Parsons College
Encyclopedia
Parsons College was a private liberal arts college
in Fairfield
, Iowa
. The school, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, was founded in 1875 and closed in 1973.
A small and relatively little-known college
for most of its history, Parsons is now remembered primarily for its last two decades of existence, when the school underwent a dramatic expansion and curriculum revision that brought it national attention. This experiment in higher education, dubbed the "Parsons Plan," was the brainchild of Millard G. Roberts, who was the college's president from 1955 to 1967. The Plan saw Parsons' enrollment mushroom from fewer than 400 to more than 5,000, but also resulted in the school's eventual loss of accreditation
and ultimate collapse.
merchant who died in 1855 and left much of his estate as an endowment for an institution of higher learning in Iowa. The executors of Parsons' estate considered a number of possible locations for the school before choosing a tract of land just north of Fairfield. The college opened in 1875, with a single building on the campus; the physical plant gradually grew as supporters made gifts and bequests for additional facilities. A fire destroyed the main building, but a 1905 gift from Andrew Carnegie
made it possible to rebuild.
Until 1955, the college was like many other small colleges in the Midwest
. Its history was unexceptional and its reputation was purely local. For more than 75 years Parsons grew slowly, accepting anyone who wanted to come, primarily local residents, and accumulating little endowment and many deficits.
In 1955, the trustees appointed Millard G. Roberts, a Presbyterian minister from New York City, as president of the college. Although he had no experience in educational administration, the trustees believed that he had the ability to promote the college, raise more money from donors, attract more students, and possibly manage the school more efficiently.
Roberts quickly instituted a 15-Year Plan to develop the college. Throughout his 12-year presidency, he attracted both positive and negative attention. Chief among the positive consequences was a huge increase in enrollment, which, in turn, made it possible for the college to implement other aspects of the Plan.
Female students at Parsons were outnumbered 4 to 1. Despite the gender mismatch, students enjoyed a full and active social life, with 12 national fraternities and four national sororities.
. Parsons won by a score of 70-0. This monumental win promoted the building of Parsons' own stadium and field for their 1894 season. Iowa Wesleyan College
was Parsons' main rival for 70 years. The two teams played each other 60 times. Parsons won 34 of the games, and Iowa Wesleyan won 21 games.
The 1961 football team played Truman State (NE Missouri State at the time) in the 1961 Mineral Water Bowl
.
In 1966, a new football stadium, Blum Stadium
was dedicated.
The Parsons football team played North Dakota in the 1966 Pecan Bowl
football game in Abilene Texas.
The 1966-67 basketball team coached by Parsons athletic department legend O.B. (Oscar Bernard) Nelson finished with a record of 18-7. Parsons played their final season of football in 1970.
withdrew the college's accreditation. Roberts was fired in the ensuing turmoil, and in the following years the school's enrollment plunged from 5,000 to 1,500. Though accreditation was later regained in the spring of 1970, the upheaval of the late 1960s had fatally destabilized the underpinnings of the college. Several innovative programs were begun, such as a "Foreign Language - Foreign Service Institute" and the "Religious Service Community," both of which attracted new students, but it proved to be too little too late.
In June 1973, in its 99th year, Parsons College closed for the last time. All records and transcripts were sent to the University of Iowa
in Iowa City. The campus was sold to adherents of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
, and it became the home of Maharishi International University, now known as Maharishi University of Management
.
Despite the fact that the historic core of the campus was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
, nearly all the old Parsons College buildings were bulldozed beginning in the 1990s. Some stained glass windows, architectural elements and the pipe organ were saved from Parsons' Barhydt Chapel and later incorporated into Fairfield's performing arts center. They were replaced by new buildings that adhered to Maharishi Sthapatya Veda
principles of architecture.
These "satellite" schools initially used the Parsons Plan academic model, and their establishment was supported logistically and financially by the main Parsons campus. All, however, suffered from inadequate funding and accreditation issues, and as Parsons faltered in the late 1960s, the reputations of the satellite schools suffered by association. The last of the Parsons satellite schools closed in 1975.
Liberal arts colleges in the United States
Liberal arts colleges in the United States are certain undergraduate institutions of higher education in the United States. The Encyclopædia Britannica Concise offers a definition of the liberal arts as a "college or university curriculum aimed at imparting general knowledge and developing general...
in Fairfield
Fairfield, Iowa
Fairfield is a city and the county seat of Jefferson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,464 in the 2010 census, a decline from 9,509 in the 2000 census. - History :...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. The school, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, was founded in 1875 and closed in 1973.
A small and relatively little-known college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
for most of its history, Parsons is now remembered primarily for its last two decades of existence, when the school underwent a dramatic expansion and curriculum revision that brought it national attention. This experiment in higher education, dubbed the "Parsons Plan," was the brainchild of Millard G. Roberts, who was the college's president from 1955 to 1967. The Plan saw Parsons' enrollment mushroom from fewer than 400 to more than 5,000, but also resulted in the school's eventual loss of accreditation
Educational accreditation
Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
and ultimate collapse.
History
Parsons College was named for Lewis B. Parsons, Sr., a wealthy New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
merchant who died in 1855 and left much of his estate as an endowment for an institution of higher learning in Iowa. The executors of Parsons' estate considered a number of possible locations for the school before choosing a tract of land just north of Fairfield. The college opened in 1875, with a single building on the campus; the physical plant gradually grew as supporters made gifts and bequests for additional facilities. A fire destroyed the main building, but a 1905 gift from Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
made it possible to rebuild.
Until 1955, the college was like many other small colleges in the Midwest
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
. Its history was unexceptional and its reputation was purely local. For more than 75 years Parsons grew slowly, accepting anyone who wanted to come, primarily local residents, and accumulating little endowment and many deficits.
In 1955, the trustees appointed Millard G. Roberts, a Presbyterian minister from New York City, as president of the college. Although he had no experience in educational administration, the trustees believed that he had the ability to promote the college, raise more money from donors, attract more students, and possibly manage the school more efficiently.
Roberts quickly instituted a 15-Year Plan to develop the college. Throughout his 12-year presidency, he attracted both positive and negative attention. Chief among the positive consequences was a huge increase in enrollment, which, in turn, made it possible for the college to implement other aspects of the Plan.
The Parsons Plan
The Parsons Plan took a many-pronged approach to higher education:- The college would embark on an aggressive student recruitment campaign. This involved drawing students from the East, Mid-West, and West in roughly equal proportions. Likewise, students would be recruited from the upper, middle, and lower thirds of their high school graduating classes. The best students would be offered full scholarships.
- In the belief that all students had a right to be exposed to the best academic minds available, a ranked professor taught a 3-credit course with three hours per week of formal lecture. All full professors had earned doctoral degrees. An academic specialist (usually holding a masters degree) would have a small classroom seminar two days per week to review the lecture notes, encourage discussion and questions, and give weekly quizzes. A tutorial center was available to all students.
- A "Scholar in Residence" program was established to expose students to top academic instructors. This resulted in published authors teaching freshman-level humanities and history courses.
- The professors were to be compensated at a level previously available only to top faculty at major universities like Harvard and YaleYALERapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
. At one time, in the 1960s, they were second in pay only to Harvard. Other perks included loans for real estate purchases and membership in the local country club.
- Based on the idea that the primary function of faculty was to teach, Parsons had no "publish or perishPublish or perish"Publish or perish" is a phrase coined to describe the pressure in academia to publish work constantly to further or sustain one's career.Frequent publication is one of the few methods at a scholar's disposal to demonstrate their academic capabilities, and the attention that successful publications...
" ethic. The professors Roberts recruited had already proven their academic mettle in other institutions; at Parsons, their sole responsibility was to teach. All faculty were required to keep extensive office hours, ensuring their availability to all students.
- Because Dr. Roberts felt that everyone deserves a second chance, he recruited heavily from among those who had flunked out of more traditional colleges and universities. Thus, Parsons became known in some circles as "Flunk-out U," and was a haven for male students trying to avoid the Vietnam draft. These students were dismissed from Parsons if they did not maintain at least a "C" average after acceptance.
- Finally, believing that a college campus that stood empty for the summer was a waste of money, Roberts changed the term system to one of three trimesters, each four months long. They ran from October through January, February through May, and June through September. A student who could only afford two trimesters a year could skip a term at any time, thus avoiding the inevitable competition for summer jobs. Furthermore, to make a summer in Iowa more appealing, the summer trimester offered not only the usual full complement of classes, but also a Fine Arts Festival, for which professional talent was brought in to perform with and for the students and town.
Enrollment
As a result of these innovations, enrollment skyrocketed, growing from 350 to 5000 in a few years. By the 1966-67 academic year, the enrollment topped 5,000 students. At one time, transfers made up 43% of the student body and never dropped lower than 22%. Most of the student body came from the upper Mid-West, the Northeast and the West Coast of the US, with a small number from other countries. Much of the enrollment growth was driven by the military induction policies in the 1960s that allowed deferments to undergraduate college students.Female students at Parsons were outnumbered 4 to 1. Despite the gender mismatch, students enjoyed a full and active social life, with 12 national fraternities and four national sororities.
The campus
Roberts instituted a dramatic building plan, creating low-cost housing units, as well as an innovative new library and a student union. He also created the college's own construction company, thus putting money back into the school's own coffers and lowering costs.Athletics
The first football game played at Parsons was on September 16, 1893, against Elliot Business College of Burlington, IowaBurlington, Iowa
Burlington is a city in, and the county seat of Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 25,663 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 26,839 population in the 2000 census. Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area including West Burlington, Iowa and Middletown, Iowa and...
. Parsons won by a score of 70-0. This monumental win promoted the building of Parsons' own stadium and field for their 1894 season. Iowa Wesleyan College
Iowa Wesleyan College
Iowa Wesleyan College is a private four-year liberal arts college of the United Methodist Church located Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.Iowa Wesleyan is recognized as a pioneer in higher education in America. Founded in 1842, it ranks as the oldest coeducational college located west of the Mississippi River...
was Parsons' main rival for 70 years. The two teams played each other 60 times. Parsons won 34 of the games, and Iowa Wesleyan won 21 games.
The 1961 football team played Truman State (NE Missouri State at the time) in the 1961 Mineral Water Bowl
Mineral Water Bowl
The Mineral Water Bowl is an annual American NCAA Division II college football bowl game between teams from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association hosted in Excelsior Springs, Missouri at Tiger Stadium....
.
In 1966, a new football stadium, Blum Stadium
Blum Stadium
Blum Stadium was the home of Parsons College Wildcats football from 1966 through their final season in 1970. The dedication game was a 37-7 victory over Los Angeles State on October 8, 1966. The final game was a 10-8 victory over Wayne State on October 24, 1970...
was dedicated.
The Parsons football team played North Dakota in the 1966 Pecan Bowl
Pecan Bowl
Pecan Bowl, a postseason college football bowl game, was first played at Shotwell Stadium located in Abilene, Texas. The first game took place in December 1964, and was played there each year until 1968, when the location was moved to Arlington, Texas. One of four regional playoff bowls of the NCAA...
football game in Abilene Texas.
The 1966-67 basketball team coached by Parsons athletic department legend O.B. (Oscar Bernard) Nelson finished with a record of 18-7. Parsons played their final season of football in 1970.
Decline and closure
On June 3, 1966, Life Magazine published an article that was critical of the college and its underlying philosophy. As a result of that article and growing concerns about the viability of the Parsons Plan and Dr. Roberts' leadership, Parsons College began a period of decline from which it never recovered. The most serious blow came in 1967, when the North Central AssociationNorth Central Association of Colleges and Schools
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools , also known as the North Central Association, is a membership organization, consisting of colleges, universities, and schools in 19 U.S. states, that is engaged in educational accreditation...
withdrew the college's accreditation. Roberts was fired in the ensuing turmoil, and in the following years the school's enrollment plunged from 5,000 to 1,500. Though accreditation was later regained in the spring of 1970, the upheaval of the late 1960s had fatally destabilized the underpinnings of the college. Several innovative programs were begun, such as a "Foreign Language - Foreign Service Institute" and the "Religious Service Community," both of which attracted new students, but it proved to be too little too late.
In June 1973, in its 99th year, Parsons College closed for the last time. All records and transcripts were sent to the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
in Iowa City. The campus was sold to adherents of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi , born Mahesh Prasad Varma , developed the Transcendental Meditation technique and was the leader and guru of the TM movement, characterised as a new religious movement and also as non-religious...
, and it became the home of Maharishi International University, now known as Maharishi University of Management
Maharishi University of Management
Maharishi University of Management , formerly known as Maharishi International University, is a non-profit, American university, located in Fairfield, Iowa. It was founded in 1973 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and features a "consciousness-based education" system that includes the practice of the...
.
Despite the fact that the historic core of the campus was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, nearly all the old Parsons College buildings were bulldozed beginning in the 1990s. Some stained glass windows, architectural elements and the pipe organ were saved from Parsons' Barhydt Chapel and later incorporated into Fairfield's performing arts center. They were replaced by new buildings that adhered to Maharishi Sthapatya Veda
Maharishi Sthapatya Veda
Maharishi Sthapatya Veda is a set of architectural and planning principles assembled by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi based on "ancient Sanskrit texts" Maharishi Sthapatya Veda architecture is also called "Maharishi Vastu" architecture, "Fortune-Creating" buildings and homes, and "Maharishi Vedic...
principles of architecture.
The Parsons "satellite colleges"
In the late 1960s, Dr. Roberts attempted to expand the Parsons Plan to other colleges, specifically:- Midwestern CollegeMidwestern CollegeMidwestern College was a private liberal arts college that operated from 1965 to 1970 in Denison, Iowa. Midwestern was one of several colleges in the upper Midwest established by local civic leaders with the support and encouragement of Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa...
, Denison, IowaDenison, IowaDenison is a city in Crawford County, Iowa, United States, along the Boyer River. The population was 7,339 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Crawford County.-Geography:Denison is located at ....
-- Opened 1965, closed October 1970. Students were taken in by Parsons College. - Lea CollegeLea CollegeLea College was a private liberal arts college that operated from 1966 to 1973 in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Lea was one of several Midwestern colleges established by local civic leaders with the support and encouragement of Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa...
, Albert Lea, MinnesotaAlbert Lea, MinnesotaAlbert Lea is a city in and the county seat of Freeborn County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 18,016 at the 2010 census....
-- Opened 1966, closed August 1973. - Hiram Scott CollegeHiram Scott CollegeHiram Scott College was a private liberal arts college that operated from 1965 to 1970 in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Hiram Scott was one of several Midwestern colleges established by local civic leaders with the support and encouragement of Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa...
, Scottsbluff, NebraskaScottsbluff, NebraskaScottsbluff is a city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 15,039 at the 2010 census. Scottsbluff is the largest city in the Nebraska Panhandle, and the 13th largest city in Nebraska....
-- Opened 1965, closed June 1971. - John F. Kennedy CollegeJohn F. Kennedy CollegeJohn F. Kennedy College was founded in 1965 in Wahoo, Nebraska, one of six colleges started by small-town businessmen on the model of Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa. The college was named after President John F. Kennedy. Due to a drop in enrollment and financial difficulties following the end...
, Wahoo, NebraskaWahoo, NebraskaWahoo is a city in Saunders County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 4,508 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Saunders County.-History:Wahoo was founded in 1870...
-- Opened 1965, closed July 1975 - John J. Pershing CollegeJohn J. Pershing CollegeJohn J. Pershing College was a private liberal arts college that operated from 1966 to 1971 in Beatrice, Nebraska. Pershing was one of several Midwestern colleges established by local civic leaders with the support and encouragement of Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa...
, Beatrice, NebraskaBeatrice, NebraskaBeatrice is a city in and the county seat of Gage County, Nebraska.Beatrice is located south of Lincoln on the Big Blue River. It is surrounded by agricultural country. The population was 12,459 at the 2010 census.-History:...
-- Opened 1966, closed June 1971. - College of ArtesiaCollege of ArtesiaThe College of Artesia was a private liberal arts college that operated from 1966 to 1973 in Artesia, New Mexico. It was one of several Midwestern colleges established by local civic leaders with the support and encouragement of Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa...
, Artesia, New MexicoArtesia, New MexicoArtesia is a city in Eddy County, New Mexico, United States, centered at the intersection of U.S. Route 82 and 285; the two highways serve as the city's Main Street and First Street, respectively...
-- Opened 1966, closed June 1971. - Charles City CollegeCharles City CollegeCharles City College was a private liberal arts college that operated from 1967 to 1968 in Charles City, Iowa. It was one of several Midwestern colleges established by local civic leaders with the support and encouragement of Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa...
, Charles City, IowaCharles City, IowaCharles City is a city in Floyd County, Iowa, United States. The population was 7,652 at the 2010 census a decrease of 160, or 2%, from 7,812 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Floyd County. Charles City is a significant commercial and transportation center for the area, located on U.S...
-- Opened 1967, closed 1968.
These "satellite" schools initially used the Parsons Plan academic model, and their establishment was supported logistically and financially by the main Parsons campus. All, however, suffered from inadequate funding and accreditation issues, and as Parsons faltered in the late 1960s, the reputations of the satellite schools suffered by association. The last of the Parsons satellite schools closed in 1975.