Stephens College
Encyclopedia
Stephens College is a women's college
located in Columbia
, Missouri
. It is the second oldest female educational establishment that is still a women's college in the United States
. It was founded on August 24, 1833 as the Columbia Female Academy. In 1856, David H. Hickman
turned it into a college, The Columbia Female Baptist Academy. It was later renamed Stephens Female College. The campus includes a National Historic District: Stephens College South Campus Historic District
.
and St. Louis
. Although it is not located near any major cities, Columbia is known as "Collegetown, USA" due to the 34,000 college students attending Stephens, the University of Missouri
, and Columbia College
, each situated within the city. The Stephens campus occupies 86 acres (34.8 ha) of land near downtown Columbia.
Cottey College
, a junior college
in the rural town of Nevada
, is the only other women's college in Missouri.
at Stephens are dance
, theatre
, and fashion design
.http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/profiles/generalinfo.asp?listing=1022637<id=1 41% of all students major in the visual and performing arts.http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=414&profileId=7 According to one anonymous student quoted by the Princeton Review in the student's guide to Stephens, "It's all about theater, dance, fashion design, and marketing
" at the college. http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/profiles/studentsSay.asp?listing=1022637&category=5<ID=1
In keeping with its most popular majors, Stephens is best known for its fine art
s programs. Its theatre program is especially well regarded; it was ranked second in the country by U.S. News & World Report
in the America's Best Colleges 2006 edition. The Princeton Review also placed it second on their "Best College Theater" list, directly behind Wagner College
and ahead of the prestigious programs at schools such as Emerson College
(#3), Yale College (#7) and Wesleyan University
(#8).http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/rankings/rankingDetails.asp?CategoryID=7&TopicID=58
The school has established a unique film program focusing on production.
Aside from the arts programs, Stephens offers more than 40 majors and minors
, including majors in traditional subjects such as English
, business management
, psychology
, and biology
. The college also has a popular equestrian
program and its own stables. Minors are available in fields such as art history
, women's studies
, and history
. The only foreign language concentration available at Stephens is a minor in Spanish
.http://www.stephens.edu/admission/programs/
Upon completion of their undergraduate studies, Stephens students can receive either an Associate's degree
or a Bachelor's degree
. All Associate degrees offered are in the field of Liberal Arts & Studies. For graduate students, Master's programs in education, strategic leadership and business administration are also available. http://www.stephens.edu/gcshttp://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?match=true&collegeId=414
The Princeton Review 's "Best 361 College Rankings" named Stephens 15th in their "Class Discussions Encouraged" category and 9th in their "Nobody Plays Intramural Sports" category. It was also on their list of "America's Best Value Colleges" and one of 158 colleges named a "Best Midwestern
College."http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/profiles/rankings.asp?listing=1022637<ID=1
For five consecutive years, Stephens’ Theatre department has ranked among the Top 10 Best College Theater programs in the nation, according to The Princeton Review.
RecycleMania "http://www.recyclemania.org"
Targeted Material-Paper
1. Stephens College
2. Northwest Missouri State University
3. Medical University of South Carolina
4. United States Coast Guard Academy
5. Stanford University
Over a 10-week period, campuses compete in different contests to see which institution can collect the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita, or have the highest recycling rate. The main goal of this event is to increase student awareness of campus recycling and waste minimization.
and Brenau University
, to have sororities
on its campus. Sigma Sigma Sigma
and Kappa Delta
, both of which are national sororities, have on-campus chapters. The sororities are governed by the Panhellenic Council and the Junior Panhellenic Council. Stephens students can also join historically Black or Asian sororities at the nearby University of Missouri campus. 8% of students are members of on-campus sororities. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/directory/brief/drextras_2512_brief.php
Aside from the sororities, there are about 45 on-campus organizations Stephens students can join. These include affiliates of the College Democrats
and College Republicans
, religious groups like the Catholic Student Association, Finding Alternative Religions, Stephens Christian Fellowship, as well as (through neighbor MU) Hillel
, and a Model United Nations
.
There are also about a dozen academic honor societies
students can join: Mortar Board
, Psi Chi
, Alpha Lambda Delta
, Sigma Tau Delta
, Tri-Beta, Alpha Epilon Rho, Sigma Beta Delta, Chi Tau Epsilon, Kappa Delta Pi
, Phi Alpha Delta
, and Pi Phi Rho.
The student newspaper, Stephens Life, is released twice each month.http://www.stephens.edu/campuslife/activities/
Stephens College also holds the distinction of being the location of the Alpha Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa
International Honor Society of the Two-Year College, despite the fact that Stephens College is no longer a two-year institution.
Stephens College also owns radio station KWWC-FM
, "Sweet 90.5".
, North Dakota
, and South Dakota
tying for the fewest at 29 each.
Florida
also has a particularly high concentration of Stephens alumnae, with 1,237 found statewide, especially in the central, eastern, and southern parts of the state. The Washington, D.C.
-to-Boston corridor contains a heavy concentration as well, including 184 alumnae living in Manhattan.
who also designed the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. The chapel symbolizes commitment to individual spiritual development and worship. The chapel is used for meditation, religious services, vespers, weddings, memorials and campus programs.
dates back to 1841, when Oliver Parker bought the 8 acres (3.2 ha) tract of land on which the College was first located. In 1857, the Columbia Baptist Female College, which later became Stephens College, acquired the building. Until 1918, Historic Senior Hall was the only dormitory at the College. It was the tradition for the President of the Civic Association (now the Student Government Association) to occupy the first floor room just north of the Waugh Street entrance. Many generations of students feel this building is their tie to the past. A complete restoration of Historic Senior Hall began in the spring of 1987, and the building was rededicated in the spring of 1990. Senior Hall was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1977.
Alumnae Reunion
At Alumnae Reunion, the President of the Alumnae Association passes a lit candle to a representative of the Senior Class symbolizing the passage from undergraduate years to alumnae responsibilities.
Commencement
Since 1976, each senior passes a secret gift to the President when she shakes hands and receives her degree.
Door Slam
Door Slam is a special time signaling the beginning of “dead week” and 24-hour quiet hours during final exams.
Many other annual campus events are traditions in-the-making:
Harbinger Night, President’s Leadership Seminar, Roblee Lecture Series, fashion show, Prince of Wales Club horse show, senior art show, spring dance concert, RA appreciation day, residence hall un-birthday parties, Black History Month, the roommate game and many more.
Ghost of Senior Hall
The Ghost of Senior Hall is a Civil War tale of a wounded soldier nursed back to health by a student in Senior Hall. Legend says that every Halloween their ghosts return to the hall to mourn their unrequited love.
Honors Convocation
Honors Convocation, held each spring, provides an opportunity to honor excellence in many ways. Traditional awards given include: excellence in teaching and advising, Trustees Awards including the Senior Capstone Award, announcement of Mortar Board members, Century Candle Award, Alpha Lambda Delta Book Award, departmental honors and scholarships, Outstanding Resident Assistant and Resident Director, Student Body President, SGA Outstanding Student Leadership Award, Ten Ideals and others.
“Stephens, our Stephens, hail to thee.
We’ll praise thy name through all eternity.
Thy ten ideals will live so you can see that
Dear, dear old Stephens, we hail to thee.”
"Treasuring memories ever dear,
Singing your praise for everyone to hear,
Living Ideals for all the world to see
that dear, dear old Stephens, we hail to thee!"
Stephens’ Colors -
Maroon and gold.
Stop Days -
Stop Day began on April Fool’s Day in 1913 when a group of students played hooky and went swimming at Rollins Spring. President Wood heard of their deed and joined them with a picnic hamper declaring a day of spring play. Faculty extended the stop day idea by declaring a “reading day” on which no classes meet so that students may prepare for final exams.
In 1983, while planning for the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of Stephens College, students felt it important to review and update the historic Ten Ideals. To serve as an inspiration for the women of today, the Student Government Association then created and adopted the following Sesquicentennial Ideals.
We seek to transform the world by transforming our values. We hold to these values:
Respect for our own dignity and for the dignity of others, embodied in a sense of social justice
Courage and persistence
Independence, autonomy and self-sufficiency
Support for others through the willingness to take and give criticism, acceptance and love
Sensitivity to the uniqueness and fragility of the natural world of which we are a part
Responsibility for the consequences of our choices
Belief in our changing selves and in our right to change
Creativity in the spiritual and aesthetic dimensions of life
Intelligence that is informed and cultivated, critical yet tolerant
Leadership which empowers others
In 1993, a group of 10 senior students came together to re-establish the concept of the Ten Ideals within the Stephens community. Each ideal is a description of desirable forms of thinking, feeling and acting. The tradition will live on in these women.
Women's Colleges in the Southern United States
Women's colleges in the Southern United States refers to undergraduate, bachelor's degree-granting institutions, often liberal arts colleges, whose student populations consist exclusively or almost exclusively of women. Salem College is the oldest female educational institution in the South and...
located in Columbia
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. It is the second oldest female educational establishment that is still a women's college in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was founded on August 24, 1833 as the Columbia Female Academy. In 1856, David H. Hickman
David Henry Hickman
David Henry Hickman was a businessman, educator, and legislator from Columbia, Missouri, United States. He was a member of the Missouri State Assembly from 1838 to 1842 and helped compose legislation requiring the state to support public 'common schools' with at least twenty-five percent of the...
turned it into a college, The Columbia Female Baptist Academy. It was later renamed Stephens Female College. The campus includes a National Historic District: Stephens College South Campus Historic District
Stephens College South Campus Historic District
The Stephens College South Campus Historic District is a National Historic District on the campus of Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005 and includes the historic core of Stephens College in Eastern Downtown Columbia,...
.
Location
Situated in the center of the state, Stephens is approximately 120 miles (193 km) from both Kansas CityKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
and St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. Although it is not located near any major cities, Columbia is known as "Collegetown, USA" due to the 34,000 college students attending Stephens, the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, and Columbia College
Columbia College of Missouri
Columbia College is a private co-educational liberal arts university based in Columbia, Missouri. The school offers day and evening classes on its Columbia Campus, extension courses through its nationwide campuses and ties with U.S. military bases , and online courses...
, each situated within the city. The Stephens campus occupies 86 acres (34.8 ha) of land near downtown Columbia.
Cottey College
Cottey College
Cottey College, located in Nevada, Missouri is a private, two-year women's college that also offers select baccalaureate degree programs. It was founded by Virginia Alice Cottey Stockard in 1884, and is currently owned and supported by the P.E.O...
, a junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
in the rural town of Nevada
Nevada, Missouri
Nevada is a city in Vernon County, Missouri, United States. The population was 8,327 at the 2011 census. It is the county seat of Vernon County. Nevada is the home of Cottey College, a junior college for women operated by the P.E.O. Sisterhood....
, is the only other women's college in Missouri.
Academics
The three most popular majorsAcademic major
In the United States and Canada, an academic major or major concentration is the academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits....
at Stephens are dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
, theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
, and fashion design
Fashion design
Fashion design is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. Fashion design is influenced by cultural and social latitudes, and has varied over time and place. Fashion designers work in a number of ways in designing clothing and accessories....
.http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/profiles/generalinfo.asp?listing=1022637<id=1 41% of all students major in the visual and performing arts.http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=414&profileId=7 According to one anonymous student quoted by the Princeton Review in the student's guide to Stephens, "It's all about theater, dance, fashion design, and marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
" at the college. http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/profiles/studentsSay.asp?listing=1022637&category=5<ID=1
In keeping with its most popular majors, Stephens is best known for its fine art
Fine art
Fine art or the fine arts encompass art forms developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than practical application. Art is often a synonym for fine art, as employed in the term "art gallery"....
s programs. Its theatre program is especially well regarded; it was ranked second in the country by U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
in the America's Best Colleges 2006 edition. The Princeton Review also placed it second on their "Best College Theater" list, directly behind Wagner College
Wagner College
Wagner College is a private, co-educational, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 total students located atop Grymes Hill in New York City's borough of Staten Island...
and ahead of the prestigious programs at schools such as Emerson College
Emerson College
Emerson College is a private coeducational university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of oratory," Emerson is "the only comprehensive college or university in America dedicated exclusively to communication and the arts in a liberal arts...
(#3), Yale College (#7) and Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
(#8).http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/rankings/rankingDetails.asp?CategoryID=7&TopicID=58
The school has established a unique film program focusing on production.
Aside from the arts programs, Stephens offers more than 40 majors and minors
Academic minor
An academic minor is a college or university student's declared secondary field of study or specialization during his or her undergraduate studies. As with an academic major, the college or university in question lays out a framework of required classes or class types a student must complete to...
, including majors in traditional subjects such as English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
, business management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
, psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, and biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
. The college also has a popular equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
program and its own stables. Minors are available in fields such as art history
History of art
The History of art refers to visual art which may be defined as any activity or product made by humans in a visual form for aesthetical or communicative purposes, expressing ideas, emotions or, in general, a worldview...
, women's studies
Women's studies
Women's studies, also known as feminist studies, is an interdisciplinary academic field which explores politics, society and history from an intersectional, multicultural women's perspective...
, and history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. The only foreign language concentration available at Stephens is a minor in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
.http://www.stephens.edu/admission/programs/
Upon completion of their undergraduate studies, Stephens students can receive either an Associate's degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
or a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
. All Associate degrees offered are in the field of Liberal Arts & Studies. For graduate students, Master's programs in education, strategic leadership and business administration are also available. http://www.stephens.edu/gcshttp://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?match=true&collegeId=414
Study Abroad
Stephens offers study abroad programs in France, England, Korea, Ecuador, Sweden, Ireland, Italy and Japan, although Stephens students have studied in numerous countries. International seminars and study tours also are available.Faculty
The Stephens faculty includes approximately 55 full-time instructors. Most have Ph.D.s or appropriate terminal degrees in their field. While faculty members conduct research (often with students), publish papers and present at conferences across the country, a commitment to women's education comes first. Teaching is the first priority for Stephens faculty.Rankings
Aside from its theatre program, Stephens has been ranked overall by various other organizations. U.S. News places it in the fourth tier of all liberal arts colleges nationwide, but also considers it to be a "selective" school when it comes to admissions standards.http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/directory/brief/drglance_2512_brief.phpThe Princeton Review 's "Best 361 College Rankings" named Stephens 15th in their "Class Discussions Encouraged" category and 9th in their "Nobody Plays Intramural Sports" category. It was also on their list of "America's Best Value Colleges" and one of 158 colleges named a "Best Midwestern
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....
College."http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/profiles/rankings.asp?listing=1022637<ID=1
For five consecutive years, Stephens’ Theatre department has ranked among the Top 10 Best College Theater programs in the nation, according to The Princeton Review.
RecycleMania "http://www.recyclemania.org"
Targeted Material-Paper
1. Stephens College
2. Northwest Missouri State University
3. Medical University of South Carolina
4. United States Coast Guard Academy
5. Stanford University
Over a 10-week period, campuses compete in different contests to see which institution can collect the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita, or have the highest recycling rate. The main goal of this event is to increase student awareness of campus recycling and waste minimization.
Campus life
Stephens is one of three women's colleges, along with Spelman CollegeSpelman College
Spelman College is a four-year liberal arts women's college located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The college is part of the Atlanta University Center academic consortium in Atlanta. Founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, Spelman was the first historically black female...
and Brenau University
Brenau University
Brenau University is a private university in Gainesville, Georgia, USA, that was founded in 1878 as Georgia Baptist Female Seminary, though it has never been affiliated with the Baptist Church. The total enrollment of Brenau University tops 2,500 students in its four schools...
, to have sororities
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
on its campus. Sigma Sigma Sigma
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Sigma Sigma Sigma , also known as Tri Sigma, is a national American women’s sorority with membership of more than 100,000 members. Sigma Sigma Sigma is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference and hosts chapters on more than 110 college campuses and 89 alumnae chapters in communities all...
and Kappa Delta
Kappa Delta
Kappa Delta was the first sorority founded at the State Female Normal School , in Farmville, Virginia. It is one of the "Farmville Four" sororities founded at the university...
, both of which are national sororities, have on-campus chapters. The sororities are governed by the Panhellenic Council and the Junior Panhellenic Council. Stephens students can also join historically Black or Asian sororities at the nearby University of Missouri campus. 8% of students are members of on-campus sororities. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/directory/brief/drextras_2512_brief.php
Aside from the sororities, there are about 45 on-campus organizations Stephens students can join. These include affiliates of the College Democrats
College Democrats
The College Democrats of America is the official youth outreach arm of the Democratic Party. It consists of over 100,000 college and university students from across the United States. The organization has served as a way for college students to connect with the Democratic Party and Democratic...
and College Republicans
College Republicans
The College Republican National Committee is a national organization for college and university students who support the Republican Party of the United States...
, religious groups like the Catholic Student Association, Finding Alternative Religions, Stephens Christian Fellowship, as well as (through neighbor MU) Hillel
Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life
Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, working with thousands of college students globally...
, and a Model United Nations
Model United Nations
Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the United Nations agenda....
.
There are also about a dozen academic honor societies
Honor society
In the United States, an honor society is a rank organization that recognizes excellence among peers. Numerous societies recognize various fields and circumstances. The Order of the Arrow, for example, is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America...
students can join: Mortar Board
Mortar Board
Mortar Board is an American national honor society whose purpose is to recognize outstanding students dedicated to the values of scholarship, leadership, and service. The Cornell University Der Hexenkreis chapter, founded in 1892, is the oldest and predates the national society's founding in 1918...
, Psi Chi
Psi Chi
Psi Chi is the International Honor Society in Psychology, founded in 1929 for the purposes of encouraging, stimulating, and maintaining excellence in scholarship, and advancing the science of psychology. With over 1,050 chapters, Psi Chi is one of the largest honor societies in the United States...
, Alpha Lambda Delta
Alpha Lambda Delta
Alpha Lambda Delta is an honor society for students who have achieved a 3.5 GPA or higher and are in the top 20% of their class during their first year or term of higher education.-History:...
, Sigma Tau Delta
Sigma Tau Delta
Sigma Tau Delta is an international collegiate honor society for students of English. It presently has over 800 active chapters located in Europe, the Caribbean, the United States, and 1 chapter in the Middle East , with more than 1,000 faculty sponsors...
, Tri-Beta, Alpha Epilon Rho, Sigma Beta Delta, Chi Tau Epsilon, Kappa Delta Pi
Kappa Delta Pi
Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education, was founded in 1911 and was one of the first discipline-specific honor societies. Its membership is limited to the top 20 percent of those entering the field of education. Kappa Delta Pi claims over 600 chapters across North America and...
, Phi Alpha Delta
Phi Alpha Delta
ΦAΔ , or P.A.D., is the largest co-ed professional law fraternity in the United States of America. Phi Alpha Delta has members who are university students, law school students, lawyers, judges, senators, and even presidents. It was founded in 1902 and today has over 300,000 initiated members...
, and Pi Phi Rho.
The student newspaper, Stephens Life, is released twice each month.http://www.stephens.edu/campuslife/activities/
Stephens College also holds the distinction of being the location of the Alpha Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa, also ΦΘΚ or sometimes PTK , is the international honor society of two-year colleges and academic programs, particularly community colleges and junior colleges. It also includes Associate's degree-granting programs offered by four-year colleges...
International Honor Society of the Two-Year College, despite the fact that Stephens College is no longer a two-year institution.
Stephens College also owns radio station KWWC-FM
KWWC-FM
KWWC-FM is a radio station broadcasting a 1980s' oldies format. Licensed to Columbia, Missouri, USA, the station is currently owned by Stephens College....
, "Sweet 90.5".
Citizen Jane Film Festival
The Citizen Jane Film Festival premiered Oct. 17-19, 2008. Citizen Jane is an annual film festival for the Columbia community and filmmakers from around the country. Films include the best of features, documentaries, animation, and experimental and short films, all showcasing women behind and in front of the camera. "http://www.stephens.edu/news/stephensevents/citizenjane"Alumnae
The Stephens College Alumnae Association has more than 30,000 members internationally. Alumnae are found in every state, with AlaskaAlaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, and South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
tying for the fewest at 29 each.
Notable alumnae
- Shirley ClarkeShirley ClarkeShirley Clarke was an American independent filmmaker.-Early life:Born Shirley Brimberg in New York City, Shirley Clarke was the daughter of a Polish-immigrant father who made his fortune in manufacturing. Her mother was the daughter of a multimillionaire Jewish manufacturer and inventor. Her...
, experimentalExperimental filmExperimental film or experimental cinema is a type of cinema. Experimental film is an artistic practice relieving both of visual arts and cinema. Its origins can be found in European avant-garde movements of the twenties. Experimental cinema has built its history through the texts of theoreticians...
film directorFilm directorA film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:... - Nancy Cozean, former journalistJournalistA journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and politicianPoliticianA politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making... - Joan CrawfordJoan CrawfordJoan Crawford , born Lucille Fay LeSueur, was an American actress in film, television and theatre....
, actress (did not complete first year) - Frances CroweFrances CroweFrances Crowe is an American peace activist and pacifist from the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts.-Early life:Crowe was born in Carthage, Missouri. She holds degrees from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and Syracuse University , and conducted graduate work at Columbia University...
, peace activistPeace activistThis list of peace activists includes people who proactively advocate diplomatic, non-military resolution of political disputes, usually through nonviolent means.A peace activist is an activist of the peace movement.*Jane Addams*Martti Ahtisaari... - Missy DotyMissy DotyMissy Doty is an American actress. She grew up in Springdale, Ohio and graduated from Princeton High School in 1990. She also attended Stephens College where she received a BFA in Musical Theater.-Professional:...
, actress - Shirley Adele FieldShirley Adele Field- Republican party activist :Field was active in the Republican party and, within six years of her arrival in Oregon, was selected as an alternate delegate to the 1952 Republican National Convention...
, Oregon legislator and judge - Tammy GrimesTammy Grimes-Early life:Grimes was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, the daughter of Eola Willard , a naturalist and spiritualist, and Nicholas Luther Grimes, an innkeeper, country-club manager, and farmer. She attended high school at the then-all girls school, Beaver Country Day School, in Chestnut Hill,...
, actress and singer - Corky HaleCorky HaleCorky Hale has been a working jazz musician since the late 1950s. As an in-demand session player, she has traveled across the United States and throughout Europe, playing harp, piano and flute, and singing, as well...
, jazzJazzJazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician - Jeane KirkpatrickJeane KirkpatrickJeane Jordan Kirkpatrick was an American ambassador and an ardent anticommunist. After serving as Ronald Reagan's foreign policy adviser in his 1980 campaign and later in his Cabinet, the longtime Democrat-turned-Republican was nominated as the U.S...
, first female U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. - Ashley LittonAshley LittonAshley Renee Litton is a beauty queen from Missouri who held the Miss Missouri USA title in 2004. -Miss Kansas Teen USA:Litton grew up in Olathe, Kansas and started competing in pageants in that state...
, former Miss Missouri USAMiss Missouri USAThe Miss Missouri USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Missouri in the Miss USA pageant. In 1993, Missouri joined the Vanbros group of state pageants for the Miss USA and Teen USA system.... - Susybelle LyonsSusybelle LyonsSusybelle Wilkinson Lyons was a socialite and philanthropist in Shreveport, Louisiana, who was particularly active in the Young Women's Christian Association Family Violence Program. "When she saw films of what those women had to endure, it was very moving. She didn't cry easily...
, socialiteSocialiteA socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
and philanthropistPhilanthropistA philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes... - Marjie MillarMarjie MillarMarjie Millar , was an American television and film actress.A blonde, she played a small number of second lead roles. She graduated in 1950 from Stadium High School in Tacoma, Washington, and then from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri...
, actress - Leslie Adrienne MillerLeslie Adrienne MillerLeslie Adrienne Miller is the author of five collections of poems.Professor of English at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, Miller holds a B.A. from Stephens College, an M.A. from the University of Missouri, and an M.F.A. from the Iowa Writers' Workshop and a Ph.D...
, poetPoetA poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary... - Elizabeth MitchellElizabeth MitchellElizabeth Mitchell , is an American actress/modelwho is known for her roles as Dr. Juliet Burke on ABC's TV series Lost and as FBI agent Erica Evans on V. She has starred in such films as The Santa Clause 2, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, and Gia.-Early life:Mitchell was born Elizabeth...
, actress - Martha Beall MitchellMartha Beall MitchellMartha Beall Mitchell was the wife of John N. Mitchell, United States Attorney General under President Richard Nixon. Martha Mitchell gained notoriety in the press during the Nixon administration for her frequent phone calls to reporters and colorful comments on the state of the nation...
, wife of former U.S. Attorney GeneralUnited States Attorney GeneralThe United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
John MitchellJohn N. MitchellJohn Newton Mitchell was the Attorney General of the United States from 1969 to 1972 under President Richard Nixon... - Carrie NyeCarrie Nye-Early life:Nye was born Caroline Nye McGeoy in Greenwood, Mississippi; her father was a vice president of a local bank. She attended Stephens College and then went on to the Yale School of Drama.-Career:...
, actress - Annie PottsAnnie PottsAnne Hampton "Annie" Potts is an American film and television actress. She is known for her roles in the 1980s popular films such as Ghostbusters , Pretty in Pink , Jumpin' Jack Flash , Who's Harry Crumb? and Ghostbusters II . Potts is also known as a voice-actress...
, actress - Emily J. ReynoldsEmily J. ReynoldsEmily J. Reynolds was the Secretary of the United States Senate from January 7, 2003 to January 3, 2007. She was appointed Secretary of the Senate when the United States Senate convened on January 7, 2003, for the 108th Congress. Prior to her appointment as Secretary, Reynolds was the chief of...
, Secretary of the U.S. Senate - Virginia SheheeVirginia SheheeVirginia Kilpatrick Shehee is a Shreveport businesswoman and civic leader and the first female state senator from District 38. She won her seat in the 1975 general election by 23 votes over incumbent Cecil K. Carter, Jr. and served a single term until 1980. She was defeated in 1979 by fellow...
, first woman to serve in the Louisiana State SenateLouisiana State LegislatureThe Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators... - Jennifer TillyJennifer TillyJennifer Tilly is an American actress and poker player. She is an Academy Award nominee, and a World Series of Poker Ladies' Event bracelet winner. She is the older sister of actress Meg Tilly.-Early life:...
, actress - Dawn WellsDawn WellsDawn Elberta Wells is an American actress known for playing Mary Ann Summers on the sitcom Gilligan's Island during its run from 1964 until 1967.- Early life :...
, actress - Paula Zahn, journalist
- Karith FosterKarith FosterKarith Foster is an American comedienne and a TalkBackTV show host on . She was also a former contributor on the Imus in the Morning radio and television program. She left the show in August 2009 when her contract was not renewed....
, stand-up comedian and radio personality - Mark L. TaylorMark L. TaylorMark L. Taylor is an American actor. He was born in Syracuse, New York.Taylor has appeared in various shows such as Seinfeld, Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, Chicago Hope, Ally McBeal and Boston Legal...
, actor
Alumnae distribution
In March 2006, Stephens released an interactive alumnae map showing the distribution of living alumnae throughout the United States. The metropolitan areas with the highest numbers of Stephens alumnae include:- Los Angeles County, CaliforniaLos Angeles County, CaliforniaLos Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
- 519 - Boone County, MissouriBoone County, MissouriBoone County is a county centrally located in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is the eighth most populous county in Missouri. In 2010, the population was 162,642. Its county seat, Columbia, is the fifth largest city in Missouri and the anchor city of the Columbia Metropolitan Area.-History:Boone...
(Greater Columbia) - 478 - St. Louis County, MissouriSt. Louis County, MissouriSt. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
- 454 - Maricopa County, ArizonaMaricopa County, Arizona-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*73.0% White*5.0% Black*2.1% Native American*3.5% Asian*0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.5% Two or more races*12.7% Other races*29.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
(PhoenixPhoenix Metropolitan AreaThe Phoenix metropolitan area, often referred to as The Valley of the Sun, is a metropolitan area, centered on the city of Phoenix, that includes much of the central part of the US state of Arizona...
) - 404 - Harris County, TexasHarris County, TexasAs of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
(Greater HoustonGreater HoustonHouston–Sugar Land–Baytown is a 10-county metropolitan area defined by the Office of Management and Budget. It is located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas...
)- 343 - Dallas County, TexasDallas County, TexasAs of the census of 2000, there were 2,218,899 people, 807,621 households, and 533,837 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,523 people per square mile . There were 854,119 housing units at an average density of 971/sq mi...
- 334 - Cook County, IllinoisCook County, IllinoisCook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
- 329 - San Diego County, CaliforniaSan Diego County, CaliforniaSan Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
- 291 - Orange County, CaliforniaOrange County, CaliforniaOrange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
- 265 - Johnson County, KansasJohnson County, KansasJohnson County is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the central United States. The county is largely suburban, being part of the Kansas City metropolitan area, and containing many of its affluent southwestern suburbs. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 544,179. Its county...
(Greater Kansas CityKansas City Metropolitan AreaThe Kansas City Metropolitan Area is a fifteen-county metropolitan area that is anchored by Kansas City, Missouri and is bisected by the border between the states of Missouri and Kansas. As of the 2010 Census, the metropolitan area has a population of 2,035,334. The metropolitan area is the...
) - 251 - King County, WashingtonKing County, WashingtonKing County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
(Greater SeattleSeattle, WashingtonSeattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
) - 205 - Jackson County, MissouriJackson County, MissouriJackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. With a population of 674,158 in the 2010 census, Jackson County is the second most populous of Missouri's counties, after St. Louis County. Kansas City, the state's most populous city and focus city of the Kansas City Metropolitan...
(Greater Kansas CityKansas City Metropolitan AreaThe Kansas City Metropolitan Area is a fifteen-county metropolitan area that is anchored by Kansas City, Missouri and is bisected by the border between the states of Missouri and Kansas. As of the 2010 Census, the metropolitan area has a population of 2,035,334. The metropolitan area is the...
) - 201
Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
also has a particularly high concentration of Stephens alumnae, with 1,237 found statewide, especially in the central, eastern, and southern parts of the state. The Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
-to-Boston corridor contains a heavy concentration as well, including 184 alumnae living in Manhattan.
Historic Buildings
Firestone Baars Chapel
The Firestone Baars Chapel was designed by world-famous Finnish architect Eero SaarinenEero Saarinen
Eero Saarinen was a Finnish American architect and industrial designer of the 20th century famous for varying his style according to the demands of the project: simple, sweeping, arching structural curves or machine-like rationalism.-Biography:Eero Saarinen shared the same birthday as his father,...
who also designed the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. The chapel symbolizes commitment to individual spiritual development and worship. The chapel is used for meditation, religious services, vespers, weddings, memorials and campus programs.
Historic Senior Hall
Historic Senior HallSenior Hall (Columbia, Missouri)
Historic Senior Hall on the Stephens College campus in Columbia, Missouri dates back to 1841, when Oliver Parker bought the eight-acre tract of land on which the College was first located. In 1857, the Columbia Baptist Female College, which later became Stephens College, acquired the building....
dates back to 1841, when Oliver Parker bought the 8 acres (3.2 ha) tract of land on which the College was first located. In 1857, the Columbia Baptist Female College, which later became Stephens College, acquired the building. Until 1918, Historic Senior Hall was the only dormitory at the College. It was the tradition for the President of the Civic Association (now the Student Government Association) to occupy the first floor room just north of the Waugh Street entrance. Many generations of students feel this building is their tie to the past. A complete restoration of Historic Senior Hall began in the spring of 1987, and the building was rededicated in the spring of 1990. Senior Hall was placed 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...
in 1977.
Stephens Traditions
Campus traditions at Stephens provide a bond between past and present students. Some traditions have changed to fit changing times, some traditions are very old, and some annual events may be traditions-in-the-making.Alumnae Reunion
At Alumnae Reunion, the President of the Alumnae Association passes a lit candle to a representative of the Senior Class symbolizing the passage from undergraduate years to alumnae responsibilities.
Commencement
Since 1976, each senior passes a secret gift to the President when she shakes hands and receives her degree.
Door Slam
Door Slam is a special time signaling the beginning of “dead week” and 24-hour quiet hours during final exams.
Many other annual campus events are traditions in-the-making:
Harbinger Night, President’s Leadership Seminar, Roblee Lecture Series, fashion show, Prince of Wales Club horse show, senior art show, spring dance concert, RA appreciation day, residence hall un-birthday parties, Black History Month, the roommate game and many more.
Ghost of Senior Hall
The Ghost of Senior Hall is a Civil War tale of a wounded soldier nursed back to health by a student in Senior Hall. Legend says that every Halloween their ghosts return to the hall to mourn their unrequited love.
Honors Convocation
Honors Convocation, held each spring, provides an opportunity to honor excellence in many ways. Traditional awards given include: excellence in teaching and advising, Trustees Awards including the Senior Capstone Award, announcement of Mortar Board members, Century Candle Award, Alpha Lambda Delta Book Award, departmental honors and scholarships, Outstanding Resident Assistant and Resident Director, Student Body President, SGA Outstanding Student Leadership Award, Ten Ideals and others.
School Song
Stephens Hymn:“Stephens, our Stephens, hail to thee.
We’ll praise thy name through all eternity.
Thy ten ideals will live so you can see that
Dear, dear old Stephens, we hail to thee.”
"Treasuring memories ever dear,
Singing your praise for everyone to hear,
Living Ideals for all the world to see
that dear, dear old Stephens, we hail to thee!"
Stephens’ Colors -
Maroon and gold.
Stop Days -
Stop Day began on April Fool’s Day in 1913 when a group of students played hooky and went swimming at Rollins Spring. President Wood heard of their deed and joined them with a picnic hamper declaring a day of spring play. Faculty extended the stop day idea by declaring a “reading day” on which no classes meet so that students may prepare for final exams.
Ten Ideals
The Ten Ideals were developed in the 1930s as a guide for student values. Several residence halls continue to select residents who represent these ideals.In 1983, while planning for the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of Stephens College, students felt it important to review and update the historic Ten Ideals. To serve as an inspiration for the women of today, the Student Government Association then created and adopted the following Sesquicentennial Ideals.
We seek to transform the world by transforming our values. We hold to these values:
Respect for our own dignity and for the dignity of others, embodied in a sense of social justice
Courage and persistence
Independence, autonomy and self-sufficiency
Support for others through the willingness to take and give criticism, acceptance and love
Sensitivity to the uniqueness and fragility of the natural world of which we are a part
Responsibility for the consequences of our choices
Belief in our changing selves and in our right to change
Creativity in the spiritual and aesthetic dimensions of life
Intelligence that is informed and cultivated, critical yet tolerant
Leadership which empowers others
In 1993, a group of 10 senior students came together to re-establish the concept of the Ten Ideals within the Stephens community. Each ideal is a description of desirable forms of thinking, feeling and acting. The tradition will live on in these women.