Wellesley College Government

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Timeline of Student Representation at Wellesley College

Before 1892 ~ Students outraged by Academic Dishonesty enacted "the Code" as a pre-cursor to the Honor Code.

1892 ~ Students and Faculty began discussing Student Government

1899 ~ Faculty Head of House of College Hall Professor Woolley sponsored the first experiment in student governmence as College Hall's House Council.

June 1900 ~ Faculty and Students met 5 times in different forums to establish trust and understanding

March 1901 ~ Academic Council was petitioned by students for a government forum that dealt with non-academic student issues, the committee was headed by Ellen Pendleton (Faculty Secretary of the College) and Mary Levens (House President of College Hall).

May 29, 1901 ~ Frances L. Hughes elected 1st President of Student Government Association

June 7, 1901 ~ Students and Faculty met in the chapel and signed the first agreement for the Student Government Association, signed by Miss Pendleton (Sec. of the College and later President), Frances L. Hughes (First CG president), May Matthews (Class of 1902 President), Margaret Mills (Class of 1901 President), and Mary Levens (House President of College Hall.) The original Student Government Association followed a New England Town meeting format.

1918 ~ Women get the right to vote

1917-1918 Student Government Association Reorganized into the College Government Association which established Cabinet and Senate. The Students gained more power over student life.

1922 ~ Judiciary Established

1930 ~ Judiciary Chairwomen name changed to Chief Justice (House Councils handled small judiciary infractions)

1969-1970 ~ Association gained more control over student life and academic life.

1997? ~ UNITY established as link between College Government, Residential Life, and Senior Staff members.

Compiled by Meri Smith 05, College Government Parliamentarian

Sources: Converse, Florence. Wellesley College; a Chronicle of Years. Hathaway House. (Wellesley, Massachusetts) 1939.
Blair, Eleanor. Wellesley College and Community. Commonwealth Press. (Worcester, Massachusetts) 1974.
Glasscock, Jean. Wellesley College, 1875-1975, a Century of Women. Wellesley College, (Wellesley, Massachusetts) 1975.

Home >> History >> Timeline / Written History

Timeline of Student Representation at Wellesley College

Compiled by Meri Smith 05, College Government Parliamentarian

Compiled by Meri Smith 05, College Government Parliamentarian