach 700 students, setting a record for the third year in a row, and Unity intends to use this achievement as a springboard for honoring their alumni throughout the year.

Dr. Melik Peter Khoury, Unity's president, provides an overview of how the institution is positioning itself to serve as a model for preparing students to meet environmental and social challenges.  A link is also provided to a YouTube video with comments from earlier this year by Dr. Khoury explaining the important role of partnerships. 

You can also visit the Unity College website to see the initial news release or find out more information about the institution.

Advantages of a Really Small College...the College of the Atlantic

Darron Collins, president of College of the Atlantic (CoA), is interviewed by Scott Carlson as part of The Chronicle's series on leadership. Collins talks about CoA's cap on enrollment at 350 students in "Finding Advantages in Being a Really Small College." He describes how the institution thrives in an environment where the prevailing wisdom argues that colleges need to be much larger.


CoA is located in Bar Harbor, Maine and was founded in 1969.