Hobart College for men was founded in 1822. In 1906, a local philanthropist, William Smith, gave part of his fortune to Hobart College in order to provide opportunities for women. In 1908, the first women entered William Smith College. For the last 50 years or more, the two schools have been one but with two names, honoring our separate beginnings. Today, we have one campus.
All classes are coed, and there are both coed and single-sex residences.
Yet each College maintains its own student government, athletic programs, dean's offices, and traditions, thus assuring equality for women and men in a coeducational setting. The range of housing options is extensive, with coed or single-sex college residences, cooperative houses, theme houses, and townhouses among the choices you'll find over your four years here. Residence halls themselves offer a variety of configurations, with traditional singles and doubles as well as suites. The 10 cooperative houses provide an alternative to standard residence-hall living, with residents sharing responsibility for food and housecleaning arrangements. Check them out at the Residential Education website.