Green Mountain College

History

Green Mountain was founded in 1834 as Troy Conference Academy, a coeducational institution. In 1863 the school’s name changed to Ripley Female College; in 1874 back to Troy Conference Academy; in 1937 to Green Mountain Junior College. Green Mountain became a two-year junior college for women in 1943. In 1974, the school changed its name to Green Mountain College and returned to coeducational status, offering four-year baccalaureate degrees. Beginning in the late 1990s the college began to focus on environmental literacy and citizenship.

Education

Green Mountain College offers 25 majors: Adventure Education, Art, Art with Secondary Licensure, Biology, Biology with Secondary Licensure, Communications, Elementary Education, Elementary Education with Special Education Endorsement, English, English with Secondary Licensure, Environmental Studies, Fine Art, History, History with Secondary Licensure, Interdisciplinary Studies, Natural Resources Management, Philosophy, Psychology, Renewable Energy & Ecological Design, Resort & Hospitality Management, Self-Designed, Sociology/Anthropology, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Production, Sustainable Business & Writing.

Green Mountain offers distance master's programs in Environmental Studies, Food Systems, and Sustainable and Resilient Communities, as well as an online master's of business administration.

Green Mountain College is part of the Eco League, a group of liberal arts colleges committed to environmental sustainability.

Progressive program

GMC is home to an educational tract known as the Progressive Program. Based on the ideas of philosopher John Dewey and formed on a philosophy similar to that of Goddard College — a Vermont institution recognized for its dedication to progressive education— the students in the program define their own education goals and work with faculty members individually to meet them.

Green campus

In 2007, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) awarded Green Mountain College the Campus Sustainability Leadership Award in the "Under 1,000" category. The award recognizes Green Mountain for commitment to environmental sustainability in its governance and administration, curriculum and research, operations, campus culture, and community outreach.

Green Mountain was named an EPA Energy Star Showcase Campus following campus-wide retrofitting of light fixtures.

Students have installed a wind turbine to power the campus green house and solar panel on the roof of the student center.

On April 22, 2010, GMC formally opened a new combined heat and power (CHP) biomass plant costing $5.8m. The school expects to reduce carbon emissions by more than 50% and reach carbon neutrality by 2011. The plant will burn about 4,000-5,000 tons of locally harvested woodchips each year as the primary fuel and it is expected to provide 85% of the school's heat and generate 20% of its electricity and is capable of generating 400,000 kWh of electricity.

Through the Student Campus Greening Fund (SCGF) every GMC student contributes $30 from the college activities fee. Students design projects and submit proposals. Awards are based on a student vote. SCGF money has been used to install bike racks, purchase recycling bins, use bio-diesel in campus maintenance equipment, and upgrade the alternative energy systems that power the farm greenhouse.

Oxen-slaughtering controversy

The college made national headlines in the fall of 2012 over its plan to slaughter its two 11-year-old draft oxen, Bill and Lou, and serve their meat in the college dining hall. The community decision was made after Lou was injured and it was determined that Bill would not accept a new partner. GMC declined an offer by an animal sanctuary to allow the oxen to retire at no cost to the school, saying that the offer did not align with the values of a sustainable, production-based farm. The college planned to slaughter the oxen by the end of October but postponed the event, saying area slaughterhouses were deluged with protests, some of them threatening. In November, the college had Lou euthanized and buried his body off campus. Bill remained with the college.

Student clubs

Academic Clubs: Agora Philosophy Club, Bio/Enviro, Camp Club, Education Club, Forestry Club, History Club, Outdoor Recreation Association, Pre-Law Club, Pre-Med/Pre-Vet Club, and Psychology Club.

Club Sports: Men's Rugby, Quidditch (Welsh Green Dragon), Ultimate Frisbee, and Women's Rugby.

Other Clubs: Anime Club (Green Mountain Otaku), Farm Crew, and Spirituality Club

Skills Clubs: Equestrian Club, HERBAL Tribe, Shakti Tribal Dance Coupe, and Slow Foods Chapter.

Social Action and Awareness Clubs: Black Culture Club, Club Activism, DREAM Mentoring, International Awareness Club, Intercultural Club, PANTS (People Are Not Their Sex), and Pride.

According to the college, its choral group is the only collegiate choir in the United States with a repertoire of Welsh language music.

Notable alumni