Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Coordinate Heritage

Founded as two separate colleges, Hobart for men in 1822 and William Smith for women in 1908, Hobart and William Smith Colleges preserve their own identities while benefitting from a shared campus, faculty, administration and curriculum. From the matriculation ceremonies at Orientation through the Hobart Launch and William Smith Alumnae Welcome at graduation, each College celebrates its own traditions and heritage. Hobart College and William Smith College also maintain their own deans, student governments, athletic departments, and alumni and alumna associations.

History of the Colleges

Hobart College

John Henry Hobart, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, visited Geneva in 1818 deeming it the perfect place to build what he called an "outpost for civilized and learned behavior." He founded Geneva College, and its first building, Geneva Hall, was completed in 1822. Geneva College was renamed after its founder in 1852. Among the College's most notable alums is Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell. Blackwell was admitted to Geneva Medical College (the medical college that was affiliated with Hobart College) in 1847 by a student vote and graduated in 1849 as the first woman doctor in the nation.

William Smith College

A philanthropist, nurseryman and women’s rights activist, in 1906 William Smith formalized his intention of founding a nondenominational, liberal arts institution dedicated to educating women broadly. Two years later, William Smith School for Women enrolled its first class of 18 under a coordinate arrangement with Hobart College. The coordinate system allowed Hobart students and William Smith students to share some facilities, faculty and administration although classes were not initially coeducational. Through the establishment of advanced departments in biology, psychology and sociology, William Smith’s gift also enriched the education of Hobart students.

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

The two colleges combined gradually. In 1922, the first joint commencement was held, though baccalaureate services remained separate until 1942. By then, coeducational classes had become the norm, and the curriculum centered on the idea of an across-the-board education, encouraging students and faculty to consider their studies from several points of view.

In 1943, during the administration of President John Milton Potter, William Smith College was elevated from its original status as a department of Hobart College to that of an independent college, on equal footing with Hobart.

Today, HWS is a coeducational campus. Hobart and William Smith students maintain their own deans, athletic departments and student governments. Each college celebrates its history through a series of time-honored traditions beginning when each student matriculates to Hobart or William Smith and lasting through their graduation from Hobart College or William Smith College. The Colleges celebrate their position as one of the few remaining coordinate systems in the nation, providing students a truly unique experience and a 21st century construct to interrogate gender and difference.

Coordinate Traditions

Matriculation Exercises

Upon arriving to campus for Orientation, students and their families are personally greeted by the president before moving to the Hobart or William Smith tent to sign their name in the Hobart or William Smith matriculation book. On the eve of the first day of classes, new students are invited to attend their college’s matriculation ceremonies hosted by the Dean’s Offices.

John Henry Hobart Day

Dating back to Hobart College’s inception, this ceremony is marked by a roll call of all new students in which each student is called to receive a certificate of matriculation and touch the Oar of Agayentah that marks them as Hobart students.

William Smith Dean’s Welcome

One of the oldest traditions of William Smith College, new students are welcomed by the deans and current student leaders and celebrate their matriculation with the greater William Smith community.

Academic Excellence

The Hobart and William Smith Dean’s Offices recognize the academic and social achievements of their students at celebratory events each spring semester.

Benjamin Hale Dinner

Students and distinguished alumni come together to recognize the best of Hobart student achievements.

Celebrating Excellence Dinner

The academic achievements of William Smith students are recognized and new members of the Laurel Honor Society for outstanding sophomores and juniors are inducted.

Moving Up Day

Students gather by class at the top of William Smith Hill and process down The Hill with the seniors carrying a laurel rope. The event culminates with the passing of the laurel from the seniors to the juniors and all students “Moving Up.” Academic awards are given, new members of the Hai Timiai Honor Society are inducted and the Dean reflects on the year.

Honoring Our Heritage

In honor of John Henry Hobart and William Smith, the community gathers each year to mark the founding of Hobart College and William Smith College.

Charter Day

The campus community commemorates the founding of Hobart College and the day on which a provisional charter from the State Regents of New York officially brought the college into being. New inductees are welcomed to the Hobart honor societies and a distinguished alum is invited to speak.

Founder’s Day

Students, alumnae, administrators and faculty members gather to celebrate the establishment of the College and the achievements of its women. A notable William Smith alum addresses the community and engages in a public dialogue.

Alumni/ae Welcome

Hosted by the Alumni and Alumnae Associations, soon-to-be graduates are officially welcomed into the alum community during graduation weekend.

Hobart Launch

Each member of the Hobart class is given a replica of the paddle used by Agayentah as a celebration of his alma mater, its heritage and the promise of a reciprocal lifelong bond.

William Smith Welcome Toast

The William Smith seniors are toasted by the alumnae, plant a class pine tree and each member receives a pine tree charm in honor of the College’s nurseryman founder.