by Bob Walsh
Mills
College is one of the few remaining women only colleges in the
country. Less than 40 of them at last count. It has been around since
shortly after the civil war.
Unfortunately falling enrollment and the Covid situation MAY be killing it off. Maybe
It
was going to open up for men some time back, but the alumni and local
activists manage to get the board to change it's mind. Now it is
essentially still a women's college, though they also accept
"non-binary" students. About half of their student body is non-white
and about half is gay, bi or "other." It fits right in in the Bay
Area.
The current plan is
that they will no longer accept new undergraduate students after this
fall. They will then sort-of shut down in 2023 and become a Women's
Institute rather than a college, meaning they will no longer be able to
issue degrees.
Some very
powerful politicians are alumni and they managed to get the board of
trustees to reverse a major decision once, they are in hopes they can do
it again.
The full price
of tuition there was $45,000 per year. It is now down to just under
$30,000. Most of the students do not pay that even.
It
is really a lovely place and they have done good work. There is no
reason to believe the 135 acre campus will turn into low-rent housing or
anything like that, the Mills Institute would, if it comes into being,
continue to operate the property as a learning center.
I hope they can hang in there. It really is a unique place.
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