Hood College

The college was founded in 1893 as the Woman's College of Frederick by the Potomac Synod of the Reformed Church of the United States. Dr. Joseph Henry Apple, an educator from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, only 28 years of age at the time of his appointment, was named the college's first president.[5] In this first year, eighty-three women enrolled, and were taught by eight faculty members in Winchester Hall, located on East Church Street in Frederick. Classes were offered in the liberal arts and music, as well as secretarial trades. In 1898, the first class graduated, with fourteen women earning Bachelor of Arts degrees. Over the next several years, courses in biology, economics, sociology, political science, and domestic science were added.[6][7]

In 1897, the college received a 28-acre (110,000 m²) tract of land for its campus from Margaret Scholl Hood.[8] In 1913, the Trustees of the Woman's College announced that the name of the Woman's College would be changed to Hood College, in honor of Mrs. Hood, who gave $25,000 to establish an endowment for the college, and who firmly believed in higher education for women. On January 18, 1913, Margaret Hood's will was filed for probate. In the will, she bequeathed an additional $30,000 to the Woman's College of Frederick provided that the college had changed its name to "Hood College".[9] Part of this bequest was used to fund the 1914 construction of Alumnae Hall. Today, except for Brodbeck Hall, which was built in the 1860s and stood on the campus at its founding, Alumnae Hall remains the oldest building on the college's campus and serves as the central location for the college's administration, also housing the sociology and social work department. In 1915, the college began its move from its former location in Frederick City to its current campus.[6]

In 1934, Joseph Henry Apple retired as the college's president, having served for 41 years. At his retirement, he was the oldest college president in continuous active service at a single institution in the United States.[6]

The Hood College Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.[4] The campus is within close walking distance of downtown Frederick. In 2010, Forbes named downtown Frederick one of America's best neighborhoods, and in 2013, Forbes published the results of a Farmers Insurance Group study naming the Bethesda–Gaithersburg–Frederick, Maryland area one of the most secure metro areas in which to live in the United States.[10][11]

In the early 1970s, Hood College began to consider becoming a co-educational institution.[12] In October of that year the Hood College Board of Trustees voted to begin enrollment of men as commuter students.[12] That same year, Hood also decided to begin a graduate school program for both men and women. These changes were implemented in January 1971.[12]

There were mixed feelings on campus as Hood students worried about the type of male student Hood could potentially attract. Students feared that a residential women's college would attract only the "provincial townies" unable to go anywhere else, and the "lusty lovers" attracted by the high number of females.[12] This led to public debate in The Blue and Grey, the Hood College campus newspaper, and letters to the student body from then-president Randle Elliot.[13]

Beginning in January 1971, the College became open to men as commuters. The first male student, Aldan T. Weinberg, transferred to Hood after having spent one year at American University and three years in the army.[14] Weinberg taught journalism at Hood and served as the director of the Communications Program until he retired in 2015.

In the fall of 2001, the Hood executive committee was charged by the board of trustees with the task of studying the possible impact of male resident students.[14] This study considered the projected financial, cultural, residential, academic and enrollment impacts on the college.[15] Based on this report, the board of trustees' ultimate decision was to admit men as residential students.

This decision was made based upon the reality that demand for single-sex education for women was on the decline.[16] Only three percent of college-bound female students preferred a single-gender institution.[16] This, and other factors, led to an overall decline in undergraduate enrollment over the years. Hood needed at least 300 new, enrolled students each year in order to have a balanced budget.[16] All in all, Hood's expenses were exceeding revenue.[16]

This led to the creation of a co-education task force composed of students, alumnae, faculty and staff members. This task force ultimately decided where men were to be housed.[17]

In an effort to accommodate student growth and to shift away from students who commute to campus, a new residence hall is being built and is projected to open in the fall of 2020. This residence hall will house 201 beds and will be home to the honors program.[18][19]

Each class decorates a banner to be displayed in the dining hall. The banners correspond to each class' assigned color, red, green, blue or yellow. Every year, a new representative symbol is designed and painted on the banners. Following a class' graduation, the banners are hung in the atrium of the Whitaker Campus Center.[20]

Alumnae Hall's four Ionic columns are named Hope, Opportunity, Obligation and Democracy (HOOD). The columns were dedicated by the classes of 1915, 1916, 1917 and 1918. Many buildings on campus that were constructed after Alumnae Hall also have four columns,[6] but the inspiration for the columns themselves probably came from the six columns on each of the twin buildings that comprise Winchester Hall, the original buildings of the Woman's College in downtown Frederick.

Dinks (or colored beanie hats) have been a Hood College tradition since at least the 1950s.[6] According to some sources, the tradition may have started very early in the 20th century with colored armbands rather than beanies, although the wearing of beanies is officially documented as beginning in the 1950s.[21] There is reason to believe this is true, as ceremonial colored beanies were also used by women's colleges such as Wellesley during the early 1900s.[22] Upon arriving at Hood, the members of each incoming class are given dinks with its class color, either blue, green, yellow or red. The four colors rotate so that the color of the previous year's seniors goes to the incoming freshmen. In the past, dinks were worn at special events such as Campus Day, and freshmen were previously required to wear their dinks continuously during their first few weeks on campus. Now, they are primarily worn during opening convocation, Policies for Dollars, and baccalaureate.[21]

Begun in the 1980s, Midnight Breakfast is held each semester the night before final exams begin and is served by College faculty and staff.[6]

Originally held on the morning of May Day, Strawberry Breakfast now takes places on the morning of Commencement.[6]

Located in the geographical center of Hood's residential quad since 1915, the Pergola is a wooden dome-like structure covered with wisteria.[6] Before 1915 a Pergola was located at the East Church Street campus and was the inspiration for the current structure. Several traditions are associated with the Pergola, such as the decoration of the pergola with holiday lights during the holiday season. Students are not to speak any harsh words under the Pergola or "split poles" with friends, as this might lead to a failed friendship after graduation.[20]

Policies for Dollars is a competition in which the freshmen of each residence hall compete to raise money for their respective halls. The winning dorm also receives the "pink spoon," a giant plastic trophy of sentimental value. Typical activities in the competition include Hood trivia, dorm cheers and skits.[6]

Each spring students selected by the academic departments make presentations of their completed year-long research projects. These students are known as Tischer Scholars, in honor of Christine P. Tischer, alumna and former member of the Hood College Board of Trustees. In the spring of 2013, 22 seniors gave presentations on topics that varied from "First Generation College Students: Challenges and Solutions" to "Effects of Stream Nutrients on Salamander Species Diversity and Abundance."

The Hood College Honors Program is a selective program of study, admitting only a limited number of students each year. Students in the Honors Program take an interdisciplinary seminar each semester, as well as participate in community service, study abroad or internships, and Senior Seminar, allowing students to choose a topic of broad interest and selecting a faculty member to teach the course.[33]

Hood College offers a study abroad program that can be utilized by any student with any major. Some majors require students to spend a semester abroad, including foreign language and literature students.[34]

The Hood College Graduate School is the oldest graduate school in the region. It opened in the summer of 1971 after approval of the program by the college faculty in the fall of 1970 and approval by the State of Maryland in December 1970. The first graduate program was a Master of Arts in Human Sciences. Concentrations were available in Contemporary Government, Counseling and Guidance, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Science and Mathematics, Environmental Science, Public Affairs, Reading, and Special Education. Over the ensuing forty years, that single program has evolved into fifteen master's degree programs and thirteen post-baccalaureate certificate programs.

• Beverly Byron, 1964, US congresswoman
• Marcia Coyle, 1973, journalist and lawyer; Washington Bureau Chief of The National Law Journal; panelist on the PBS NewsHour[38][39]
• David Gallaher, 1998, graphic novelist and children's book author
• Gale L. Gamble, 1969, physician, cancer specialist, Medical Director at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago[38]
• Heather Hamilton, 1995, executive director of the Connect US Fund[38]
• Sue Hecht, 1985, American politician, member of the Democratic Party, member of the Maryland House of delegates
• Sophie Kerr, 1898, journalist, novelist, and playwright
• Claire McCardell, 1927, fashion designer in the arena of ready-to-wear clothing in the 20th century
• Halo Meadows, 1927, actress, writer and burlesque dancer, also known by the pseudonym "Louise Howard"
• Laura Lee Miller, 1973, President of Vera Wang Licensing[40]
• Beryl Pfizer, 1949, producer of NBC News[38]
• Arlene Raven, 1965, feminist art historian, author, critic, educator, and curator
• James N. Robey, 1986, member of the Maryland Senate
• Beverley Swaim-Stanley, 1977, 1982, Maryland Transportation Secretary[41]
• Kelly M. Schulz, 2006, American politician and member of the Maryland House of Delegates
• Elena Maria Vidal, 1984, historical novelist and noted blogger
• Patricia Wright PhD, 1966, scientist, environmental activist

• Roser Caminals-Heath, professor, Spanish and English language author
• Anita Jose, professor, business strategist