Crowder College
Encyclopedia
Crowder College, established in 1963 on the grounds of the former Fort Crowder
, is a two-year community college
serving the Junior College District of Newton and McDonald counties in southwestern Missouri
and other outlying areas, granting certificate
s, diplomas, and associate's degrees. The name honors General Enoch Crowder, a prominent Missourian, soldier, and statesman, as well as the veterans of World War II
, who received their training at Fort Crowder. The Longwell Museum, located in the Crowder College Elsie Plaster Community Center, has many displays and artifacts from the Fort Crowder days, when over 50,000 soldiers were stationed there.
program, under the direction of department chair Art Boyt. Crowder's solar team designed and built the first solar powered vehicle
to successfully complete a coast to coast journey across the United States in 1984. http://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/02/us/solar-car-completes-cross-country-trip.html Since then Crowder has continued to distinguish itself in world and national solar energy competitions, most recently the Solar Decathlon
in Washington, D.C.
, where the solar house entry from Crowder was selected as the “People’s Choice” and placed 6th overall in the competition. Crowder was the only community college in the competition, and competed against some of the most prestigious universities in the world, including Carnegie Mellon University
, Cornell University
, Georgia Institute of Technology
, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, & Technische Universität Darmstadt. This award winning house is now located on the Crowder campus. Soon the Crowder campus will include a new wind power
ed generator and a new entry in the next Solar Decathlon.
and the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. The College is also fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a member of the North Central Association, and utilizes the Academic Quality Improvement Project as its accreditation approach. Program accreditations are in the Missouri State Board of Nursing, Teacher Education Certification, through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the National Institute for Automotive Excellence (ASE).
Graduates of the Associate of Arts programs are admitted without examination to junior standing in all public universities and colleges in Missouri and many outside the state of Missouri. Crowder is an active member of the Missouri Community College Association and the American Association of Community Colleges
.
Fort Crowder
Fort Crowder was a U.S. Army post in southwest Missouri, constructed and used during World War II.-Establishment and Purpose:Originally established as Camp Crowder south of Neosho, Missouri in 1941, the post was to serve as an armor training center. The U.S. Army selected the Neosho site for the...
, is a two-year community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
serving the Junior College District of Newton and McDonald counties in southwestern Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and other outlying areas, granting certificate
Academic certificate
An academic certificate is a document that certifies that a person has received specific education or has passed a test or series of tests.In many countries, certificate is a qualification attained in secondary education. For instance, students in the Republic of Ireland sit the Junior Certificate...
s, diplomas, and associate's degrees. The name honors General Enoch Crowder, a prominent Missourian, soldier, and statesman, as well as the veterans of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, who received their training at Fort Crowder. The Longwell Museum, located in the Crowder College Elsie Plaster Community Center, has many displays and artifacts from the Fort Crowder days, when over 50,000 soldiers were stationed there.
Recognition
Crowder has achieved worldwide recognition for its innovative alternative energyAlternative energy
Alternative energy is an umbrella term that refers to any source of usable energy intended to replace fuel sources without the undesired consequences of the replaced fuels....
program, under the direction of department chair Art Boyt. Crowder's solar team designed and built the first solar powered vehicle
Solar vehicle
A solar vehicle is an electric vehicle powered completely or significantly by direct solar energy. Usually, photovoltaic cells contained in solar panels convert the sun's energy directly into electric energy. The term "solar vehicle" usually implies that solar energy is used to power all or part...
to successfully complete a coast to coast journey across the United States in 1984. http://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/02/us/solar-car-completes-cross-country-trip.html Since then Crowder has continued to distinguish itself in world and national solar energy competitions, most recently the Solar Decathlon
Solar Decathlon
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is an international competition that challenges 20 collegiate teams to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where the solar house entry from Crowder was selected as the “People’s Choice” and placed 6th overall in the competition. Crowder was the only community college in the competition, and competed against some of the most prestigious universities in the world, including Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
, Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, & Technische Universität Darmstadt. This award winning house is now located on the Crowder campus. Soon the Crowder campus will include a new wind power
Wind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
ed generator and a new entry in the next Solar Decathlon.
- 1984—designed and built the first solar-powered vehicle to successfully cross the United States.
- 1987—competed in the first World Solar Challenge, Australia; finished second, behind General Motors.
- 1990—competed in the first GM Sunrayce in America; finished fifth.
- 1990—placed eighth out of 32 international teams in the second World Solar Challenge.
- 1992—traveled to Japan for the Grand Solar Challenge.
- 1994—finished second in an electric vehicle race in Phoenix, AZ.
- 1996—working with Upward Bound students, placed third at the Grand Solar Cycle Challenge in Japan.
- 1998—competed in the first Ethanol Vehicle Challenge.
- 1999—competed in the World Solar Cycle Challenge in Australia.
- 2000—placed first in the fuel-efficiency category of the second Ethanol Vehicle Challenge.
- 2001—placed first in class and second overall; Solar Bike Race USA.
- 2002—only community college entry to compete with 13 universities in the 2002 Solar Decathlon project.
Enrollment
Over 3,200 students enrolled at Crowder College in the fall of 2008. Crowder enrollment has increased by 65% since 2000, making it one of the fastest growing state-assisted colleges in Missouri. With all of this growth, Crowder has maintained an average class size of 17 students.Accreditation and Affiliation
Crowder College is accredited by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary EducationMissouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education or DESE, autonomous of the governor and the Missouri State Legislature, administers primary and secondary public education in the state of Missouri. Local municipalities and their respective school districts operate individual public...
and the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. The College is also fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a member of the North Central Association, and utilizes the Academic Quality Improvement Project as its accreditation approach. Program accreditations are in the Missouri State Board of Nursing, Teacher Education Certification, through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the National Institute for Automotive Excellence (ASE).
Graduates of the Associate of Arts programs are admitted without examination to junior standing in all public universities and colleges in Missouri and many outside the state of Missouri. Crowder is an active member of the Missouri Community College Association and the American Association of Community Colleges
American Association of Community Colleges
The American Association of Community Colleges , headquartered in the National Center for Higher Education in Washington, D.C., is the primary advocacy organization for community colleges at the national level and works closely with directors of state offices to inform and affect state policy...
.
External links
- Crowder College - official website
- Solar Decathlon - Crowder College team page