Yale College

Yale College, before becoming a college of Yale University later on, actually acted as the name for the school from 1718-1887. Of course, these days the college is one of 12 on the universities campus for undergraduate programs.

The actually Yale College was made possible in 1933 by a grant from Yale graduate Edward S. Harkness. The main reason Harkness was inspired to give Yale the grant was that he took a liking to the college systems that were so successful at Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

Each Yale College consists of a fully contained school including housing or dormitory buildings, a courtyard, dining hall, student facilities, as well housing for a Dean and two resident fellows of the college. The basic idea of a University with colleges was taken from Oxford, however it took on a life of its own with the innovation that Yale brings to everything it does. Needless to say, the decision to start the undergraduate colleges was a huge success and system that Yale College still utilizes to this day. This success is the reason that Yale has been recognized as one of the top schools in the country and continues to be a leader in advanced and higher education. In 1990, Yale announced an overhaul, a series of renovations, to the building that make up Yale College. For example, during this time Berkley College, one of Yale’s top colleges, was the first to get a complete renovation; cementing the fact that Yale is confident in the system they have been able to create with the use of a Yale College for undergraduate students. This is the reason that so many people interested in the history of education in this country are looking for information about Yale, one of the country’s best Universities and colleges.