Wellesley College Wellesley College is a highly selective private women ' s liberal - arts college in the town of Wellesley , Massachusetts , United States , west of Boston . A member of the original Seven Sisters Colleges , Wellesley is known for cultivating women as global leaders and for its influential alumnae . Founded in 1870 , Wellesley is consistently ranked among the top 10 liberal arts colleges in the United States by multiple ratings groups ( for example , Forbes and U . S . News & World Report ) . In 2011 , The Best 376 Colleges named Wellesley ’ s faculty number one in the country . The College enrolls approximately 2 , 400 students from all 50 states and 75 countries . History . Wellesley College is one of the original Seven Sisters Colleges , a group of independent female colleges founded to parallel the formerly all - male Ivy League colleges . Wellesley was founded by Pauline and Henry Fowle Durant , believers in educational opportunity for women . Wellesley was founded with the intention to prepare women for " … great conflicts , for vast reforms in social life . " Its charter was signed on March 17 , 1870 , by Massachusetts Governor William Claflin . The original name of the college was the Wellesley Female Seminary , and its renaming to Wellesley College was approved by the Massachusetts legislature on March 7 , 1873 . Wellesley first opened its doors to students on September 8 , 1875 . The first president of Wellesley was Ada Howard . There have been twelve more presidents in its history : Alice Elvira Freeman Palmer , Helen Almira Shafer , Julia Josephine Thomas Irvine , Caroline Hazard , Ellen Fitz Pendleton , Mildred H . McAfee ( later Mildred McAfee Horton ) , Margaret Clapp , Ruth M . Adams , Barbara Wayne Newell , Nannerl Overholser Keohane ( later the president of Duke University from 1993 – 2004 ) , Diana Chapman Walsh , and H . Kim Bottomly . The original architecture of the college consisted of one very large building , College Hall , which was approximately 150 meters in length and five stories in height . The architect was Hammatt Billings . From its completion in 1875 until its destruction by fire in 1914 , it was both an academic building and residential building . On March 17 , 1914 , College Hall was destroyed by fire , the precise cause of which was never officially established . The fire was first noticed by students who lived on the fourth floor near the zoology laboratory . It has been suggested that an electrical or chemical accident in this laboratory — specifically , an electrical incubator used in the breeding of beetles — triggered the fire . A group of residence halls , known as the Tower Court complex , are located on top of the hill where the old College Hall once stood . After the destruction of the central College Hall in 1914 , the college adopted a master plan developed by Central Park landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted , Jr . , Arthur Shurcliff , and Ralph Adams Cram in 1921 and expanded into several new buildings . The campus hosted a Naval Reserve Officer training program during the second World War and began to significantly revise its curriculum after the war and through the late 1960s . Campus . The college is known for the picturesque beauty of its campus , which includes Lake Waban , evergreen and deciduous woodlands , and open meadows . Frederick Law Olmsted , Jr . , Boston ' s preeminent landscape architect at the beginning of the 20th century , described Wellesley ' s landscape as " not merely beautiful , but with a marked individual character not represented so far as I know on the ground of any other college in the country . " He also wrote : " I must admit that the exceedingly intricate and complex topography and the peculiarly scattered arrangement of most of the buildings somewhat baffled me . " The original master plan for Wellesley ' s campus landscape was developed by Frederick Law Olmsted , Jr . , Arthur Shurcliff , and Ralph Adams Cram in 1921 . This landscape - based concept represented a break from the architecturally - defined courtyard and quadrangle campus arrangement that was typical of American campuses at the time . The site ' s glaciated topography , a series of meadows , and native plant communities shaped the original layout of the campus , resulting in a campus architecture that is integrated into its landscape . The most recent master plan for Wellesley College was completed in 1998 by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates , Inc . ( MVVA ) . According to the designers , this plan was intended to restore and recapture the original landscape character of the campus that had been partially lost as the campus evolved through the 20th century . Wellesley is home to Green Hall , the only building bearing the name of famed miser Hetty Green ; Galen L . Stone Tower , in which a 32 - bell carillon instrument is housed and which members of the Guild of Carillonneurs routinely play between classes , is part of the building . Organization and administration . The current president of Wellesley College is H . Kim Bottomly . The previous president was Diana Chapman Walsh , class of 1966 . As of June 30 , 2008 , Wellesley ' s endowment was approximately $ 1 . 63 billion . Wellesley ' s last fund - raising campaign , in 2005 , set a record for liberal arts colleges with a total of $ 472 . 3 million , 18 . 1 % more than the goal of $ 400 million . According to data compiled by The Chronicle of Higher Education , Wellesley ' s campaign total is the largest of any liberal arts college . Academics . Wellesley ' s average class size is between 12 and 24 students , with a student - faculty ratio of eight to one . Wellesley ' s libraries contain over 1 . 5 million catalogued books , journals , media recordings , maps , and other items . Wellesley has 32 academic departments , each offering a major , as well as 22 interdepartmental majors and an option for an individual major , designed by the student . Wellesley offers support to nontraditional aged students through the Elisabeth Kaiser Davis Degree Program , open to students over the age of 24 . The program allows women who , for various reasons , were unable to start or complete a bachelor ' s degree at a younger age to attend Wellesley . Although its traditional affiliation has been with Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology , the college now also offers research collaborations and cross - registration programs with other Boston - area institutions , including Babson College , Olin College , and Brandeis University . Wellesley students participate in 13 varsity sports in the NCAA Division III ' s New England Women ' s and Men ' s Athletic Conference . Rankings . According to the 2010 " U . S . News and World Report " rankings , Wellesley College is the # 4 liberal arts college in the United States , tied with Middlebury College , behind Williams , Amherst and Swarthmore . In addition , Forbes ' 2010 " America ' s Best Colleges " ranked Wellesley College as # 12 . In 2009 Forbes ranked Wellesley College # 6 , ahead of schools such as Stanford , Duke and Yale . In January 2013 , The Global Language Monitor ranked Wellesley College as the # 4 college in the U . S . , based on an analysis of appearances in the global print and electronic media , on the Internet , throughout the blogosphere , and social media such as Twitter . The college is ranked # 10 in the 2010 Washington Monthly ranking of liberal arts colleges , which purports to measure " Social Mobility , " " Research , " and " Service . " According to the Wall Street Journal , Wellesley College also ranks fifth in the top liberal arts colleges ( # 15 as one of the top total undergraduate colleges ) for sending more students to the selected 15 , elite graduate school programs in medicine , law , and business . Wellesley College is one of the " " in a college educational guide published in 2000 . According to the New York Times , Wellesley College produces the most female Fortune 500 directors , more than any other college . Of the three female Secretaries of State , two were Wellesley College graduates . Student life . Wellesley ' s 2 , 400 students come from more than 62 countries and all 50 States of the United States . Approximately 98 % of students live on campus . Some cooperative housing is available , including a sustainable living co - op and a French language house located slightly off - campus . Wellesley offers housing for Davis Scholar s as well , though not for their children or spouses , which is a point of frequent debate on campus . The college has five dining halls , one each in Pomeroy , Tower Court , Stone - Davis , and Bates Halls , and another in the Lulu Chow Wang Campus Center . Additional food options on campus include a convenience store / coffee shop in the Campus Center , a bakery in Claflin Hall , Collins Café outside the movie theater , El Table , a student - run sandwich shop located in Founders Hall ( an academic building housing many of the humanities classes ) , and Café Hoop , a student - run cooperative cafe in the basement of the Campus Center that is known for its late hours and queer - friendly environment . Next to Café Hoop is the pub , Punch ' s Alley , which serves alcohol to those over 21 . For more than 30 years , Wellesley has offered a cross - registration program with MIT . In recent years , cross - registration opportunities have expanded to include nearby Babson College , Brandeis University , and Olin College of Engineering . To facilitate cross - registration , the Wellesley College Senate bus runs between Wellesley and the Harvard University and MIT campuses in Cambridge , Massachusetts ; the college also operates a shuttle to the Olin College campus in Needham , Massachusetts . Organizations . The college has approximately 180 student organizations , ranging from cultural and political organizations to community service , publications , campus radio , and club sports . Wellesley College does not have any fraternities or sororities ; it does , however , have a number of societies , technically social and academic clubs that fulfill many of the same functions as sororities . These include the Shakespeare Society , Alpha Phi Sigma Lecture Society , Tau Zeta Epsilon Arts and Music Society , Society Zeta Alpha , the Literary Society , and Agora , the Political Society . The five societies sponsor many lectures and events on campus , and contribute funding to events sponsored by other departments and organizations . The societies hold a process similar to " rushing " a sorority that is called " tea - ing , " and throw on - campus parties . Parties are also held by many of the student organizations on campus . Remix , one of the most well - attended parties on campus , is the traditional first party of every school year . It is hosted by the Schneider Board of Governors ( SBOG ) , Wellesley ' s college government event - planning committee that works to create a diverse and inclusive social life on campus . Every spring semester , SBOG holds Spring Week , which includes popular traditions such as Marathon Monday and Hoop Rolling . SBOG also hosts the second biggest party of the year , Block Party , during this week - long event . Additionally , SBOG throws several concerts during Spring Week ( past acts have included Macklemore + Ryan Lewis , Baauer , Jeremih , Cold War Kids , Turqouise Jeep Records , Matt & Kim , Major Lazer , Big Sean , Passion Pit , and more ) . The Wellesley College radio station , WZLY 91 . 5 FM , also holds a party every semester . Publications on campus include Counterpoint , the monthly journal of campus life ; The Wellesley News , the campus newspaper ; and The Wellesley Review , the literary magazine . There are several a cappella groups at Wellesley . These include the Wellesley College Tupelos , known for their red and black attire ; the Blue Notes , known for their black and blue clothing and their more jazzy style of music ; and the Wellesley Widows , known for wearing all black . Awaken the Dawn , a Christian a cappella group , is the newest group on campus , and the only one with a religious affiliation . The Wellesley / MIT Toons provide an opportunity for co - ed a cappella for Wellesley students . Athletics . Wellesley fields 14 varsity sports teams – basketball , crew , cross country , fencing , field hockey , golf , lacrosse , soccer , softball , squash , swimming & diving , tennis , track & field , and volleyball . Wellesley does not have a mascot in the traditional sense – its sports teams are referred to both individually and collectively as the Blue . The school colors are royal blue and white . Wellesley is a member of the NCAA Division III and the Eastern Conference Athletic Conference ( ECAC ) and competes primarily as a member of the New England Women ' s and Men ' s Athletic Conference ( NEWMAC ) . Additionally , the fencing team competes as a member of the Northeast Fencing Conference ( NFC ) and the golf team became an associate member of the Liberty League during the 2012 - 2013 school year . Wellesley is also a member of the Seven Sisters consortium of women ' s colleges , and participates in competitions in cross - country , volleyball , crew , swimming & diving , squash , and tennis . Wellesley Athletics is headquartered out of the Keohane Sports Center ( the KSC ) , named for former college president Nan Keohane . Built in 1985 , the KSC features a field house , a pool , squash and racquetball courts , a 200m track , a climbing wall , four indoor tennis courts , and various other exercising areas . It also houses the administrative offices . The campus also has four outdoor playing fields and an outdoor track , as well as eight outdoor tennis courts and a boathouse . The Wellesley College Crew Team , affectionately known as " Blue Crew , " was founded in 1970 and was the first women ' s intercollegiate rowing team in the country . Wellesley also fields club team in archery , alpine & Nordic skiing , equestrian , ice hockey , rugby , sailing , ultimate Frisbee , and water polo . Wellesley has had two national champions in its history . In 1991 , Karyn Cooper was the NCAA Tennis Singles Champion . In 2011 , Randelle Boots was the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Champion in the mile . Traditions . As is the case with all of the Seven Sisters , Wellesley College has many traditions , many of them carried over from the late nineteenth - century . Hoop rolling is a highly anticipated annual tradition at the college dating back to 1895 . Each upperclasswoman has a wooden hoop , often passed down to her from her " big sister " . Before graduation , the seniors , wearing their graduation robes , run a short race while rolling their hoops . The winner of the race is said to be the first woman in her class to achieve success , however she defines it . ( In the early 20th century , however , the winner was said to be the first in her class to marry ; in the 1980s , the winner was said to become the class ' s first CEO . ) . She is awarded flowers by the president of the College , and then tossed into Lake Waban by her classmates . The tossing of the winner into the lake began several decades ago when a Harvard University male , dressed as a Wellesley student , won the race . When , upon his victory , it was discovered that he wasn ' t a Wellesley student , he was thrown into the lake . The night before the race , many " little sisters " will camp out on the racecourse near the Library to save a good starting position for their " big sisters . " Some other traditions include step - singing , dorm and class crew races , " Lake Day , " " Spring Week , " and " Marathon Monday . " Class trees are one of Wellesley ' s more visible traditions ; each graduating class plants a tree during its sophomore year . Class trees , as they are called , can be found all over the campus , marked with each class year on a stone at the base of the tree . During sophomore year , students also design and purchase class sweatshirts . Step - singing is one of the college ' s oldest traditions and occurs twice during the year . Each graduation class has its own color ( purple , red , green , or yellow ) . Students dress in their class colors and they sing songs on the steps of the chapel . In - between some of the songs , the classes shout cheers that make fun of the other classes . Each fall , on a date that is not announced until the night before , students celebrate Lake Day . The event consists of fun outdoor activities ranging from fried - dough stands to moonwalks and is deejayed by the college radio station , WZLY . In the past , students skipped classes on Lake Day , but in recent years professors have objected to the practice and hold classes as planned . ( Students attend class on Lake Day with varying degrees of diligence , however . ) One of the most popular traditions is the celebration of Marathon Monday , which occurs on Patriots Day each spring , and is highlighted by the Boston Marathon . The route of the Boston Marathon passes through the town of Wellesley , with the race ' s halfway point at the college . Students line up along the street with posters and cheer for the runners . Since they are so loud , the students have created what is widely known as the " Wellesley Scream Tunnel " . Spring Week , held in April , is a week - long series of concerts sponsored by SBOG ( Schneider Board of Governors ) , a committee of College Government responsible for planning and executing campus - wide events . The Alumnae Achievement Awards , begun in 1970 , are another annual tradition ; each year , three alumnae are recognized for outstanding achievements in their respective fields . Recipients have included Lynn Sherr , Diane Sawyer , Pamela Melroy , Judith Martin , Nora Ephron , Ophelia Dahl , Hillary Rodham Clinton , and Madeleine Korbel Albright , among many others . The Ruhlman and Tanner Conferences , supported by Wellesley alumnae , are held every year for students to share their learning experience within the college community . Classes are usually canceled on these days . The Tanner Conference is held in the fall to celebrate outside - the - classroom education , including internships and summer or winter session research projects . Ruhlman , in the spring , is a chance for students to present projects they ' ve been working on in courses or independent research during the year . Both conferences encompass panels , readings , and multimedia projects . During reading period before finals each semester , Wellesley holds " Midnight Breakfast , " where students can take a break from studying and eat late - night munchies with classmates . Additionally , at midnight on the night before the first final exam , students participate in " Primal Scream , " a chance to vent some of their stress at high volume . People . Student body . Fifty - six percent of all Wellesley students receive financial aid . In February 2008 , the college eliminated offering financial - aid loans to students from families with incomes under $ 60 , 000 ( and for international students and Davis Scholars ) and it lowered the total amount of student loans by one - third ( to a maximum of $ 8 , 600 total over four years ) to students from families with incomes between $ 60 , 000 and $ 100 , 000 . The maximum loan level for other students on aid is $ 12 , 825 total for four years . Wellesley is one of few colleges or universities to meet 100 % of a student ' s demonstrated financial need , thereby opening its doors to young women of promise , regardless of their financial situations . Wellesley ' s student body is extremely diverse . Less than half of students are Caucasian , with nearly a quarter of the student body identifying as Asian , and a significant number of Latina and African - American students . Students come from over 60 countries and all 50 states , with 90 % of students hailing from outside of Massachusetts . Faculty . Noted faculty currently at Wellesley include : Alumnae . Many of Wellesley ' s alumnae are among the most accomplished women in the world in a wide variety of fields , ranging from government and public service to business to the arts . They include mountain climbers ( Heidi Howkins , class of 1989 , the only woman to lead expeditions to both Everest and K2 ) , authors ( such as Harriet Stratemeyer Adams , class of 1914 , pen name Carolyn Keene ) , astronomers ( including Annie Jump Cannon , class of 1884 , who developed the well - known Harvard Classification of stars based upon temperature ) , astronauts ( Pamela Melroy class of 1983 ) , screenwriters , ( including Nora Ephron , class of 1962 , famous for such films as " When Harry Met Sally . . . " and " Sleepless in Seattle " ) , journalists ( Linda Wertheimer , class of 1965 , Lynn Sherr , class of 1963 , Diane Sawyer , class of 1967 , and Cokie Roberts , class of 1964 , being a few notable examples ) , entrepreneurs ( including Robin Chase , class of 1980 , the co - founder of ZipCar ) , mathematicians ( Winifred Edgerton Merrill , class of 1883 , was the first woman to ever receive a PhD in mathematics ) , judges ( including Jane Bolin , class of 1928 , the first African - American woman to become a judge , and current federal appeals judges Reena Raggi , Amalya Kearse , and Susan P . Graber ) . Secretaries of State Hillary Rodham Clinton , class of 1969 , and Madeleine Albright , class of 1959 , have spoken with enthusiasm about the formative impact their Wellesley experiences had on their later careers . Soong May - ling ( alternatively Soong Mei - ling , also known as Madame Chiang Kai - shek or Madame Chiang ) , the First Lady of Republic of China , attended Wellesley College studying English literature and philosophy ; she graduated as one of the 33 Durant Scholars on June 19 , 1917 . On February 18 , 1943 , she became the first Chinese national and the second woman to address both houses of the U . S . Congress . She played a prominent role in the US - China relationship during World War II .