School Mission

Our distinctiveness begins from our mission: "Adrian College, a liberal arts College in the United Methodist tradition, is committed to the pursuit of truth and to the dignity of all people. Through active and creative learning in a supportive community, students are challenged to achieve excellence in their academic, personal, and professional lives, and to contribute to a more socially just society." More recently, our Ribbons of Excellence grew from our mission. In 1887, the seniors presented a cane, symbolic of leadership and hard work, to the junior class officers. It has been handed down every year by since, and each class attaches a ribbon. In 2007, our academic community adopted the idea of the ribbons to represent standards of excellence. These new "ribbons of excellence" are: 1) Caring for humanity and the world: making socially responsible decisions; providing service to local and global communities; interacting positively with persons of diverse cultures and backgrounds. 2) Learning throughout a lifetime: continuing to ask important questions; pursuing knowledge in each new age; remaining open to new learning experiences. 3) Thinking critically: developing critical habits of mind; exploring multiple points of view; raising thoughtful questions, identifying problems and solutions. 4) Crossing boundaries and disciplines: developing literacy in multiple fields; personifying the liberal arts experience; making connections across disciplines. 5) Developing creativity: engaging in creative arts; developing creative talents and skills; recognizing and employing figurative expression. These permeate our campus culture, especially on Ribbons of Excellence Day as campus and community convene to celebrate scholarly and creative activities of our students. Adrian College offers numerous enriching educational experiences. Almost one quarter of last year's graduating class studied abroad. Many academic programs require internships or practicums, giving students opportunities to apply their studies in real-world situations. Many courses are designed around service learning. Examples include Biology students working with the River Raisin Watershed Council, Teacher Education students tutoring at local schools, and Business students consulting for local non-profits. All majors require a Capstone Experience, where seniors synthesize years of learning into a single project. We have also been the recipient of Fulbright Arabic Scholars for the past three years, enriching our language offerings and campus culture. Adrian College is also proud to participate in Operation Education, a program that helps wounded veterans earn an education. Adrian College is experiencing tremendous growth through its Renaissance campaigns, which continue to transform our teaching, learning, and scholarly environments. Renaissance I brought new athletic facilities, including a multisport performance stadium and ice arena, and new programs, including a marching band and the Athletic Training Program. Renaissance II is bringing innovative educational opportunities. For example, Rush Hall was transformed from an old bookstore to the home of the Communication Arts and Sciences program, complete with new media studios, sound rooms, and editing labs, and we have invested in several technology initiatives, including smart classrooms, digital library resources, Blackboard, and a significant increase in our Internet bandwidth to 90Mbps max throughput. Renaissance II also prompted the creation of Institutes, which integrate theoretical and practical learning in distinctive ways. These are the Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, the Institute for Health Studies, the Institute for Study Abroad, the Institute for Ethics, and the Institute for Law and Public Policy. Institutes promote interdisciplinary learning, seek unique opportunities for students, give a platform for student-faculty collaboration, and foster projects that benefit our campus culture.

School Details

Institutional Control: Private
Year Founded: 1859

Programs Offered

associate degree, associate-transfer degree, bachelor's degree

Majors Offered

Education, General, Elementary Education and Teaching, Secondary Education and Teaching, Teacher Education, Multiple Levels, Art Teacher Education, Health Teacher Education, Music Teacher Education, Physical Education Teaching and Coaching, Social Science Teacher Education, German Language and Literature, French Language and Literature, Spanish Language and Literature, English Language and Literature, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Mathematics, General, Environmental Studies, Environmental Science, International/Global Studies, Health and Physical Education, General, Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Philosophy, Religion/Religious Studies, Chemistry, General, Geology/Earth Science, General, Physics, General, Psychology, General, Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration, Social Work, Economics, General, Political Science and Government, General, Sociology, Japanese Studies, Interior Design, Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General, Fine/Studio Arts, General, Arts Management, Music, General, Pre-Dentistry Studies, Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies, Pre-Pharmacy Studies, Pre-Veterinary Studies, Business Administration and Management, General, Accounting, International Business, Marketing/Marketing Management, General, History, General, Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric, Mass Communication/Media Studies, Journalism

Minors Offered

Computer and Information Sciences, General, German Language and Literature, French Language and Literature, Spanish Language and Literature, English Language and Literature, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, International/Global Studies, Health and Physical Education, General, Philosophy, Religion/Religious Studies, Chemistry, General, Geology/Earth Science, General, Physics, General, Psychology, General, Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration, Social Work, Economics, General, Political Science and Government, General, Sociology, Japanese Studies, Women's Studies, Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General, Fine/Studio Arts, General, Music, General, Business Administration and Management, General, History, General, Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric

General Student Body Information

Total number of undergraduates: 1,609
Total number of full-time undergraduates: 1,556
Total number of part-time undergraduates: 53
Percent of male undergraduates: 53.26%
Percent of female undergraduates: 46.74%
Percent of international undergraduates: 4.29%

Student Services

Basic services offered: nonremedial tutoring, placement service, health service, health insurance
Remedial learning services offered: reading, math, study skills
Counseling services offered: minority student, career, personal, veteran student, academic, older student, psychological, birth control, religious
Campus safety and security services offered: 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc)

Activities

Student activities offered: choral groups, concert band, dance, drama/theater, jazz band, literary magazine, marching band, music ensembles, musical theater, pep band, radio station, student government, student newspaper, symphony orchestra, yearbook

Sports

Intercollegiate sports offered for men: baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, track and field (outdoor)
Intercollegiate sports offered for women: basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field (outdoor), volleyball