<p>My D is interested in biology (not pre-med), art, and environmental issues, and is looking for colleges that offer opportunities in organic farming, sustainable agriculture, etc, if not in the classroom, then in the campus community. Someone mentioned Evergreen State to her, but we know nothing about it. What are the opporunties there? What is the campus culture like? We have heard rumors about a lot of drug use. Is that common? What is the intellectual climate like? Are there serious students there? Thanks for any insights. Because we are on the East coast, it will be hard to visit.</p>
<p>Evergreen State College is actually in Olympia, Washington.</p>
<p>First of all, Evergreen is in Washington, not Oregon. Although it's in Olympia, which may be as much in the Portland OR sphere of influence as Seattle.</p>
<p>Lots of people here know more about Evergreen than I, but my general impressions is . . . yes to all of the above.</p>
<p>Separately, a relative at Hamilton (which is a little closer to home, but more difficult to get into than Evergreen) is essentially majoring in sustainable agriculture through a design-your-own-major program. He's done some exciting things, both with actual farms and with classroom/research experiences, and the college has been enormously supportive (including paying a professor with specialized expertise at another university to serve as an essay advisor).</p>
<p>You also may want to check out the specialized SUNY environmental program adjacent to Syracuse University.</p>
<p>Visit their website--here is a page on their food sustainability program: Food</a>, Health and Sustainability</p>
<p>The thing about drug use in college is that with very few exceptions (religious schools tend to have more conservative students and fewer self-reported drug users), drugs, specifically marijuana, are part of the tapestry of college life. If your student isn't into drugs in high school chances are good they won't be sucked into anything beyond casual experimentation--the students who are in trouble are the ones who showed up freshman year as frequent users of (IME) marijuana. </p>
<p>Busy, happy, intellectually engaged college students are at extremely low risk for substance abuse problems. So focus on finding your daughter an environment that will engage her mind and spirit and don't use a fear of "drug problems" as a reason to eliminate schools.</p>
<p>Whitman (also in Washington) would meet your Ds interests (but is a private LAC not a public school and in eastern not western Washington so the climate is quite different). It is definitely in an agricultural center and has majors that support interests in sustainability and environmentalism. (Look up the Semester in the West program)</p>
<p>A friends' son went to Amherst and got very involved in environmental action and now is a farmer/sustainable agriculture movement leader.</p>
<p>Sorry about the mix-up in states. I knew that Evergreen is near Portland and also Seattle. Thanks for the responses so far! keep them coming!</p>
<p>You also might look at Washington State University
WSU</a> Organic Farm
Living</a> Well: WSU's organic agriculture major takes root
and Western Washington University
WWU's</a> Huxley College of the Environment Awarded $140,000 USDA Grant to Research Methods to Keep Local Farms Viable</p>
<p>How about looking at UCONN? A bit closer to home & #26 in National Public Universities?
I am a bit prejudiced, my D#1 is an alum & so are my parents. I do miss visiting there! (actually I do miss their ice cream, they make it there)
Check out the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources.</p>
<p>Check out Kenyon in Gambier, Ohio. </p>
<p>See the Food for Thought program.</p>
<p>My D has worked on an organic farm while there as a student.</p>
<p>I live in Olympia, and know Evergreen well. The opportunities at Evergreen, both on and off campus, dwarf those of any of the other schools mentioned. My d. (who took classes there as a kind of pre-college), took an integrated program in Native American medicine. The class was built around collecting, identifying, and rebuilding a Skokomish Indian medicinal garden, and included classroom and lab work in biology/pharmacology, cultural anthropology, small-scale agriculture, and web design. It was team taught by a biology prof, a religion prof, and the spiritual leader of the Skokomish tribe. </p>
<p>Campus and town life is very full. There are many older students on the Evergreen campus (my d. was 15; the oldest student in her class was 48). The campus has its own organic farm; and there are many projects around organic agriculture and food in the community staffed primarily by students such as GRuB (which teaches poor folks to grow their own food.)</p>
<p>There is some marijuana use on campus and off; I have lived here for 17 years and can't remember ever hearing of a single alcohol-related emergency room transport. (among other things, the higher number of older students mitigates against it.)</p>
<p>There are many serious students. And our town is filled with music and art.</p>
<p>PM if you have more questions.</p>
<p>On the east coast, College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine is often compared to Evergreen. It's entire focus is on the environment and it does have it's own organic farm. Beech</a> Hill Farm It also recently announced a new program called Trans-Atlantic Partnership in Sustainable Food Systems Press</a> Releases</p>
<p>They have one major, Human Ecology, and students design their own academic program within the framework of Human Ecology. I know your daughter could easily combine her interests in biology, art, and the environment and would most likely be encouraged to do so.</p>
<p>The other place I think of, similar in some ways to Evergreen (but without the older students, and much more expensive) is Hampshire - Farm</a> Center But I think their offerings are far less extensive.</p>
<p>Mini knows and loves Evergreen, and I think will present its best side well. BUT I will mention that for many years, Evergreen has started the fall semester with empty spaces. Whether that's location, reputation, or what-have-you, it's not a traditional college by any means and its reputation outside Washington is definitely better than its reputation in Washington.</p>
<p>Well, one generally would not go to Evergreen for business, pre-med, engineering, elementary education, or nursing, or about half the things that folks go to college these days thinking about. One other good thing about Evergreen, unlike the flagship UWashington in particular, is that one can actually expect to finish in four years if you choose.</p>
<p>She might want to look at Willamette in Salem OR Sustainability</a> @ WU | Willamette University Great science classes; one of the alternative spring break programs involved working with the organic farmers in the Willamette valley.</p>
<p>We are planning a visit of Pacific NW schools in a couple of months and took note that Evergreen State is the only one on our list that will still be holding spring classes -- till mid-June. Does anyone who has personal experience with Evergreen have any thoughts on the pluses and minuses of going so much later than others?</p>
<p>Williams does sustainable farming I believe. I remember seeing pictures of their small far. I would recommend looking at Reed. They have a great biology program, and I'm sure your child could find ways to do sustainable growing.</p>
<p>Illinois Dad - I know more about University of Washington. The minus of school in June is that it makes it harder to go home and compete for summer jobs. The plus is that September is vacation time, and the weather here is stunningly gorgeous in September. I think the scheduling of many of the state universities here originally had to do with agriculture, but it actually works pretty well even for urbanites.</p>
<p>Evergreen is kind of like the Reed College of public schools. Very interesting courses, commited and smart faculty, lots of flexibility with curriculum, no grades, but evaluations instead. I've known many Evergreen graduates, and they're perfectly normal people who play well with others, and don't shy away from following their own path.</p>
<p>The plus is that September is vacation time, and the weather here is stunningly gorgeous in September</p>
<p>The days are often nicer than in July, nights are colder though.</p>
<p>From Willamette's site: "A generous gift from Peter and Bonnie Kremer has put Willamette Universitys $125 million endowment campaign over the top.
The $1 million gift was preceded by a 2004 gift of $1.5 million from the Kremers for an endowed chair in economics. Their recent contribution will provide support for Ford Hall, Willamettes new academic building designed for technology and sustainability"</p>