Academic Institutions
Claremont McKenna College (CMC) is an institution unto itself - an individual college that fosters a close relationship between faculty members and students who actively engage each other in the learning process. But CMC also is part of a larger community - The Claremont Colleges - a planned community of five undergraduate colleges and two graduate institutions, each with its own student body, curricular focus, and personality, all located together in Claremont. The seven institutions support and strengthen each other to become more than the sum of their parts. In essence, students at The Claremont Colleges enjoy the best of both worlds: the close, individualized academic nurturing of a small college and the resources of a major university. Because of their close proximity, the Colleges not only share athletic facilities and extra-curricular activities, but also offer joint academic programs and cross-registration in courses. The Claremont Colleges are now nationally and internationally renowned for academic excellence.
Currently the consortium has over 8,500 students and a combined faculty and staff of over 3,200. More than 2,700 courses are available to students in Claremont. The other members of The Claremont Colleges, in order of their founding, are:
Pomona College
Founded in 1887 as a college “of the New England type,” Pomona College is the oldest of The Claremont Colleges and has received a national reputation for excellence in private education. Pomona offers a traditional liberal arts program with majors in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The curriculum aims to prepare students for lives of personal fulfillment and social responsibility in a global context. Pomona has an enrollment in Claremont of approximately 1,750 men and women.
Claremont Graduate University
The Claremont Graduate University (CGU), with an enrollment of approximately 2,200 graduate students, awards master’s and doctoral degrees in 31 professional and academic disciplines through nine academic schools and one independent department. Founded in 1925 as the Claremont Graduate School, it originally housed the graduate-level courses of the consortium; it became the Claremont Graduate University in 1997. Currently CGU prepares a diverse group of outstanding individuals to assume leadership roles in the worldwide community through innovative research, superb teaching, and practical experience.
Scripps College
Scripps College, founded in 1926, is one of the country’s leading women’s colleges. With an on-campus enrollment of approximately 1075, the college emphasizes a challenging core curriculum based on interdisciplinary studies in the humanities, combined with rigorous training in other disciplines. From its founding, Scripps College has been one of the few institutions in the West dedicated to educating women for professional careers as well as personal growth. Scripps offers concentrations in the arts, language and literature, philosophy and religion, science, and social studies.
Harvey Mudd College
Harvey Mudd College, founded in 1957 as a coeducational institution of engineering, science, and mathematics, currently has approximately 900 students. The college aims to graduate engineers and scientists sensitive to the impact of their work on society, and the curriculum places strong emphasis on the humanities and social sciences. Majors are available in engineering, biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and computer science. The college has produced one of the highest percentages of PhDs compared to colleges across the country.
Pitzer College
Founded in 1963, Pitzer College provides undergraduate liberal arts and science education and is regarded as one of America’s most inventive colleges. Its approximately 1,100 students pursue majors across the full liberal arts and sciences spectrum in a manner that promotes intellectual discovery and individual growth through interdisciplinary and intercultural learning, and socially responsible engagement in the wider society.
Keck Graduate Institute
The Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences (KGI), founded in 1997 as the seventh and newest member of The Claremont Colleges, is the first American graduate school dedicated exclusively to developing applications for emerging discoveries in the life sciences and educating leaders for the biosciences industry. Innovative doctoral programs in applied life sciences, computational biology, and systems biology are also available.
The Claremont Colleges Services
The Claremont Colleges Services (TCCS), formerly known as the Claremont University Consortium (CUC), was founded in 1925. It is the central coordinating and support organization that is a national leader in providing academic, student, and business services to meet the needs of the students, faculty, and staff of The Claremont Colleges. Its services and programs enrich the distinctive character and vitality of this mid-sized university cluster of small academic institutions. TCCS administers the joint services and facilities of The Claremont Colleges in coordination with the presidents of the colleges. TCCS also holds land, and plans for the founding of new educational institutions. TCCS aspires to be the standard for collaboration in higher education. As a member of The Claremont Colleges, CMC shares the use of these many facilities and services. TCCS and intercollegiate programs include:
Academic Support Services
The Claremont Colleges Library
Committed to fostering intellectual discovery, critical thinking, and life-long learning through a dynamic, equitable, and welcoming environment, The Claremont Colleges Library provides students with extensive research support throughout all stages of their academic journey.
The Library has a wealth of resources that support the research and learning taking place across the colleges. This includes:
- Over 1 million books.
- Nearly 2 million items in digital collections such as eBooks, eJournals and article databases.
- Approximately 200,000 Special Collections & Archives volumes from around the world dating from the 10th to the 21st centuries and over 11,000 linear feet of literary and historical manuscript collections; a growing number of these items are available 24/7 in digital form through the Claremont Colleges Digital Library (CCDL).
- Through the Asian Library, holdings of rare books, manuscripts, and artifacts from China, Japan, and Korea that specifically help support Asian Studies.
- More than 17,000 items in Scholarship@Claremont, the Library’s institutional repository which publishes research and scholarship by TCC students, faculty, and staff.
- If the Library doesn’t own something, it can borrow or get copies of items from partner libraries from around the world through Resource Sharing.
If this seems overwhelming, don’t worry, the Library also offers a range of services to assist with navigating and using these vast resources, such as:
- In-person or online research consultations with a subject librarian.
- Research Guides by subject, course, and/or topic that are curated by subject librarians to assist with your research.
- Short instructional videos (e.g., Using the Library Website) to help students get oriented to using the Library and conducting research.
- BrowZine, which allows you to visually browse journals to which the Library subscribes by discipline, subject, and title - it even allows you to create bookshelves for your favorites and receive alerts on scholarly journals!
- Guidance on using Zotero, an application that collects, manages, and cites research sources.
Students may also be surprised to find that the Library:
- Has an ever-expanding popular reading collection that features contemporary book titles, graphic novels, and Zines, a platform for those whose voices are often marginalized by mainstream publishing and are generally limited-distribution, self-published works.
- Acquires all course readings submitted to the Huntley Bookstore and requested by faculty so that these materials are accessible to your entire class throughout the semester, free of charge.
- Provides access to nearly 200,000 streaming videos, including feature films, documentaries, recorded performances, and more.
- Offers a variety of different media equipment (e.g., cameras, A/V equipment, drawing tablet, gaming consoles and games) through the Tech Lending program.
- Supports various GIS-related areas, including providing access to and instruction for Esri ArcGIS software, as well as instruction on GPS-enabled field collection of data, the use of drones, and discovery of existing data sources for geospatial analysis.
- Through the Claremont Center for Engagement with Primary Sources (CCEPS) program, collaborates with faculty to develop in-depth learning experiences for students where they engage with primary sources by arranging and describing a collection, research and curate an exhibition in the Library or online, or design and implement a scholarly digital project.
- Offers a variety of quiet study, learning, and collaborative spaces (e.g., conference rooms, group study rooms, classrooms, media viewing stations). One of the Library’s most recent reimagined spaces is the Digital Scholarship Collaboratory located on the second floor of the Mudd building and it serves as a flexible collaborative learning and teaching space for all forms of digital scholarship work for students and faculty.
Students can also engage with the Library through a variety of events, programs, and activities, such as:
- Attending Claremont Discourse lectures which feature faculty from across The Claremont Colleges who present on current research, publications, and creative projects from a wide variety of disciplines.
- Participating in Night Owls activities which help students through the stress of finals week.
- Visiting exhibitions curated by Special Collections & Archives and the Asian Library.
Please check the Library’s calendar and follow the Library on Facebook, Instagram, and/or X/Twitter to stay up to date!
Bookstore
Huntley Bookstore provides essential services to students, faculty, and staff of The Claremont Colleges. Established as the bookstore for The Claremont Colleges in 1969, Huntley Bookstore is the source for all course textbooks and academic materials used at the Colleges. Huntley also carries many academic trade and reference titles, new releases, Best Sellers, academic study aids, school and office supplies, clothing and gift items, as well as snacks and soft drinks and other sundries. Huntley Bookstore provides both Apple and PC computer hardware and software at academic discounted prices, and carries computer supplies and peripherals.
Huntley also has copyright clearance, course pack production (a special order services for items not found in the bookstore), textbook reservations, and mail order services. The website of the store includes a Faculty Resource Center and an on-line textbook purchasing feature. The bookstore also offers a selection of rental textbooks each semester. Huntley Bookstore is located in the heart of The Claremont Colleges at 175 East Eighth Street, on the corner of Dartmouth Avenue. The store is open year round and is open to the public.
Connection
Connection provides students, faculty and staff with high-volume digital printing, ID Card services, thesis binding, shipping, passport photos, Foothill Transit Class Pass, and general office services. Connection is located at the south entrance of the Claremont Colleges Library. The Connection services all campuses within the Claremont Colleges as well as the City of Claremont Community.
Biological Field Station
The Robert J. Bernard Biological Field Station of The Claremont Colleges, an intercollegiate resource managed by Pomona College, is an outdoor field station located on the grounds of The Claremont Colleges. The station provides facilities and ecological communities for teaching and research opportunities in the biological, environmental, and other sciences to students, faculty, and staff of The Claremont Colleges. The facilities of the station are also made available to members of the community, and to faculty from other academic institutions, with approval of appropriate educational uses.
Student Health and Counseling Services
TCCS offers a range of wellness services to students at the Robert E. Tranquada Student Services Center, located at 757 College Way. The Tranquada Student Services Center houses Health Education Outreach, Student Health Services, and Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services.
Health Education Outreach
Health Education Outreach is dedicated to empowering students to make intentional healthy lifestyle choices. We strive to create a supportive environment that nourishes all dimensions of personal health and well-being for students of The Claremont Colleges. At HEO, we provide relevant and appropriate health and wellness support and resources to help students plan an active role in achieving, protecting, and sustaining their health and wellness. HEO operates on a risk reduction platform, and we encourage all students to utilize our preventative services, talk with a Health Educator, and get up to date information on the most current health and wellness information.
Nutrition Services
The Claremont Colleges Nutrition Services strives to provide individualized nutrition counseling and support for various health and nutrition-related concerns. Our Nutrition Service’s providers offer support for students struggling with eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image concerns, giving them a greater chance at recovery on campus. Nutrition Services contributes to the student’s overall success at The Claremont Colleges by helping students improve their relationship with food, their bodies, and movement, allowing them to focus more on school, relationships, life, and values.
Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services
Students from The Claremont Colleges have access to confidential mental health services through Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services. Services are available when classes are in session and include short-term therapy, group counseling, crisis intervention, and psychiatric consultations. All enrolled students are eligible to receive services at no charge. The staff also conducts workshops and presentations on a variety of topics, including stress management, self-esteem, problems with self-control, interpersonal relationships, gender and diversity issues, etc. Students and faculty may request workshops.
Student Health Services
The Student Health Service is open when the colleges are in session. Staffed by two full-time physicians and a team of nurse practitioners and registered nurses, services are provided on weekdays and some evening hours. Appointments are free, but there is a charge for walk-ins. Students are also charged for medication, x-rays, and lab tests. After-hours emergency care is available at nearby Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, San Antonio Community Hospital, and Montclair Hospital. If a student needs specialized treatment, consultation can be arranged with specialists in all fields. Outside consultation, hospitalization, and surgery are arranged by the health services staff but not financed by the College; payment for these services is the individual student’s responsibility.
Student Disability Resource Center
The Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC) is dedicated to helping students achieve their academic goals by providing accommodations, assisting in mediation between students and faculty and providing student focus workshops on topics such as time management and study skills. We also provide training to faculty and staff on topics related to working with students with disabilities, Universal Design and Disability as Identity.
Religious Opportunities
The Interfaith Office of the Chaplains guides and nurtures students in the explorations, observances, and questions of religious and spiritual life. The Chaplains assist students in making contact with members of their own community of belief, and coordinate and oversee a wide variety of worship services, activities, programs, interfaith events, and pastoral counseling.
Among the faiths participating at McAlister are the Buddhist, Catholic, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Latter-Day Saints, Muslim, Protestant, Zen, and other communities. Social justice and service learning programs are organized by the Chaplains’ Community Service and Activities Coordinator.
The McAlister Center for Religious Activities, located adjacent to Honnold/Mudd Library, includes a chapel, fireside lounge, library, and the Chaplains’ offices.
Campus Safety
The Campus Safety Department of The Claremont Colleges Services is dedicated to working in partnership with our community to foster a safe and inclusive environment. Our commitment is to serve The Claremont Colleges community by protecting individuals and property to the best of our ability while striving for excellence in all our endeavors.
Campus Safety services include vehicle and bicycle registration, parking enforcement, safety escorts, emergency preparedness and response, and crime prevention.
Additional Services
Other services provided by TCCS include central campus mail, executive conference center, communications and community relations, information technology services, real estate and housing, budget support services, central facilities services, human resources and benefits administration, and financial services.
Services for Underrepresented Students
Office of Black Student Affairs
The Office of Black Student Affairs supports and enhances the entire well-being of undergraduate and graduate students of African descent earning degrees at The Claremont Colleges. We collaborate with faculty, staff, administrators, and alumni to ensure a comprehensive consideration and creation of services that compliment students’ stellar education with culturally significant scholarship, programming, and events. Since OBSA honors our communities’ collective and individual diversity, we explore a breadth of black life and culture in a wide range of opportunities. In addition to providing academic services and career advising, we offer individual and small group consulting and mentorship that advances academic, professional, and personal excellence. Professional development and leadership training also stand as a centerpiece of Black Student Affairs’ mission. Along with providing assistance and opportunities to students while earning degrees, we aim to support the realization of students’ highest aspirations.
Chicano/Latino Student Affairs Center
The Chicano/Latino Student Affairs Center (CLSA) is an educational support service that enhances the student experience through academic, social, and cultural programs. CLSA offers services and activities that celebrate the history, heritage, and culture of Chicanos and Latinos. CLSA seeks to build community through on-going activities and events designed to bring students together on a five-college basis. The programming provided by CLSA is designed to enrich student cultural identity, promote social awareness, and develop leadership in the college community. Specifically, the new student retreat, Latino heritage month, Día de la Familia, monthly lunches, study breaks, movie series, guest lectures, and César Chávez Commemoration Program help students to network and form bonds of friendship and support. Every new student is mentored through the CLSA sponsor program.
Asian American Resource Center
The Asian American Resource Center (AARC) of Pomona College provides support services for Asian American students and the general college community through educational programs, cultural events, and a library. Scripps and Pitzer College also offer Asian American resource programs.
Queer Resource Center
The mission of the Queer Resource Center (QRC) of The Claremont Colleges is to empower each lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual/agender (i.e., LGBTQIA+) person to have a positive college experience, grow as a self-aware individual and be a responsible community member. The QRC does this through enlivening our physical space, providing quality programming, building strong relationships, encouraging personal growth, advocating for services, creating a brave space and documenting history. In working towards these goals, the QRC recognizes and actively addresses the diversity within and beyond our expansive queer and trans communities. This includes, but is not limited to, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, sex, class, religion, ability and the many intersections within these identities. The QRC provides year-round Ally Trainings for Claremont College students, faculty and staff and offers students mentorship opportunities through QQMP (i.e., Queer and Questioning Mentor Program), LEGS (i.e., Leadership and Engagement in Gender and Sexuality), and QSAFE (i.e., Queer Staff and Faculty Engagement) mentor programs to connect with queer life on and off-campus. To learn more about how to get involved with QQMP and LEGS and to keep updated on what we offer throughout the academic year, follow us on Instagram: @TheQRC and through our Instagram Linktree. You can also sign up for our listserv.
Major programming efforts include planning social, educational, and social justice advocacy programs including but not limited to queer faculty and staff luncheons, gaymer nights, queer cooking and movie nights, letter writing campaigns, events focused on queer, trans, and intersex Black, Indigenous and people of color (i.e., QTIBIPOC), Gaypril events and Lavender Graduation for graduating students. The Assistant Dean and Director and Assistant Director are available to meet with students during weekly office hours at the QRC and host drop-in hours across the colleges. The Director, Bri Sérráno, is also a confidential resource and you can email them at bri.serrano@pomona.edu to schedule a meeting.
The QRC provides co-sponsorship funding for conferences and collaborative programming, a large library collection of LGBTQIA+-related DVD’s and books for check-out, a free clothing closet and offers referrals to LGBTQIA+ resources and services on and off-campus. The QRC is equipped with a full kitchen and card-swipe access so students can access the space from 9:00am to 11:00pm seven days a week. There is an accessibility door on the back side of the QRC which can be accessed during business hours 9:00am-5:00pm, Monday-Friday. The lounge can be reserved for student club meetings, hosting events and programming, or used for doing homework/studying with friends. The QRC is launching a binder and tucking underwear program for students who can’t afford these items in the 2024-2025 academic year.
Other Educational Resources
Other affiliated educational resources in the community are the Claremont School of Theology and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden.
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