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College of the Atlantic

Bar Harbor, ME

private nonprofitgraduate
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About College of the Atlantic

College of the Atlantic: Pioneering human ecology education on Mount Desert Island.

The College of the Atlantic stands as a truly distinctive institution, globally recognized for its singular academic focus: Human Ecology. This interdisciplinary approach invites students to deeply explore the intricate relationships between humans and their natural, social, and built environments, offering an immersive and comprehensive educational experience found nowhere else in its exact form.

Its genesis is as unique as its curriculum, born not just from academic ambition but from a community's vision. Conceived in 1968 by Mount Desert Island residents James Gower and Les Brewer, the college aimed to revitalize the island's economy during the off-season. What started as an idea to stimulate year-round activity quickly materialized into a groundbreaking institution, receiving temporary approval in 1969 and officially opening its doors to students in 1972.

From an inaugural class of just 32 students, the College of the Atlantic has grown into a vibrant, close-knit community, reaching approximately 300 students by the 2012–13 academic year. Co-founder James Gower played a pivotal role in shaping the college's curriculum and academic programs, ensuring its commitment to the human ecology major. The college's story is further enriched by its main campus, largely acquired for a symbolic $1, underscoring its community-driven and mission-focused ethos.

Key Highlights

  • ✦Pioneering institution exclusively focused on one academic major: Human Ecology.
  • ✦Founded in 1969 by Mount Desert Island residents to stimulate the local economy.
  • ✦Began offering classes in 1972 with an inaugural class of just 32 students.
  • ✦Grew to approximately 300 students by the 2012-13 academic year.
  • ✦Main campus largely acquired for a symbolic $1 from the Oblate Fathers of Mary Immaculate Seminary.
  • ✦Curriculum and academic programs largely shaped by co-founder James Gower.

Timeline

1968
Idea for College of the Atlantic conceived by James Gower and Les Brewer.
1969
Founded; granted temporary approval by the Maine State Board of Education.
1970
Edward Kaelber became first president; Melville P. Cote joined as Assistant to the President.
1972
Began offering first classes with an enrollment of 32 students.
2012
Student body reached approximately 300 for the 2012–13 school year.

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