KN Borden Hill

Richard Borden & Ken Hill

50 years’ experience in human ecology

College of the Atlantic (COA) -- founded in 1969 -- is an independent higher education institution dedicated to the study of human ecology. This session offers a fifty-year overview of the college’s founding, growth, and influence. Academically, the college is fully interdisciplinary: there are no departments, and all students receive the same degree: the B. A in Human Ecology -- or for a small number of advanced studies candidates, the M. Phil. in Human Ecology. Classes frequently bridge several disciplines and provide opportunities for experiential work in the field, applied research and community engagement. The presentation will begin with a review of events leading up to the idea of the college, its educational mission, and early years. This will be followed by a description of the institution’s long-standing approach to self-directed studies, the growth of its campus, along with a review of recent academic developments, partnerships, and future plans. Time will be reserved at the end of the session for questions, back-and-forth exchanges, and collaborative discussions with attendees to the session.