Wells College New York

Wells was established as a woman's college in 1868 by Henry Wells, founder of Wells Fargo and the American Express Company. Wells had the building for Wells Seminary constructed on property he donated. Not long after its construction, Wells Seminary burnt to the ground. The first building was replaced in 1890 by the current Main Building. Henry Wells' mansion, Glen Park, was later donated to the college for its use. It is part of the campus.

After 1965, Walter Netsch designed the Louis Jefferson Long Library. The design of this award-winning building inspired two other buildings on campus, Barler Music Hall and Campbell Art Building.

Official Site: Wells College

Co-education

After 136 years as a women's college, Wells announced in October 2004 that it would become a co-educational institution in 2005. This drew student protests on campus. Some parents of students also became involved in the protests. Some of the students said that their protests were patterned after ones at Mills College in the early 1990s. A website called Wells for Women was established  After the college's decision to adopt coeducation was approved by its board, students filed a lawsuit, which the courts rejected. The college adopted coeducation in 2005.

Academics

Classes at Wells are taught seminar-style by professors — not teaching assistants — and 83% of Wells faculty have doctoral degrees.

The Washington Monthly's "College Rankings" (an alternative college guide to the U.S. News and World Report) ranks Wells College as number thirty among all liberal arts colleges in the United States -- as well as the top such college in New York state—in the September 2006 issue.

In 2006, Wells was ranked 12th in the nation by the Princeton Review for being best at encouraging class discussion. In its 2007 rankings, released in August 2006, U.S. News & World Report put it at #24 on the "Great Schools, Great Price" list of best-value schools. It has previously been listed based on the beauty of its campus and frequently makes lists of the nations most-haunted campuses.

U.S. News ranks Wells at 122 among liberal arts colleges.

Wells college tuition along with room and board has now gone from about $29,000 a year to $38–39,000 a year starting with members of the class of 2013. Singles now cost $1000 a year and $500 per semester.

Majors with concentrations

• American Studies
• American Studies: American Cultures
• Biological and Chemical Sciences: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Biological and Chemical Sciences: Biology
• Biological and Chemical Sciences: Chemistry
• Economics and Management: Economics
• Economics and Management: Management
• English: Creative Writing
• English: Literature
• Environmental Studies: Environmental Policies and Values
• Environmental Studies: Environmental Sciences
• Film and Media Studies
• Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures: Spanish
• Foreign Language Education: Spanish
• History
• International Studies
• Mathematical and Physical Sciences: Computer Science
• Mathematical and Physical Sciences: Mathematics
• Mathematical and Physical Sciences: Physics
• Performing Arts: Theatre and Dance
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Sociology and Anthropology: Sociology
• Sociology and Anthropology: Anthropology/Cross-Cultural Sociology
• Visual Arts: Art History
• Visual Arts: Studio Art
• Women's Studies
• Individualized Major: where students design an alternative major of special interest

A new major "Book Arts", previously only available as a minor, became a major in fall 2009. Wells College is ranked #1 in the nation for Book Arts.