Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College, a private Ivy League research university in Hanover, New Hampshire, has been shaping minds since 1769. Founded by Eleazar Wheelock, it originally aimed to educate Native American Christian missionaries. Today, it stands as one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution, blending a rich history with a modern liberal arts approach.

Under Wheelock's vision, Dartmouth grew from a small school into a full-fledged university. Its picturesque campus along the Connecticut River has become a hallmark of New England academia. The college is known for its strong undergraduate focus, offering instruction across 40 academic departments and 60 majors in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. This breadth allows students to tailor their education, fostering both depth and versatility.

Dartmouth's reputation for academic excellence is matched by its distinctive culture. The D-Plan, a flexible academic calendar, lets students design their own terms, mixing study, internships, and travel. With a student-to-faculty ratio that encourages close mentorship, the college consistently ranks among the top liberal arts institutions in the nation. Its alumni network is fiercely loyal, a testament to the bonds formed here, and its impact extends far beyond the Hanover hills. [edit]

Dartmouth College's mission is to provide an exceptional liberal arts education, fostering critical thinking, creativity, and a commitment to service. The institution aims to prepare students for leadership and lifelong learning, while advancing knowledge through research and scholarship. [edit]

Dartmouth College was founded on December 13, 1769, when King George III granted a charter to Eleazar Wheelock, a Congregational minister. Wheelock had previously run Moor's Indian Charity School in Connecticut, and the new college was intended to continue that work, training Native Americans as Christian missionaries. The college was named after William Legge, the 2nd Earl of Dartmouth, a prominent supporter of the school.

The early years were marked by financial struggle and a contentious relationship with the royal governor, John Wentworth. In 1819, the famous Dartmouth College case reached the U.S. Supreme Court. The state of New Hampshire had attempted to take control of the college, but Chief Justice John Marshall ruled in favor of the college, protecting private contracts and establishing an important precedent for American higher education.

Over the nineteenth century, Dartmouth expanded its curriculum, adding engineering, medicine, and graduate programs. In 1893, the Thayer School of Engineering was established, followed by the Tuck School of Business in 1900 and the Geisel School of Medicine in 1797 (though it became a four-year school in 1914). The college became coeducational in 1972, admitting its first female students.

The twentieth century saw Dartmouth grow into a research university while maintaining its undergraduate focus. The D-Plan, introduced in 1972, allowed students to customize their academic calendar, a distinctive feature that remains today. In 2010, Dartmouth announced the creation of a new residential college system, and recent years have seen significant investment in campus facilities, including new dormitories and academic buildings. [edit]