COA opens for its first term

In September of 1972, College of the Atlantic opened for its first ever official school year. With an incoming class of 32 students and 15 staff members, 1972 was a year of experimentation and excitement. The college was not yet accredited, which meant that the students who accepted their admission came with the knowledge that they might not get a degree at the end of their four years. Enrolling was a risk, but it meant that those who accepted were passionate about the idea of human ecology and ready to be engaged with the formation of the college. Students joined faculty and staff on planning committees, forming a system of involved governance that continues to characterize the college today.

“Everyone wanted to be involved in everything that went on,” said Ann Peach –  the college’s first secretary –  of that first year. There was a spirit of strong community energy. Sam Eloit – COA’s first vice president – commented, “I think we probably spent more time in meetings in the first term than we spent in class, quite seriously.” 

The student body was strong-willed and opinionated, and helped tremendously to shape and define the college during that first year. Alongside the students, faculty and staff worked tirelessly to create a college that was true to its values, ideas and ideals. In 1972, the full time staff included; Bill Carpenter, Melville Cote, Samuel Eloit, Edward Kaelber, Daniel Kane, Steve Katona, Liane Peach, Jean Swartz, Millard Dority and Al Stork. The part time faculty that joined them were; Elmer Beal, Seldon Bernstein, JoAnne Carpenter, Robert Patterson and Elizabeth Russel.

To learn more, explore the oral histories of founding staff members or peruse photographs from COA’s early days.