Goddard College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Plainfield, Vermont. The institution was founded in 1863 as Goddard Seminary and Junior College in Barre, Vermont. It moved to its present campus in 1938. That year, Goddard College received its charter and began its tradition of progressive education, a student-centered approach to learning influenced by the ideas of the philosopher John Dewey.
Goddard College offers on-campus and off-campus programs. Students in the on-campus program, who are all undergraduates, do not declare a major or receive grades. Instead, the program emphasizes the students’ growth through a series of enriching experiences. These semester-long experiences include group studies, independent studies, internships, work, and community involvement. Faculty advisers offer guidance to help each student design and benefit from a curriculum made up of these varied learning experiences. At the conclusion of studies, the student receives a bachelor of arts degree.
Goddard’s off-campus programs provide educational opportunities for students who cannot live on campus, especially working adults. Off-campus study, like on-campus study, emphasizes student involvement in creating the educational experience. At the beginning of each semester, students spend a week on campus to plan the curriculum and discuss goals with advisers. Then students return to their home communities to complete the semester’s studies.
The college’s website at https://www.goddard.edu/ offers additional information.
