Swarthmore College Meetings of the Faculty Records

Chartered in 1864, Swarthmore College hired its faculty and began instruction in 1869. By the time of publication of the first Catalogue, the College had hired three professors (including the President) and two resident teachers with the intention of filling additional vacancies before classes began. The Board of Managers also expected to hire auxiliary teachers and lecturers. By the time the 1870/71 Catalogue was published, there were 12 resident and 3 non-resident faculty members for the preparatory and collegiate departments. It is uncertain exactly when the faculty began to meet as a group, but it was probably from the beginning of the College’s operations. Meetings were definitely routine by March, 1877, when the available minutes begin.

The Faculty has primary responsibility for development of the curriculum and related matters and for recommending to the Board of Managers students who have completed a given course of study and are eligible to receive degrees. The Specifics of Faculty authority have varied over the course of the College’s history. The Faculty does much of its work through committees, many of which since the late twentieth century have included staff and student representatives.